Ouagadougou: The population of the village of Kourakou, in the commune of Yargatenga, mobilized in large numbers on Saturday for a reforestation project at the village's primary school. Initiated by the association Action Sant© sans Fronti¨re (ASF), the activity is part of the presidential initiative to re-green Burkina Faso.

According to Burkina Information Agency, with technical support from the municipality's environmental department, around thirty plants of various species were planted within the school grounds. Armed with pickaxes, hoes, and other tools, women, men, and children took turns planting the trees. The operation also involved the Defense and Security Forces (FDS), the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP), and traditional leaders.

This strong mobilization demonstrates the commitment of communities to contribute to the restoration of vegetation cover and the improvement of living conditions. Speaking on behalf of the ASF association, its communications officer, Denis Souman©, welcomed the presidential initiative and thanked all the stakeholders involved.

'We thank the FDS, the VDP, the environmental service and all the people of Kourakou for their commitment. We now invite educational stakeholders and parents of students to ensure the proper maintenance of these plants for their survival,' he said. The headmaster of the beneficiary school, Jean-Pierre Diessongo, said he was very satisfied with this action and expressed his gratitude to the ASF association for this donation.

"When we talk about health, we also talk about trees. These trees will relieve teachers, students and the entire population. They will provide shade and help create a healthier environment for learning," he stated. He also thanked the parents for their participation and promised to take concrete steps from the start of the next school year to ensure the survival of the plants.

For Aguiwa Tougri, a member of the school council, "trees are an essential asset for humanity." She praised the community's mobilization and assured them that awareness campaigns would be conducted to encourage the care of the trees. Representing her classmates, student Marie Zampaligr©, for her part, took the students' commitment to contribute to the maintenance of the trees.

"When these trees grow, they will give us shade to study. We, the students, pledge to divide ourselves into groups at the start of the new term for watering and maintaining these trees," she said. Through this project, the people of Kourakou intend to contribute to the fight against desertification and the restoration of vegetation cover. The initiative will also improve the living conditions and learning environment for students at the village's primary school.