West Africa
Map
West Africa
Welcome to West Africa
From steamy jungles to hot beaches, West Africa’s geography is as varied as the people who live there. The region is home to many different languages and ethnic groups, which create a vibrant culture of song, dance and art. Natural resources like gold and oil are plentiful in West Africa, but few people benefit from them. In fact, West Africa is the region with some of the poorest countries in the world.
Millions of West Africans are living in abject poverty, without access to healthy food, clean water or education. Political instability over the past century has caused bloody wars between different ethnic and political groups fighting for control of their specific countries. These wars have caused destruction, economic instability and loss of life that has made development very slow.
Children have been affected by poverty the most. Many kids are not in school because they are working, or because they can’t afford it. Some kids have even been forced to fight in wars as child soldiers.
Development support is needed to improve the lives of West Africa’s children and you can help. Start your journey through West Africa to find out how.