Persecuted Children in Burkina Faso

The following questions are answered by Jean Somé (pseudonym), local partner in Burkina Faso.

Q: What does persecution look like for children and young people in Burkina Faso in general?

What the persecution Christian children in Burkina Faso face is in the context of extremist attacks, or in their community, when they or their families start following Jesus. We also have stories of children who are brought up in a Muslim or traditional religion family, start to follow Jesus and then experience persecution from their immediate or extended family.

The persecution for children from Christian families will be first what happens to their parents if they are Christians, and that has consequences on them: displacement, shortage of food or water, or being pushed into poverty because the father or the mother has been rejected or denied of something because of their faith.

We also have children that are from Muslim families, who have come to embrace the Christian faith and started following Jesus. This often happens when pastors do outreach and preach in villages, those who respond to the call are children. And sometimes it may look like just something they do for fun. But some of them later, deeper in their soul, embrace the Christian faith and love. They start attending the church. That is when the opposition from their parents come. And they experience persecution even at a young age.

Some children experience beating and all kinds of abuse because they leave their family faith to follow Jesus.

Q: How do Open Doors partners in Burkina Faso practically help these children and families in Burkina Faso?

The support we provide in Burkina Faso for children is relief aid. Although we are not a humanitarian or relief NGO, it becomes necessary when families are displaced because of violence or children and/or their families are abandoned.

Additionally, we help parents with social economic skills training to help that family have a better livelihood. We also provide trauma care to families. We have seen this support increasing joy and hope in families, which in turn creates a better environment for the children to thrive and grow in their faith.

Our goal is to change the climate in which Christian children grow up. If we change the climate, we change the environment for the child, especially for young children.

Q: Do you think persecution affects all Christian children in Burkina Faso or is it mostly those who come from a Muslim background?

Not all Christian children in Burkina Faso experience persecution. Many Christian children who have been raised in Christian homes are free to live out their faith in peace among their Muslim neighbors and peers at school.

However, children who live in areas where extremist violence is growing are at a higher risk to experience persecution.

We have received reports from western Burkina Faso where there is extremist activity. The extremists came to villages and gave Christians 72 hours to leave. They don't want to see Christians in the villages. Christian families were forced to move away. But some of their Muslims neighbors decided to go with them because these neighbors felt it's an injustice and they didn't want to be associated with that ideology (even though they are Muslim).

These displaced people are forced to live in towns that can’t always accommodate them. They increase the population in cities like Kaya and Dédougou, which causes inflation of life and impacts everybody in those cities. It's difficult for citizens to get a house to rent. Spaces like soccer fields have been occupied by displaced families. Additionally, schools are quickly full.

Then where the gospel is being preached and conversion to Christianity happens, it can bring shame to the family and community. This is where children can face persecution for their faith.

Q: What would happen to Christian children if we did not support them?

Well, to be very honest some Christian children would die. Not only because of lack of food, though that is a reality, but also because of discouragement and feelings of hopelessness. Some children either commit suicide or go down a path that is not good for themselves.

For example, displaced children might go to the mining fields in the hope to make money and find meaning, only to die in these dangerous places. Others, who are abandoned by their families or communities and pushed into poverty, will be hopeless and be exposed to drugs, stealing and all kinds of crime.

In the spiritual aspect, if we don’t support those who are still young in their faith and age, they can become discouraged. Especially if they have not been well discipled and not prepared on suffering, they may stumble. So, we are here to help strengthen and mature the church in the midst of suffering.