My name is Yannis and I'm an incoming senior in high school. During the past school year I had the opportunity to visit a public school in Zone Du Bois in Burkina Faso (where I'm studying abroad from the United States) as part of a class project. When I entered the classroom, one of my first thoughts was to check and see if there were any fans to get some air circulation going in the intense heat but I was shocked to see that there were none. It was very hot and and my Burkinabe friend noticed my reaction and laughed about it. He joked about it to my teacher, which sparked the idea for this project.

The students in that classroom have to learn in difficult conditions, with the heat making it hard to concentrate and study. After reaching our initial goal of 4 fans, we now hope to install 8 fans for 4 classrooms, which will help create a more comfortable environment for learning. With fans, the students can focus better on their work and receive a higher quality education, even during the hottest parts of the school day.

Each classroom ceiling fan costs approximately 52,000 CFA francs (about $110 USD), including purchase and installation. Our minimum goal is to raise $440, which will allow us to provide fans for two classrooms in this public school in Zone Du Bois, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

We hope to raise funds not only by donations but also through selling drinks at pop up stands; me and my friend Chris Sam have partnered to set up and manage at least two separate stands during this fundraising project to sell lemonade, bissap, and spread awareness.

Helping others is a natural part of who I am, and I believe that supporting students around the world to receive a better educational experience is important for future generations. Your support can help these students thrive and give them the tools to become leaders and educated thinkers in their community. Join us in making a difference for this public school in Zone Du Bois in Burkina Faso.