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Transcript/Script(( PLAYBOOK SLUG: BURKINA FASO HUSBAND SCHOOLS (TVPKG)
HEADLINE: Could Burkina Faso’s Husband Schools Be the Key to a Successful Marriage?
TEASER: Classes funded by the World Bank teach men to help around the house and take care of children
PUBLISHED AT: 1/10/22, 7:24 pm
BYLINE: Henry Wilkins
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE:
VIDEOGRAPHER: Henry Wilkins
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: dj,sv
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, Zoom, World Bank
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT: 2:49
VID APPROVED BY: Holly Franko
TYPE:
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
[[ In male-dominated societies like Burkina Faso, wives are most often blamed when marriages run into trouble. But a project funded by The World Bank is testing the concept of teaching men how to be better husbands by taking them to school. Henry Wilkins reports from Yako, Burkina Faso. ]]
(VIDEO-VOA: DRONE SHOTS OF COUPLE WALKING ALONG PATH, GIMBAL SHOT OF COUPLE WALKING ALONG PATH - various))
((NARRATOR))
The path to a successful marriage is not always an easy one, but an initiative set up in Burkina Faso by the Sahel Women's Empowerment and Demographic Dividend
(SWEDD) aims to make it less difficult.
Yeli Ouigo, who is married to Kwama Zoupoka, attended so-called “husband schools” organized by SWEDD, to help him become a better spouse.
((Yeli Ouigo, Husband School Alumni (in Moore, ??secs))
Before taking part in the classes, life as a couple was not easy… I used to think that women and men don’t have much in common when it comes to problems with family life. After the classes, we understood that we can complement and help each other.
((MANDATORY COURTESY: THE WORLD BANK))
(VIDEO-WORLD BANK: MEN PARTICIPATING IN HUSBAND SCHOOLS - various))
((NARRATOR))
Burkina Faso is a male-dominated society, but the schools use a variety of teaching techniques, including role plays, to help the men understand the needs of their wives and how to meet them -- for example, helping with housework.
They also teach the men about women’s rights, family planning, health and hygiene and they are encouraged to include women in making family decisions too.
((VIDEO-VOA: WOMEN OF THE VILLAGE SINGING - various))
The coordinator of the project in this area of Burkina Faso says the classes have made a big difference to women in the community.
((Nabalou Bibata, Coordinator, Association for the Promotion of Women and Children (in French, ??secs))
“There are even men who have attended the childbirth of their wives which is part of assuming responsibility for the care of the children by the men… For the men of the village who weren’t able to participate in the husband schools, those who did have become role models.”
((VIDEO-VOA: ZOUPOLA AND OUIGO WORKING TOGETHER AROUND THE HOUSE - various))
((NARRATOR))
Although these are the first schools of their kind in Burkina Faso, similar projects have already been implemented in countries like South Africa and Niger. The United Nations says they can help reduce incidents of domestic violence and they are also about…
((MANDATORY COURTESY: ZOOM))
((Edward Wageni, Global Head, UN Women HeForShe Initiative (in English, 8 secs)))
“The acknowledgement that gender equality is not just about women and girls, gender equality is about everybody.”
(VIDEO-VOA: ZOUPOLA AND OUIGO WORKING TOGETHER AROUND THE HOUSE - various))
((NARRATOR))
…Including men and boys.
Asked if husband schools could be beneficial in countries outside Africa, where statistically gender equality is better than Burkina Faso, Wageni replied…
((MANDATORY COURTESY: ZOOM))
((Edward Wageni, Global Head, UN Women HeForShe Initiative (in English, 10 secs)))
“So, this is a good idea that can be replicated and even scaled up in other parts of the world, including those countries that feel they have made a lot of gains.”
((VIDEO-VOA: ESTABLISHING SHOT OF OUIGO - various))
((NARRATOR))
Zoupoka, meanwhile, says the classes have made her husband much more helpful and considerate.
((Kwama Zoupoka, Farmer and Homemaker (in Moore, ?? secs))
“The love between my husband and me is growing… Now, when my husband goes to the market, he brings me back little gifts, something he didn't do before. So I am very, very satisfied.”
(VIDEO-VOA: ZOUPOLA AND OUIGO SMILING AND LAUGHING TOGETHER - various, DRONE SHOT OF COUPLE WALKING ALONG PATH))
((NARRATOR))
The national coordinator of the husband schools project says it has been a resounding success and is going to be expanded to other parts of the country. The second phase of the project is due to start later this year.
((Henry Wilkins, for VOA News, Yako, Burkina Faso))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJanuary 10, 2022 19:26 EST
Brand / Language ServiceUS Agency for Global Media
