Burkina Women’s Education Fund (BWEF)
Welcome to BWEF
BWEF is a registered charity which funds the higher education of young women in Burkina Faso, one of the poorest countries in the world.
BWEF also provide health care, hygiene and personal advice, school lunches and computer training.
BWEF News
Read more about latest BWEF updates.
BWEF Students
BWEF selects its students from poor backgrounds with good grades and raises funds to sponsor the college and university studies of the selected students. The 32 students BWEF is currently funding, at private and public universities and colleges in three cities across Burkina Faso, study a wide range of subjects.
BWEF Graduates
The students BWEF has sponsored have graduated in the following areas: nursing, midwifery, teaching, medicine, accountancy, agriculture, law, hydrology, journalism, communication, translation/interpretation, development planning, computer science, human resources, dress-making, sustainable development, civil engineering, archaeology.
“We reach out out, they reach up.”
Frederic Eckhard, Founder of BWEF
Fred’s story
“I travelled to Burkina Faso in 2009 and 2010, each time for a couple of weeks. What struck me most was, yes, these were among the poorest people, but were brimming with optimism and ready to work hard.”
Where BWEF works
BWEF sponsors the higher education of young women in three cities in Burkina Faso: Bobo-Dioulasso, Koudougou and the capital, Ouagadougou.
BWEF Impact
119 YOUNG WOMEN
passed through our program
119 young women have benefitted from our program since 2011. 11 will complete their studies this year (2024-2025). BWEF is funding 32 beneficiaries in 2024-2025.
98% SUCCESS
only 2 have dropped out so far
…the young women are so motivated that only two have dropped out of their studies.
82 GRADUATED
52% so far have found jobs
…including several who have succeeded in taking the government entry exams which means a secure job in the civil service. In Burkina Faso it often takes 2 years of unpaid internships before obtaining a salary.
BWEF Fundraising
Join BWEF in empowering the next generation of change-makers
Since 2011, our efforts have fueled the dreams of 119 talented young women in Burkina Faso, propelling them into careers such as agronomists and doctors.
We have 32 students enrolled this academic year, plus a roster of promising candidates who don't have the means to pursue their ambitions… yet.