Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in the world... enduring drought, a low literacy rate, extremist violence and an economy vulnerable to external shock. Yet, the the Village of Opportunity offers a bright spot for young women looking for an education, refuge and to learn about Jesus.
Child labor, child trafficking, poverty and minimal natural resources have also led to numerous challenges for the Burkinabe people. Life can be difficult in Burkina Faso. Although few Burkinabe have had a formal education and the majority of the population is illiterate, the people are warm and resilient.
Knowing the success and impact of the Feminine Training Centers in Haiti, the Village of Hope asked CWO to come to Burkina and establish a similar vocational training center. Ministry began in Burkina in 2002. The Village of Opportunity (VOO) has graduated many classes of young women. We’ve also completed construction on classrooms, dormitories, guest and teacher housing, a wall around the perimeter of the property and a kitchen for VOO Culinary classes. Now our students in Burkina live and learn in updated, safe surroundings.
The CWO Mobile Clinic ministry began in 2010. The Mobile Clinic brings basic medical care and medications to small villages where people have little to no access to healthcare. We partner with small village churches and work alongside them to provide medical care, food and an opportunity for clinic patients to hear the Gospel. Many people have been healed physically because of the CWO Mobile Clinic, and many people have heard the Good News of Jesus Christ because of the evangelical opportunities the clinic provides. Our vision is to continue to lead others to Jesus in Burkina!
Village of Opportunity Cooking School!
The Village of Opportunity cooking classes officially started early in November, 2021! It is our hope that the cooking school will become self sufficient in the next two years. As a tuition-based program, students are paying $180 per year to attend the Culinary Classes. We’re excited to see how God will work through the new cooking classes.
Read more about our programs in the sidebar on the right.
Watch an update from Burkina Faso from VOO Director Dina Compaore!
Making a difference ... in Burkina Faso!
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Mobile Clinic
Offering Physical and Spiritual Healing
Many Burkinabe die from easily treatable diseases. Sickness and disease are a constant battle due to lack of disease prevention education and a lack of available healthcare, especially for those in rural areas. When possible, CWO also provides food during outreaches. The CWO Mobile Clinic aims to partner with small village churches to give them an opportunity to evangelize to their communities by offering medical outreaches at the churches.
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Village of Opportunity
Educating Young Women, Sharing Jesus
Burkina Faso is a patriarchal society where boys receive preference in schooling, so literacy rates among girls and women are far lower than their male counterparts. Many women have a very low self-worth and often resort to leaving school and marrying at a young age. The Village of Opportunity (VOO) provides young women with a Christ-centered training facility to helps them recognize their inherent value, learn a vocational skill and provide for their families. The VOO offers classes in sewing, cosmetology, sewing and agriculture. We help young women realize their God-given dignity and self-worth through biblical education, vocational training and loving encouragement from teachers and staff. We’re thrilled that more than 90% of the VOO students have passed the national exam. This outstanding statistic is attributable to our amazing staff in Burkina, the students’ dedication and hard work and an excellent curriculum. VOO students also receive life skills while learning how to manage a small business and how to share Christ with others.
In addition to providing life-giving skills to the students who attend, the VOO provides jobs for local Burkinabe. Students who graduate in the top of their class have the opportunity to become teachers as the school grows or participate in micro-finance loans to create their own businesses. Some VOO graduates also go on to be missionaries in neighboring countries.
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Chicken & Farm Projects
Our Agriculture Project is one of two sustainability projects, offering a drip-irrigation system where several crops are grown. There are three acres of cultivated, fenced, completely plumbed land that provide crops for our students, the Culinary Classes and the community.
We have a Chicken Project too with a large chicken and chick coop with capacity for 2,000 chickens. This project is growing with potential to generate income for our ministry in Burkina. Staff, students and teachers care for the chickens. Some of the students’ families have purchased chickens to also engage in the sustainability aspect of the project. -
Cooking Classes
Students in the cooking classes learn skills that will help them to find jobs in restaurants and other food related businesses. From cooking and baking to serving techniques, students learn the details of what it takes to work in a restaurant and to start a business.
