Sankara, Zachary

Zachary was about 10 years old when we visited him in March 2009. His father died in the country Ivory Coast 3 years ago.  His mother still lives there. For some reason, Zachary was sent to live with family in the town of Banfora in Burkina Faso; but he ran away. Once found, they sent him to live with his aunt and uncle in our town of Yako. They have one child of their own, a 3 year old boy named Joshue.  The 4 of them live together in a small courtyard in a part of town known as Sector 6.

Zachary goes to school in Yako. At this time he was in his 2nd year of school.  His aunt and uncle cultivate millet together and the uncle also does some sewing (repairing clothes) to generate a very small income.  Their house is not in good condition. They have no electricity and own no animals. They draw their water from a well beside the courtyard. There are no other family members that help them out.

It’s hard to understand why Zachary’s mother remains in Ivory Coast without him.  It’s possible that when her husband died, it was too difficult for her to raise Zachary alone.  Possibly she has some work there.  However, in this culture, if a woman wants to remarry, she must give up the children of her previous marriage.