Reverend Philippe Ouedraogo, Executive Director of AEAD, has dedicated his life’s purpose to making the world a better place since he was young. AEAD is a charity in Burkina Faso focused on helping the poor and needy through health, environmental, and educational programs that are faith-driven. Guided by faith, he attributes his calling to his educational background and the examples set by his parents and community growing up.
-My Key Takeaways-
Philippe has been an inspiration to me in so many ways. I first met him 12 years ago after a friend insisted I should get on a plane and travel to Burkina Faso, West Africa, to meet one of the greatest leaders he himself had ever had the pleasure of meeting. I couldn’t resist. Little did I know it would take me on a positively irreversible journey!
From a young age, his dad was his biggest inspiration. Philippe intrinsically knew his purpose. Being born into one of the poorest countries in the world, witnessing and being subjected to the devastation of poverty and civil war, he travelled miles to be educated in Burkina Faso, which later earned him an opportunity to study in the U.K. where he gained his PhD in girls and women’s education in Burkina Faso. He has since been instrumental in the development of 150 plus schools and an advisory to the Government for Education in Burkina Faso.
Philippe is as close to selfless as I’ve ever met. When I ask him where does this come from, he says his faith, every time! He sees himself as a vessel to deliver compassion and love and there are no lengths at which he won’t go in order to serve his community and country. Whether in religion, spirituality or a cause, it’s beyond clear a deep belief for something that has the power to take us on a journey to create meaningful change like nothing else!
I have never met such a fearless yet gentle man. His absence of fear means he has no boundaries as to the lengths in which he will go for what he believes is right. A truly remarkable human being!
*Connect with Philippe*
Website: www.aead-burkina.org
Email: philippe_aead@yahoo.co.uk
