Building Trust, Building Change: buildOn Honored in Burkina Faso
buildOn was recently recognized with two national honors in Burkina Faso, marking a milestone moment in our decade of impact across the country.
At the 2025 NGOs Night, buildOn was named Best NGO in the Education Sector, recognizing our leadership in expanding access to quality education for rural communities. Just weeks earlier, the Ministry of Economy’s National Tax Department awarded buildOn the Second Prize for Best Nonprofit, honoring our transparency, timeliness, and fiscal integrity.
These awards reflect not only our Burkina Faso team’s hard work, but also the deep collaboration with every community we partner with. Together, we’re building schools, expanding literacy, and creating opportunity for generations to come.
Ten Years of Impact, One Incredible Student
These awards came after a decade of transformational work in Burkina Faso. In 2024, buildOn celebrated 10 years of improving education in the West African country, and the team wanted to mark this milestone in a special way. At the celebration, the top 10 students from buildOn schools were honored with backpacks of school supplies and bicycles, shining a spotlight on the incredible achievements of young learners.
One of these students, 12-year-old Nassiratou Nikiéma from Dayasmnoré, is achieving a dream she once thought impossible. When her family faced hardships in 2021, she had to leave school to help at home, but she never gave up hope. Through buildOn’s Enroll Program, she re-enrolled in 2022 and returned more determined than ever.
Her perseverance paid off in June 2024, when she earned the highest score among all students at buildOn schools in Burkina Faso on her Primary School Certificate exam—standing out among 374 finalists from 84 schools. Nassiratou was one of the 10 students honored at the anniversary celebration for her dedication, receiving a backpack of school supplies and a bicycle.
Now starting middle school, Nassiratou dreams of becoming a magistrate.
“I want to defend justice and the rights of the weakest,” she says. “I am one of the fruits of your dreams. Thanks to your support, thousands of children like me have the chance to build a better future. Keep believing in us.”
Her journey is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when hope, hard work, and opportunity come together.
“Thanks to your support, thousands of children like me have the chance to build a better future. Keep believing in us.” —Nassiratou Nikiéma
A Decade of Building Opportunity
Since launching in 2014, buildOn in Burkina Faso has partnered with local communities to construct 223 primary schools, schools which local volunteers spent 590,544 workdays building and provide quality education to more than 37,000 students. Through our Adult Literacy Program, adults are gaining the tools to support their families and build stronger, more equitable communities.
Education in Burkina Faso remains one of the most powerful tools for resilience. Despite economic challenges, political instability, and environmental hardship, communities continue to lead the way. For over 10 years now, Burkina Faso has been proving that when we build together, we build hope.
Want to help build hope in Burkina Faso? Consider making a tax-deductible donation to support our global work.