Updating status from a mobile phone in Burkina Faso. This feels nothing short of miraculous. We go to La Petite to discuss with the village drilling a new well… the fulfillment of a promise made almost 3 years ago.

Three years after Ina and Esu made a promise to the women of La Petite village, the cofounders of the BARKA Foundation return to Burkina Faso to keep their word.  After years of personal sacrifice (Ina and Esu draw no wage from their work with BARKA), a few months of personal tragedy and hardships (Esu’s father, a huge supporter of BARKA passed away recently and Ina hurt her ankle), they rise above their own lives to fulfill their promise.

In their own words:

We’re now waiting for the women of the village to arrive to begin a meeting with those who asked us in 2008 to help them address the community’s dire water needs. Tomorrow morning we meet with the entire village to talk about the project. It’s been a long time coming and it’s finally here! –March 25, 2012

In a world where transparency is one of the more difficult goals organizations aspire to, BARKA has set a standard of excellence, honesty, and accountability:

The women were so happy to see us and hear the news about the project they couldn’t express it in words. –March 25, 2012

Ina and Esu continue to let their supporters know about their struggles and triumphs from the ground in Burkina Faso by updating their status on Facebook.  We at BARKA believe in using technology to connect people across the globe because we strongly believe that we can learn from and help one another.  The goal of the BARKA Foundation is to give the Burkinabe a hand up towards their goal of a better future, not a handout.  We believe in working together towards the solution.

Only 90 minutes from a meeting with the entire village. There will be hundreds of people coming. We’ll tell them about all the people in North America who care for them and have made this possible. –March 26, 2012

Following the initial jubilee of their return, Ina and Esu got to work on the logistics of well-drilling.  On April 3^rd, they wrote:

We have a signed contract with the well driller! Happy day. We travel with them today to introduce them to the community of Tantiaka. Then, hopefully back in time to return to Ouagadougou for a series of meetings in the next 3 days. Need to scare up some local funding for other projects aspects such as the training of a mechanic to know how to repair the well.

Things are moving forward for BARKA!  And we couldn’t do it without your support, so keep it up! 

The hot winds of the Sahara are blowing strong- winds of change. -Ina & Esu