Zoundwogo: More than 300 children from the eleven Child and Youth Development Centers (CDEJ) in Zoundwogo province participated from June 14 to 16, 2026, in Manga, in the ’72 Hours of the Cluster Children’, organized by the Manga Cluster with the support of Compassion International Burkina. These events were part of the celebration of the Day of the African Child, themed: “Access to water, sanitation and hygiene: a fundamental right for every child”.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the chairman of the organizing committee, Jacques Oudraogo, stated that the event aims to strengthen ties between children from different CDEJs of the Manga Cluster while promoting their development. “In total, 335 children participated in these 72 hours. The activities included sports competitions, a cycling race, artistic performances as well as the finals of the various competitions,” he said.
For the organizers, the choice of theme addresses a significant challenge that many children continue to face. “Insufficient access to drinking water and poor hygiene promote the emergence of waterborne diseases that seriously affect children’s health. It is therefore necessary to redouble efforts to guarantee every child the exercise of this fundamental right,” stressed Mr. Oudraogo.
Compassion International Burkina’s partnership facilitator for the Manga Cluster, Irissa Nhmie Oudraogo, recalled that the Day of the African Child commemorates the Soweto uprising in South Africa, during which many children lost their lives while demanding their right to a quality education. “This day provides an opportunity to promote children’s rights and raise awareness in communities about the actions needed to ensure their protection and well-being,” he said.
The provincial president of the Federation of Evangelical Churches and Missions (FEME) of Zoundwogo, Pastor Camille Bamouni, invited parents to continue to support their children. ‘Children are not only the Church of tomorrow; they are already the Church of today. We must invest in their education so that they become responsible citizens who are useful to society,’ he said.
He also praised the support of Compassion International Burkina, which enabled the construction of several infrastructures in the province, including three boreholes and five VIP latrine blocks, thus contributing to improved access to drinking water and sanitation for children and communities. “Together for healthy children, today and tomorrow” is the message conveyed by this celebration, which aims to make access to water, sanitation and hygiene a reality for all children.