Tuesday in Ouaga

 This morning we visited with Alice Yameogo Ouedraogo (you will see her in another photo from the night before), Director of Administration and Accounting and Emile Ouedraogo (not related to Alice) (see above photo), Director of the Society for Investment and Micro-finance. They are housed in the middle of the city. We learned that the Director is 65 and could have easily retired at the required retirement age of 60 (the average life span of a Burkinabe is 56 years). However, he decided to take his savings and start a micro-financing business- which distributes loans from $400- several thousand. Many of their clients/customers have small businesses in the city, but some are in areas in-between the city and rural areas. One woman borrowed money to grow a small garden so that she could sell mangos on the street corner. Sometimes she will put the mangos in a large basket, put the basket on her head and sell them as she walks the streets. The stories are endless.

 A very typical scene on the streets of Ouaga. Again, the women from all walks of life wear the most beautiful clothes- all custom-made. The colors and patterns are splendid!

This vendor sells filming services for weddings- you can see the display of photos for potential customers to inspect.

 These next several photos are taken in a "neighborhood" on the outskirts of the city. This, our guides tell us is the REAL Africa. Mud homes, skinny animals, packs of children playing everywhere, stalls upon stalls of small vendors- I will not even attempt to describe this experience. We visited some of the micro-lendees and spoke, through interpreters, to the vendors- while the entire time, surrounded by children who wanted to touch us and be photographed. Of course, their motivation was to be able to see themselves in the photo after it was taken.

 Meat counter- not sure if they were selling meat or flies. NOTHING goes to waste.

This is Sylvie Ouedraogo, Chief of Department Affairs for the BFaso Ombudsman and a lawyer by training. She talked with us about the mediation services they provide and how the conflict resolution system functions throughout Burkina Faso. She is one of a handful of women who hold leadership positions in Burkina Faso.