28 July 2008 UNDP helps sex workers find alternative careers in Burkina Faso
 | | Former sex worker, Fati Bougma,
has created her own stand where she sells coffee and drinks. |
Fati Bougma used to be one
of the numerous sex workers in Ouagadougou. She chose the occupation at the age of 21 after having left her home town and
being unable to find employment in the capital.
Today, Fati has abandoned her job as a sex worker and created her
own business, a small coffee shop called Wendkuuni, meaning “Gift of God” in the national language, Moore.
Wendkuuni
saw day light thanks to the support from UNDP, which collaborates with a local association for young people “L’Association
Trait d’Union des Jeunes Burkinabès” (ATUJB). “I stopped working as a sex worker two years ago,” says Fatima. “Today, I earn
enough from the work I do. Of course, as a sex worker I used to gain more, but it is an occupation without a future. I earn
$30 a month from my business and I will marry soon.”
Since 1999, ATUJB has worked with social reintegration of
professional sex workers. Its activities encompass raising awareness of HIV/AIDS, behaviour change, vocational training, and
health care support, in particular screening for HIV. The association also assists the women in opening a private bank account.
Since 2004, UNDP gives technical and financial support to ATUJB and it has allowed the association to grow considerably.
Today, it works to raise awareness and screen approximately 5000 sex workers and their clients. It prepares for the reintegration
of 50 sexual workers from Burkina Faso and its neighbouring countries. Some of them run their own hairdressing salons, others
are assigned as peer educators. The role of the latter group is to explain and to convince their mates to change their occupation.
In 2008, UNDP has allocated the association $100,000 so that it can continue to pursue its activities in five cities
in Burkina Faso: Ouagadougou, Ouahigouya, Koudougou, Pô and Nouna. This support will allow for a continuous distribution of
hygiene kits and to train peer educators. UNDP also helps the union to find external funds.
In total, UNDP in
Burkina Faso gives direct support to 146 associations and local NGOs committed to the fight against AIDS. This has contributed
to a reduction in HIV prevalence rate from 6.5% in 2001 to 2 % in 2008.
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