I think this visit deserves its own blog entry. My friend and colleague, Alice (on the right) invited us to a film (during FESPACO) about her mother (center), who started AVOB in 1974. It was such an inspiring film that we arranged a visit to the Association.
I should explain what often happens to a woman here when her husband dies. His brother has the right to all of her possessions – house, moto, savings, everything. He can choose to take her as his wife if he wishes. He can also turn her & her children out on the street, without any of the possessions they worked so hard to have – even if it’s the woman who earned them. In fact, its against the Napoleonic Code, but it’s a long standing West African tradition that few women can challenge.
So, when Mme Kaboré’s husband died leaving her with 8 children aged between 5 and 25, she suddenly became aware of these difficult issues. She decided to do something about this travesty, and formed AVOB – and its been her passion for the last 30 years.
Mme. Kaboré is not your average woman – M. Kaboré had been a high ranking government official, and she learned to read and write, drive a car and be active in her community long before that was common. All 6 of her daughters (as well as her 2 sons) are university educated – in a time when less than 15% of girls even went beyond 6th grade!!!
AVOB provides:
* legal support (and moral support) for women contesting their loss of possessions in the courts
* literacy training – a CRUCIAL activity, as only about 30% of adult women are literate here.
* vocational training – sewing, weaving, and other income generating activities
* a kindergarten for the orphans
* a free family planning clinic
* a free pediatric care clinic
* an HIV voluntary counseling and testing service is about to open
* nutritional support – this program has been phased out for lack of resources, but they provided an important relief source during some of the famines (Burkina has famines on a sadly regular basis).
Not bad for a nearly 80 year old woman (in a country where the life expectancy is below 50!)!! Mme. Kaboré at one time did lots of traveling to seek sources of funding for her activities but as she ages she is in declining health and isn’t able to do that so AVOB is facing critical funding shortages and is cutting back on some of their activities.
This is a group with 30 years of history, started by a Burkinabé woman, for Burkinabé women. It is such an important group, I’d hate to see them fold. So, one of my reasons for writing this blog entry – do you know of a women’s group, or some service group who would be interested in donating to or working with AVOB?
One of the challenges here, in the world’s 4th poorest country, is that the needs are never ending. Everywhere I look there is an outstretched hand. But this group has a well established history and excellent track record. And they serve an extremely vulnerable group in this society.
I should explain what often happens to a woman here when her husband dies. His brother has the right to all of her possessions – house, moto, savings, everything. He can choose to take her as his wife if he wishes. He can also turn her & her children out on the street, without any of the possessions they worked so hard to have – even if it’s the woman who earned them. In fact, its against the Napoleonic Code, but it’s a long standing West African tradition that few women can challenge.
So, when Mme Kaboré’s husband died leaving her with 8 children aged between 5 and 25, she suddenly became aware of these difficult issues. She decided to do something about this travesty, and formed AVOB – and its been her passion for the last 30 years.
Mme. Kaboré is not your average woman – M. Kaboré had been a high ranking government official, and she learned to read and write, drive a car and be active in her community long before that was common. All 6 of her daughters (as well as her 2 sons) are university educated – in a time when less than 15% of girls even went beyond 6th grade!!!
AVOB provides:
* legal support (and moral support) for women contesting their loss of possessions in the courts
* literacy training – a CRUCIAL activity, as only about 30% of adult women are literate here.
* vocational training – sewing, weaving, and other income generating activities
* a kindergarten for the orphans
* a free family planning clinic
* a free pediatric care clinic
* an HIV voluntary counseling and testing service is about to open
* nutritional support – this program has been phased out for lack of resources, but they provided an important relief source during some of the famines (Burkina has famines on a sadly regular basis).
Not bad for a nearly 80 year old woman (in a country where the life expectancy is below 50!)!! Mme. Kaboré at one time did lots of traveling to seek sources of funding for her activities but as she ages she is in declining health and isn’t able to do that so AVOB is facing critical funding shortages and is cutting back on some of their activities.
This is a group with 30 years of history, started by a Burkinabé woman, for Burkinabé women. It is such an important group, I’d hate to see them fold. So, one of my reasons for writing this blog entry – do you know of a women’s group, or some service group who would be interested in donating to or working with AVOB?
One of the challenges here, in the world’s 4th poorest country, is that the needs are never ending. Everywhere I look there is an outstretched hand. But this group has a well established history and excellent track record. And they serve an extremely vulnerable group in this society.
1 comment:
You might be getting more hits on your blog in the next few weeks. I've put up posts on a few feminist boards and linked back to this post. I'm trying to locate some funding ideas from folks in the US and other parts of the West.
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