Ioba: The Bishop of the Diocese of Di©bougou, Mgr Der Rapha«l Dabir©, officially launched the "Inclusive Education at the Basic Level - Promoting Inclusive Education from Kindergarten onwards" project in Dano. The ceremony was led by the High Commissioner of the Ioba province, Innocents Ouattara, and marked the beginning of an initiative by the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul to address the educational needs of children with disabilities in the commune of Dano.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the project, which has secured funding from Africa Action Deutschland (AAD) for three years, was developed in response to the high number of children with disabilities not attending school in Dano. The launch workshop aimed to engage administrative authorities, technical services, and community leaders to integrate the rights of people with disabilities into local development efforts.
Cecilia Toyin Abegunde, head of the Daughters of Charity and project manager, emphasized that all children have the right to education as per international conventions. She highlighted the importance of inclusion for people with disabilities to build a just society and pointed out the persistent challenges in accessing education despite state efforts. The congregation aims to support the education of children with disabilities in Dano and the wider diocese of Di©bougou through this project.
The project details were shared with participants, and a support and monitoring committee was formed to oversee the awareness-raising activities. Bishop Rapha«l Dabir© noted the marginalization of children with disabilities in the education system and praised the Daughters of Charity for their commitment to inclusive education, supported by project coordinator Jean Claude Kam. He called on provincial authorities to back the project's implementation.
High Commissioner Ouattara lauded the initiative for its potential to improve the future prospects of at-risk children and urged stakeholders to support the project for its success. Richard Som©, first vice-president of the Dano municipal special delegation, encouraged traditional and religious leaders to foster positive attitudes towards disability, expressing confidence that the project would enhance living conditions for people with disabilities by improving access to education. The Daughters of Charity have been active in the Diocese of Di©bougou since 2023 and in the Diocese of Nouna since 2009, focusing on early childhood development and support for disabled and mentally ill individuals, aligning with their mission of promoting human dignity.