Burkina Faso: UN volunteers announce new project to assist poor youth

United Nations Volunteers (UNV), the Bonn-based volunteer arm of the UN system, today announced plans to support poor and marginalized young people living in cities in Burkina Faso.

With $2.2 million from the Government of Luxembourg and nearly $300,000 worth of in-kind support from the Government of Burkina Faso, UNV will undertake a five-year project to counsel an estimated 1,200 street children, juveniles and other marginalized youth on educational and vocational options that can improve their future prospects.

Starting in July, teams of international and national UN Volunteers will set up counselling centres in Bobo-Dioulasso and Houndé, the capitals of two of the poorest provinces of the West African country. At the centres, young people will benefit from psychosocial help, while older youth will receive job counselling. The project also envisages an information campaign to counter the exploitation of young women and children.

"This project builds on very positive collaboration between UNV and the Government of Luxembourg in which Luxembourg finances nationals from developing countries to serve as UN Volunteers," said the agency's Deputy Executive Coordinator, Ad de Raad. "I believe that this project will demonstrate how, through voluntary effort, young people can become engaged and play a productive role in society."

Created by the UN General Assembly in 1970, UNV extends hands-on assistance for peace and development in 140 countries.