HFDH current board member's testimonial

March 11, 2026

For nearly three years, I have had the privilege of serving on the board of Hope for Desperate Hearts (HFDH). My connection with this organization, however, goes back much further—to its inception in 2012. I have known the founder, Barkissa Barro Dabire, for more than 17 years, and during that time I have seen firsthand her servant’s heart for the underserved. She truly embodies what it means to “serve the least” and works tirelessly to make a difference.

One of the things I love most about being part of HFDH is witnessing the direct impact the organization has in fulfilling its mission: improving the living conditions of disadvantaged populations throughout Burkina Faso and also supporting the African community in New York City.

Over the years, HFDH has accomplished so much. The organization regularly distributes food to widows and the elderly, has helped educate several women, including one who is now working in the teaching profession, and provides scholarships to students to support their elementary and high school education. It has also established programs that train women and men in practical skills such as fabric weaving, tailoring, and working as livery drivers. In addition, HFDH assists newly arrived Africans as they adapt to the customs and daily life in NYC.

It is truly remarkable what Hope for Desperate Hearts has achieved as a grassroots organization that relies heavily on the generosity and commitment of individuals who share Barkissa’s vision. 

Knowing that my time and donations are used wisely for such meaningful purposes inspires me to remain faithful in my support.

Cindy P.

Our founder’s birthday message

Dear Friends,

Have you wondered why Hope for Desperate Hearts’ work officially starts every year in March?

Before Hope for Desperate Hearts (HFDH) was incorporated, every year I would send money to my late sister, Baïta Barro, who would organize community meals in my village, Douna, to celebrate my birthday with those who have seen me born and raised.

From my birthday community meals, Hope for Desperate Hearts later switched to my birthday bags of rice distribution to families in need in my village, and then extended it to a quarterly bag of rice distribution to 70 widows and elderly in 4 different regions in Burkina Faso.

Today, thanks to your generosity, Hope for Desperate Hearts has impacted many lives.

In my native village, 29 stay-at-home women from the families we once fed, received training and are now making fabric to sell. 

This week, I learned that one of the women is training her teenage daughter, so that together they can make enough fabrics to sell for the incoming Ramadan feast in the village.

This year, HFDH plans to start training some youth as tailors, so that they can buy the fabric from our women, to sew into garments for sale, and so give the women regular clients to purchase their fabric.

In my husband’s village, 20 stay-at-home women are now raising chickens as an income generating activity. Their chickens have started producing. This year, HFDH is planning to start buying their surplus chickens to provide other stay-at-home women with a source of chickens to generate income.

In the city of Bobo-Dioulasso, the widow and the orphans of a late pastor who I met through the rice distribution to the needy in their church, have hope in life because of Hope for Desperate Hearts supports to them: We pay for the children’s school fees, and we opened a shop for the widow to help her care for her children. Recently, she happily sent me a message, informing me that we can now easily communicate, because her phone is now on WhatsApp. I guess we became a family for her.

A friend of mine who has been watching Hope for Desperate Hearts’ work, often tells me that I don’t boast enough about HFDH’s good accomplishments. This is a cultural weakness, but I have been working on it: In my culture, we are told that other people, not ourselves, are the ones who should be talking about the good things that we do; We are taught, “God sees what you do, He takes pleasure in it, and He will reward you in His time”.

On January 5th 2026, my mother traveled from Douna, my native village, to Ouagadougou, the capital city of my country, to visit my brother who works and lives there with his family. 

My mom barely spent a full week with my brother’s family, because almost all “the children of the village” who now work and live in the city of Ouagadougou, wanted her to visit them, and spend one, two, or more days in their house. One of them even came to take my mother from my brother’s house to his house while my brother was at work! He just informed my brother on the phone that he came to take my mom, for her to spend the weekend in his house, when he got to my brother’s house and saw that he was absent. 

In my village, my family has always been a place where the needy are comfortable to come and find support. Our house has always been a second home for many. So, everyone wanted to pay back my mother for being the mother that she had been for them when they were growing up in the village.

My mom was initially visiting my brother for 2 weeks, but because of visits to other people’s houses, she finally spent more than 1 month in the city! She left Ouagadougou for the village on February 12th; she left very happily, proud, and satisfied.

I may not have thanked you enough for your support for my ministry work, and it’s possible that you may not have seen enough impact reports of our work together. But, as true as generous giving is remembered by the Lord, I pray that He gives you to see the rewards of your faithfulness in supporting Hope for Desperate Hearts, in Jesus’s name! He makes all things beautiful in His time.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24

"Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done." Proverbs 19:17

Have a blessed month of March 2026.

Happy Birthday to me on March 4th.

https://www.hope-for-desperate-hearts.org/donate

Barkissa

Hope For Desperate Hearts INC.

P.O. Box 8043, Long Island City, NY 11101

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ “ Matthew 25:40

A message from HFDH's 2022-2023 Board President

Hope for Desperate Hearts (HFDH) was founded over 10 years ago by someone who has seen firsthand the need that exists in Burkina Faso and in the African community in New York City.

Led by our founder, Barkissa, the aim in the early days of the organization was to meet peoples' basic needs - food, clothing, blankets - and quickly expanded to include children's educational fees and school supplies, career and skills training, and gifts to bring children joy at Christmas. 

All these years later, the focus of Hope for Desperate Hearts remains unchanged: to support and encourage those whose lives have been shaped by poverty, high rates of unemployment, and lack of opportunity.

For the past two years, I have had the honor of serving as the president of the board of Hope for Desperate Hearts.

As an ardent supporter of the organization, I am excited to see what our 2024 - 2025 board is able to accomplish with the help of our generous donors.

Thank you for your ongoing support and for making a difference in the lives of our African brothers and sisters.

With appreciation and gratitude,

Angie O'Reilly