Social Diplomacy in Support of the School Integration and Reintegration of Internally Displaced Children in the Rural Commune of Nagréongo, Burkina Faso
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Abstract
This article explores how social diplomacy facilitates the school integration and reintegration of internally displaced children (IDC) in the rural commune of Nagréongo, Burkina Faso. The widespread security crisis in the country has led to significant population displacement, severely impacting access to education. In response to this challenge, social diplomacy, understood as a community-based strategy involving mediation, awareness-raising, and advocacy, brings together traditional, administrative, and community actors to restore social cohesion and promote the education of IDC. Based on a qualitative study conducted with 40 key stakeholders, including authorities, teachers, internally displaced persons, children, and host community members, the study highlights the influential role of local figures such as the healer Saïdou Nagréongo and the importance of local solidarity mechanisms. Despite tensions related to perceived inequality in the distribution of aid, strategies such as intercommunity dialogue and advocacy efforts have enabled the gradual school integration of IDC. The article concludes that social diplomacy is a vital tool for community resilience and the development of inclusive education, with potential for adaptation to other Sahelian contexts.
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