Burkina Faso: Kanyili Kéya – A Model of Resilience and Self-Reliance

Kanyili Kéya, aged 40, is a determined, married mother of four. Passionate about sewing, she completed a four-year training course in Ouagadougou. However, due to her reduced mobility and lack of resources, she found it extremely difficult to fully exercise her profession. Without the necessary equipment, she had to go into debt to buy her supplies, and the distance to travel to suppliers further complicated her work.

Kanyili’s career took a decisive turn when she joined the Association for the Development of Women and Children with Disabilities of Burkina Faso (AEFEHB). Through this project, run in collaboration with CECI to support women’s rights and economic empowerment, she was able to acquire a stock of raw materials, enabling her to avoid going into debt. As a result, her income has tripled in just six months. "Before, I only earned 250 CFA francs a day, now I earn 750 CFA francs," she recounts with pride.

This significant increase in income has enabled Kanyili to better manage her business. Her annual sales have doubled, and thanks to the training she received in financial management, she now administers her business with rigor. By keeping a book of accounts, she can clearly distinguish between her personal expenses and those of her professional activity, giving her better control over her finances.

Over and beyond the economic impacts, this transformation has strengthened Kanyili’s role within her family and community. "Today, I'm consulted on all important decisions, and I contribute financially to the household," she explains. Feeling valued and confident about the future, she has no intention of stopping there.

Kanyili’s ambition is clear: to expand her workshop, open a sales area and support other women with disabilities so that they too can achieve economic independence. Her story is a powerful illustration that the economic inclusion of women with disabilities is not only possible, but essential to build a fairer, more prosperous society.