In the quiet village of Fran Kunda Mandinga, in Guinea-Bissau’s Bafatá region, the sound of a machete striking bamboo cuts through the morning air. It is the sound of determination. At 22, Buli Sadjo has turned a small patch of land behind his family home into a workshop—where each bamboo rod he splits brings him closer to a future he once thought he would have to seek abroad.
A Generation Caught Between Hope and Departure
For years, Buli believed that his only chance at a better life lay beyond Guinea-Bissau’s borders. Many of his friends left for Europe through dangerous routes across the desert and sea. Some never came back. Like much of rural West Africa, Guinea-Bissau faces high youth unemployment, and in regions like Bafatá, migration has become both a dream and a gamble.
“I used to think leaving was the only way,” Buli recalls. “There were no jobs, and I didn’t see what I could do here.”
A Small Loan, a Turning Point
That outlook began to shift in 2023, when Buli joined a community initiative supported by Tostan and its partners. Through a project funded by GIZ under the ECOWAS Fragile Regions Stabilization and Development Fund, young people and women in 70 rural communities received small loans and training to start local enterprises.
Buli applied for a loan of 50,000 CFA francs—about 80 US dollars—and used it to buy tools and bamboo for his first batch of quirrintim, traditional fencing and ceiling panels found in many West African homes. Bamboo is abundant, durable, and affordable, making it a practical choice for both rural and urban construction.
When he transported his first 40 panels to the capital, Bissau, each sold quickly. After covering his costs, he earned another 80 dollars—doubling his initial investment.
“That moment changed everything for me,” he says with a quiet smile. “I realized I could build something meaningful right here, with my own hands.”
Building a Future from Local Resources
Encouraged by that success, Buli expanded his small enterprise. He now employs two young apprentices and has become known in nearby villages for his craftsmanship. His bamboo business provides an eco-friendly alternative to imported materials and keeps income circulating within the community.
Across the Bafatá region, hundreds of young people are following similar paths. The program that supported Buli—implemented by Tostan alongside SWISSAID, ADPP, COPE, and AA—has reached more than 2,000 youth and 2,000 women, including returnees who once attempted irregular migration. Together, they are redefining what opportunity looks like in rural Guinea-Bissau.
A New Story of Possibility
Buli no longer dreams of leaving. His goal now is to grow his bamboo business, train others, and contribute to a stronger local economy. For him, staying is no longer a compromise—it is a choice rooted in pride and purpose.
“When you believe your future is only somewhere else,” he says, “you stop seeing what you already have. Now I see possibilities everywhere.”
Across West Africa, young entrepreneurs like Buli are proving that opportunity can take root at home.