Velafrica: vocational training in Burkina Faso

According to the UN, Burkina Faso is one of the world’s poorest countries. Over 40% of the population live under the poverty limit of USD 1.25 per day. Poor education and a relatively fast-growing population are forcing the country to face some big challenges. 

Velafrica has been active in Burkina Faso since 1999, and established a bicycle centre in 2018. The centre provides jobs and opportunities to earn a living for the local population and trains young people to become bicycle mechanics. Although lots of people in Burkina Faso ride a bicycle, training and professional structures are still lacking.

This is why Velafrica’s goal is to help establish a training programme based on Swiss standards and offer young people a great opportunity to learn a trade so that they can earn a living. This type of vocational education represents the first step away from a life of poverty.