The 2025 International Day of the African Child in Burkina Faso
A tribute to hope and community engagement
Every year, 16 June marks a symbolic and painful date in African history: the anniversary of the Soweto uprising in 1976, during which hundreds of South African children were injured and killed while peacefully advocating for their right to fair education. Since 1991, the African Union has invited all countries on the continent to commemorate this day, dedicated to the defense and promotion of children’s rights.
To honour this legacy, ATD Fourth World in Burkina Faso organised a series of events from 25 to 29 June 2025 to commemorate the Day of the African Child. These initiatives brought together several Tapori groups, their families, and other members of the community to uphold the national theme:
“To invest in the Burkinabe child is to build a nation proud of its values.”
Despite the efforts of the government and its partners, the funds allocated to children’s education, healthcare, and protection remain insufficient to meet growing needs. The theme of the day called for a more substantial commitment from the State, its partners, parents, and society as a whole. This message is even more critical as the country continues to face a security crisis, with both terrorist attacks and the adverse impacts of natural disasters causing the internal displacement of millions of people in recent years. Many schools have been closed and destroyed, depriving thousands of Burkinabe children of education. More than ever, these children are in urgent need of protection, guidance, and the opportunity to grow up with dignity.
Celebrating inclusion and community
The commemorations began on 25 June with a television programme broadcast on Savane TV, following ATD Fourth World’s invitation to cover the event.
The Tapori facilitators1 started preparing the children to take part in the programme well in advance. Thanks to Shahidi’s experience as a radio presenter in the Congo and Marcel’s previous role supporting activists for a TV programme, the children were able to convey their message and feelings about their right to a fair education.
Shahidi and Marcel (both allies with ATD Fourth World) worked with the journalist, presenter, and producers on the questions the children would be asked. The facilitators worked with the children right up until the day before the programme was filmed, ensuring they felt supported and prepared. The programme was ultimately a success!
Providing this platform enabled the Tapori children, with the help of their facilitators, to make their peers’ voices heard. Their message highlighted the need to conclusively make children’s rights a national priority, with particular attention to inclusive, fair, and non-discriminatory planning and budgeting.
On Saturday 28 June, a friendly football match brought the Tapori children together. This joyful moment of fraternity reflected the spirit of solidarity and friendship that defined ATD Fourth World. Beyond the game itself, the absence of winners and losers underlined the importance of community, cohesion, and inclusion.
The highlight of the events came on Sunday, 29 June, with a large festive gathering that embodied the values of African communities and symbolised unity and hope.
In contexts like Burkina Faso, marked by insecurity, gathering together demonstrates a shared commitment to protecting children’s dignity. It is a powerful act which demonstrates that despite challenges, African children remain a priority. The occasion featured children performing poems, plays, dances, and fashion shows, and presenting artwork from the Tapori workshops. The audience, made up of parents, friends, and community leaders, was deeply moved by these performances, which combined creativity with genuine, meaningful messages.
A community comes together for the children
The event was so successful because of the exemplary community mobilisation shown. Parents were engaged in organising logistical and artistic activities, while other members of the community contributed to preparing the space, setting up tents, and welcoming the participants. This active support reflects the families’ trust and participation in ATD Fourth World’s work, as well as the pivotal role given to children as cherished members of society.
Testimonies gathered throughout the day confirm the importance of such initiatives. One parent confided,
“I am moved and proud to see our children express themselves with such confidence, sharing messages that concern us all.”
These words demonstrate the direct impact of the Tapori support, providing the children with a safe space for self-expression, fostering fulfilment, creativity, and sharing.
Commemorating 16 June: a duty to remember the rights of children in Africa
Ultimately, this celebration reminds us that beyond the material and logistical framework, the most crucial element resides in the motivation and determination of the children themselves. Their active participation is the driving force of all educational and civil action. This is why it remains essential to create favourable conditions for their participation, taking into account their aspirations and putting their talents to use.
Through this commemoration, ATD Fourth World reasserts that investing in a quality education that helps children reach their potential is an essential condition for building a fair and inclusive society that can be proud of its fundamental values.
One child said,
“We are the future of our country. We’re asking for schools, protection, healthcare, and safety services in order to grow and thrive.”
Another Tapori child said,
“We all want to go to school without discrimination. Rich or poor, we are all children, and together, we make up one single family of friendship and love.”
By Birambi Grâce