Souraya: From a Victim of Exploitation to a Hopeful Young Entrepreneur

In Burkina Faso’s conflict-affected Centre-North region, Souraya’s village was devastated by conflict. “Many houses were burned down, our belongings were looted, and some villagers were injured. We had no choice but to flee to other locations to save our lives,” she recalls, her voice heavy with emotion.

She and her family walked several kilometers to reach Kaya, where they initially were received by a temporary shelter worker. They were later relocated to another more ‘permanent’ site, but under extremely poor living conditions.

Day after day, the family struggled without the resources for even a basic decent life. Eventually, they made the difficult decision to send Souraya to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso’s capital, to serve as a domestic worker and earn some income. But life in Ouagadougou did not bring the relief they had hoped for. Instead, Souraya faced severe exploitation. She said,

I worked day and night, with no rest and no pay. I often went to bed hungry. I was beaten for the slightest mistake in household chores, at any time. I was alone, sad, and exhausted.

After several months, she managed to escape and return back to Kaya. Around this time, Souraya’s situation had caught the attention of a Children Believe social worker. During a community-based psycho-social support visit, her case was assessed, and she was enrolled in comprehensive support services run by Children Believe and funded by the AFAS Foundation and Woord en Daad. While the primary goal of the support was to prevent child labour exploitation, Souraya also received psychosocial counselling, training in soap-making, and a start-up kit to help her launch her own business. “I learned how to make liquid soap and Kabacourou (local soap). Today, I sell my products at the market. I can buy what I need and even help my family a little,” she says, her eyes shining with pride.

In just a few months, Souraya turned her pain into strength. From a silent victim, she has become a dynamic young entrepreneur, supported by a program that believes in the ability of children to rebuild their lives with dignity. Her story illustrates the impact of targeted and concrete support: training, protection, equipment, and restored confidence.

It also highlights the remarkable resilience of young girls, even in the harshest conditions. Today, Souraya is not just a survivor—she is an agent of change in her own community and a source of inspiration for other girls at risk. “I thank all those who helped and protected me from domestic work. They gave me an opportunity to build a better future,” she concludes, determined to continue on the path to success.

Read more inspiring stories like Souraya's here.