Students everywhere struggle to learn in substandard school buildings, but children with disabilities struggle more than most. That’s why we’re committed to building accessible schools so students like Emilienne in Burkina Faso can get the education they deserve. Meet Emilienne in our new blog post!

The Path to Education: Emilienne’s Story

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August 21, 2025
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Not long ago, every morning before sunrise in Burkina Faso’s Central Plateau region, 11-year-old Emilienne Ouedraogo began her daily five kilometer journey to school. This three mile trek would be difficult for any child, but Emilienne had to make it without the ability to walk. 

Today, thanks to buildOn, she has a brand new accessible school right in her home village, Ouavoussé.

This determined third-grader, who used to ride to and from school on an adapted bicycle every day, embodies the very spirit that drives buildOn’s mission—the unwavering belief that education can transform lives.

Emilienne refuses to let her disability get in the way of her dreams of becoming a teacher.
Emilienne refuses to let her disability get in the way of her dreams of becoming a teacher.

Determined to Learn

Ouavoussé’s temporary school structure made it difficult for children to learn.
Ouavoussé’s temporary school structure made it difficult for children to learn.

In Ouavoussé, where classroom infrastructure is severely limited, Emilienne faced daily challenges that would deter many students. Basic necessities like proper tables and benches were scarce, and the school building did not have enough space to accommodate the village’s 217 students.

But Emilienne persevered because she knew the power of education, and is passionate about learning—so passionate, in fact, that her dream is to become a teacher someday. Her love of history fuels her determination to overcome not only her disability but also the structural barriers to education in her community. “History allows us to better understand ourselves, our past, and our country,” she explains.

In Need of a New School

Still, any student would struggle to learn in a school without solid walls and a roof made from brush. So when the community found out about buildOn, they knew they couldn’t pass up on a chance to build a brand new school for their children. 

After meeting with our Burkina Faso team, the people of Ouavoussé agreed to work together to build a new, accessible school. The whole community, almost 1,500 people, came together to dig the foundation, stack cinder blocks for the walls, and lay cement for the floor. 

The people of Ouavoussé worked together to mix cement for the new school.
The people of Ouavoussé worked together to mix cement for the new school.
Men worked alongside women during all phases of construction, such as moving building materials onto the worksite.
Men worked alongside women during all phases of construction, such as moving building materials onto the worksite.
As time went on, the school’s walls began to take shape.
As time went on, the school’s walls began to take shape.
Once the walls were up, they poured cement for the floor.
Once the walls were up, they poured cement for the floor.
Now, the children of Ouavoussé have a brand new solid structure to learn in.
Now, the children of Ouavoussé have a brand new solid structure to learn in.

After months of hard work in the hot Burkina sun, the school was completed. It now stands as a brand-new center of learning with three modern, solid, and well-equipped classrooms.

Kaboré Rasmata, president of the association of educational mothers of Ouavoussé, was overjoyed. When the new school took shape, “It was as if we laid the foundations for the future,” she says.

Inclusive Education

Emilienne and her classmates have a brand new accessible school building in their village.
Emilienne and her classmates have a brand new accessible school building in their village.

The lack of sufficient school buildings is an issue that is acutely felt by disabled students. While their peers struggle to learn in substandard structures as well, students with mobility issues are even more likely to drop out because they cannot easily get to school or move around once they’re there. 

Emilienne’s story underscores the urgent need for accessible school infrastructure in communities worldwide. Her daily journey mirrors the challenges faced by the countless students with disabilities across the eight countries where buildOn operates, and her determination reminds us of our responsibility to ensure that every child can learn.

Today, Emilienne has a brand new school to help her pursue her dream of becoming a teacher.
Today, Emilienne has a brand new school to help her pursue her dream of becoming a teacher.

Now, Emilienne no longer has to travel multiple miles just to learn. “She is always focused, very disciplined, and punctual,” her teacher, Seydou Kabore says. “She absorbs her lessons with ease. I have high hopes for Emilienne. I hope she finishes both her primary and higher education and becomes the teacher she dreams of being.”

“My motivation to go to school has increased,” Emilienne says. “These new classrooms give me even more hope to achieve my dream. I want to teach children and be an example. I want to show children like me that they should never give up.”

“I want to show children like me that they should never give up.” —Emilienne Ouedraogo

Students like Emilienne will stop at nothing to get an education. So we must stop at nothing to help them.

Want to help expand access to education for children across the globe? Consider making a tax-deductible donation to buildOn today to fund our transformational work.

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