In Burkina Faso, the ‘Mother of the Sahel’ brings education and hope to forcibly displaced children

But sponsors do more than just provide fees. Maimouna strives to forge a direct connection between the children and their sponsors, who are Burkinabe from all walks of life, ready to offer kindness and psychological support as well as cash. The benefits go both ways, she said.

"I don't know if you know that feeling, when you sense that there is a person who was in total despair, in a situation that they thought was unchangeable, insoluble, who actually sees that there are possibilities for them?" Maimouna said, a bright smile spreading across her face. "I experience that everyday in the work that I do … And that makes me feel useful and makes me believe we are getting there, as long as we continue to persevere."

"I don't see myself as a hero," she added. "I just see myself as a person who has convictions that she fights for. My belief is that we don't need much to change the world. It all starts within us."

Tall, with a penchant for colourful dresses and matching headscarves, Maimouna cuts a striking figure and, despite being just 28 years old, her work has earned her the nickname "Maman Sahélienne", or "Mother of the Sahel". Now, in recognition of her commitment to the education of displaced children in Burkina Faso, Maimouna has been named the 2024 regional winner for Africa of the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award.