On 19 March 2025, Studio Yafa, the production studio of Fondation Hirondelle in Burkina Faso, broadcast the first video capsule of Allô la Terre, a weekly production to inform audiences about environmental and climate issues.
“The idea is to make these topics, often highly scientific, accessible and understandable to the public, so that every citizen can make informed decisions,” explains Danielle Coulibaly, the journalist in charge of Allô la Terre.
She adds: “It all began after a short-form video training at the end of 2024. The editor-in-chief at the time suggested that I launch a project focusing on the environment and climate change.” Already producing radio reports on the subject, she immediately agreed and developed the project with the support of Jacqueline Dalton, Head of Editorial Content at Fondation Hirondelle.
Danielle Coulibaly, Journalist in charge of Allô la Terre
Producing a video, from topic research through to editing, takes approximately one to two weeks, depending on constraints. Some topics are complex and require more in-depth research, while others depend on the availability of experts. “Producing one video per week is therefore a demanding pace,” Danielle points out. She is responsible for scheduling interviews, filming, writing scripts, recording and appearing on camera, editing the video, before it is refined and published by the web manager.
By highlighting these initiatives, the programme’s main goal is to inform a wide audience, helping them to understand the urgency of climate and environmental issues. Climate change affects all key sectors, including health, the economy, and human and food security. “For example, it is crucial to understand that degraded land is fertile ground for food insecurity and social conflict. Restoring our land is, above all, about protecting our peace,” emphasises the editor of Allô la Terre.
The programme also seeks to inspire audiences by showcasing local initiatives and solutions, such as those led by Yacouba Sawadogo, also known as “the man who stopped the desert”, who used techniques as Zaï. “Such initiatives help demystify climate change by highlighting concrete successes that are close to home.”
Finally, Allô la Terre is a tool to encourage collective engagement, so that every citizen can become an agent of change in Burkina Faso.
Discover the Allô la Terre videos here!