Ouagadougou: An association is raising awareness among students about wearing helmets in Hounde as part of the '1 Helmet, 1 Life' campaign of Hounde Gold Operation (HGO), conducted in partnership with Barka Energie. The Association of Patriots Committed to Development (APED) organized a road safety awareness day on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at the Tuy Provincial High School for students from the commune.
According to Burkina Information Agency, this activity aims to promote helmet use and raise awareness of road traffic rules. Around one hundred helmets were distributed to students, who also participated in quizzes on safe driving practices and presentations on the risks of not respecting the highway code and the consequences of traffic accidents.
Desire Bonde, representing the CEO of HGO, stated that this activity is part of the "1 Helmet, 1 Life" campaign, initiated by the Endeavour Foundation in collaboration with Barka Energie. Mr. Bonde indicated that HGO is donating 367 helmets to high school and middle school students in Hounde. He urged the recipients and all students to adopt responsible road behavior.
The president of the Association of Patriots Committed to Development (APED), Ousmane Sama, explained that the activity aims to protect the lives of students, who represent the future of the country. He announced the continuation of awareness sessions and the distribution of helmets in the city's schools.
The provincial director of Secondary Education, Vocational and Technical Training of Tuy, Seydou Traore, expressed gratitude to the initiators and reminded the students of the need to be careful in traffic.
The High Commissioner of Tuy Province, Issiaka Segda, praised the initiative. The provincial authority also paid tribute to the law enforcement officers engaged daily in traffic control.
Mr. Segda cited statistics from the provincial directorate of the National Police, reporting 129 accidents, including 17 fatalities, as well as numerous serious injuries recorded this year in the province. He urged the students to respect traffic rules, particularly traffic lights, and emphasized the necessity for those of legal age to obtain a driver's license before riding a motorcycle and to always wear a helmet.