Education and bouncing back through sport in Koudougou

A project managed by Association Denro

Association Denro works in Burkina Faso to promote access to quality education for all by combining sport, education, culture and vocational training. In 2015, the association opened a school in Koudougou to offer sporting and educational activities to girls and boys from disadvantaged areas.

Association Denro is committed to providing access to quality education and has ambitions to expand its mixed school in Koudougou in Burkina Faso. It plans to open middle and high schools and modernise its sports facilities in order to hold introductory football sessions for girls from other schools in Koudougou.

Context

Gaining access to education is a major challenge in Burkina Faso; in 2015, some 30% of children of primary school age did not attend school. Association Denro launched its “Boomerang par le sport” (Bouncing Back through Sport) project in 2015, opening a mixed school offering sport and education in Koudougou. Its objective is to promote children’s education and personal development through participation in the sport they love – football.

Some 240 children, 50% of them girls, from predominantly disadvantaged areas are enrolled at nursery and primary levels. The school is the first in Burkina Faso to offer football training to girls from 4 years of age.
To support its growth and pursue its commitment to girls’ participation in football, the school now wants to modernise its sports facilities and offer introductory football sessions for girls from other schools in Koudougou.

Goals

Promote access to quality education by combining football and education
Instil the principles of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls from early childhood in order to change attitudes
Promote girls’ participation in football by organising joint activities with other schools in Koudougou
Strengthen social cohesion and reduce social inequality by bringing children from different social classes together
Provide physical education classes in the best possible conditions

Activities

Twice weekly football sessions for all students
Providing introductory football courses for girls from other schools in Koudougou and organising a girls’ school football tournament
Creation of a girls’ team in the school football club
Improving the quality of the school’s sports equipment and facilities
Plan to open middle and high schools

Find out more about Association Denro’s activities

Impacts

Ultimately, over 600 children will attend the sport and educational centre in Koudougou, from nursery level to high school
Over 600 girls introduced to playing football
Over 200 children from disadvantaged backgrounds participate in the school football club
Incorporation of a girls’ football team into the football club