Burkina Faso is in 184thd place out of 191 countries and territories in 202 when ranked in terms of life expectancy, literacy, access to knowledge and the living standards of a country making it significantly lower than both low human development and sub-Saharan development. 90% of Burkinabe live in rural areas, with homes being traditional huts with thatch roofs often clustered together and surrounded by a mud and brick wall that serves as a courtyard. Government staff such as teachers and nurses are often provided with concrete block homes with corrugated tin roofs. Electricity and running water are generally not available although some enterprising villagers attempt to charge batteries from solar panels and the odd gas fridge can be seen. As with so many other countries in West Africa, the daily routine of fetching water takes up a fair share of the day with villagers often having to walk many miles to a borehole, collecting water in plastic buckets and dishes.

Life for children in Burkina Faso normally starts with the first cock crow around 5-6am followed by undertaking household chores such as sweeping the yard, home to the family' animals ~ normally chickens and goats. Some boys will then go off to school, but girls are often required to stay at home looking after family members and undertaking other daily tasks such as washing and cleaning. One 12 year old Burkina Faso boy commented "My Dad says that girls shouldn't go to school because they need to work at home and become wives and have children. But I think that when I have a wife I would like her to have gone to school."