Our Essakane Mine in Burkina Faso, in partnership with OPEN Education, is proud to support education through the launch of a new program that promotes literacy and expands access to learning.

The program, which includes the distribution of 200 tablets and solar power banks, will specifically benefit families in the host community of Dori in the Sahel region and provide an alternative method for accessing education for children whose schools are closed in areas that have faced significant security challenges. In addition to promoting foundational literacy, the initiative also aligns with the Burkinabè government’s new vision for promoting national languages, such as Fulfulde, Moore, and Gulimancema.

The symbolic handover of devices and literacy materials took place earlier in May in a ceremony where both IAMGOLD and OPEN Education presented the tablets to the Ministry of Foundational Education, Literacy, and the Promotion of National Languages.

Michel Abdoul Kader Kondombo, the ministry’s chief of staff, expressed his gratitude to both IAMGOLD and OPEN Education for their donation, which will “contribute to improving learning conditions and increasing the literacy rate in the region.”

The program reflects the Essakane Mine’s ongoing commitment to supporting education in our host communities in the Sahel region, through initiatives such as national and international scholarships for top-performing students in the region. It is an integral part of IAMGOLD’s comprehensive community development program, which aims to contribute tangible benefits to our host communities by fostering economic growth, improving access to health and education, and investing in sport and cultural projects.

“As a key economic player in Burkina Faso and a responsible mining partner to our host communities, we recognize that our influence extends well beyond the boundaries of our operations,” said Tidiane Barry, Vice President, West Africa, and General Manager of Essakane. “It is reflected in every social initiative we undertake — and we do so with great pride.”