Daily Pioneer News

Eric Kabore (far left) discusses plans for the International Student Club with other UWP students at one of the club's meetings.

PLATTEVILLE - Originally from Ouagadougou, the capital city of Burkina Faso, West Africa, Erik Kabore is currently a student at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Located in the agricultural region between the Sahara Desert and coastal rain forests, Burkina Faso is about the size of Colorado. Ouagadougou has a population of over one million.

A sophomore majoring in software engineering, Kabore came to the U.S. when he was 19 years old at his uncle's prodding. Kabore was searching for a school to attend in the U.S. when his uncle, a chemistry professor at UW-Whitewater, suggested UWP. Pleased with his decision to attend UWP, Kabore is actively involved in the International Club and serves as their public relations coordinator. When he graduates, Kabore would like to attend graduate school and then enter the business world.

Education in the U.S. has given Kabore more opportunities than he would have received by staying in Burkina Faso. Few Burkinabe have a formal education. Schooling is free and attended until the age of 16 but only about 29 percent of the school-age children receive an education due to costs of supplies and fees. In 1974, the University of Ouagadougou was founded as the country's first institution of higher education.

Commented Kabore, "Here the professors are very different and very close to students. In Africa professors care about grades, not a student's outside life. I like that we're all treated like a big family at UWP."

Fluent in French, the official language of Burkino Faso, Kabore also speaks many African languages as well as English. He is the son of Paul and Mariam Kabore.