Build Workshop for Physically Disabled Burkinabes

Tigoung Nonma Report

April 2019 - July 2019

Activities

Meetings

TN holds meetings every month. The organisation also attends meetings to which its members are invited. Some of TN’s female members and other women known to the co-operative have created an association solely for women: The Association for the Development of Disabled Women (L’Association pour le Développement des Femmes Handicapées – ADFH). 

From 20-21 June 2019, the Minister for Women invited ADFH to join a panel which, over 48 hours, promoted business opportunities and investment opportunities for female entrepreneurs. This event was organised by the Ministry of Women, National Solidarity and Humanitarian Action (Le Ministère de la Femme, de la Solidarité et l’Action Humanitaire).

TN also invited the Director of Women’s Economic Independence (L’Autonomisation Economique de la Femme) to come to see the TN Catering Service in action; one of her representatives came to see them at work. 

Sales and Craft Orders

TN is currently collaborating with an organisation called CABES (Commerce et Artisanat pour le Bien-Etre Social) and received 3 orders for soft toys and various styles of hats, all made with an African-printed fabric called Danfani.

TN also received orders via WhatsApp for some key rings, puzzles etc. 

Catering Service Orders 

From April to July 2019, TN ‘s Catering Service received 10 orders, 9 of which were from Humanity et Inclusion (previously Handicap International) and 1 was from the Office of the Multisectoral Committee for People with Disabilities (Secrétariat Permanent du Comité Multisectoriel du Handicap) 

Promotion and Advocacy 

• TN is promoting its products through meetings and discussions with public organisations and NGOs and has provided them with information and leaflets about TN crafts and services. 
• TN met with the Ministry of Arts, Crafts and Business in order to raise awareness of TN and to take advantage of any support they might be able to provide.
• A group of former TN volunteers, ‘Seed of Hope for Africa’, helped TN to reorganise its Art and Craft works and they helped to promote the organisation on social networks. 

Progress with the renovation and development of TN’s new premises – their Headquarters, Workshop and Shop

At the new headquarters, in order to provide security, work has been carried out to build up the walls around property and to install a gate.

Donation received from International Service (IS)

On 27 May, when International Service Burkina sadly closed, TN was given some of its equipment, listed below:

• a small and a large display/shelving unit.
• 2 chairs
• 1 table
• a small cupboard
• a laptop

New Project

TN is in the process of drafting an updating proposal for its dressmakers and weavers which will be submitted to the charity LAFI Burkina.

Challenges

• Burkina Faso is becoming increasingly unsafe
• Product sales remain insufficient
• TN has inadequate financial means to support all the members of the cooperative to carry out activities alongside craftwork.

Results and Impact

• TN received and fulfilled Catering Service orders and craft orders.
• TN is now known at a national level.
• TN will submit a request for Dafani cloth for the artisans who work with fabric
• Computer work has now been facilitated at TN.

The results of all of these activities have enabled TN to remunerate some of its members and to pay for some of its basic running costs: water, electricity, fuel, telephone. 

Future Prospects and Needs

• Acquire funding to support members with microprojects.
• Acquire more mobility equipment (wheelchairs, walking sticks, crutches)
• Gain funding to construct workshops and catering facilities in the headquarters
• Continue to strive to promote TN’s work

 Conclusion

We, at TN, remain dynamic, determined and courageous in our efforts to ensure the well-being of our members, despite the challenges that we face.  I would like to urge our members to remain resilient and to continue to persevere in everything they do.

We offer our sincere thanks to all our partners, to all those who have contributed and continue to supporter us via GlobalGiving, and to our customers. We send our very best wishes to you all.

Madame Sawadogo/Savadogo

Coordinatrice