BWEF News - 2021
September 2021
BWEF donors reacted within 24 hours to an appeal to equip Mariam, one of our new entrants who is a victim of polio, with a motorbike. Until now she has got around on a three-wheel bicycle. A board member suggested buying Mariam a motorbike, and a special collection raised enough for a new lightweight wheelchair as well. The National Centre for the Handicapped in Ouagadougou adapted the motorbike to a three-wheel version and showed her how to use it. Mariam is delighted to be riding her new motorbike which was delivered in September.
BWEF Photographer Abdoulaye delivering a lightweight wheelchair and three-wheel motorbike to Mariam, a victim of polio.
September 2021
With funding from the Bellevue Municipality of Geneva, we organised a 3-day computer course for our first-year students. Professional IT trainer Mr. Thierry Compaore was introduced to us by the French Institute in Ouagadougou. His company, FasoBrico, handles their computers.
He had hired a large room; he also hired computers for the girls who didn’t yet have them from us. Our next computer shipment should arrive before Christmas 2021. Each student received a certificate on completion of the course.
Our girls getting computer training.
August 2021
BWEF voted enthusiastically to adopt an entire women’s soccer team as beneficiaries, providing them with school supplies for the school year 2021-22. The project started back in April 2021 when Fred challenged Boubié, the brother in law of one our former beneficiaries, to start a girls’ soccer team. Boubié is a policeman and coach of the police soccer team in Ouagadougou. He also coaches a boys’ football team on condition that they remain in school. He took up Fred’s challenge with the same condition to keep the girls in school.
We offer school supplies to 22 members of our girls' soccer team.
June 2021
Pupils from the Stella Maris Middle school in Saint-Quay-Portrieux presented Fred Eckhard with a cheque for 500 euros. They had skipped their usual lunch on good Friday for a plate of rice, donating the money the school had saved to BWEF. The school has been supporting BWEF with their annual “Day of Solidarity – Operation Bowl of Rice” since 2013. Thank you Stella Maris!
Stella Maris Middle school pupils with their principal, Fabienne Jouan (far left) and teacher Gwenola Woodhead (far right). Photo: Lionel Le Gocquen, La Presse d'Armor
April 2021
BWEF launched a second emergency campaign, to help the 31 young women whose education we are currently funding, building on the success of our 2020 campaign. Our needy young women still need soap, cereal and cooking oil as we continue to finance their education. Until now, no COVID-19 vaccines have been available in Burkina Faso.
Fatoumata receives supplies of soap, cereal and cooking oil in Bobo-Dioulasso
March 2021
In 2020, BWEF obtained a grant from the UN 1% Fund to refurbish and modernize the dressmaking school of Noëlie Zongo who has helped some of our students in Burkina Faso. The UN fund is financed by employees who voluntarily contribute 1% of their salaries to development projects The work was completed in February 2021.
Zénabou, assistant to the Director, trying out the new overseamer.
March 2021
President Fred Eckhard presented his president’s report on BWEF’s 2020 activities to a meeting of the Geneva board held via Zoom.
BWEF Geneva Board Members meeting by Zoom.
January 2021
Despite the challenge of the Covid pandemic, 2020 was a very successful year in terms of fundraising for BWEF. Thanks to our generous donors, we raised the equivalent of €50,000 via our three branches, allowing us to take on 31 students in Burkina Faso for the 2020-21 academic year. We’re proud to announce that in the 10 years since BWEF was founded, this means we will have funded the higher education of 84 young women from underprivileged backgrounds.
Our girls giving thumbs up after receiving a health briefing.