The Ingenuity of a Young Burkinabe: A Lesson in Creativity for Haitian Youth

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso.— At just 18 years old, Abdoul Rahim Simporé embodies the creative genius of a youth that refuses to give up. Son of a merchant at the large Rood Woko market in Ouagadougou, he grew up between his father's stall and street vending. It was in this daily life marked by resourcefulness that he discovered, on his own, artificial intelligence. From this curiosity was born KUNAFONI, a digital solution that secures agricultural transactions, strengthens trust between producers and buyers, and promises to increase farmers' incomes by 20 to 30%. The innovation is impressive, but even more so is the spirit behind it: Abdoul Rahim chose to cede his project to the State, convinced that his role is not to derive personal profit from it but to make it a tool for economic sovereignty for Burkina Faso. From Burkina Faso to Haiti: Two Youths, Same Challenges Abdoul Rahim's story transcends his country's borders. It resonates strongly in Haiti, where over 55% of the population is under 25, but where young people remain trapped in a vicious cycle: massive unemployment (nearly 40% according to some estimates), insecurity, lack of access to technical training, and brain drain abroad. In Burkina Faso as in Haiti, youth live in precarious conditions, caught between the informal economy and a lack of prospects. But where some, like Simporé, manage to transform their limitations into opportunities, many young Haitians see their talents fade into indifference, or worse, get lost in the spiral of violence. The comparison is striking: in Burkina, a self-taught teenager designs a platform to protect farmers and strengthen food sovereignty; in Haiti, many young people, despite similar potential in digital technology, agroecology, crafts, or social innovation, struggle to find a framework to transform their ideas into concrete projects. Lessons for Haiti Like Burkina Faso, Haiti is an agricultural nation. But it faces enormous post-harvest losses, widespread mistrust in distribution channels, and market instability. Today, chronic insecurity further plunges the country. A project inspired by KUNAFONI could be a decisive lever to revive the Haitian peasant economy, protect producers, and ensure better product traceability. Above all, the Burkinabe example demonstrates that youth, even left to their own devices, can be the engine of national solutions. However, authorities, institutions, and civil society must create a framework of trust and support. An Urgent Call to Support Haitian Youth The energy, intelligence, and creativity of Haitian youth are real. But they sorely lack support. Young Haitians should not be reduced to the tragic choice between leaving, being confined to daily survival, or succumbing to the call of gangs. They must be able, like Abdoul Rahim Simporé, to put their expertise at the service of the country. This support requires ambitious public policies:
• Access to digital and technical training accessible to all, even outside major cities;
• Incubators and innovation funds enabling young people to realize their ideas;
• Partnerships between the State, the private sector, and the diaspora to finance and support projects;
• Valuing local initiatives that can, like KUNAFONI, become tools of national sovereignty. Alternative to Arms It is always said that difficult times create strong men… Simporé is an example of youth who refuse to give up or deviate to achieve an easy life without making a substantial contribution. To change the course of events, there are always better options than succumbing to the call of gangs and becoming both an instrument and a prey to violence. Abdoul Rahim Simporé's story reminds us of a simple truth: the wealth of a nation is primarily its youth. In Burkina Faso, a self-taught AI teenager shows the way. It is up to Haiti to draw inspiration from this and unleash the immense potential of its youth. For without support or vision, this potential risks being lost, and with it, the future of the country. Jean Mapou