A focus on youth and support for those in greatest need, Burkina Faso
Cotecna’s involvement in the direct support of Burkina Faso’s national educational objective of increasing the number of children who attend school continues throughout the years.
In 2009, Cotecna presented a range of sports equipment to the children of Napamboumbou primary school in Burkina Faso’s Ziniaré district. This latest contribution is part of a longstanding commitment to the school. In 2007, Cotecna financed the building of the school. It now has six fully-equipped classrooms, accommodation for the teachers, and the infrastructure needed to ensure the health and safety of staff and students, such as a canteen, sanitary facilities and a well to ensure the availability of clean water.
In the same spirit of supporting local initiatives, Cotecna sponsored a tree-planting ceremony organized by the Ministry of Youth and Employment to celebrate International Youth Day. The event took place in Bissiga, near Ouagadougou, and was attended by around 5 000 enthusiastic young people who planted 15 000 trees over approximately 17 hectares. Their efforts on the day were a tangible example of the chosen theme: “Emphasizing the contribution of youth to sustainable development is to ensure our future”.
Burkina Faso suffered torrential rain and extensive flooding, resulting in loss of life and in the destruction of homes and public buildings. Cotecna’s employees in the country responded immediately and spontaneously, collecting funds to buy five tons of rice. The company supported their efforts, making a donation to the government. It was estimated that around 30 tons of rice per day were needed to feed those who had been injured or displaced, and the Burkina Faso government praised Cotecna for leading the way among corporate donors.