Child sponsorship update from Dafr

Update for child sponsors from the SOS Children's Village Dafra Burkina Faso from Winter 2007/2008.

We would like to thank you on behalf of all the staff of SOS Children's Village of Dafra for your support. This is also the opportunity for us to inform you about the Village.

On 23 June 2007, the Village and the SOS School celebrated SOS Day. On this occasion, the children were delighted to participate in cultural and sport activities: cross, skits, songs and dance. During the same period each of the 12 SOS Village families celebrated Mother's Day: the children told stories, recited poems and offered gifts to their SOS mothers.

In July, in preparation for the new school year the children made their schoolbags themselves under the supervision of the monitor tailor. Meanwhile, an SOS mother initiated a workshop of traditional braids for the girls of the Village to train them in traditional hairdressing.

In August and September, most of the children went to their biological or expanded families to spend the holidays. Just before that, from 6 August, the municipality of Bobo-Dioulasso held a cultural event called Fitini Show (the show of little children) under the patronage of the Mayor. It is a competition of song, dance, playback, etc. Some children of the Village took part in the competition in the playback category and were ranked 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th. On 28 September, the Village organised a cultural evening in honor of the winners of this competition. A local artist, who is very much appreciated by the children, was invited as the sponsor of the ceremony.

Educational activities for children

The SOS School, where the Village children are enrolled, closed its 2006-2007 educational activities on 30 June with a ceremony. The academic performance of the children of the Village was good. Eleven of the 53 children were awarded prizes by the school in terms of their performance. The 2007-2008 school year started in October. 71 of the Village children are enrolled at the SOS School this year.

The ceremony marking the end of the educational activities of the SOS Nursery School was held on June 16. Two of the 44 Village children who were enrolled, resumed the middle section. In other sections, they managed to go up to the higher grade. This 2007-2008 year the SOS Nursery School comprises 199 children including 47 SOS Village children. The other children are deprived children from the immediate environment.

From 25 to 29 July, the SOS Nursery School organised an expedition in the province of Kénédougou, in the West of Bobo-Dioulasso. The children visited mango drying units, the Maison de l'Enfance André Dupont (an institution of support for children in difficulty) as well as the Mont Ténakourou which is the highest peak of Burkina Faso.

As part of the socio-cultural activities the monitors initiated a workshop of drawing, chain and garland making for the children who did not leave the Village during the summer holidays. They also undertook activities to help the few children who had learning difficulties.

From 15 to 22 October 2007, the Village welcomed 15 new children bringing the total number of children to 120.

All this work has only been possible thanks to your support. It's the opportunity for us to renew our thanks.

Best wishes for the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
May they bring you much health and happiness.

Merry Christmas
A Happy New Year 2008

Yours sincerely,

Narcisse Dabiré