If you had asked Wendwaoga as a child what he wanted to be, he might have told you something practical — something that fit within social expectations. A teacher, perhaps. Maybe a shop owner. Something steady, something that would provide. But sometimes, the smallest spark sets fire to something much bigger than itself.
At first, Lycée Béthanie Academy was simply a humble school in Burkina Faso, a place where he learned equations and memorized history dates. His parents had chosen it because it was Christ-centered. They wanted something different for him, something deeper. And at first, he hadn’t thought much about that part. But faith has a way of sneaking in through the cracks, of making its way into bigger spaces.
When Edify partnered with his school, he had no idea what it would mean for him personally. But suddenly, there were new opportunities. A Bible camp. Leadership training. Spaces where he was told that his faith wasn’t just something to hold onto — it was something to share, something that could change lives. It was in the Bible group meetings that he found himself standing in front of his classmates, learning how to communicate effectively and how to lead. It was in the back-to-school prayer gatherings, where he and his peers were called upon to mobilize students, to be the first ones to step up. It was in the way the teachers didn’t just lecture but guided, shaped, and poured into them. “With Edify, we learned a lot about leadership and the mission to go and make disciples of the nations,” Wendwaoga shares. Understanding his role as an ambassador of God’s Kingdom transformed how he saw his influence, motivating him to align his actions with biblical values. “It enabled us to change our behavior, aligning it with biblical principles so we could impact those around us,” he says.
That was when the spark became something more.
Leadership didn’t stop at school. It followed Wendwaoga home, into the streets of Bobo Dioulasso, into the church pews where he listened and learned. Soon, it wasn’t enough to simply absorb the information; he wanted to do something. So he stepped forward again. He found his place in Fondation Christ et Handicapés (FOCHA), an organization dedicated to supporting people living with disabilities. At first, he was a volunteer, helping where he could and doing what was needed while still continuing his studies. But one step led to another, and after graduating, he was leading efforts in mobilization and communication. Wendwaoga’s heart was steeped in ensuring that those in need received more than just material help — they received love, dignity, and the message of Christ.
He helped organize Bible camps for people with disabilities so they had a place to grow spiritually. He saw firsthand how faith could restore, how it could lift, how it could remind someone of their worth. And the fire kept growing.
Now, Wendwaoga has been with FOCHA for six years and serves as a leader in his church’s youth ministry. Leadership is no longer something he stumbled into; it is something he carries with intention. His dreams aren’t small. They stretch wide, and looking back, he sees the moments that led him here, the school that shaped him, the mentors who guided him, and the faith that caught fire in his heart. “I thank God for my school, Lycée Béthanie, and for Edify, which have contributed significantly to making me what I am today — a leader, albeit still in training, who will make a difference and impact my generation.”
The spark that was once small is now a flame that refuses to be contained. And it is just beginning.
