04-30-2025

In order to provide for their own maintenance, and perhaps even sell products, the team from Stichting de Mangoboom decided to expand the previous vegetable garden with a real piece of agriculture. First, workers fenced off an area of ​​approximately two hectares with wire mesh. This prevents stray cattle from simply walking onto the land. An expert was then called in to view the site and to think along about how we can best cultivate this land. On his advice, a number of trees were first cut down. The ground was then ploughed with a plough pulled by a donkey.

The first onion and eggplant plants were planted at the beginning of March. This was still in the dry season. But thanks to the well and the electric pump, there was an abundance of water. The children were able to water the plants every day. The crops are growing well. We expect to be able to harvest the onions at the beginning of May. The eggplants will hopefully be big enough to be picked in June. In addition to these vegetables, the ordered mango trees, papaya trees, guava trees, tangelos and banana trees have also been planted. We expect the first papayas in October. For the other trees it will take about two years before they start to bear fruit.

11-29-2024

A few years ago we installed a groundwater pump on the new site. This pump is operated manually. This makes it unsuitable for watering a large area. For this reason, the centre recently asked whether it would be possible to install an electric pump that operates on solar energy. This would make it possible to water a large field, which would also allow papaya trees, lemon trees and tangerine trees to be planted. The fruits of these can of course be eaten by the children, but some can also be sold on the market. The team indicates that in this way they can contribute to the maintenance costs of the children's centre.

In the old building of our centre (about 4 kilometres away) we have had an electric pump for years. And this is also done elsewhere in the country. This is how it would work: The pump is mounted in the riser pipe of the current water pump. Five solar panels are needed to supply the electricity. The total cost of converting the hand pump is approximately 5,000 euros. This amount includes the pump, the solar panels, the installation and also the hoses that will be needed for irrigation.

In addition, the team asks whether it is possible to fence off a hectare of land. The cost of fencing is approximately 2,000 euros. Finally, they also want to buy the trees. Together, they cost approximately 1,000 euros. All in all, this is a considerable amount. But we would still like to bring this to your attention. How wonderful it would be if such a pump were to become available soon. In addition to the animals that are now on the new site, there would also be a small orchard. In this way, a kind of mini farm could be created to support the childcare centre. In their spare time and during the holidays, the children can also enjoy themselves here.

If you would like to contribute to this, you can deposit your contribution into the bank account of Stichting de Mangoboom. Our foundation has ANBI status, which means that contributions are considered a gift for the tax authorities. Unfortunately, there are currently no options to contribute directly via iDeal. However, it is possible to use the Givt app, if you have one. In that case, you can scan the following QR code:

Donations made using this code are automatically booked under the pump project. Donations made to the foundation via this app can also be considered a gift for the tax authorities. You can of course also transfer your donation to the account number of Stichting De Mangoboom IBAN: NL33 SNSB 0871 6581 51, please mention: ‘pump project’

7-13-2023:

It is sad to see how a country that has developed so well in recent years, due to the changing security situation is now rapidly declining. The region where the child center is located cannot escape the consequences of the changes either.

To respond well to this new situation and to guarantee the safety of the children we try to find good and safe places for the children. We do this by placing children as much as possible in the families of the employees of the child center. The caregivers thus become responsible for the care of these babies in their own homes. In this way we try to continue to care for the children as best as possible.

7-1-2023:

The security situation in Burkina Faso is still unchanged. We have allready written about this a number of times in our latest newsletters. After the coup, the political situation in Burkina Fasoo is very unstable. Due to terrorist attacks all over the country people are very scared. An estimated two million people have now been driven from their villages and are on the run. Because people are also losing their fields and livestock, food is becoming scarcer and there is a widespread hunger. For foreigners the risks are even higher. In addition to the risk of robberies and kidnappings also regularly take place. It is therefore not recommended by the Dutch governement to travel to Burkina Faso.

9-3-2022:

Now that there is a water pump and a house on the site, they can serve as a base for all kinds of new activities that the children can contribute to.

Together with the children, a large part of the new land around the water pump and the house has been sown with corn. During the holidays, especially the older children spend their day as much as possible on the new site. In the morning after breakfast together we drive towards the corn field by bike where a large part of the day is spent with all kinds of agricultural activities. Now that the rainy season has started, water no longer needs to be pumped, but the weeds grows all the more. So there is enough work left for the children.

It won't stop at corn by the way. We want to plant all kinds of fruit trees around the site in the coming period. The goal is to plant 30 papaya trees, 20 banana trees, 30 orange trees and some other species. In total, we want to place 100 trees around the site in order to transform the area into a real oasis. Plenty to do for the kids in the near future.

1-14-2022:

In January 2018 the center welcomed baby-twins Maoudatou and Rasmata. Two weeks after they were born, their mother died after a short illness. The father and the extended family were unable to bear responsibilities for the two babies at the time. For this reason, the girls were brought to Action Sociale (Child Care) in order to temporarily stay in our center. For almost three years we have been taking care of them.

Recently, the father notified us that he has remarried. Together with his new wife he has expressed the desire to take care of the children. Action Sociale is going to start up the procedure for reunification. This is good news because Stichting Mangoboom is actively pursuing a strategy to reunite children with their families or have them adopted by foster families.

Including Maoudatou and Rasmata, we have been able to reunite ten children with their family of origin this past year. Ten children will experience what it means to grow into independent individuals in a family-context. This makes us very happy. We support these families where needed and possible in the care for these children.