OUAGADOUGOU — Members of the Young Students and United Students association (JEEU) took to the streets of Ouagadougou over the weekend, cleaning a key roadway from the Cathedral to the Rond-Point des Cinéastes. This initiative, part of a broader effort to encourage civic responsibility and patriotism among young people, also included a discussion on these themes prior to the cleanup.
According to Burkina Information Agency, president of the JEEU, the event served dual purposes: to honor the “green brigade” of local women who maintain city cleanliness, and to inspire students and schoolchildren to actively maintain and improve their surroundings. The cleanup stretched from the Cathedral Church of Ouagadougou through the central town hall to the Rond-Point des Cinéastes, involving around sixty participants.
Saïd Sylla Zombra, the communications manager for JEEU, praised the early morning efforts of the green brigade, emphasizing the significant impact of their daily work on the city’s aesthetics and public morale. Zombra expressed his appreciation for the young participants’ commitment to the cause during the nighttime cleaning operation.
The event also featured a talk on citizenship and patriotism, led by Labidi Naba, spokesperson for the Faso Kooz movement. Naba encouraged attendees to actively contribute to their communities and respond positively to national initiatives, such as community entrepreneurship and the Patriotic Support Fund, aimed at fostering national pride and participation.
Sosthène Sanou, special advisor to the President of Faso on youth issues, and Assami Tiendrébéogo, First Vice-President of the Special Delegation of Ouagadougou, were present to support the event. Tiendrébéogo commended the students for their proactive engagement in eco-citizen activities, highlighting the importance of such initiatives in building a responsible and engaged youth populace.
The JEEU, established in 2021, continues to engage its members—numbering several hundred—in various civic and leadership activities aimed at fostering a sense of responsibility and leadership among young Burkinabés.