What do you get when you combine a vibrant First Lady, a country in which most women have undergone female genital mutilation and many are facing health problems and complications in pregnancy, and funding from donor countries to support a …
Today I am in Ziniaré, a village that has abandoned female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C). While 76% of girls and women from 15 to 49 years old in Burkina Faso have undergone the practice, only 9% of Burkinabés, men …
As a woman, a mother, a Member of Parliament and a government minister, I make my voice heard and take significant decisions every day of my life. But there are millions of women and girls around the world who don’t …
My fellow volunteers mocked me when I first arrived in Burkina Faso, asking me why I had brought such a ridiculous garment to a 40 degree climate. However, back at Heathrow I very much appreciated my large puffer jacket, and …
One week left in Ouagadougou - a city that will remain close to my heart for years to come - and our workload appears to have tripled. Before I began my project with Tigoung Nonma, a co-operative dedicated to helping …
As I write under the light of the moon, my first thought is that the moon is not designed as a side light. It is there for those without pen and paper; those who can and cannot write; and even …
There are seven of us (if you don't count Lemon, Lime and Grape - our three 'pet' geckos that live behind the curtain) living in a simple yet spacious house in south-east Ouagadougou. We do not have hot water but, …
Our orientation week in Ouagadougou allowed us to acclimatise to our new surroundings: five days were dedicated to French and Moore (the local dialect) lessons; meeting members of other NGOs based here in Ouagadougou; and learning more about the history …
The last few days have been a blur of excitement, and I apologise now if this inhibits my ability to write coherently. After travelling for 12 hours with my new housemates for the next three months, I arrived in the …
In less than two weeks' time I will be flying to Ouagadougou, the fantastically named capital of Burkina Faso, to begin a three-month volunteering project run by the International Service. The International Service is an international development charity that aims …
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