The AMPO orphanage for boys

The AMPO orphanage for boys

The AMPO orphanage for boys was one of the first projects opened by Katrin Rohde on 3.03.1996, located in Sector 29 in Ouagadougou. When they took it over, the site was a rubbish dump and before it could be used they had to dig out and replace the topsoil. At the time Sector 29 was on the outskirts of Ouagadougou, but today the growing inner city is encroaching nearer and nearer and in the last ten years people have been flooding to the capital from the countryside so that the unoffficial population count has tripled to 2.5 million with a current annual rate of increase of 10%.

At present there are about 50 kids aged between 6 and 18 in the AMPO orphanage for boys. All of them are orphaned or semi-orphaned. It is usually their impoverished relatives who apply to have them taken in, but sometimes the kids just turn up at the gate and ask AMPO for help. The actual need and the background of each kid is thoroughly checked by social workers. In many cases the children are deeply traumatised and they then undergo long-term, one-on-one psychological counselling. AMPO is non-denominational. Besides the mosque we also have a consecrated area for Catholics. In terms of education, the new kids are given extra lessons on site, so that they can catch up on lost schooling to prepare them for easier integration into the regular school system later. If the kids are unable to attend school for reasons of age or intellectual ability, vocational training is available. All the other kids attend neighbourhood schools and most of them perform extremely well.

Time spent at AMPO is marked by many socio-cultural activities to create awareness and to develop learning and playing skills. The British „Coaching for Hope“ group regularly organises discussions on HIV / Aids education, successfully combining these with football or art activities. Swimming lessons, a puppet workshop and their own kitchen garden including animals to look after, all contribute to confidence-building and self-awareness. The AMPO kids are particularly good at football. In 2008 the junior team won a major competition and as a reward they are now heading for the Africa Championship in Ghana.

Africa Championship in Ghana

When they reach the age of majority, the young grown-ups must leave AMPO to make room for newcomers. This does not mean however that they are left high and dry. Living with their relatives, they are provided with a modest sum of money for support and a bicycle. They are accompanied and supported on their path to independence and inclusion into the labour market. We help them look for jobs and finance training schemes. Those who are best at school are supported to go to university. Those who successfully complete their apprenticeship in an AMPO training facility are given at least donations in kind to help them stand on their own feet; every trained tailor, for example is given his own sewing machine.