Ouahigouya: The Yii-Bisnan association celebrated the first edition of "Orphan Day" this Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the Leo Youth and Culture Center. Under the theme "Together Against Child Abuse," this event was marked by donations and moving messages advocating for the protection of vulnerable children and internally displaced persons (IDPs).
According to Burkina Information Agency, the event was chaired by the High Commissioner of the Sissili province, Tewende Isaac Sia, aiming to "bring comfort to the hearts" of children who have lost their parents as well as to the indigent. The president of the Yii-Bisnan association, Issaka Ouedraogo, presented a social report. His organization currently supports 50 children, including 33 girls and 17 boys, through educational, healthcare, and nutritional assistance. Ouedraogo emphasized the reality of child abuse and detailed actions undertaken, such as training 30 displaced women in soap making and providing specific support for widows in situations of extreme vulnerability.
The beneficiaries' representative, Lena Nacro, shared a firsthand account of abandonment and violence, urging the audience to listen and love the children. Lazare Malgoubri, the juvenile judge at the Leo High Court, emphasized that child protection is a legal and community obligation, urging families to guide children to prevent delinquency.
High Commissioner Tewende Isaac Sia condemned the exploitation and deprivation suffered by some orphans, stating that denouncing abuse is a civic duty and assuring that the administration would ensure the strict application of the law. Ms. Topan/Sanogo Fatimata, the spokesperson for the godparents, called for strengthening protection mechanisms so that every child can grow up in dignity.
The humanitarian aspect of the ceremony included the distribution of kits containing 25 kg bags of rice, corn, and jerrycans of oil. These donations benefited children supported by the association, the Boura orphanage, and internally displaced families. The event concluded with artistic performances and the presentation of certificates of appreciation to partners, with blessings from the representative of His Majesty Lio-Pio Dan-Zw¨.