Mouhoun: The President of the Special Delegation (PDS) of the municipality of Tcheriba, Ouesseni Logora, welcomed the first class of Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) who have been deployed in the agricultural sector. The volunteers expressed their gratitude to the municipal authorities for their support during a meeting held on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
According to Burkina Information Agency, these volunteers were integrated into the Burkina Suudu Bawde project, which is spearheaded by the National Bureau of Major Projects. In November 2025, the volunteers underwent military training that focused on the fundamentals of homeland defense. Following this, they participated in an intensive 70-day course at the Matourcou training center, where they learned about agricultural techniques, livestock farming, fish farming, soil recovery, and rural entrepreneurship.
Upon returning to the community, the volunteers expressed their gratitude to the administrative and customary authorities, especially the Chief of the canton, for their continuous support. During a session at the town hall, the VDP presented an overview of the skills they acquired during their training. The group's spokesperson, Baoua Madou, highlighted that the training not only involved military preparedness but also equipped them with skills in agricultural production and entrepreneurship. He noted that this experience has played a role in changing perceptions about agricultural professions, now seen as avenues for wealth creation and employment for young people.
Kansourou Djarazemi, one of the two women in the group, emphasized the importance of sharing the knowledge gained at Matourcou with other young people in the community. She stated that the volunteers are tasked with training more young community members to contribute to the national agropastoral offensive.
In response, Ouesseni Logora praised the volunteers' dedication and assured them of the commune's continued support. He mentioned that a site of at least 12.5 hectares, developed with the help of the customary authorities, including the Chief of the canton, has been allocated for the volunteers' use to benefit the population.
After the meeting, the agricultural VDPs, along with an agent from the Service for the Promotion and Professional Integration of Young People (SPIPJ), made courtesy visits to officials from the National Gendarmerie and the Head of the technical support zone in agriculture, who reiterated their commitment to supporting the volunteers in their endeavors.
The environmental department, represented by an official from the Water and Forestry service, also commended the volunteers' commitment and pledged its support. The volunteers further expressed their appreciation to the Chief of the canton for playing a crucial role in making the site available, which was a key factor for their recruitment.
In return, the Chief of the canton offered his blessings and lauded the initiative, which aims to provide jobs and advance food self-sufficiency, aligning with the vision of the country's highest authorities. Overall, 25 agricultural VDPs are set to enhance the productive capacities of the commune of Tcheriba, contributing to both security and socio-economic development at local and national levels.