DIAPAGA: The top-performing female students in the 2024 CEPE, BEPC, and BAC exams, along with households that have notably supported girls’ education, were honored with incentive prizes in Diapaga during a special event aimed at promoting girls’ education in the region.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the award ceremony was organized by the association ‘Unir Pour Agir’ (UPA) at the women’s house in Diapaga. The day featured a variety of activities, including a women’s cycling race, a women’s marathon, and testimonials from beneficiaries and their parents. The event was led by Ibrahim Kapioko, the 1st Vice-President of the Special Delegation of Tansarga, and attended by representatives from provincial education and humanitarian action departments, civil society organizations, beneficiaries, and their families.
During the ceremony, the three best female students from the CEPE, BEPC, and BAC sessions of 2024 were awarded prizes. Additional awards were given to the top five participants in the cycling
and marathon events and to households that excelled in supporting girls’ education. Attendees were also treated to testimonials highlighting the impact of UPA’s work.
Since 2019, UPA has operated in six villages within the Tansarga commune, identifying 50 girls annually to receive bicycles, school kits, scholarships, and food. The association has sponsored a total of 300 girls from 2019 to 2024. UPA also supports the mothers of teenage girls with training and resources for income-generating activities, promoting economic independence.
UPA’s initiatives extend to hygiene and sanitation, providing latrines, boreholes, and other resources to the six villages involved. Alexis Lodala Dembélé, field coordinator of the NGO “La Brique,” collaborates with UPA to assist girls and communities facing challenges due to terrorism. The initiative aligns with the government’s strategy to ensure education access in areas affected by insecurity.
Ibrahim Kapioko praised UPA’s efforts, emphasizing their alignment with governm
ent strategies to ensure continued educational access in regions impacted by terrorism. He expressed gratitude to the donors and advocated for the expansion of the initiative to benefit more children.