|
the country
Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta), a country in the Sahel,
is one of the poorest and underdeveloped countries with a population of roughly
13 Million. The capital is Ouagadougou (pop.: 1-2 Million).
development challenges
Although the soil is very dry and infertile, 80% of the population make their living as subsistence farmers. Due to unregular
rainfall patterns, famines occur.
Other major problems of the country: Malaria, high infant mortality, AIDS (4,2%),
illiteracy (75%), migration into cities, desertification and corruption. Burkina Faso enjoys religious
stability: Christians, Moslems and Animists live peacefully side by side.
the NGO
The retired joiner Franz Grandits innitiated the biggest private charity
project of Austria in 1996. The Non Governmental Organization "Burkina Faso
Hilfe Direkt" (direct help) received up to this date donations in cash
at a total sum of more than EUR 1,000,000. The population of Burkina Faso is the sole
and direct beneficiary and receives 100% of the donations as all the funds finance projects on the ground.
All members and friends of the NGO work on
specific projects for free and finance travel on their own.
"Burkina Faso - Hilfe Direkt" is active in the following sectors: health, social and education. Education provides the only means to fight poverty and to achieve sustainale
development.
Other members of the ONG are Dr. Peter Schopf
(dentist in Güssing, Burgenland), Frau Ulrike Schober
(midwife), Roland Linzatti (student at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna)
and Dr. Peter Gschaider (physician).
The NGO does not receive any
financial assistance from the government.
The projects
Until this day, Mr. Grandits has travelled to Burkina Faso around 40
times in order to guarantee a constant monitoring of the projects under implementation and to use the funds as
effective as possible. The first project was a vocational
school in Djibo, situated in the very north of the country. Until now, more
then 30 projects have been completed: one hospital, one dental clinic, one
obstetric clinic, orphanages, housing for expelled women, churches, wells,
and 8 schools. Austrian godparents make school attendance for many deprived
children possible. Dr Schopf works primary in the medical sector. Among other achievements a Burkinabé was trained t
o manage medically the dental clinic, as well as the current administrator.
The NGO is
mostly active in the North of the Country as this is the poorest region of Burkina Faso
|