The Sonder Project | 2019 Annual Report 2019 | Page 10

2019 THE SONDER PROJECT YEAR–END REVIEW School Well WHERE WE WORK BURKINA FASO Burkina Faso remains one of the poorest countries in the world, and the obstacles to development are plentiful and dangerous. In 2015, following a citizen uprising, Burkina Faso became a shining example of modern democracy, as its leader of 27 years was finally toppled and replaced by a democratically elected government. Unfortunately, the change in leadership caused a power vacuum that allowed terrorist organizations operating in the far northern region of the country to grow and displace hundreds of thousands of people. On top of its political challenges, Burkina Faso is on the forefront of the climate crisis, as it’s been plagued by desertification and soil degradation, causing great suffering among a population primarily dependent on subsistence farming. We work primarily in the Centre-Ouest and Centre-Sud Regions, which have not been directly impacted by the terrorist threats in the northern region. Our work here couldn’t be more critical. Top: Map of Burkina Fasso, showing our current areas of operation. Bottom: Classroom in a Sonder Project school built in partnership with buildOn. 10 11