- ATD Fourth World

All Together for Dignity, this is the acronym of ATD Fourth World, has been present in Burkina Faso for three decades now. ATD Fourth World started its activities first with the women from the Delwendé Center, then with street children. Today, thanks to its field experience, ATD Fourth World welcomes and advises many friends in precarious situation in its center baptized Cour au cent Métiers (The Courtyard of a Hundred Trades).

By engraving in capital letters the message of the Day for the Eradication of Poverty, 17th October 1987 in Paris, Joseph Wresinski, the founder of ATD Fourth World, drew the attention of the international community to the numerous disadvantaged people that are suffering worldwide. “Wherever men and women are condemned to live in extreme poverty, human rights are violated. To come together to ensure that these rights be respected is our solemn duty.” These are the words carved in the marble of the Parvis des Libertés et Droits de l’Homme in Paris.

On this occasion, the vieux André, who eqrns his daily living by collecting used bags in the capital, stood on the Manéga Aftican commemorative stone and launched his call. “This is a day when we should get united and ask ourselves: what did I achieve since the last 17th October and what can I do until the next 17th October?” Several testimonies were made on this day in front of more than 300 people from all sorts of backgrounds and coming from different regions of the country. In the presence of the lawyer, Titinga Pacéré, the friends of ATD Fourth World led by their delegate, Guillaume Charvon, stated their desire to see a more united society, animated by a spirit that goes beyond differences and exclusions. “Everyone’s intelligence is needed in order to build a fair world” said Guillaume Charvon, whose dream is to see a Burkina where the poorest and the richest people live together. Sylvie Compaoré’s testimony (the daughter of the vieux André) was received by the organization’s friends with great interest. “Today, money is all that counts. People are discrediting the poor. If you don’t have money, you don’t exist. Poor people should also be considered as human beings. My father is poor, but he wants to be respected. It’s by respecting people that things will be alright” she said. Today, a secondary school student, Sylvie manages to get by thanks to her courage and her father’s will.

This celebration was a real success thanks to the large participation, the testimonies, the exchange encounters and to the community meal organized for the occasion and run by the Manéga museum. A highly constructive guided visit ended the occasion.