Youth Storytellers in Burkina Faso: Part 1

September 26, 2022

Groundswell International collaborated with our partner organizations, Vecinos Honduras and Association Nourrir Sans Détruire, to elevate the voices of local youths in Central America and Western Africa, allowing them to shape the next generation’s global narrative. We previously shared videos from youths in communities throughout Honduras, and now our first batch of videos out of West Africa come to us from three young storytellers from communities throughout Burkina Faso. Through these videos, our youth storytellers share the triumphs, empowerment, and resilience that they witness daily in their villages with the global community.

A Determined Woman

Association Nourrir Sans Détruire (ANSD) works in Burkina Faso to strengthen the capacity of local communities, especially women farmers, to lead and manage their own agroecology programs by providing training and resources. Burkina Faso native Marceling Sandwidi received training in agroecology and seeds from ANSD, resources she now uses to tend a nursery garden of moringa plants for sale. 

Despite initial challenges, Marceling has been able to generate income to provide for her family while also contributing to her community- the moringa plants she sells have many medicinal uses, including treating high blood pressure. Through Marceling’s nursery, this community is mutually building success.

Watch the video below or on YouTube: 

Farmer Jonas in Burkina Faso

Farmers in Burkina Faso are seeing their fields transformed through the use of agroecological techniques introduced to them by Groundswell International and ANSD. Pokiamo Nadinga and his fellow Burkinabe farmers have trained in water management techniques like utilizing stone contour lines to direct the flow of water to their crops during irrigation. Farmers who have adopted these agroecological techniques have seen a vast improvement in their fields, with Pokiamo saying he sees a notable difference in the success of his crops compared to those of farmers who have neglected to adopt agroecology. 

Through agroecology, Pokiamo has found food security and an increase in quality of life, saying “I have even been able to buy a bull, so honestly I am really doing well.” 

Watch the video below or on YouTube: 

Creating Financial Independence

“I encourage women to get ahead. With ANSD, you will never fall behind.” 

In the Burkinabe village of Silguin, women like Awa Kima are finding empowerment and transforming their lives with the help of ANSD. Describing her life as difficult before ANSD’s intervention, Awa is now building financial independence through selling salt at markets, and has now been able to buy herself a cart and donkey for transporting resources and can afford to pay to send her children to school.

Awa says that she, and other women in her community, are able to live better, more independent lives thanks to continuing support from ANSD.

Watch the video below or on YouTube: