Kaya: During a visit to Kaya, the Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Tarig Ali BAKHEET, praised the resilience of internally displaced women, beneficiaries of an empowerment project supported by his organization.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Tarig Ali Bakheet, Assistant Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for Humanitarian, Social, and Cultural Affairs, visited Kaya on August 15, 2025. He was accompanied by HE Boukary Sawadogo, Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Riyadh and Permanent Representative of Burkina Faso to the OIC, as well as officials from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. The objective of this visit was to see firsthand the impact of the project to empower women and displaced families in refugee camps in Kaya.
After a courtesy visit to the Governor of the North-Central Region on August 14, the OIC delegation was led by Ms. Bernadette Adenyo/Serm©, Secretary General of the region, to the IDP site of the Seminary, located in Sector 3 of the town of Kaya. She was accompanied by the regional and provincial directors in charge of Humanitarian Action, as well as the 1st vice-president of the special communal delegation of Kaya.
On this occasion, Mr. Bakheet expressed his satisfaction with the resilience of the project beneficiaries. He said: "We are happy to know that you are so resilient. We hope that you will soon return to your home villages." The women beneficiaries of the project have testified to its positive impact on their daily lives.
Rasmata Sawadogo, a soumbala producer, pointed out that previously, she was forced to work in households to support her family. Thanks to the empowerment provided by this project, she is now able to save for the well-being of her family. For her part, Mariam Saouto said that soap production, thanks to the OIC project, allows her not only to ensure her family's hygiene, but also to save for other essential needs.
While visiting an exhibition showcasing the products resulting from the training of 200 internally displaced women in micro-enterprise management and financial inclusion, Mr. BAKHEET expressed his amazement at the results achieved. He emphasized the importance of the OIC's support for the empowerment of displaced women. Ms. Adenyo/Serm©, along with the beneficiaries, warmly thanked the OIC for this beneficial initiative.
According to Lassina Sanou, project manager, the OCI's work has enabled the training of 200 women in income-generating activities such as soap making, weaving, dyeing, sewing, and food processing. Each also received a working capital of 100,000 CFA francs and suitable equipment. As part of phase 2 of the project, Mr. Bakheet announced a strengthening of the achievements and provided the women on the site with 3 tons of rice, spaghetti, macaroni, oil, biscuits, and soap.
The OIC, an intergovernmental organization bringing together 57 member states, including Burkina Faso, works for solidarity and cooperation among its members in the political, economic, cultural, and security fields, with a strong priority given to the fight against terrorism. HE Boukary Sawadogo, Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Riyadh, stressed that the OIC places the fight against terrorism at the heart of its concerns.