Compaore, Joel

Joel was about 8 years old when we visited in January 2009. Mom was left alone with her 4 young children when her husband died of an unknown illness a year ago in the capital city. One of her children is now living with an uncle and the grandparents help her take care of the other 3. We think the mother may be sick.

Joel attends school in the village of Ralo, which is where the family lives. They live in a courtyard shared with 6 men, 3 woman and lots of children. Their typical mud-brick house is rundown, with lots of cracks in the walls. There is no electricity and the water comes from a nearby well.

The family cultivates millet together and they have no other source of income. They own 3 pigs and 2 goats. The family is in good health.