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Happy Thanksgiving from Konkourona!
Life in the remote village of Konkourona, Burkina Faso, is hard, but it has improved dramatically over the past 4 years. We are extremely...
Nov 24, 2023
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Dengue fever hits Burkina Faso!
KAFO President, Dr. Jules Millogo, speaks out about dengue Burkina Faso's health ministry confirmed that one of the deadliest dengue...
Oct 21, 2023
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The new school year has begun!
The village of Konkourona celebrated the tremendous successes in education from the past 4 years by enrolling a record number of students...
Oct 15, 2023
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We are building a vaccination facility!
The United Nations estimates that the average life expectancy in Burkina Faso is just over 60 years, which is well below the highest life...
Sep 4, 2023
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Health Center capacity is growing!
Approximately 1.5 million people lose their lives to vaccine-preventable diseases every year, making vaccines one of the most...
Sep 4, 2023
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We have a new record!
Two weeks ago, 50 students travelled from Konkourona to a neighboring village in the back of the KAFO/MSN tricycle trailer to take the...
Jun 24, 2023
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Look at them go!
Mothers mobilize to fill in the foundation for the middle school floor with sand, bucket by bucket. Once it is mostly filled, cement will...
May 7, 2023
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Let the games begin!
Cards and games were purchased for the Konkourona library this week at the request of the Library Manager, Issaka Ramde. Children filled...
Apr 9, 2023
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The Health Center is flourishing!
Nadia, new nurse in Health Center The Sandia Millogo Health and Social Promotion Center has been opened for almost two months now and it...
Feb 13, 2023
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Happy New Year!
Larissa, thriving middle school student There is so much to celebrate at KAFO as we begin a new year. We have big plans for 2023, but...
Jan 4, 2023
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Healthy baby girl!
The new Sandia Millogo Health and Social Promotion Center in Konkourona, named after the mother of KAFO's President, Dr. Jules Millogo,...
Dec 22, 2022
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Happy Thanksgiving!
I received a picture of the weekend hours at the community library in Konkourona early this morning (below) and I have been thinking...
Nov 25, 2022
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People of Konkourona
Burkinabe photographer, Warren Saré, visited Konkourona in September to document the progress being made as a result of development...
Oct 9, 2022
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Hope spreads in Konkourona!
KAFO President, Dr. Jules Millogo, traveled to Konkourona for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began to meet with leaders of...
Sep 16, 2022
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Medical equipment arrives!
Newlyweds, Irène Millogo and Benjamin Adabrah (Ben), worked tirelessly to clear administrative hurdles preventing release of a shipment...
Aug 27, 2022
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Student success continues!
Students climbed into our KAFO/MSN construction vehicle to be transported by KAFO Program Director, Victorien Millogo, to another village...
Jul 3, 2022
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Health center is approved!
We are thrilled to announce that the Minister of Health has just approved the new health center we helped build in Konkourona!!! ...
Jun 10, 2022
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Preparing for rain!
Digging has begun in Konkourona to prepare for the trees to be planted for reforestation in the rainy season from June to September....
May 22, 2022
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Big plans for 2022!
The medical equipment and supplies for the new health center in Konkourona made it to the port in Accra, Ghana 4 weeks ago, from West...
Apr 10, 2022
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Progress continues!
A delegation from Burkina Faso's Ministry of Health visited Konkourona in February and met with village leaders (below) to discuss the...
Mar 5, 2022
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Message from President
You may have seen news about the President of Burkina Faso being overthrown by the military. Many of you have contacted KAFO to ask...
Mar 5, 2022
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Shipment was sent!
I had the great fortune to work with many people from Project c.u.r.e. over the past 10 months to prepare for shipment of medical...
Jan 22, 2022
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Health center almost finished!
Hundreds of hard working people gathered to clean the grounds around their brand new maternal and child center, primary care center,...
Jan 2, 2022
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Happy Thanksgiving!
Family and friends from Merck & Co., Inc., the Souderton-Telford Rotary Club, and Care and Share Thrift Shoppes came together this week...
Jan 2, 2022
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Back to school!
School typically starts in October in Burkina Faso, but sixth grade students and their teacher started one month early this year, with...
Sep 30, 2021
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Village Leaders Travel to Mali
Victorien Millogo, KAFO's Field Program Director and Mami Siara N'a's Vice President (in blue), traveled to Mpakasso, Mali with Moussa...
Aug 30, 2021
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Health Access is on the Horizon
Everyday, great progress is made on the construction of the health center in Konkourona. As the team in Konkourona continues to work...
Jul 17, 2021
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Students in Konkourona are Thriving!
Congratulations to the Konkourona Primary School Graduating Class of 2021! History was made again this year when 33 students passed the...
Jul 17, 2021
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We have water!
Unbelievable progress continues in Konkourona! After drilling down into the earth twice unsuccessfully, the third time was a charm! A...
Apr 1, 2021
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The search for water has begun!
Big things are happening in Konkourona! Mami Siara Na submitted the application to the Burkina Faso government which will allow the...
Feb 4, 2021
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Happy Thanksgiving from Konkourona!
Life in the remote village of Konkourona, Burkina Faso, is hard, but it has improved dramatically over the past 4 years. We are extremely grateful to our closest friends, colleagues and family members for joining us in helping this community build a brighter future. There are security risks in Burkina Faso that prevent most people from visiting, so I wanted to share photos of what life in the village is like and just some of the amazing transformations that have taken place. Students on their way to school in Konkourona Enthusiasm for learning Flexibility for students to learn at their own pace and continue to attend school for as long as it takes to learn what is needed Focus and determination Teamwork Wellness checks Sick care Healthcare for all Healthcare workers willing to move to Konkourona Healthy mothers and babies Ladi Fatou, the first baby born in the Sandia Millogo Health and Social Promotion Center in December 2022, and her mother Availability of a rapid diagnostic test for malaria Being able to leave the health center with a prescription, once diagnosed Leaving the pharmacy with life-saving medicines Medicines for all Modern technology Clean water Strength Community Corn Sorghum Cotton, generations Cows and shepherd Transportation New life Warren Sare, Burkinabe photographer (adult above), who brought the village to life for us through these photos
Dengue fever hits Burkina Faso!
KAFO President, Dr. Jules Millogo, speaks out about dengue Burkina Faso's health ministry confirmed that one of the deadliest dengue fever epidemics yet has been impacting the country over the past few weeks. Since the start of the year, the country has recorded more than 51,000 suspected cases and more than 200 deaths of the mosquito-borne illness. The number of cases and case fatality rates are rising sharply. On Friday, October 20, 2023, KAFO President, Dr. Jules Millogo, reached out to the Deputy Director of the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa who confirmed that the situation is worrisome because there has been a significant increase in dengue outbreaks in many countries in Africa over the past few years. WHO and other regional health institutions are deeply concerned that it will continue to spread as warmer temperatures create conditions for the mosquitoes carrying the virus to thrive. Dengue fever is mainly spread by the bite of infected A. aegypti and A. albopictus mosquitoes Symptoms of dengue infection include fever, muscle pain, nausea and rashes. Lack of treatment or misdiagnosis, common in low income countries such as Burkina Faso where health care availability is spotty, increase the chances of death. There is currently no registered vaccine for protection from dengue or specific treatment for the disease in Burkina Faso. KAFO and MSN are planning the following actions to address current and future dengue epidemics in Konkourona: Training of health workers to increase knowledge about the symptoms of dengue, similarities with malaria, and differences in treatment of patients Providing community awareness about the need for early diagnosis and treatment Ensuring availability of essential medicines such as paracetamol and intravenous volume replacement fluids (glucose, saline, ringer-lactate) to treat symptoms of dengue hemorrhagic fever and prevent dengue shock syndrome Supporting community efforts to reduce the spread of mosquitoes Construction of a diagnostic laboratory at the Sandia Millogo Health and Social Promotion Center in Konkourona The community is very thankful to KAFO supporters for helping to provide access to healthcare in Konkourona. KAFO and MSN are committed to doing what is needed to save as many lives as possible.
The new school year has begun!
The village of Konkourona celebrated the tremendous successes in education from the past 4 years by enrolling a record number of students in elementary school, middle school and high school this year. KAFO and MSN made sure that primary school students had books and supplies, and middle school and high school students had books, supplies, bikes and backpacks. Celebration of students The basic construction of the new middle school has been completed, but solar panels, the water hookup, books and desks are still needed before the government will approve it and assign teachers. We did the best we could to finish before this school year began, but it looks like we will not be able to open yet. The good news is that funding to finish the school has been approved and work will begin as soon as it is received. The community is resilient and committed to their children's education and overcoming unexpected obstacles. They are very thankful for all of the help they are receiving from KAFO and MSN and they are doing whatever they can to support the development efforts. New middle school New middle school porch Administration building Security building As disappointing as the delay in opening is, that will give us a little extra time to begin building housing for the teachers, so that they will be able to move with their families to Konkourona. We learned when we first started our efforts to support Konkourona four years ago, that teachers often left the village as soon as they could due to the lack of books, desks and teaching materials for the classrooms, and the unavailability of housing, healthcare, electricity, and water for their families. That paradigm completely shifted when we built houses for the elementary school teachers, drilled a well, built community fountains, and opened a health center in the village. Not only have they moved their own families to Konkourona, but they have brought nieces and nephews who have been displaced by jihadist violence around the borders to live with them and take advantage of what the village has to offer. The people of Konkourona appreciate the enormous improvements in education that the teachers have brought about and are happy to welcome the teachers' families as part of the community. Teacher's daughter It is the love of all children that inspired me to start KAFO with my colleague, Dr. Jules Millogo, expanding on his private efforts over two decades to help educate as many children as possible. I never dreamed that so many friends and family members would be willing to join us in our efforts and help us reach hundreds of children and their families. Thank you for your kindness, compassion, generosity and commitment to improve lives in this one, small village.
We are building a vaccination facility!
The United Nations estimates that the average life expectancy in Burkina Faso is just over 60 years, which is well below the highest life expectancy in the world of 87, in Monaco. The leading causes of death are infectious diseases, and there are many vaccines to help prevent them. So KAFO and MSN are partnering to build a vaccination facility at the Sandia Millogo Health and Social Promotion Center that the partnership opened in December, 2022. MSN will also use the new facility to conduct training on topics like nutrition, good sanitation and hygiene practices, and reproductive health. When the facility is not being used for vaccination or training, it will be used as a waiting area for people who have brought patients from other villages to be cared for at the Health Center. There will be a multipurpose room, an office, a store for sale of food, water and essential items, and an equipment storage area inside, and a kitchen, latrines, and a hand washing station outside. New middle school, front porch As the new middle school nears completion, it is our hope that together we are improving the well being of the students who will fill the classrooms, their families, the teachers who will guide their way, and the security guard who will watch over them. New middle school administration building Middle school security building
Health Center capacity is growing!
Approximately 1.5 million people lose their lives to vaccine-preventable diseases every year, making vaccines one of the most cost-effective investments in health and development in history, according to Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance. Vaccination campaigns were occurring in Konkourona, but with no vaccine refrigerator, the availability of vaccines was sporadic. Last week, the District Medical Office in Lena, Burkina Faso, partnered with Mami Siara Na (MSN) and KAFO to provide a vaccine refrigerator for the Health Center . KAFO founders believe that vaccination is essential to any robust health program. Simply providing vaccines is not enough. A strong management committee (COGES) is essential for long-term sustainability of any health program. The District Medical Office sent representatives to Konkourona last week to provide training to community leaders on the following: ✓ Introduction to the health system in Burkina Faso; ✓ Organization of the health system in Burkina Faso; ✓ The management committee (COGES), its organization and operation; ✓ Office composition and roles of COGES members; ✓ Partnership of the COGES with other structures; ✓ Financial management; ✓ Equipment management; ✓ Management of medicine stocks; ✓ Motivation of office members and disciplinary sanctions; ✓ Supervision and control of health training; and ✓ Practical exercises on filling the forms, and calculating orders and expenses. As a result of these activities and others over the past 4 years, since MSN and KAFO were formed, the community of Konkourona feels empowered to drive improvements in their health and overall well-being. The training was conducted in the Konkourona Library created through a partnership with the District Education Office of Lena, MSN, KAFO and Friends of African Village Libraries last year. Some of the students who passed the middle school entrance exam this year are shown in the picture below. These hard working, record-breaking students serve as a daily reminder to me of the lives we are working to save and improve.
We have a new record!
Two weeks ago, 50 students travelled from Konkourona to a neighboring village in the back of the KAFO/MSN tricycle trailer to take the middle school entry exam, with the hope of breaking the record of 33 students (76%) passing set 2 years ago. We just found out minutes ago that... 46 STUDENTS PASSED ! This is an incredible improvement over the past 4 years, up from 1 or 2 when we started partnering with the community. Thankfully, there is great progress being made on construction of the new middle school! In more great news, 3 sponsored students passed the entrance exam for high school, two of whom are pictured below! These young women were among the 1 or 2 out of 45-50 who made it to middle school before we started our work, so you know they are truly exceptional to have made it in overcrowded classrooms with few books, no electricity, no library, and no ability to study at night. Thank you so much for helping to make this a reality! These are OUR children, and they are thriving!!!!
Look at them go!
Mothers mobilize to fill in the foundation for the middle school floor with sand, bucket by bucket. Once it is mostly filled, cement will be used to build something more permanent. The community members are doing as much of the labor as they can themselves to accelerate construction and keep costs low. The classrooms are starting to take shape. There has also been progress on an Administration building for the middle school. The security building has been started too. While construction of the middle school continues, KAFO Program Manager, Victorien Millogo (right), and the Library Manager, Issaka Ramde (left), are working with the District Education Officials (center) to make sure the school is incorporated into government planning and that teachers will be assigned when the school year starts. Victorien is communicating with other village leaders in the area to make sure they know that the middle school will be finished and open for enrollment later this year. Meanwhile, the Health Center continues to have a huge impact on the community. These mothers have brought their babies for a routine vaccination campaign. KAFO and MSN would like vaccines to be available so that babies can be vaccinated during routine check-ups, but most vaccines must be refrigerated or frozen there are no vaccine refrigerators available in the country for purchase at this time. Coolers can be used for short term storage for a campaign, but they are not suitable for long term use. The demand for health care in and around Konkourona has been so high that a fifth nurse has been assigned to the facility. The staff meets routinely to ensure that patient needs are being met. The community management committee has started to meet too, in preparation for the transfer of management from the government to the community. Revenue from the Health Center is expected to help with the maintenance and growth of the Center. Auditing of all KAFO/MSN projects is completed on an annual basis to make sure that funding is used for the intended purpose, buildings are being maintained, and the desired impact is realized. The Health Center solar electricity system is being audited below. May is filled with celebrations of new birth, mothers and togetherness throughout the world, and it makes me so happy to think about the great progress being made in Konkourona in the midst of those celebrations. I feel connected to the mothers, fathers, children, aunts, uncles, and grandparents in the village and I am so much better off as a result. Thoughts of what life is like in Konkourona impact everything I do and make me appreciate so much more. Thank you for your help in making these great strides toward improving access to education and healthcare in Konkourona possible.
Let the games begin!
Cards and games were purchased for the Konkourona library this week at the request of the Library Manager, Issaka Ramde. Children filled the library today, on a Saturday, to play. A contract was signed to begin construction of a new middle school in the village and the engineer met with the village chief and community members to talk through what will happen next. Cornerstones were set to define the building envelope. Final measurements were taken to confirm readiness for construction to begin on Monday, 27-Mar-2023. The long term vision is to build a middle school, a technical school, and a high school with a library, latrines, a shower, an administration building, a security building, a kitchen, a pavilion for eating lunches, a soccer field, a volleyball court, a basketball court, a handball court, a long jump, and lodging for teachers, as funding permits. This year's work will focus on the middle school, latrines, a shower, the administration building and the security office. Our goal is to finish before the next school year begins in October. Thank you for your continued efforts to drastically improve the lives of the children in Konkourona!
The Health Center is flourishing!
Nadia, new nurse in Health Center The Sandia Millogo Health and Social Promotion Center has been opened for almost two months now and it is flourishing in the community of Konkourona, Burkina Faso and the surrounding region. There was so much demand in the first month, that the District Medical Officer assigned Nadia , a fourth nurse to help provide care. We are so thankful for the partnerships that are in place to make this program successful: KAFO provides strategic oversight and funding, MSN provides community priorities, support staff, and operational oversight, and Ministry of Health (MoH) provides nurses, training, and monitoring, The MoH also provides a connection to government medicines, vaccines, equipment and supplies. Sabine, Pharmacy Manager A key part of the sustainability plan for the Health Center is sale of medicines and health related supplies for reasonable prices that will yield a small profit. That will enable the purchase of new medicines and supplies and also help pay salaries for support staff. The young woman in the photo above is Sabine , who was part of our Sponsor a Child program, and is currently the most educated person in the village. When she heard that help was needed to manage the pharmacy, she offered to undergo training and take the position. This is a very important role and we are so thankful that she has accepted it. Ladi Fatou, first baby born in the new Health Center The fist baby born in the Health Center was named Ladi Fatou , which means generous humanitarian fascinated by making the world a better place, a Gift from God whose heart's desire is to be a strong, powerful and creative leader . We look forward to watching her grow with every opportunity to live up to her purposeful name. New warehouse for equipment, supplies and medicines Thanks to our partners at Project C.U.R.E. , the Health Center in Konkourona is the best equipped in the country . A warehouse was needed to store everything, and that was completed in January (above). A landfill was also needed for incineration of hazardous materials. That was also completed in January (below). New landfill for hazardous medical waste KAFO has earned the Candid Guidestar Platinum Seal of transparency for 2023, which is the highest achievable level. We display all financial information on our website so that you can be sure we are using donations for what they are intended. KAFO founders pay all administrative costs so that 100% of what you donate is used for our programs (minus standard credit card fees). We are currently finishing up preparations to begin construction of a new middle school in March 2023 with the hope of completing it before classes begin in October 2023. We are extremely grateful to all of our donors who help make this important work possible. Thank you all!
Happy New Year!
Larissa, thriving middle school student There is so much to celebrate at KAFO as we begin a new year. We have big plans for 2023, but before sharing those, I would like to share a few notable accomplishments from 2022. The education of approximately 400 children in elementary school, middle school, high school and universities was supported through our Sponsor a Child Program, paving the way for better futures for students and their families for generations to come. The Konkourona Elementary School is now recognized as one of the best in the region in preparing children for middle school. Further, the students who progress to middle school are thriving, thanks to the excellent preparation in elementary school, the support of the community, and their hard work. Water was made available to the entire community through construction of fountains and installation of taps in strategic locations. In addition, a new well was drilled and a new tower constructed in preparation for a middle school to be built in 2023. A new library was created, making books, computers and a printer available to all members of the community. A KAFO headquarters building was opened to serve as an office to manage the development efforts in the village, and as temporary housing for visitors supporting development activities and teachers, as new schools are constructed in the coming years. 1100 trees were planted to provide shade and food for the community and protect the environment by fighting desertification. Jobs were created to manage and operate the water system, health center, pharmacy, library, and headquarters. A new Health Center was opened for the care of all members of the community and region. This is the work of hundreds of people in Konkourona, Burkina Faso and around the world. Well done, everyone, we did this together! Health Center cleaning crew with the opportunity to support their families in a whole new way, beyond searching for water and wood, and subsistence farming We have three primary goals as we look ahead to 2023: Sustainability : Reinforce all of the great work that has been done over the past three years to improve access to education, healthcare, water and sanitation, economic development and environmental protection, to ensure that it is having the intended outcomes Higher Education : Build a middle school in Konkourona so that students can be educated in their community rather than traveling two hours or more from home to attend middle schools in other villages and towns Economic Development : Identify or strengthen revenue generating activities for people living in Konkourona through implementation of innovative ideas to meet the needs of people living in surrounding communities (e.g. sewing, planting new crops, etc.) Thank you for all of your help in making this transformation in Konkourona possible!
Healthy baby girl!
The new Sandia Millogo Health and Social Promotion Center in Konkourona, named after the mother of KAFO's President, Dr. Jules Millogo, was scheduled to officially open today. This precious baby girl was ready early though, and was born at 11:47 pm last night. She is the first baby to be born in the Health Center, ushering in a new era for health care in the village. The opening of the Center fulfills a dream Dr. Millogo (Jules) had 55 years ago, when his father sent him to another village so that he could attend school. He endured loneliness, hunger, homelessness, and countless illnesses and hardships in his journey to bring healthcare to Konkourona. The community this baby has just joined is so different from the one in which Jules (third from the left) was born, thanks to all of you . May she live a long and healthy life with access to everything she needs to grow and thrive and lead a new generation.
Happy Thanksgiving!
I received a picture of the weekend hours at the community library in Konkourona early this morning (below) and I have been thinking about it all day. Having access to books, computers and a printer opens up so many opportunities. The library also creates a safe space for positive community interactions. There are so many people who made this possible: Erin and Aaron Mulder (generous donors and voracious readers) David and Sali Greeley (introduced us to Friends of African Village Libraries) Michael Kevane (Friends of African Village Libraries - FAVL) Dounko Sanou (Friends of African Village Libraries - FAVL) Audrey Egan (ran a book drive and donated books) Diana Watkins (donated books) Chris Hebron and Business Online (donated and programmed computers) Benjamin Adabrah, his brother and cousin (set up computers and printer) Daniel Millogo (set up computers and printer) Edmond Millogo (purchased furniture and partnered with FAVL) Victorien Millogo (coordinated support in Konkourona) SEBRE Ayouba (led renovation of the old building) RAMDÉ Issaka (Librarian) Education Department of Lena (allowed us to use the old building) So many lives are forever changed because of you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
People of Konkourona
Burkinabe photographer, Warren Saré, visited Konkourona in September to document the progress being made as a result of development efforts over the past three years. Irène and Ben, the couple responsible for freeing the medical equipment and supplies for the Health Center from customs, entertain Sandia, the matriarch of the village, in this picture. These young children may never remember a time when education, water and healthcare were unavailable. This man remembers how things used to be and is so thankful for the progress that has been made. These villagers are thankful for the growing season and sufficient rain to sustain crops this year. Thank you for helping the people of Konkourona.
Hope spreads in Konkourona!
KAFO President, Dr. Jules Millogo, traveled to Konkourona for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began to meet with leaders of the village association, Mami Siara Na, and evaluate the progress that has been made over the past 3 years. This news segment (in French) was filmed during a celebration of gratitude and hope held on Sunday, September 11th in Konkourona, Burkina Faso. Dr. Millogo thanked supporters from all over the world for their help in transforming the remote village in another video (in English) created by Good Deeds Day representatives. There is such great partnership among Mami Siara Na, KAFO, the Ministry of Health, the Department of Education, the Department of Forestry, the engineer, family, friends, and so many others. I am eagerly waiting for many more pictures, videos and stories from the past two weeks and promise to schedule in person and virtual events to share them with you!
Until then, I hope you enjoy this glimpse into life in Konkourona today!
Until then, I hope you enjoy this glimpse into life in Konkourona today!
Medical equipment arrives!
Newlyweds, Irène Millogo and Benjamin Adabrah (Ben), worked tirelessly to clear administrative hurdles preventing release of a shipment of medical equipment and supplies needed to open a health center built in the remote village of Konkourona last year. The shipment was sent from West Grove, Pennsylvania in January of this year and made it to Africa in March. Since then, final release to Konkourona was held up by administrative obstacles. Irène is the daughter of KAFO Program Director, Victorien Millogo, and one of the first women from Konkourona to earn a university degree (M.S. in Accounting and Financial Management). Ben is from Ghana and has a degree in Information Technology. The couple was married in April of this year. After resolving the administrative issues, Ben arranged for the contents of the shipping container to be transferred to a truck and for drivers to make the trek to Konkourona. Sebre Ayouba, KAFO's Technical Partner, Ousmane Zida, Mami Siara Na Accountant, and Sebastien Sanon helped clear additional administrative steps and the truck proceeded to the final leg of the trip. Victorien Millogo, KAFO Program Director, and Edmond Millogo, KAFO Partnership Liaison, met the drivers at the end of the asphalt road to make sure they knew where to go next. Having never been out of Ghana or to such a remote area, the drivers wanted to turn back, but were somehow convinced to continue. The young men and boys from the village gathered when the truck rolled in and worked late into the night unloading. Many of the items were heavy and while a forklift was used in the US, tools like that were not available in Konkourona. I have been thinking about this shipment all day, every day for 18 months and was so relieved to get the word that it had finally arrived at 4:32 pm US EDT (8:32 pm in Konkourona) on Thursday night. Each and every item on that truck was so carefully planned and packed by family, friends and partners who care deeply for people in need who they have never met. Thank you for being part of that community of caring.
Student success continues!
Students climbed into our KAFO/MSN construction vehicle to be transported by KAFO Program Director, Victorien Millogo, to another village to take the middle school entrance exam. They were thrilled for an opportunity to ride on the back of a motorized tricycle. Two thirds of the students passed the exam, up from 4% in 2019, before each student had access to smaller class sizes, tutoring, books and materials for learning. For the second year in a row, Konkourona is among the highest performing, of 21 schools in the district! As a result of the tremendous elementary school success, a middle school is needed in Konkourona. Last week, the village land chief, village leaders and a government surveyor chose this idyllic site. Alignment among community leaders before work begins is the best way to ensure long term success and sustainability of all projects. While plans are being made for more construction, village leaders, parents, teachers and children joined forces with the Forestry Department to plant 1100 trees near new classrooms, new housing and the health center. This is the first time a community initiated project of this magnitude has been undertaken in the region. In just a few years, many of these trees will produce much needed food for the community, like mango, guava, cashews, and coconut, as well as much needed shade from the hot sun. Each tree is protected from grazing animals by small cages, and community members have divided up watering responsibilities to make sure trees survive. Life is gradually improving for people living in Konkourona, thanks to you.
Health center is approved!
We are thrilled to announce that the Minister of Health has just approved the new health center we helped build in Konkourona!!! Community members will soon have access to medical care in their village, which will greatly improve the length and quality of their lives! Now, we need only the release of the medical equipment from customs and hiring of healthcare workers to open.
Preparing for rain!
Digging has begun in Konkourona to prepare for the trees to be planted for reforestation in the rainy season from June to September. Renovations of an existing building to be used as a library are almost complete and the shelving, tables and chairs have been ordered. The roof was repaired, glass windows were installed, and electricity was added to power lights, fans and computers.Renovations of an existing building to be used as a library are almost complete and the shelving, tables and chairs have been ordered. The roof was repaired, glass windows were installed, and electricity was added to power lights, fans and computers. This will be the first time that reading materials other than textbooks are widely available, which will open new worlds of knowledge. There are so many people in the village that learned basic reading skills in elementary school, but had no access to books after that. Now, learning can continue for people of all ages. Great progress has been made on construction of the headquarters building and temporary housing for teachers. The brickwork for the walls is almost finished. The medical equipment and supplies for the health center are now in Burkina Faso, waiting to be released by customs. We are very eager to see this part of journey be completed so we can finally plan for the opening.
Big plans for 2022!
The medical equipment and supplies for the new health center in Konkourona made it to the port in Accra, Ghana 4 weeks ago, from West Grove, PA in the US. While we are waiting for the shipment to clear customs, work has started on several new projects. Desertification is a major concern in Burkina Faso, where trees are becoming scarce. Mami Siara Na sought the advice of the Department of Forestry to begin reforestation in the community. 1,000 native shade and fruit trees will be planted for food and 5,672 seedlings will be planted to create living hedges around school and health center grounds. Meters were installed at all faucet and fountain locations for the measurement and subsequent payment of water used, to ensure long-term sustainability of the the overall program. Dounko Sanou, Friends of African Village Libraries, Edmond Millogo, KAFO Program and Partnership Liaison, and Victorien Millogo, KAFO Field Program Director, met to discuss terms of a contract to begin work on creation of a library program in Konkourona. Sebre Ayouba (not shown), SCMS Technical Partner, will lead renovation of an existing building for the program. While meetings are typically conducted under trees, development in Konkourona has created the need for a more structured meeting and document storage facility. A headquarters is being constructed to serve as a meeting place for the management team overseeing construction, and sustainable maintenance of schools, the water system, the health center, environmental projects, and economic development activities. The headquarters will include 4 bedrooms for visitors from outside of this remote location for partnership, inspections, and temporary housing of skilled labor and teachers, as new schools and more permanent houses are built. Fieldstone was gathered from the grounds around Konkourona for the foundation of the headquarters building. Now that the number of students progressing to middle school has soared, there is a need for a middle school in Konkourona. There will be 4 classrooms, a meeting room, an office for the principal, and a storage room. We plan to start construction of the new middle school in September 2022 and expect approximately 140 students from Konkourona to attend when it opens in 2023.
Progress continues!
A delegation from Burkina Faso's Ministry of Health visited Konkourona in February and met with village leaders (below) to discuss the overall health center management system. Together, they covered the costs of essential medicines and vaccines, government support of the equipment needed and being sent from the United States, and the need for a transparent and auditable process for collecting payment for goods and services. A new water tower was built on the health center grounds (above) to provide running water throughout the health center facilities. New fountains were also built throughout the community to improve access to clean water for everyone (above). Soccer balls, nets and jerseys were sent from the United States for use in the Konkourona elementary school (above). Ball pumps and needles were sent too, but they must be in another box that has not arrived yet! On Sunday, I loaded my Prius up with 5 bikes donated by Hands in Service to begin shipment to Burkina Faso in anticipation of more elementary school success this year that will lead to dozens of additional students making the 2 hour trek to another village for middle school. I hope to ship 5 bikes each month so that there are enough available for all of the students who need one by the time the next school year begins. In September, we plan to begin construction of a middle school in Konkourona that should be ready for the 2023-2024 school year! Thank you so much for your help!
Message from President
You may have seen news about the President of Burkina Faso being overthrown by the military. Many of you have contacted KAFO to ask whether Konkourona is safe in the midst of these uncertain times. Thank you so much for your concern about the people in my native country. All is well in Konkourona. The community is focused on education of their children, expansion of the water system to provide access throughout the village, and finishing the health center The development in progress in Konkourona allows people to focus on something positive. I strongly believe that the work that KAFO is doing in partnership with the community is one of the most effective ways of preparing the country for a better future. Please join me in imagining Konkourona as a beacon of peace and prosperity in Burkina Faso. Thank you again for your continuous support. Dr. Jules Millogo, President Konkourona Alliance Foundation (KAFO), Inc.
Shipment was sent!
I had the great fortune to work with many people from Project c.u.r.e. over the past 10 months to prepare for shipment of medical equipment and supplies to Konkourona, Burkina Faso, some of whom are pictured here. Thankfully, Evariste Yanogo, who managed the actual shipping, purchased an extra large container for us, because we needed every last foot to fit everything in. In addition to the medical equipment and supplies, the container holds clothing for men, women and children, backpacks, books, kindles, soccer balls, cones and uniforms. Some things might have been a little impractical... ...but we are hoping the community gets the message we are sending loud and clear. The shipment left on Thursday, January 20th, bound for Konkourona. We expect it to arrive in March 2022!
Health center almost finished!
Hundreds of hard working people gathered to clean the grounds around their brand new maternal and child center, primary care center, pharmacy, housing for healthcare workers, kitchens, and latrines. Leaders are inviting people to make the health center a place that people from anywhere in the region, country and world would want to visit to obtain care. Keeping primary care separate from the maternal and child care will ensure privacy for women and children during prenatal and postnatal visits and during childbirth. It will also keep people with potential infectious diseases away from the most vulnerable members of the population. A pharmacy (right) was built right next to the primary care center (left). The pharmacy will provide access to essential medicines and vaccines. Three houses (above) were built for healthcare workers. Latrines (above) are critical to prevent contamination of food and reduce the risk of spreading diarrheal diseases. Incineration of healthcare waste (above) is an integral part of the overall health center to reduce the risk of transmitting diseases. The community has chosen to levy affordable fees to ensure sustainability of the water system and the health center. Over the next few weeks, the water system will be connected to the health center and access will be expanded throughout the village. KAFO is partnering with Project C.U.R.E in the United States and with Rotary clubs in the United States and Burkina Faso to provide medical equipment, and essential medicines and vaccines.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Family and friends from Merck & Co., Inc. , the Souderton-Telford Rotary Club , and Care and Share Thrift Shoppes came together this week to help us collect beautiful clothing and sturdy shoes to finish packing a shipping container of medical equipment to be donated by Project C.U.R.E. and soon to be sent by partner, Evariste Yanogo, to Konkourona, Burkina Faso. Friends also donated books, backpacks and computers for the shipment, carrying with them such great hope for a better future for the village. There are now almost 300 people who are part of the community of caring that has come together to improve access to education, water and healthcare in Konkourona. Together, we have accomplished so much in the past two years.
Back to school!
School typically starts in October in Burkina Faso, but sixth grade students and their teacher started one month early this year, with the hope of keeping up the momentum for the number of students passing the entrance exam for middle school. Students and teachers of other grades returned to school on 13-Sep-2021, three weeks early, paving the way for brighter futures. KAFO intern, Edmond Millogo (below), spent the past two months working with the Mami Siara Na Association in Konkourona determining how best to support all of the students. Edmond met with students, such as Sara, Joseph and Balkissa (below), to understand their interests and needs. All of the students dream of careers that will allow them to be fully independent through careers in education, healthcare and business. Edmond also met with KAFO Field Program Director, Victorien (below), to learn how each student's parents support development efforts in Konkourona. There were meetings with parents, village elders, middle school directors, store managers and transportation providers as Edmond negotiated entrance into middle schools in the closest town, purchased bikes for students to use to make the 11 mile trip to school, purchased books and school supplies for every student, and figured out how to get all of these supplies to the village. Konkourona Elementary School Director (Principal), Coulibaly Siaka, organized a ceremony to celebrate the students' success in earning exam scores in the top 2% of the Burkina Faso national average . The regional Prefect (Administrator, below), and many other dignitaries, such as Anifa Sanou, from Rotaract, attended and took part in the distribution of supplies. Students, teachers, parents, Coulibaly, Victorien, and Edmond have worked so hard to succeed and prepare for this school year, and partnership with KAFO has been instrumental in their progress. KAFO's leaders and supporters are committed to improving access to education, and it is working!
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