Gaoua: The governor of the South-West region, Boureima Patrick Savadogo, has initiated a ‘Voluntary Clean-Up’ operation in Gaoua, calling on young people to participate in cleaning the city and raising awareness about environmental protection. The operation aims to address the ongoing environmental degradation resulting from human activities.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the initiative was launched by Governor Savadogo, who emphasized the importance of youth serving as examples for the community. He urged them to become vectors of awareness, encouraging the entire population to voluntarily commit to maintaining a healthy living environment. The Director General of the National Volunteer Program in Burkina Faso (PNVB), Djourmité Nestor Noufé, highlighted that the operation includes a training component. Volunteers will be trained in civic-mindedness, patriotic, and voluntary commitment to aid authorities in ensuring a healthy environment for the population.
Mr. Noufé stressed the necessity of a m
ental shift along with physical cleaning, stating that volunteers would be trained to use social networks responsibly and to embrace civic and patriotic values. He expressed a vision of fostering national pride in Burkina Faso’s commitment to cleanliness and civic responsibility. Momo Nazaire, the national president of the Kampti citizen watch, encouraged the youth in Gaoua to actively participate, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts in maintaining their city.
The clean-up operation is a collaborative effort between the Public Interest Group-National Volunteer Program in Burkina Faso (PNVB) and the National Office of Major Projects of Burkina (BN-GPB). It is part of the Presidential Initiative for Community Development, focusing on improving public spaces to combat diseases linked to unsanitary conditions. The initiative also seeks to promote eco-citizen behavior by raising awareness about the environmental impacts of human actions.
Scheduled to mobilize 700 volunteers and local populations, th
e operation will take place in Gaoua from November 16 to 18, in Banfora from November 25 to 27, and in Bobo-Dioulasso from November 29 to December 1. This pilot phase will expand nationwide by 2025.