Volunteer Work Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso gained independence from France in 1960, but it has faced many challenges since that time including instability, droughts, famines, and corruption. Various coups have occurred throughout its history, with the most recent ones in January and September 2022.

The landlocked nation in West Africa is now one of the poorest countries in the world ranking in 184th place out of 191 countries and territories in 2021 in terms of life expectancy, literacy, access to knowledge and the living standards of a country. Life expectancy is just 59.73 years (2020) and in one recent 12 month period a staggering 1000,000 children were orphaned as a result of AIDS/HIV. In fact one out of every five children in Burkina Faso is an orphan or as been abandoned.

With just 20% of the population earning a wage, you may expect there to be many volunteer work placements and opportunities in Burkina Faso. In fact, there are very few ~ the country simply has no working infrastructure and those in charge are poorly educated with just 8% of eligible children actually attending secondary school. What volunteer work there is focuses on education and orphans as well as health awareness in an attempt to stop the population being further decimated by the AIDS virus.

Please note that many volunteer opportunities in Burkina Faso were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic which led to the permanent closure of some volunteer opportunities and restrictions on others and now, given the instability in the country, most volunteer work programs have been suspended so maybe cross Burkina Faso off your volunteering bucket list for a year or so. Sorry.

Volunteer Burkina Faso

Transform Burkina

Transform Burkina works to eradicate poverty in Burkina Faso through education, health and water provision.
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Red Cross

The Red Cross in Burkina Faso works to prevent and resolve humanitarian crises in the country.
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Amurt

Occasional volunteer work opportunities in Burkina Faso improving access to health care and safe water.
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MSF

Médecins Sans Frontières run health clinics and also work with refugees from neighbouring Mali.
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World Friends Africa

Volunteer work empowering women and their childrenby providing education and training.
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Children's Lives

About daily life for a child in Burkina Faso in facts & information with details of support projects.
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Sponsor a Child

Another way to help is to sponsor a child in Burkina Faso with these child sponsor programs.
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Burkina Profile

Explore all about the west African country of Burkina Faso in pictures, videos and images.
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Volunteer Work Burkina Faso

If you are considering volunteer work in Burkina Faso check out our profile pages to explore the country before you visit and learn how to make the most of your volunteer work there.