Guinea-Bissau
Guinea Bissau is a small country in West Africa with a population of just over 1.6 million people. It is the third poorest country in the world with an annual average Gross National Income of just US$190 per capita. Life expectancy is just 46 years.
Plan’s work
Early in 2008 Plan completed a community based education project in the Bafata region which has improved access to and the quality of education for children. The project also raised awareness of the importance of birth registration and improved communities’ capacity to manage their own development projects.
Activities included building four schools benefiting 691 children (374 girls and 317 boys), installing water and sanitation facilities, training 142 teachers, distributing books and teaching materials, training 40 birth registration agents and initiating a birth registration campaign.
A second project was designed to improve general health and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in the region by establishing two mobile clinics and two voluntary counselling & testing centres, training 52 health staff and 40 traditional birth attendants and raising awareness in 130 villages and 60 schools.
Plan Ireland has agreed a three year grant with Irish Aid to help improve access to education in Guinea Bissau. Plan intends to construct 63 classrooms, improve access to water and better sanitation facilities, and promote general community development in its programme area.
School enrolment rates in Bafata are well below the national average at 25% for boys and just 18% for girls. If Guinea Bissau is to have any chance of overcoming poverty it is vital that its young people receive a quality and inclusive education.
Due to the current dire educational infrastructure Plan Ireland is using funds received from corporate bodies, trusts and from general fundraising to support the education system in Guinea Bissau. This will remain a key priority for the coming years.
