Ouagadougou: From August 22 to 25, 2024, the village of Yaïka, in the commune of Boudry, hosted a capacity building session for fifty women and young people, including 26 in market gardening and 24 in gold mining. This initiative, led by the Association of Women in the Mining Sector of Burkina (AFEMIB) and financed by the Support Project for Strengthening Land and Mine Management (PARGFM), aims to contribute to the sustainable development of these communities through technical and practical training.The gold mining training, led by geological engineer Dominique Somé, focused on three key modules: safe ore mining techniques, geology concepts and types of mineralization, and safe ore processing. 'We showed participants how to use machines to improve ore concentration while respecting safety standards, both for themselves and the environment,' he said. Raising awareness about abandoning chemicals, often used without qualifications, was also a highlight of the training.In parallel, Justin Natiori, a market ga rdening trainer, focused his teaching on onion and tomato cultivation. He covered aspects such as the characteristics of these plants, their sowing, transplanting, maintenance and fertilization. The training also focused on the production of bio-pesticides based on neem and organic liquid fertilizer, thus promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture. The beneficiaries were strongly encouraged to put into practice the knowledge acquired to improve their yields and income.A strategic initiative for community developmentAFEMIB President, Ms. Lucie Kabré, stressed the importance of this project, which is part of a national program aimed at strengthening the skills of 500 women and young people on 10 artisanal mining sites in Burkina Faso. "The project began in March with a diagnostic study to identify the potential of the targeted areas. In Boudry, we have identified two associations: one dedicated to market gardening and the other to mining," she explains. The emphasis is on technical train ing for beneficiaries, with a view to enabling them to work according to regulatory standards, in order to increase their profitability and guarantee their safety.A strong commitment from the authorities and beneficiariesThe supervision of this training by the coordinator of the mining component of PARGFM, Moïse Ouédraogo, testifies to the importance given to this project by the authorities. "The overall objective of PARGFM is to ensure that mining revenues can benefit as many people as possible, particularly women and young people. This training aims to give them the skills needed to better benefit from mining resources and encourage them to organize themselves into cooperatives for increased efficiency," he said.Mr. Ouédraogo appreciated the determination of the beneficiaries and expressed satisfaction with everything he saw on the ground. He spoke of the importance of women's education in the mining sector, deploring their low representation in technical professions such as mining engineering. "We ha ve planned to offer 100 scholarships to women, including 50 related to mining, to encourage their active participation in this sector," he added.Satisfied and Determined ParticipantsThe beneficiaries of the training expressed their satisfaction and commitment to apply the knowledge acquired. Fati Ouédraogo and Marie Dipama, trained in market gardening, thanked AFEMIB for this opportunity and requested additional support in materials to facilitate the implementation of their new skills. 'We have learned a lot and we are committed to applying them,' they said.Alimata Bonkoungou, a participant in the gold mining training, also expressed her joy and enthusiasm for the skills acquired. 'This training has been beneficial for me,' she said, also requesting material support to better exploit the knowledge transmitted.This AFEMIB initiative, supported by PARGFM, demonstrates the importance of technical training for the development of rural communities. By strengthening the capacities of women and young people, these trainings contribute not only to their economic empowerment, but also to a more sustainable and secure exploitation of local resources. The participants, motivated and committed, are now better equipped to improve their living conditions and contribute to the development of their community.Source: Burkina Information Agency
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