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Empowering women in Burkina Faso

Support education in rural Burkina Faso, West Africa, through investment in women-driven commerce

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Empowering women in Burkina Faso

Empowering women in Burkina Faso

Empowering women in Burkina Faso

Empowering women in Burkina Faso

Empowering women in Burkina Faso

Support education in rural Burkina Faso, West Africa, through investment in women-driven commerce

Support education in rural Burkina Faso, West Africa, through investment in women-driven commerce

Support education in rural Burkina Faso, West Africa, through investment in women-driven commerce

Support education in rural Burkina Faso, West Africa, through investment in women-driven commerce

Natalya Kostandova
Natalya Kostandova
Natalya Kostandova
Natalya Kostandova
1 Campaign |
Tema, Burkina Faso
$1,800 USD 19 backers
100% of $1,800 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal

Short Summary

Tema is a village of 1000 people in the Northern part of Burkina Faso, West Africa. In Burkina, where literacy rate is just under 30%, education is key, yet parents of many kids, especially in rural areas like Tema, cannot afford to pay school fees and associated costs, like uniforms, meals, textbooks, health care, and transportation, for their children. A subsistence farming community, Tema does not have many opportunities for generating income, and economic activities are especially restricted for women, most of whom are illiterate.

This project would provide initial capital for a group of women to buy and store grain at the lowest price point in the seasonal cycle. The women will store the grain until April-May, when the price for grain almost doubles as villagers prepare for cultivation season. The profits will be used to pay their children's school fees, while the amount of original investment will be cycled into a common fund and will be redistributed among the women next year.

Thus, the project will have two benefits:

1) Empower women in a highly male-dominated society by expanding their economic power.

2) Help pay for education-related fees for their children.

What We Need & What You Get

This year, we plan to help 30 women receive enough start-up capital to buy grain at low prices. Each woman will receive $60, which will be enough to buy about 100 kg of millet. The expected return on this purchase is $100, giving the benefit of $40, which will cover most of the school fees for a child for next year. The remaining $60 will be invested back into next year's commercial cycle.

For 30 women, we would thus need $1800.

If the goal is not reached, we will reduce of number of women who will receive funding.

While you do not get much, other than a warmth from knowing that you did something to help improve the education and equality situation in Burkina Faso, everybody who contributes at least $20 to the campaign will receive a photo and a story of the women and the children who were helped by your contribution. While this is not much, you'll get to see the face of a child who may not have been able to go to school if it weren't for your help.

    The Women

    Natalya has worked with many of these women personally during her two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Tema. She has collaborated with the women in fabric dyeing, chicken farming, soap making, peanut oil fabrication, and other entrepreneurial projects. The women have long wanted to invest in grain, yet have not had access to loans because of their geographic location and lack of collateral. We have complete confidence in their integrity, dedication, hard work, and motivation to improve their situation.

      Risks & Challenges

      Monitoring and evaluation of this project will not be easy due to long distance between our team here in America and the women in Burkina. However, we have close contact with both the women themselves and with other collaborators in Tema. Reports, photos, and detailed information will be sent to us, so that we can follow progress as the project advances.

      Other Ways You Can Help

      Please spread the word! Thank you for your help!

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      Choose your Perk

      Photo and story

      $20 USD
      We would like to introduce you to the women and the children who will be benefiting from your support. You will receive a photo of one of the women and the child whose school fees your contribution has paid for, as well as a little bit of background of the family.
      4 claimed

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