Milk and fruit - not taken for granted by every child

Vitamins for children in Burkina Faso

Almost 20 years ago, Katrin Rohde took a courageous step and moved to Burkina Faso to offer hope to street boys. In 1995, Ms. Rohde was given a former garbage dump, which at first sight was an undesirable piece of land, but Ms. Rohde wasn't discouraged. With the helping hands of many, the former garbage dump has been transformed into a habitable area. Today, it is the home of the AMPO orphanage. Here, and in other AMPO buildings, live 280 children who are offered a new chance in life through a place called home and education programs. Additionally, a healthy diet is an important basis for the children's' growth.

Background

Burkina Faso is facing several geographic disadvantages: highly unstable weather conditions (floodings in 2009 and 2010, and a drought in 2011), landlocked location with high transportation costs, lack of accessible raw materials and low priced energy sources, very low education and productivity levels, as well as growing corruption (GIZ, 2004). Approximately, 80 percent of the population live in rural areas. Consequently, agriculture represents the most important source of revenue, though, many citizens leave the countryside in the search of new opportunities. The capital, Ouagadougou, is ever-growing and cannot host the incoming flow of people. The first to suffer from this evolution are at-risk children who are not taken care of by national social systems.

The good deed

AMPO is a first point of contact for at-risk children and women. Every year, AMPO's staff receives numerous demands for support. Many can be helped and are offered a place in one of AMPO's houses. All children at AMPO receive an education, and thus, a basis for a self-efficient life as an adult. Milk and vitamins are essential for the healthy development of the children.

Challenge

AMPO sees it as a challenge to offer every child in need the best possible support for healthy growth and a prosperous future.