Refugees Deeply | 08.02.2018
The E.U. is spending millions in development aid in sub-Saharan Africa in an effort to dissuade migration to Europe. But in countries like Burkina Faso, people think very differently about migration, IRIN News reports.
Saskia Houttuin, Sarah Haaij
OUAGADOUGOU – Speed, endurance, dexterity and an eye for color: just some of the skills needed when weaving on a loom. Eveline Ouédraogo masters them all. Without visible effort, this Burkinabé woman rapidly moves her feet over the pedals, her hands maneuvering 40 brightly colored coils of thread.
With each thread going back and forth, Ouédraogo, 37, earns a little bit more. Every fling on the loom brings her children a step closer to a better future: one the E.U. hopes – as the funder of the microenterprise where she works – will keep them at home rather than migrating north.