A Discussion with André Kim Ouedraogo, Administrator, CERCLE, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

With: André Kim Ouedraogo Berkley Center Profile

July 23, 2014

Background: In July 2014, undergraduate student Hopey Fink interviewed André Kim Ouedraogo, administrator of the lending library at the CERCLE study center in Ouagadougou, as part of the Education and Social Justice Project. In this interview, Ouedraogo discusses university programs of study in Burkina Faso, his role at CERCLE’s lending library, and the Jesuit value of integral formation.
Could you begin by introducing yourself and your role here?  

My name is André Kim Ouedraogo. I am in the first year of studies in psychology at the University of Ouagadougou. This is my second year at CERCLE. I take care of the lending library. I am a candidate in the Society of Jesus. Last year I took the BAC exam. In addition to taking care of the library, I help students –in French and in philosophy. I am here nearly all week. I also take courses at the university. 

Why are you interested in psychology?  

Since I was little, I have been interested in psychology. I have never met a psychologist, but it is a subject that I like a lot. After I took the BAC, I decided to study psychology. I have read a lot of books on psychology. Psychology helps to understand everything that is around us. He who knows psychology will be able to understand others—I think that is very valuable.

So you have been studying psychology at the university for about one month. What are your impressions of the program?

We are not in a very fixed program. We have not gotten into the meat of the material yet. I am excited to study the developmental psychology. We also have to take sociology and biology. The program of study is for four years, and after you can get a master’s.

Could you describe a bit the logistics of the lending library?

It is not computerized. We use a system of cards. It is a borrowing library—we mostly serve middle school students, but others use the books too. Books can be borrowed for ten days. We have novels and class books.            

We have geography, history, French, math and science. They are organized according to subject. The books are not all written for the level of the middle school students, though. We have French literature as well, and a bit of African literature. Most often, the books, including the novels, are for class, not leisure reading.

Where do the books here come from, and who chooses them?  

The majority of the books here are donations. They mostly come from France. We do not have enough African books. Students look for African books often.  

We collaborate often with the consultation library. We have several copies of some books, and if a student is using one in the consultation library, he can check it out here if we have it.

There are many books here that are never used. Students come searching specific titles, and the rest just sit on the shelves. The most popular novel is this one—it cannot stay here! [Ahhhh, les homes…] is about love and romance.

How has your work changed with the recent changes at CERCLE—the suspension of classes, etc.?  

The students were accustomed to a certain system. They do not understand the changes. Last year, in the mornings the library was empty; only in the evenings did students come to check out books. Now, it is full the whole day.

What is this computer used for?         

We register all of the books in the library here. But the system is not computerized. I do not understand the process of computerization. There is an IT guy though who is planning to help us with that.

How does your work at the lending library fit into the Jesuit mission of integral formation?  

I communicate a lot with the students. I am always in contact with those who want to work here. I learn their manners; I help them. Those who come here are my friends. Because I am serving them, I am obligated to listen to them and pay attention to them.  

The Jesuits understand that scholastic education is not everything. Academics often do not account for how people react to certain things and how important it is to know people. For example, the rental period at the library is ten days. If a student has not returned a book in a month, I can easily contact him and ask what is wrong. Oftentimes he will apologize and explain himself, and there is a good reason.    
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