Rising Above Poverty

In Burkina Faso, life isn’t easy. Conflict, limited access to resources and high rates of illiteracy have put over 2 million people at risk of hunger across the country. But Lizeta Dianda, a mother of five from Boulkon, refuses to become another statistic.

Lizeta is not only a devoted mother but also a determined entrepreneur and leader in her community. Thanks to the invaluable support of The Hunger Project (THP) she has risen above a life of poverty and hunger.

With a strong entrepreneurial spirit, Lizeta started new business ventures selling local products at the market and took on the role of warrantage practitioner for her village. Lizeta received essential training from THP on how to implement the strategy, which combines access to credit for income-generating activities and secure grain storage that allows farmers to sell their crops when prices peak. It has become a critical food security initiative at the Boulkon Epicentre, enhancing development for farmers in the region.

Lizeta’s praise is resounding: “Warrantage has been very beneficial for me. Thanks to my savings, I have started a diversified business that provides for my family.”

Today, Lizeta is able to send her children to school to ensure opportunities she and her husband never had. She recognises the significance of empowering future generations of women and challenges societal conventions for her daughters like opposing early, arranged marriages.

For the future, Lizeta plans to expand the business and venture into cattle fattening with the help of THP. She reminds us that with the right support, people can end hunger themselves.