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the country
Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) lies in West-Africa in the Sahel and
is one of the poorest and underdeveloped countries with a population of roughly
13 Million. The capital is Ouagadougou (pop.: 1-2 Million).
the problems
Although the soil is very dry and infertile, 80% of the population work in the
farming sector. Therefore, famines occur from time to time if there is not suffisient
rain. The raining season last year was again nor suffisient and famine might be possible agin.
Other essential problems of the country: Malaria, high infant mortality, AIDS (4,2%),
illiteracy (75%), migration into cities, desertification and corruption. But
Burkina Faso enjoys a religious stability: Christians, Moslems and Animists
leave peacefully side by side.
the NGO
The retired joiner Franz Grandits, coming from Stinatz
( a village in Burgenland in the south of the country,)
reacted through starting in 1996 the biggest private charity
project of Austria. The Non Governmental Organization "Burkina Faso
Hilfe Direkt" (direct help) received up to this date donations in cash
at a global sum of EUR 1,000,000. The population of Burkina Faso is the sole
and direct beneficiary and receives 100% of the donations as no money is
spend on administration. The members of the NGO pay for their travel costs on
their own and as office serves the former office of Franz Grandits, which he
used when he was an active joiner. All members and friends of the NGO work on
specific projects for free. They donīt receive compensation for their personal
expenses. "Burkina Faso - Hilfe Direkt" is at the moment in following sectors
active: health, social and education. Education provides the only means to
escape poverty and to achieve durable development.
Other members of the ONG are Dr. Peter Schopf
(dentist in Güssing, Burgenland), Frau Ulrike Schober
(midwife), Roland Linzatti (student at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna)
and Dr .Peter Gschaider (physician).
The NGO does not receive any
financial assistance from the government..
The projects
Until this day, Mr. Grandits has been to Burkina Faso around 30
times in order to guarantee a constant monitoring of the progress
of each project. The NGO guarantees that all donations received are
used as effective as possible. The first completed project was a household
school in Djibo, situated in the very north of the country. Until now, more
then 30 projects have been completed: one hospital, one dental clinic, one
obstetric clinic, orphanages, housing for expelled women, churches, wells,
and 8 schools. Austrian godparents make school attendance for many deprived
children possible. Upon completion, the projects are surrendered to the Catholic
Church because the church is free from corruption. But even after surrendering
Mister Grandits visits frequently his projects. Dr Schopf works primary
in the medical sector. Among other achievements a Burkinabé was trained t
o manage medically the dental clinic, as well as the current administrator.
The NGO is
mostly active in the North of the Country as this is the poorest region of Burkina Faso
For any additional information I kindly ask you to contact
me through email.
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