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< PARENTS FORUM | Events | Congress of Ouagadougou | Français > CONGRESS OF OUAGADOUGOU
June 24-27, 2002 "Parents' role in girls' education: experience sharing between parents from the North and parents from the South" The conference is organized by the Burkina Faso National Union of Secondary School and University Student Parents' Associations (UNAPES-B) in collaboration with the International Federation for Parent Education (IFPE/FIEP) under the patronage of Madame Chantal Compaore, spouse of His Excellency, Mr. Blaise Compaore, President of Burkina Faso.  
Why the Congress of Ouagadougou? International conferences organized by the United Nations (UN) in the 90s, the declaration of Ouagadougou adopted by the pan-African conference on girls' education in 1993 and the Women's Conference of 1994 all stressed the fact that without providing girls with education, gender equity will never be achieved and development cannot start. Despite advocacy during the past ten years through national plans of action, the fact remains that fewer girls than boys attend school and those who go to school do not experience the same academic success as their brothers. This situation offered the National Union of Secondary School and University Student Parent's Associations the opportunity to question national plans of action. Indeed, an in-depth analysis of these plans reveals that their objectives have been hampered as they do not define the ways and means to further involve parents in the education of their daughters. Statistics indicate that few parents, in Burkina Faso in particular, are aware of the importance of their responsibilities in providing both boys and girls equal educational opportunities. The Union (UNAPES-B) has a positive view of girls' education and is committed to urging parents in Africa in general and parents in Burkina Faso in particular to change their sexist and stereotyped attitude regarding their daughters' education. For the reasons above, the Union has undertaken to organize, under the auspices of the International Federation for Parent Education (IFPE), the Congress of Ouagadougou: "Parents' role in girls' education: experience sharing between parents from the North and parents from the South" in order to define the main thrust of its program of action and identify new measures that need to be included in plans designed to promote education in Burkina Faso. The Union is also committed to take up with other parents from Africa the challenge of creating effective conditions of economic development that the continent has been expecting for such a long time. Send your statement to the congress You can participate in the conference in Burkina Faso! If you will send us an experience to share, we will present it. Since the topic is "Parents Roles in Girls' Education," please send us 50 or 60 words describing a positive experience you've had with your daughter(s) or something you've done as a parent that you have found helpful for girls in your family. Parents of boys are welcome to describe opportunities they have had -- or opportunities they have created -- to encourage boys to support their sisters or their classmates in doing well in school and continuing their education. Also describe yourself, for example, "FATHER of two girls ages 3 and 8"..."MOTHER of 7-year old girl and boy twins"..."PARENT of teens," letting us know your name if you would like it included and something about where you live: city, suburb, farm, back-country. But with or without your name, please send your contribution by letter mail to 144 Pemberton Street, Cambridge, MA 02140 USA or by email to info@parentsforum.org by June 1, 2002. Thanks!! Acknowledgements The Congress is organized thanks to the technical and financial support of the Government of Burkina Faso, the Town Hall of Bobo Dioulasso, the French, Canadian and Belgium Cooperation, international and regional organizations, UNESCO, UNICEF, Agence Intergouvernemental de la Francophonie, West African Monetary and Economic Union, Burkinabe ministerial departments and institutions, the Caisse Nationale de Securite (CNSS) , Societe nationale des Hydrocarbures du Burkina (SO.NA.B.HY.), Brasseries du Burkina (BRAKINA), Group FADOUL, AXIMMO, Manufacture Burkinabe des Cigarettes (MA.BU.CIG.), Groupe Agha Khan, la Societe de Transports Mixtes Gangre (S.T.M.B.) .... Location The Congress will take place in Ouagadougou, the political capital and in Bobo Dioulasso, the economic capital of Burkina Faso. Arrival Formalities Participants must be vaccinated against yellow fever and show proof of vaccination on arrival. For the United States and some other countries, a visa is required for entry. Contact the Burkina Faso embassy in your country. The Burkinabe Embassy in Washington DC is online: http://www.burkinaembassy-usa.org Transportation The Air Company, Point Air, has been officially entrusted with the transportation of Congress participants between Paris and Ouagadougou. Climate The rainy season begins in June, but this does not represent an obstacle to the activities or program of the Congress and excursion. Average temperature is about 30 degrees C. Currency The official currency in Burkina Faso is the Franc CFA (FCFA). Euro 1 = FCFA 655.957 or US$1 = FCFA 700. Hotels A selection of hotels will be provided. Prices range from FCFA 15,000 to FCFA 30,000 or about 23 to 46 Euros. Reservations made by the Congress Organizing Committee will benefit from a reduction. Cost Registration fee is US$100 to be paid at Ouagadougou.
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Why the Congress of Ouagadougou?
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