We’ve been asked this question several times. From our point of view, Humanitarian Aid is, without question, useful and needed. However, Humanitarian Aid is a short-term action, technically speaking, it brings assistance in crisis situations. A Social Economy, on the other hand, which by the way is our goal with Bouassa, is a long-term strategy. It makes sense for both sponsors as well as the recipients. The money “invested” in the form of gift or loan can be used to start specific actions like access to water and contribute to the development in the form of a partnership.
The idea is this: in the context of Humanitarian Aid, you are giving a fish to the hungry. But soon the hungry become dependent on this assistance if this cycle of giving isn’t maintained. We could also gift the person a fishing rod and show him how it works, so he would be able to feed and support his family.
But this in itself could be considered a Subsistence Economy which would not fit into the economic fabric of the community. We believe it is necessary to go further. The idea, to keep the same analogy of fishing, is to propose a partnership in which he would receive a small boat and the necessary fishing equipment, adequate training to develop his business, create jobs, and learn to manage his new economic activity. This partnership would help him develop a profitable business that will not only allow him to feed his family, but allow others to support their own families and earn a regular salary. This is when an entire community flourishes. The fishing boat becomes more importantly, a training vessel with which others can, in turn, develop their business by obtaining a Solidarity Loan. With the profits from the resale of fish, he can reimburse the tool that he has been entrusted, in this case, a boat, fishing rods and nets, and the money returned can be used for another partnership or, in the case a loan, returned to the Solidarity Lender.
The most important aspect of the Solidarity Economy is to ensure, prior to the project, the aid provided and activity that is created is consistent with the social fabric of the territory. In other words, it is vitally important to take into consideration the existing market and ancillary activities that could benefit from the economic momentum created in the resale of fish on the local market as well as the manufacturing of ice packs to keep the fish cool, a boat maintenance shop, etc… etc…
For Bouassa, the starting point was the drilling of the water well. The water tower, latrines, the vegetable garden, training, as well as the pigsty that we mentioned recently, create an economic dynamic that inspires other initiatives, mobilizing people around their own development, allowing many to be trained even if they have been out of school for a long time.
Because we firmly believe:
THE SOLUTION:
ONE WELL PER VILLAGE:
We believe people, not water, can change everything! When you sponsor Well Drilling Project in Burkina Faso, Africa you’ll unlock the potential of an entire community! #Burkina
Bouassa’s goals:
- Promote access to water for the local population
- Help families and children in distress
- Develop economic activities in line with access to water
- Participate actively in the city’s “Community Development Plan”
- Raise awareness in economic management of water and sanitation
- Accompany children for better personal hygiene, reducing sickness