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Pocatello Sister Cities group urges small annual support to sustain sponsorships for Burkina Faso village
Summary
At a City Council work session, Peggy Johnson of the Pocatello Sister Cities Foundation described continuing humanitarian and educational support to a village in Burkina Faso, outlined needs caused by regional violence, and asked the council for modest annual operational funding to maintain the program’s fundraising and remittance work.
Peggy Johnson, treasurer of the Pocatello Sister Cities Foundation, asked the Pocatello City Council during its work session for modest annual funding to cover the foundation’s basic administrative costs so it can continue sponsoring students and sending humanitarian aid to its partner village in Burkina Faso.
Johnson said the foundation has sponsored students for years and continues to send money to a local contact, identified in the transcript as Terry Noel, who distributes funds and coordinates support. She told the council that regional violence has displaced many villagers, closed schools and medical dispensaries, and forced families to seek refuge in nearby towns including Tougan. Johnson said one sponsored student recently graduated from university in “Bobo Diesio” and is now a doctor; she credited past Pocatello sponsors for that outcome.
The foundation’s immediate request, Johnson said, is operational: $800 a year would cover postage, printing and minor office costs so fundraising proceeds can go directly to programs. She reported fundraising has fallen since the COVID-19 pandemic and that the foundation has at times used personal funds to cover expenses. “I have probably donated more to this cause than anybody,” Johnson said. She added the group wires funds directly to their contact in Burkina Faso and has adjusted recipient name order on wire transfers to match foreign banking requirements.
Council members asked how much the foundation needed and how donors could contribute. Johnson provided a local contact phone number and said she serves as the treasurer and remittance point for donations. Council staff said finance staff would follow up with Johnson about including the foundation in the city’s budget process if the committee wished to pursue formal support.
Johnson stressed the foundation’s intent to continue sponsoring students and to help a community trying to secure land in Tougan to provide temporary housing and classroom space for displaced children. She said Pocatello contributors have helped fund schooling, food and other community needs and that local beneficiaries who completed schooling have later worked as civil servants and supported their families.
The council did not take a vote during the work session. Staff indicated they would send information about municipal funding procedures to the foundation so the group could pursue budget consideration.
Johnson closed by asking the council and mayor to mention the sister-city program in their networks to help raise awareness and potential donors.
