Foyer Fama
Ougadougou, Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in the world. Violence between militias and the government has forced many people – especially women – to become displaced within their own country, making them internally displaced persons (IDPs). Many widowed women flee to urban areas with their children, where they are left to fend for themselves without protection or shelter. Cuisine sans frontières supports these women through its project.

At Foyer Fama in Ouagadougou, women and their children find safety. For one year, they are integrated into the community.

In the large communal kitchen, the women can provide for themselves and their children. At the same time, this kitchen serves as a production facility: the women prepare meals and snacks, which they sell in the city using mobile restaurants. – cargo bikes specially adapted for this purpose. This allows them to earn a living and achieve long-term social integration.

Since autumn 2022, Ferme Fama has complemented the project. On a three-hectare plot of land in Ziniaré, vegetables are grown and animals are raised, strengthening the food sovereignty of the Foyer.

Burkina Faso is repeatedly shaken by terrorist attacks. This violence has forced many people – especially women – to become displaced within their own country, making them internally displaced persons (IDPs). Many widowed women flee to urban areas with their children, where they are left to fend for themselves without protection or shelter.

In the capital, Ouagadougou, large groups of women live in the outskirts under extremely precarious conditions. Coming from rural areas, these women often have little formal education, making it difficult for them to find employment.

This is where the joint project by Cuisine sans frontières and Ferronniers sans frontières, in collaboration with the local organization Femmes en Marche, comes in. Foyer Fama is a shelter in Ouagadougou where these women find safety and support.

In the large communal kitchen, the women can provide for themselves and their children. At the same time, this kitchen serves as a production facility: the women prepare meals and snacks, which they sell in the city using mobile restaurants – cargo bikes specially adapted for this purpose. This allows them to earn a living, support their families, and regain long-term independence. At the same time, the mobile restaurants foster interaction with the local community, helping the women integrate into society, as they have so far lived in isolation on the city's outskirts.

Since autumn 2022, the activities of Foyer Fama have been complemented by a farm in the countryside. In Ziniaré, outside Ouagadougou, a three-hectare plot is used for growing vegetables and raising livestock. This strengthens the food sovereignty of the Foyer and improves the women’s food security by providing access to organic produce.

The project is generously supported by the Vontobel Foundation (2024), the Temperatio Foundation (2024), and the Däster Schild Foundation (2024).

Images: © Adrien Bitibaly / Cuisine sans frontières / Fairpicture, Csf