Gourcy:About one hundred girls from the town of Gourcy have completed a training session on the "Girl Shine" approach, organized by the Rural World Association (AMR) in partnership with the International Rescue Committee (IRC).
According to Burkina Information Agency, the official graduation ceremony took place on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at the women's center in Gourcy. The training aimed to enhance the psychosocial skills, well-being, self-confidence, and resilience of these girls against violence, exploitation, and discrimination.
The year-long training involved facilitators, tutors, and mentors, culminating in a graduation ceremony held across the centers in Bougounam, Gourcy, Tangaye, and Kasseba-Samo. The event not only celebrated the achievements of the participants but also sought to reinforce community commitment to protecting adolescent girls.
The ceremony featured artistic performances, exhibitions of objects crafted by the learners, and testimonials. It was attended by representatives from administrative, customary, and religious authorities, along with community mentors.
Marius Tamalgo, from the Provincial Directorate of Humanitarian Action in Zondoma, addressed the graduates, encouraging them to be "daughters of light" and to use their training to support others in difficult times. He described the workshop as a space of freedom, listening, and sharing.
Representatives from AMR and IRC, Abdoulaye Savadogo and Christine Souli, expressed gratitude to all contributors to the initiative's success and urged the girls to apply their acquired knowledge for positive community impact.
Mentor Mamounata Oudraogo noted the girls' transformation from being shy to confidently expressing themselves. Through their representative, Ladifata Zoumbri, the girls pledged to embody the expected positive image.
This training was part of the project "Health, Sexual and Reproductive Rights, Protection and Socio-Economic Empowerment of Women in the Context of the Crisis in Northern Burkina Faso," carried out by AMR and IRC.