03.04.2013 - In Burkina Faso, disadvantaged children need to have time outside school to help their parents. Unfortunately, public schools don’t have flexible timetables, and many children have no choice but to leave school. In addition, there is not much chance of them having practical training, such as an apprenticeship.

Arouna Tondé is 17 years old and lives in Goumsé in the centre of Burkina Faso. He had to leave school when he was 14, because he didn’t pass his exams and his father didn’t have enough money to pay for college. So Arouna stayed at home and helped his parents with various tasks but with no prospect for future training.

When they heard of a school in the village supported by Enfants du Monde, Arouna and his family were very happy that he was able to attend school again. Children who haven’t been to school or who have left before completing their education are now able to take up their studies again thanks to this school. It also links theory and practice in a continuous timetable, which means that children are able to finish their lessons early, so they can work and help their parents. After school, Arouna has enough time to work with the family’s animals: cattle, pigs, goats, sheep and hens. He fetches water for them, feeds them, and brings them back to the farm at night. After completing their education, the school also makes it possible for children to take up apprenticeships with selected tradesmen.

Arouna is very proud that he was able to return to school: as his parents can’t write, he can help them when they need to write a letter. He is now in his final year and has clear ideas about his ambitions for the future: “Next year I would like to start training as a mechanic with a tradesman. My dream is to have a workshop of my own”.