Testimonial

“This year in the Global Village class the students looked at micro-loans and how do we as a country and as individuals have an impact worldwide. BARKA came into the classes, explained microfinance economically, socially and physically in terms of what they produce. BARKA showed films of women in Burkina Faso receiving and using micro-loans. It gave the kids a real understanding not only of world economics but of how they can be empowered to help other people just through their academic studies and coming together to organize a drive from micro-loans.”

Maeve Hitzenbuhler, Principal, Monument Mountain Regional High School

In Burkina, BARKA is focused on ensuring schools have access to clean water, basic sanitation and hygiene education.  In addition, we are exploring the feasibility of creating a school garden to help facilitate a lunch program.  This is extremely important as most Burkinabe school children come to school so hungry they have difficulty concentrating on their studies.

Increasingly, BARKA is building bridges between schools and students to foster direct interaction with each other.  Media and information communications technology is a key driver to facilitate this kind of inter-cultural exchange.  BARKA’s co-founders were recently invited to Project WET’s “Sustaining the Blue Planet” Confrence on Water & Education where they gave a presentation about “WASH ART”, a program BARKA is pioneering that uses the cultural arts to teach basic hygiene and to facilitate a video dialogue between students in the US and Burkina Faso.  BARKA is a FlipVideo Spotlight Partner and will use simple FlipVideo cameras to help indigenous children become digital storytellers.

Educational Initiatives in the US focus on curriculum-based service-learning initiatives that engage students in making a difference in the world, specifically in Burkina Faso.

Sullivan Elementary School 3rd Grade Class

North Adams, MA

• Raised $700 and $1200 in 2007 and 2008 respectively for BARKA’s well drilling effort as part of a service-learning project based on the earth science block of the Water Cycle

North Adams Transcript: “Students Unite to Help West Africa Water Shortage”

Gabriel Abbott Memorial School (K-8)

Florida, MA

• Devised a K-8 curriculum that engaged every student in the school in aspects of water or West Africa.
• A fundraising dinner event was held on World Water Day, student art was auctioned, students screened a related film and performed African drumming and dance.
• $1800 was raised for BARKA Foundation’s forthcoming well project.

Berkshire Eagle: “Unbottled Education: Students fundraise for Clean Water Projects in West Africa” (Download)
iBerkshires.com: “School Project Takes Abbott Kids into Deep Water”

Monument Mountain Regional High School (9-12)

Great Barrington, MA

• Initiated the first Walk for Water in 2008 and raised $4000.
• Ina & Esu discussed microfinance with the Global Village class
• Engaged students to raise funds to add to BARKA’s micro-finance initiative

Berkshire Eagle: “BARKA Foundation for the Berkshires; Group Brings Culture, Water to Africa”

Railroad Street Youth Project

Great Barrington, MA

• Local Great Barrington, MA youth group self-organized a “Local Initiative for Peace”
• Adopted an English-speaking class in Fada as its concrete action for peace-building
• Established penpals, emailed, and sent care package
• Enriched and empowered students on both sides of the Atlantic

Partner Schools

Sullivan Elementary School (North Adams, MA)

Gabriel Abbott Memorial School (Florida, MA)

Monument Mountain Regional High School (Great Barrington, MA)

Railroad Street Youth Project (Great Barrington, MA)

The Wassookeag Home School (Orono, ME)

Bard College at Simon’s Rock (Great Barrington, MA)

John Bapst High School (Bangor, ME)

Monument Valley Middle School (Great Barrington, MA)

Marblehead Community Charter School (Marblehead, MA)

Marblehead Veteran’s Middle School

Marblehead High School

Crosby Elementary School

Waldorf High School

Mt. Greylock High School (Williamstown, MA)

Greece Odyssey Academy

North Salem State University (Rotaract Club)

Williams College

Testimonial

“I think it’s a perfect thing for a high school in the Berkshires or anywhere else in this country to be involved in (BARKA’s) work in Burkina Faso. It gives the kids a sense outside of their geographical limits, it opens their horizons in terms of world cultures, languages, literature, economics, poverty, amazing assets that they might not otherwise have access to. It gives them a sense that they are empowered to help.”

Maeve Hitzenbuhler, Principal, Monument Mountain Regional High School, (MA)