Rebuilding hope in Burkina Faso's crisis zone

Above: Once displaced and out of school, girls in Burkina Faso now help rebuild their community — carrying both strength and hope.

In Burkina Faso, insecurity and violence over the past few years have forced thousands of families from their homes. Many schools closed, livelihoods vanished, and children's dreams were put on hold — or ended altogether. In the community of Leo, the displaced population surged to over 10,500 internally displaced persons, nearly 90 percent of whom were women and children who struggled to stay in school.

In humanitarian emergencies like this, hope can be hard to find. Displacement, poverty, and limited access to education become the new normal. But communities here are fighting back.

Hope not lost

"Before, we could not move safely, and my school was closed," says Faiza, a student in Burkina Faso's Centre- West region. "The project has brought me joy and happiness and also gave me a bicycle to help me get around more easily."

Faiza's words capture both the difficulty of daily life and the emerging signs of hope where a number of communities are rebuilding after crisis reshaped everything.

Communities like Leo are working to lead their own recovery with support from Children Believe, local partners and donors working together. The Integrated Protection and Education Services Strengthening Project, known as the PROSIPE project from its French acronym, launched in late 2023, is having a real impact in one of the world’s toughest places.

Thanks to the project, communities are addressing the security crisis by putting a focus on the most needed resources and providing critical social services. The goal is to ensure human rights are respected while improving access to inclusive, safe, and quality education for vulnerable children — particularly girls and those affected by displacement.

Aftershocks

Humanitarian crises can be a tidal wave of trouble where displaced families lose their homes and their livelihoods, then flood into other communities who already have limited resources to provide schools, water, and healthcare. Overcrowding in classrooms has become common, and insecurity made travel to school dangerous.

Due to the displacement emergency, school enrollment in the region dropped to 67 percent, compared to the national average of 74 percent. Many families simply could not afford school fees, uniforms, or supplies. Children went hungry, while others dropped out entirely.

These numbers underscore both the scale of the crisis and the need for resilience building in communities determined to overcome it.

Education and protection, hand in hand

PROSIPE is working in 13 schools across the region where Leo is located. It addresses both immediate and long-term needs through a holistic approach connecting education, mental health, and community resilience.

Children Believe has built a child-friendly space in a school and developed 12 mobile child-friendly spaces across the region, providing safe environments where children can learn and recover emotionally. These spaces offer more than physical safety — they provide psychosocial support helping children process trauma and rebuild confidence.

"Capacity building for educating stakeholders on child protection in emergencies has helped improve the protection of vulnerable students," says the project team. "The implementation of preparedness and response plans has strengthened school safety, and students are now more aware of security measures and the risks posed by landmines."

Real signs of progress

While many challenges remain, visible change is taking root. The project has provided mobility tricycles to five children with disabilities, enabling them to continue their education. Fifteen vulnerable girls have received scholarships, ensuring that poverty does not stop them from attending school.

The project's preparedness and resilience training has reached 4,000 students and 600 educational staff, strengthening their capacity to cope with risks and emergencies. Bridge classes and open community learning spaces are bringing education to children even where formal schools remain closed, while radio programs reach those in areas still too unsafe for traditional schooling.

“The implementation of preparedness and response plans has strengthened school safety, and students are now more aware of security measures and the risks posed by landmines.”

The impact of these efforts shows in the growing optimism within the community. As teacher Arouna Koanda puts it: "Obviously, since the PROSIPE project has been supporting us, I am thinking of a better future, especially since one of the key principles is that education is the best lever to transform lives, and it intervenes in vulnerable communities where needs remain immense."

His words echo the project's guiding philosophy — that education is not only about learning, but about restoring dignity and hope.

The support of Burkina Faso’s local government systems in these areas has also been a positive sign of hope as authorities have collaborated to ensure national priorities are included in planning.

Above: Education for all — the PROSIPE program in Burkina Faso helps ensure every child has the chance to learn and belong.

Hope beyond the crisis

While PROSIPE runs until September 2027, aiming to help children access formal and non-formal education, thrive in inclusive school environments, and build resilience in the face of ongoing insecurity.

Children Believe's holistic approach ensures that every child's right to education and protection is at the centre of community recovery. Step by step, and with the support of partners and donors, communities in Bankui and Nando are rebuilding not only their schools, but their hope for the future.