Your Impact in Burkina Faso

For generations, moms like Maria in Burkina Faso have carried babies on their backs using fabric called furungdu. The cloth is a long rectangle that’s securely tied around the mother’s chest. This technique is more than practical — it’s a powerful symbol of a mother’s love.

Maria, a mom in Burkina Faso, wraps her little boy Amza so she can do housework, walk around the community and go to the Compassion Nurturers center. You’ll read more about Maria and Amza in the next few months!

Many moms in the communities we serve together can’t afford a cradle. They can’t give their babies a cozy place to nap while they take care of their other children and their homes. So their furungdus become their baby’s napping spot.

Babies stay safe and secure as mom manages her daily to-do list. And the babies like this arrangement too — as many moms know, a baby’s preferred sleeping spot is snuggled up against their favorite person.

Tying a furungdu is a skill that’s passed down by mothers to their little girls. Another mom in Burkina Faso said her mother first showed her how to wrap her baby doll. It’s a beautiful tradition that, for generations, has helped moms comfort their little ones while they get things done.

Maria and the 14 other moms enrolled at the local Nurturers center share these types of customs with each other as they walk the journey of motherhood together. At the Nurturers center, they get prenatal and postnatal care, along with emotional, mental and spiritual support. The Nurturers center is part of the local church, offering a safe haven for moms as they raise their little ones.

It’s a place they find hope and community, a place that teaches them about child care and parenting, and one that honors the traditions they’ve seen passed down from their own mothers and grandmothers. It’s a place their little ones can learn the customs of their community, like the value of baby wrapping. It’s a place where moms like Maria can find a loving, supportive community of other moms who can cheer them on in the joyful times and pray with them through the difficult ones. Most importantly, the Nurturers center is a place where moms and little ones will learn about the love of Jesus.

You can help Maria and other moms by sending essential supplies right to their door. Send a Newborn Care Package today.

Watch Maria's Video