The Diocese of Nouna in the province of Kossi, Burkina Faso has a predominantly young population, with children comprising a significant portion. 

In recent months, there has been a massive movement of people from rural to urban areas resulting in a natural divide between populations, exacerbated by the fact that many of these children are aware they live in someone else’s home.  With little security in place, there is much incivility and organized crime. 

The actions of unidentified armed individuals have had a profound impact on the students. Some were repeatedly threatened on their way to school, while others witnessed their school supplies destroyed or set on fire. 

Many of the children who endured these abuses were on the brink of despair, not knowing where to find what they needed for their education. 

Thanks to the aid received, 460 children have been provided with school kits. This assistance has been a huge relief for the children, as well as for the parents who were left speechless and the teachers who watched helplessly as their classrooms emptied day after day.

The church is also working in a pastoral capacity to counter this situation by working with children and youth to emphasize nonviolence, culture, and social cohesion in order to convey a message of peace and tolerance. 

Fostering interactions among children, particularly through activities like sports, is crucial to bridging this divide and promoting principles of mutual support.

The children’s movements, “Brave Hearts” and “Valiant Souls” (CV-AV), as well as the children’s choir (Samuel Group), serve as a means of transmitting moral, human, and spiritual values to Burkinabé society.