#Education #Fadilatou #Neimata

Learning Together: The Journey of Fadilatou and Neimata

In the heart of Kaya, Burkina Faso, the summer break marks a time usually reserved for relaxation and leisure. Yet, for fourteen-year-old twins Fadilatou and Neimata, it signifies an opportunity to recommit themselves to their education. Instead of taking a break, the twins are diligently studying in a classroom, determined to catch up on their educational journey.

These classes, part of the transitional program funded by Education Cannot Wait (ECW), are designed specifically for children displaced by conflict or unable to attend school. The initiative, in conjunction with UNICEF and the Burkina Faso government, aims to help children regain lost educational opportunities and ultimately transition back into regular schooling. As they sit in a lively classroom filled with the sound of pens scratching on paper, Fadilatou and Neimata are not just studying; they are reclaiming their future.

Assèta Sawadogo, the twins' mother, expresses a mixture of pride and relief as she watches her daughters engage in learning. Only months ago, the family was forced to flee their home in the village of Damesma due to violence that posed an imminent threat to their safety. Arriving in Kaya, they found themselves grappling with uncertainty and fear.