Mariam is one of 15 young single mothers we have been supporting since last spring in Burkina Faso, to enable them to support themselves and provide protection and care for their children.
After attending a training course on entrepreneurship and salaried employment last March, she decided to focus on hairdressing, a profession she already knew. For 3 months, she trained with craftsmen to perfect her techniques.
In May 2025, with working capital of 150,000 CFA francs (228 euros) and basic equipment provided by Planète Enfants & Développement, Mariam opened her own salon, "Shaida Coiffure", in the Pissy district.
"Today, I can feed my children, pay for their care and even put a little money aside"she confides, proud to have already saved 60,000 CFA francs (91 euros) in two months of business.
Family support
Mariam is raising two children on her own: Shaida, aged 5, and Emmanuel, aged 1 year 8 months. The youngest, taken in by Mme Béatrice Kantiene, a nursery assistant we coach, suffered from malnutrition and delayed psychomotor development. Cared for since April in a Maison d'Assistantes Maternelles (MAM), Emmanuel has gradually regained his strength. Today, he plays with the other children and tries to walk.
To Mariam's relief, the project also covers her rent until December 2025, and assists her in obtaining civil status documents, which she and her children previously lacked.
New perspectives
This support is gradually transforming Mariam's life. She no longer has to come home late at night and is no longer afraid of aggression; she now has time for her children. She also takes part in parenting awareness sessions, which help her to better understand her children's developmental stages and needs.
But Mariam has no intention of stopping there:
" My dream," she says, "is to grow my salon so that I can train other girls. Many of them work in very harsh conditions, sometimes in maquis (restaurants). I'd like to give them another chance, like I was given. "
A model to be reproduced
Halfway through, the project is already showing encouraging results: 5 young mothers have opened their own business, 13 children are receiving educational and nutritional support, and 10 families have been given access to decent housing.
Behind the numbers are lives transformed. Mariam's story illustrates the strength of these women who, with the right support, can build a more secure future for themselves and their children.
