World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

Hadiatou Diallo, 13 years old, was one of nine girls to receive a bicycle from WFP at a Government ceremony held on the 26 July in Dori, the capital of Burkina Faso’s Sahel Region. The girls, all of whom had received WFP school meals and take-home rations, received the highest marks on the primary school leaving exams.

Hadiatou lives in the village of Yakouta, 12 kilometres from the town of Dori. Hadiatou’s primary leaving exam results are particularly impressive since only 48 percent of boys and even fewer girls (42 percent) finish primary school in this region.

Hadiatou with her parents, sisters and young brother. Her family are pastoralists - buying, raising and selling cows, goats and sheep. In her last two years of school, Hadiatou received  ten kilogram rations of sorghum or maize from WFP each month. She shared this food with her family.

Hadiatou with her school books. She says that she studies before she goes to school and that she hopes to be a nurse when she is older.

Hadiatou’s elder sister, who did not finish primary school and has several children. Hadiatou says she wants to stay in school and only get married and have children after she has finished her nursing studies.

Hadiatou with Aissatou Issa, 60, who is the village volunteer who encouraged Hadiatou’s parents to enroll her in school when she was six years old, and then provided continued encouragement to her throughout her studies. Aissatou says that when she was Hadiatou’s age, there were no schools in Yakouta and she was already married.

Family members help prepare Hadiatou’s bicycle for its test run.

Hadiatou rides down the streets of her village. Next year, she will use her bicycle to go to secondary school in Dori.