« Hugues Fabrice Zango has shown the entire world that Burkina Faso remains strong. »
Dicko Aissatou, a student from Dori, thanks Hugues Fabrice Zango for the hope he gives to children.
- Français
- English
Aissatou Dicko, 16 years old, is a student at Lycée Municipal Salif Diallo in Dori, in the Sahel region of Burkina Faso. This year, she passed her Brevet d'études du premier cycle (BEPC) and is already passionate about sports.
Aissatou practices athletics (high jump and sprinting) and gymnastics at school.
She and her friends heard about the screening of the Olympic Games featuring Hugues Fabrice Zango, and they gathered to participate in the "Children's Olympics." This activity, organized by UNICEF in partnership with the Ministry of Communication, aims to support UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Hugues Fabrice Zango, who competed for his first gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The athlete finished the competition in 5th place but did not disappoint. The children were behind him to show their support.
As the first Olympic medalist from Burkina Faso in 2021 and the World Triple Jump Champion in 2023, he is a great inspiration for children living in high-security challenge areas.
“Hugues Fabrice Zango shows the whole world that Burkina Faso remains strong despite the security situation,” said Aissatou, thrilled by the athlete’s achievement. “I also want to compete in the Olympic Games one day,” she enthusiastically adds.
Ahmadou Diallo, Education Administrator at UNICEF Dori, supports this by stating: “Children need to understand that nothing is impossible, and with dedication, one can be a champion in whatever they do.”
Thanks to this initiative of gathering children into a fan base to support Hugues Fabrice Zango, children from the Sahel and other regions connected with the athlete, even indirectly. They felt valued and as though they contributed to pushing their champion forward by encouraging him in all the jumps he had to make.
The Children’s Olympics were organized in Dori, Kaya, Fada, Ouagadougou, and Koudougou, the hometown of Olympic gold medalist Hugues Fabrice Zango, and gathered more than 2,000 children.
In Burkina Faso, the humanitarian situation remains concerning. More than 2 million people have been displaced due to insecurity, with over half being children. Some children have lost access to education, healthcare, well-being, and their childhood, but they have not lost hope. The government, UNICEF, and partners are working tirelessly to address the crisis and restore children's rights.
This activity was made possible thanks to BMZ (the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development) and the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).
