In 2011 when the masculine branch of the Assumption Family established a formation community in Ougadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, it became only the fourth country in the world where all five branches of the Family are found (France, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Vietnam being the other three). The first to arrive, in 1965, the Religious of the Assumption run two schools there as well as a formation house.

The Oblates of the Assumption arrived 35 years later in 2000 in the western city of Bobo-Dioulasso, the financial center of the country. There they have two communities and staff a number of diocesan schools.

The Little Sisters of the Assumption who arrived in 2010 also established a community in Bobo-Dioulasso and sponsor a literacy center for women. Burkina Faso has one of the highest rates of female illiteracy in the world which has not only meant an inability to access education but also health and employment. The year before, 2009, the Orants of the Assumption founded a community in a Muslim neighborhood of the capital. Faithful to their tradition they have established a house where the prayer life is central and where all, no matter what the religious tradition, are invited to join in prayer. As for the Assumptionist themselves, the last to arrive, the archbishop has asked them to get involved in three specific areas consistent with our charism: faith formation, the media, and youth ministry.

Burkina Faso (formerly, Upper Volta) became independent during the massive wave of African independency in the early 1960s (to be exact, August 5, 1960). A series of political coups left the country unstable until 1987. Since then the country has enjoyed a period of relative stability.

The country is diverse, young, and quite unified. There are more than sixty ethnic groups and more than 60% of the population is Muslim compared to 23% that is Christian (predominantly Catholic). Christianity first arrived on Burkina Faso soil in 1900 with the Missionaries of Africa (originally called White Fathers for the color of their distinctive habit). From its beginnings Christianity has played a major role in assuring the unity of the country through its educational and cultural institutions. Almost half the population is under the age of 15, but life expectancy is only 47 years of age and the mortality rate hovers at 13%.

The Assumption Family, in all of its own diversity, hopes to contribute to the future of this up and coming African country which has already begun to contribute vocations to the entire  Family.