Dédougou canton chief supports girls' education, stating educated girls contribute more to their families

On Saturday, April 18, 2026, a delegation of students met with the canton chief of Dédougou to advocate for girls' education, coinciding with the launch of a communication campaign for girls' schooling in the Boucle du Mouhoun and Centre-Nord regions. Fatima Bambara, a student in her first year of high school, and her classmates presented concerning statistics: over four out of ten girls in the country do not complete primary school, and in some areas, one in two girls is married before 18. Out of 100 girls entering primary school, only 34 reach the ninth grade, and barely 15 make it to the final year of high school. The students, accompanied by teams from the Women's Empowerment and Demographic Dividend in Sub-Saharan Africa SWEED+ project and officials from the Union of Religious and Customary Leaders of Burkina for Health Promotion and Development URCB/SD, called for increased awareness campaigns, encouragement for families to send their daughters to school, and support to keep them enrolled until completion. They pledged to respect teachers, supervisors, and parents, and to contribute to the collective effort. The canton chief of Dédougou found their plea courageous and meaningful, expressing his commitment to mobilizing his community for this cause. He believes that "a successful girl brings more to her nuclear family than a man." Moussa Bambara, executive director of URCB/SD, highlighted the crucial role of traditional and religious authorities in promoting behavioral c