Better opportunities for girls and women
V!VE l’Initiative is a small foundation run by people with a strong personal commitment to the economic empowerment of girls and women in Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana.
‘Il n’y a pas de problemes, il n’y a que des solutions’
‘There are no problems, there are only solutions’
Founder Franca Berkvens has visited West Africa on many occasions since 1986. Through her marriage to Moctar Salamatao, from Bobo Dioulasso in Burkina Faso, she has developed a special bond with the people. Her regular visits to Burkina Faso, as well as to Mali and Ghana, have enabled her to get to know some extraordinary Africans. Proud to be able to plough their knowledge and experience back into their community, these warm-hearted, socially engaged people now manage the foundation’s local projects.
Our target group consists mainly of girls and women from the poorest backgrounds. In the countries where
V!VE l’Initiative is active, a large percentage of girls do not go to school or else they leave school at an early age. Schooling and work are of key importance in overcoming poverty. We support girls by providing grants for schooling and offer women financial loans so they can set up their own economic activity. In some areas where the children have no opportunity to go to school, we help the community build a school.
What we have done so far
We provided grants and/or financial support to over 360 students in Burkina Faso, Mali and Ghana.
We constructed 7 schools in Burkina Faso, Mali and Ghana.
We provided literacy training and seminars for more than 100 women in Burkina Faso.
We distributed over 150 solar Wakawaka lamps to students living in homes with no electricity.
We provided microcredits to 300 women in Burkina Faso and Mali.
We renovated 2 maternity clinics and a first-aid post in Burkina Faso.
We financed women’s refuse collection services in Burkina Faso and Mali.
We constructed a toilet block with a tank and pump for a school in Ghana.
What do we want to do
We want to provide even more girls with a grant to go to school and on to further education.
We would like to provide even more women with microfinance and subsequently help them secure a bank loan.
These projects, grants and microcredits are financed with the assistance of a large number of loyal donors and dedicated funds in the Netherlands. For each project we appeal to an appropriate fund.
We would like to expand the number of donors.
Could you please send your family and friends a link to our website?
Your donation can be sent to: Foundation VIVE l’Initiative:
account no. NL38 INGB 0008 6593 99
BIC code: INGBNL2A.
Please email us your contact details so we can thank you and keep you informed of our activities. Thank you!
The Foundation VIVE l’Initiative is registered as a Public Benefit Organisation (PBO).
Board
• Henk van Veen – Chairman
• Hessel Dik – Treasurer
• Annette Bool – Secretary
• Charlotte Borggreve – Fundraiser
Local project managers
These are the people we work with.
They ensure the continuity of the work on our projects.
