FAQ:

How do you go somewhere and do development work when you don't even know the language?

Answer:

Often, it requires hiring a local translator until field staff are able to learn the local language. In Francophone Africa, the political language is French. So, we studied French both in the US before departure and in the host country. This is only used as a "bridge" language. Then, we hire a local translator to communicate in the most common trade language as we find a teacher and study to learn it as well. Generally, the trade language allows us to communicate with a majority of the population or find other translators as necessary. It would be quite difficult to learn all 65 languages in Burkina Faso!

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