Burkina Faso | Association Action pour un Monde Meilleur (AMM)
A tricycle, a white cane, a braille kit – Sometimes the path to dignity begins with the right tool in the right hands. In Burkina Faso, AMM is supporting girls with disabilities to move from exclusion to confidence, one school day at a time.
In northern Burkina Faso, the school bells ring each morning, but for many girls with disabilities, it once signalled exclusion rather than opportunity. Classrooms without braille materials, inaccessible pathways, and the absence of basic mobility tools meant education was out of reach.
For years, families watched their daughters fall behind, not because they lacked ability, but because the system was not designed for these girls. Where society saw limitations, the Association Action pour un Monde Meilleur (AMM), with support from UAF‑Africa, under the IGNITE Project, saw possibilities.
AMM began by conducting a needs assessment, identifying girls with visual, motor, and multiple disabilities across the Nord, Centre, and Hauts-Bassins regions of the country. Girls with visual impairments received braille kits and white canes. Those with motor disabilities received tricycles and crutches. Girls with albinism were provided with wide-brimmed protective hats to help them navigate daily sun exposure. AMM further engaged families in conversations about disability, dignity and education, helping connect girls to schools equipped to support their specific needs.
The impact has been immediate and visible. Madina, an eight-year-old with a hearing and motor disability, moved to a specialised school and improved her grades within a single term. Lamoussa, aged twelve, now travels independently to school on a tricycle, her academic performance steadily rising. Ornella no longer depends on family members to escort her. Prisca, now equipped with braille materials, continues to perform strongly in class.
“Now each of us goes on our own,” says Lamoussa.
“This kit has reduced school expenses this year. This was a real relief for our family.” Says Ornella’s mother
Today, girls are moving with greater confidence, and families who were once hesitant to engage are now actively involved. The tools have enabled something harder to measure but equally vital: dignity, autonomy and belonging.
For Urgent Action Fund Africa, this reflects a broader commitment to support grassroots, feminist-led organisations that remove structural barriers and expand access to education for all girls, including those most often excluded. With sustained funding, organisations like AMM can expand access to adaptive learning tools and reach more girls currently excluded from education systems.
