Ouagadougou: The High Commissioner of Gourma Province, Silas Nacanabo, chaired a night of solidarity on Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Fada N’Gourma under the theme “Let’s mobilize for a better future for our children.” This initiative, led by the Todi-Yaba consortium, aimed to collect food and non-food items for the benefit of internally displaced students.
According to Burkina Information Agency, for nearly 10 years, the Eastern region, similar to other areas in the country, has faced insecurity resulting in significant challenges, including massive population displacements, loss of lives, and the closure of basic social services. To address these issues and ensure internally displaced students continue their education, the Todi-Yaba consortium organized this solidarity night.
The event successfully collected 2,263,300 CFA francs, 2 bicycles, 1 bag of rice, 1 box of 200-page notebooks, 1 ream of paper, 100 literary works, and 650,000 meals to be distributed over 21 months. Dramane Ludovic Thiombiano, the coordinator of the Todi-Yaba consortium, stated that the initiative was a response to the appeals from the regional directors responsible for Basic and Secondary Education, who highlighted the dire conditions faced by internally displaced students.
“This is how five development associations came together to call for aid from the daughters and sons of the Eastern region to support this population suffering from insecurity,” said Thiombiano. He emphasized the consortium’s goal to mobilize resources to ensure that these students receive education in conditions that respect their dignity and realities.
Internally displaced students, the primary beneficiaries, expressed their gratitude for the consortium’s efforts, while also sharing the hardships they face, such as food scarcity, housing instability, and lack of basic necessities. One anonymous student explained that many of them stay at school until late because they do not have enough food, and some are at risk of eviction due to unpaid rent.
The High Commissioner of Gourma Province praised the consortium’s actions and urged the public to show continued solidarity.