Awa is eight years old. She now lives with her grandparents after losing her mother, who died from haemorrhaging following an unassisted birth. Like many children in Burkina Faso, Awa dreams of becoming a teacher so that others will not be deprived of a future. But her grandparents, despite all their love, cannot afford her school fees in a humanitarian crisis that has displaced more than two million people.
Without help, Awa will have to leave school. She risks being placed as a servant, married too young, or trapped in a cycle of poverty that will be passed down from generation to generation.
But with your help, her story can take a new turn!
This campaign aims to support 1,000 children like Awa during the 2025-2026 academic year, guaranteeing them access to school and improving their conditions through psychosocial support for families, school fees and support in the form of health and nutrition kits during the 2025-2026 academic year. a comprehensive strategy covering four essential dimensions for their development!
This campaign is driven by the Petit Jean Association and Teltaaba in Burkina Faso, in partnership with Cartables d'Afrique (France) and AfriCan Coop (Spain); a collective commitment that makes it possible to rebuild lives. Supporting this partnership is much more than making a donation. It means putting an end to a lack of opportunities and changing the course of a life!
Because every child deserves a place in school, a dream, a future. Together, let's break the cycle of poverty for good!
Sponsor a girl, a boy or a young person. Join us in supporting the future they deserve!
The sponsorship project was launched in 2015, following a heart-wrenching observation in the field: children like Awa, deprived of schooling not because of a lack of will, but because of a lack of means. Initially launched in a few neighbourhoods of Ouagadougou, the programme has gradually expanded thanks to the growing confidence of donors and partners who are sensitive to these stories of lives on hold.
By 2023, more than 500 children had returned to school and regained hope for the future.
Today, in a context where humanitarian crises are further weakening families, APJ wishes to expand its impact and ensure that no child is left behind. By the 2025-2026 academic year, our ambition is to support 1,000 children in their educational journey, creating an integrated approach centred on the child, combining aspects of education, health, nutrition and employment.
Supported by the alliance between APJ and Teltaaba in Burkina Faso, with the technical assistance and collaboration of Cartables d’Afrique (France) and AfriCan Coop (Spain), this initiative is much more than a donation —
it is an act of transformation.
✨ It means ending the lack of opportunity and changing the course of a life.
Because every girl and every boy deserves a place at school, a dream, and a future.
Together, let’s break the cycle of poverty for good.
Sponsor a child’s present — and support the future they deserve.
Background of the Project
The sponsorship initiative was born in 2015, in response to an urgent reality observed on the ground: thousands of children excluded from school due to financial hardship.
Initially focused on a few neighbourhoods in Ouagadougou, it has expanded over the years thanks to the trust of donors and partners.
By 2023, more than 500 children had already benefited from this programme.
Today, APJ seeks to restore and expand its impact and reach more children despite the fragile context.
The goal for 2025–2026 is to support 1,000 children in their educational journey through an integrated approach that combines education, health, nutrition, and future employment opportunities.
The project pursues two main objectives:
- Break the intergenerational cycle of poverty through education.
- Build a generation of responsible and committed citizens, equipped with the tools to contribute to the development of their country.
Our Approach
Education: we help children attend school by covering part of their expenses and providing notebooks, uniforms, and all essential learning materials.
Health: through partnerships with local pharmacies, we protect children from malaria and facilitate access to essential healthcare.
Nutrition: every sponsored child receives a hot meal each day at the school canteen, helping them learn with energy and focus.
Annual canteen subscriptions and daily meals foster attendance and improve academic performance.
Future and Employment: we support older students in accessing vocational training that leads to decent employment, providing guidance towards sectors with job opportunities and partnerships with training centres to promote professional inclusion.
Our Strengths
Holistic support: learning, health, nutrition, and preparation for the future.
Over 10 years of experience, with more than 3,000 children supported.
Strong partnerships with public and private actors, including schools, authorities, pharmacies, and local associations such as Teltaaba, and international partners such as Cartables d’Afrique (France) and AfriCan Coop (Spain).
Full transparency: sponsors receive updates and concrete proof of their impact.
All data related to children and donors are strictly protected to guarantee their safety, dignity, and privacy.
Rigorous, verified follow-up builds lasting trust and accountability.
Ensure the continuous education of 1,000 vulnerable children for the 2025–2026 school year!
- Reduce school drop-out rates through personalised support for children and their families, in close collaboration with local organisations specialised in education and child protection in Burkina Faso.
- Improve school attendance by maintaining children’s good health through prevention and access to basic healthcare for endemic and seasonal diseases.
- Provide one hot meal per day to support learning conditions, health, protection, regular attendance, and academic success, despite the challenges of the current context.
- Promote catch-up and accelerated learning, and support local opportunities for young people through vocational training programmes aligned with the local job market.
- For outstanding students with limited means, ensure access to university education and the possibility of reaching academic levels that others have not yet been able to achieve.
**The Association Petit Jean (APJ) sponsorship programme stands out for its integrated, multi-dimensional model, which addresses the essential needs of children and youth:
- Continuous schooling for children in vulnerable situations.
- Access to primary healthcare to prevent diseases that cause long absences from school.
- Daily, balanced school meals that sustain concentration and wellbeing.
- Vocational training and accelerated education for young people seeking second chances.
Key strengths and distinctive features:
- A holistic and integrated approach that goes beyond financial support, combining education, health, nutrition, and social inclusion.
- Strong partnerships and collaborations with local pharmacies, training centres, national civil society organisations, and valuable backing from international allies.
- Measurable impact, based on clear indicators for each intervention area.
- Permanent field presence, ensuring educational and social follow-up for children, their families, and schools.
- Full transparency for public and private donors (CSR partners), sponsors, and supporters — including detailed reports, acknowledgements, and photographic evidence of results.
- An international partnership platform (Cartables d’Afrique and AfriCan Coop) that facilitates and guarantees contributions from sponsors, supports campaign creation and funding opportunities, and strengthens project implementation and monitoring.
Burkina Faso faces multiple, interconnected challenges — security instability, rising poverty, and limited access to education. Every year, thousands of children drop out of school simply because their families cannot afford the costs.
This sponsorship project is both a humanitarian and strategic response to a fundamental need.
Each contribution not only transforms an individual life but also helps build a fairer, more educated and united society.
It is a project that places people at the centre, turning generosity into tangible opportunities for some of the most forgotten children
Who is this project for?
The Association Petit Jean (APJ) sponsorship initiative is addressed to:
• Global citizens who believe that every child deserves the right to education, even in contexts of crisis or extreme vulnerability.
• Responsible companies wishing to invest in high-impact Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives that create long-term social change.
• Civil society organisations, collectives, foundations, and cooperatives engaged in promoting solidarity and education.
• African diasporas seeking to contribute to the education and future of children in their countries of origin.
• National and international institutions committed to supporting universal access to quality education.
Founded in 2015 in Ouagadougou and officially registered under receipt no. 0699 of 7 July 2017, the Association Petit Jean (APJ) is a non-profit organisation committed to ensuring equitable access to education for disadvantaged children.
For over a decade, APJ has been fighting school dropout, child labour, and social exclusion, supporting the most vulnerable families through sustainable, community-based programmes.
Our Achievements
Through its integrated approach, APJ has already:
• Enabled more than 3,000 children to attend school, from primary to university level, through scholarships and educational support.
• Built a network of partner schools across several districts of Ouagadougou.
• Ensured school nutrition, providing children with regular, balanced meals.
• Improved children’s health through systematic medical follow-up, including screenings, basic care, and awareness-raising campaigns.
• Guided and trained young people in employable sectors such as tailoring, mechanics, agriculture, and electricity.
Resources and Infrastructure
APJ relies on a dedicated local team of educators, facilitators, instructors, and a programme director. Its credibility and effectiveness are further strengthened by solid partnerships, including:
• A network of schools that facilitates close monitoring of enrolled children.
• Cartables d’Afrique (France): an international partner that reinforces donor confidence and visibility.
• Association Teltaaba (Burkina Faso): a key ally ensuring gender-sensitive approaches and stronger protection of girls’ rights.
• AfriCan Coop (Spain): a partnership rooted in intersectionality and mutual respect, promoting sustainability, decentralised innovation, and community resilience.
Over the past decade, APJ has also collaborated with several national and international organisations, maintaining steady partnerships even in the midst of the region’s humanitarian and security crisis.
A Reliable and Credible Structure
This consolidated experience — combined with strategic alliances and a strong daily presence in the field — makes APJ a reliable and credible organisation, capable of delivering concrete, measurable results for children, their families, and their communities.
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