Ouedraogo, Harouna

Harouna was about 2 years old at the time of our visit in February.  His father drowned earlier this year – apparently he and his brother were fighting when he fell into water and did not know how to swim.  This left his wife alone with their 3 very young children.  The oldest, a 3 year old was left behind in a small city in Burkina to be raised by extended family.  Mom is caring for Harouna and an infant named Kalifa. 

The family lives in the town of Yako, Sector 2.  They are in the courtyard of their grandparents, their father’s parents.  In this culture, if a woman loses her husband, her husband’s family decides where the children will live; so she must remain with her in-laws or give up her children unless the family agrees differently.  This woman’s in-laws are able to help her.  She farms with her father-in-law and they provide decent housing for them.  There are a couple other women and 1 other man along with 2 other children also living in this courtyard.