A Discussion with Jean Houangge, Jesuit Candidate, CERCLE, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
With: Jean Houangge Berkley Center Profile
July 17, 2014
Background: As part of the Education and Social
Justice Project in July 2014, undergraduate student Hopey Fink interviewed Jean
Houangge, a Jesuit candidate who works with registrations and academic
administration at the Jesuit-run Center of Studies and Reflection for Students (le Centre d’Etude et de Réflexion pour Collégiens, Lycéens et Etudiants, CERCLE). In this interview,
Houangge discusses administrative logistics of the center as well as its social
service policies and Jesuit mission.
When you started here, how did you hear about the center?
I am originally from Benin, but I am a naturalized Burkinabè citizen. I am a candidate for the Society of Jesus. When I started at the lending library, I was a university student—I was at the University of Ouagadougou for three years studying math and computer science. When I entered the Society, I had to get an internship, so I started here. Father Augustin [Some, S.J.] asked me to take over administration, and I started that two years ago.
Could you explain a bit about the logistics of registration here?
When someone comes to register, they have to have two pieces of photo identification, whether an ID card, or a school ID. If the person is in sixième to troisième [the first cycle of secondary school], the cost is 6,150 CFA. For seconde and terminale [the final two levels of secondary school], it is 7,000. And for workers it is 8,000.
When someone comes here with their photos and their money, what do you do with the information?
They get two cards. There is a white one for the administration, and then the one that is given to the student is green this year. We change the colors each year. For those who have already registered and are returning to reregister, they only need one photo ID instead of two.
How is the process of registration made accessible for all?
We do advertisements on the radio and newspapers. We pass out flyers in establishments. There is usually a team of a few collaborators that does this.
If someone cannot pay, is there a system to help them?
Sometimes people can only pay partially. We give them a special type of card, and not the member card, and allow them to have time. There are generally 20 to 25 social cases like this each year. We work with them to find a solution.
Do you also make the class schedules?
Yes, we have support courses for exam prep that start in February. I teach them for math, physics, and chemistry. I work with Father Augustin to create the program and to schedule the classes at different times. We usually have classes Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. We would do two hours of math, two hours of French, two hours of English, two hours of physics.
What’s the most popular course?
Most often, students are interested in the philosophy course. Otherwise, it depends on the season and the age group.
What values do you try to instill in the students here, and how do you do that in your role?
Personally, what I do to help students is to be there to explain things to them and encourage them to ask questions. The Jesuit pedagogy allows us to interact with students in a personal manner. And here we provide a space for them to grow. With the electricity outages, each time there’s a cut, students can still be here at the center, accessing documents and working. The calm allows them to succeed.
In dealing with the registrations, do you ever encounter interreligious dynamics? CERCLE is a Catholic and Jesuit institution, but are there others who come? Are there ever any challenges with this?
There are never any problems. We are open to everyone, and we often have Muslims, Protestants…out there we have space for Muslims to pray. It does not matter if you are Catholic, Muslim, Protestant, whatever, you can come here and study. And everyone can pray on the grounds [of CERCLE].
Do you also share in athletic or cultural activities?
Yes. In March we had a big Culture Night: we had ballet, traditional dance, plays. And, members of the center often organize themselves to play sports on our courts. There are organized matches on Thursdays and Sundays, but the courts are only open to those who are members of CERCLE.
Do you think that the environment here helps form individuals who think for themselves, take initiative, organize themselves?
Yes, effectively—during the school year, students come from lots of different schools. They work together and organize themselves for study and sports. It’s part of integral education.
Do you think that your role allows you to know the students personally?
Effectively, yes. It allows me to teach them and get to know them. Young students, university students—there is a spirit of friendship.
I am originally from Benin, but I am a naturalized Burkinabè citizen. I am a candidate for the Society of Jesus. When I started at the lending library, I was a university student—I was at the University of Ouagadougou for three years studying math and computer science. When I entered the Society, I had to get an internship, so I started here. Father Augustin [Some, S.J.] asked me to take over administration, and I started that two years ago.
Could you explain a bit about the logistics of registration here?
When someone comes to register, they have to have two pieces of photo identification, whether an ID card, or a school ID. If the person is in sixième to troisième [the first cycle of secondary school], the cost is 6,150 CFA. For seconde and terminale [the final two levels of secondary school], it is 7,000. And for workers it is 8,000.
When someone comes here with their photos and their money, what do you do with the information?
They get two cards. There is a white one for the administration, and then the one that is given to the student is green this year. We change the colors each year. For those who have already registered and are returning to reregister, they only need one photo ID instead of two.
How is the process of registration made accessible for all?
We do advertisements on the radio and newspapers. We pass out flyers in establishments. There is usually a team of a few collaborators that does this.
If someone cannot pay, is there a system to help them?
Sometimes people can only pay partially. We give them a special type of card, and not the member card, and allow them to have time. There are generally 20 to 25 social cases like this each year. We work with them to find a solution.
Do you also make the class schedules?
Yes, we have support courses for exam prep that start in February. I teach them for math, physics, and chemistry. I work with Father Augustin to create the program and to schedule the classes at different times. We usually have classes Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. We would do two hours of math, two hours of French, two hours of English, two hours of physics.
What’s the most popular course?
Most often, students are interested in the philosophy course. Otherwise, it depends on the season and the age group.
What values do you try to instill in the students here, and how do you do that in your role?
Personally, what I do to help students is to be there to explain things to them and encourage them to ask questions. The Jesuit pedagogy allows us to interact with students in a personal manner. And here we provide a space for them to grow. With the electricity outages, each time there’s a cut, students can still be here at the center, accessing documents and working. The calm allows them to succeed.
In dealing with the registrations, do you ever encounter interreligious dynamics? CERCLE is a Catholic and Jesuit institution, but are there others who come? Are there ever any challenges with this?
There are never any problems. We are open to everyone, and we often have Muslims, Protestants…out there we have space for Muslims to pray. It does not matter if you are Catholic, Muslim, Protestant, whatever, you can come here and study. And everyone can pray on the grounds [of CERCLE].
Do you also share in athletic or cultural activities?
Yes. In March we had a big Culture Night: we had ballet, traditional dance, plays. And, members of the center often organize themselves to play sports on our courts. There are organized matches on Thursdays and Sundays, but the courts are only open to those who are members of CERCLE.
Do you think that the environment here helps form individuals who think for themselves, take initiative, organize themselves?
Yes, effectively—during the school year, students come from lots of different schools. They work together and organize themselves for study and sports. It’s part of integral education.
Do you think that your role allows you to know the students personally?
Effectively, yes. It allows me to teach them and get to know them. Young students, university students—there is a spirit of friendship.
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