Sponsorship of Leisure Vacations 2014: Mohamed Soulama, President of APCAT: "The CEO of EBOMAF is an example for youth"

EBOMAF's P-DG Mahamadou Bonkoungou is the sponsor of the 2014 edition of Leisure Vacations, a youth event organized by the Association for the Promotion of Culture, Arts and Tourism (APCAT). His contribution to the good organization of this great socio-cultural meeting in Bobo-Dioulasso is welcomed by members everywhere. While waiting for the final, Sunday, October 12 in Bobo-Dioulasso, President Mohamed Soulama appreciates this support with its fair value.

• What justified the choice of CEO of EBOMAF to sponsor this event this fourth edition of Leisure Vacations?

Mohamed Soulama (M.S.): Every year, we strive to associate a national figure with the organized edition. Leisure Vacations is a forum where examples are displayed for youth. Thus, since the first edition, great personalities such as Guillaume Soro, the current President of the National Assembly of Côte d'Ivoire or the Prime Minister of Burkina Faso, Beyon Luc Adolphe Tiao, have given a special guarantee to this event. The choice of CEO of EBOMAF is part of this dynamic. It is undeniable that he is today a leading economic personality whose journey, both that of a self-made man and a success story, must inspire many young Burkina Fasoers and the sub-region. Its success results from leadership and know-how that deserves to be brought to the attention of opinion. We felt that Mahamadou Bonkoungou is today an example for the present and future generation. He is one of the men who currently count in our country and in our sub-region. There is still a source of inspiration for youth development.

• What did he bring you and how did you welcome his accompaniment to this edition?

M.S.: What was particularly important to us in the RBOMAF P-DG is the consideration that he brought to our solicitation. Despite his busy schedule, he did not hesitate to release some of his precious time to listen to us on our motivations. He quickly decided to support us. His contribution proved to be very immense and beyond our expectations. It is a substantial aid that has helped us a lot in the organisation since the scenario agreed with the official sponsor for the organization provides for the payment of invoices at the end of the event. Accompaniment from the CEO of EBOMAF was a great contribution that removed a thorn from our feet as it prevented us from procrastination on the financing of certain aspects of the competition. For more than twenty (20) years as I personally organize holiday events, no sponsor has been so generous to us. So far, no sponsor has ever supported us as much as the CEO of EBOMAF. To express our constant gratitude to him, APCAT members unanimously recommended that he be elevated to the rank of Honorary Sponsor of Leisure Vacations for all other upcoming editions. Far from us a disguised way of asking for his help every time. This is the testimony of recognition. We will therefore ask him, and we hope that he will welcome this honour as an honour.

• What motivated the creation of APCAT?

M.S.: The Association for the Promotion of Culture, Arts and Tourism (APCAT) was established in 1993. Our organization was originally called the Association for the Promotion of Culture and Sport (APCS). From 1993 to 2004, she organised the youth event during the Top Vacances Culture (TVC) holiday. This initiative arose from the fact that young people were left behind during school holidays. It was necessary to imagine an activity to care for children and students who could not afford to travel. The organisation of Top Vacances Culture (TVC) relied on a sponsor who, meanwhile, stopped his accompaniment. The lack of support forced the association to suspend the organisation of this event. In the face of this interruption, the children and students came in and asked us to find ways and means to re-combrate the vacuum left by TVC. We personally felt it was a necessity. In 2008, APCAT was established to take over. And in 2011, she relaunched Leisure Vacations, becoming the flagship holiday event, under the sponsorship of Unilever Burkina. The organisation requested a heavy budget of around 50 million CFA francs. It was the sponsor who demanded the change of the name of the demonstration and to restore the credibility of the association by getting rid of some speakers of the demonstration that had unorthodox behaviors.

•What concerns the organisation of a holiday event by APCAT?

M.S.: After three editions, Leisure Vacations was established as a must-see event in Burkina Faso. The purpose of this activity is to occupy young people during holidays. It aims to provide healthy care for children and students. When its organization begins, there is no respite or rest among young people. During the last moments when the final will take place on October 12, the children in competition, work from 8am to 2h to perfect their preparations. They are motivated by the higher prices. We went up to 1,000,000 CFAF for the 1st prize, 750,000 F for the 2nd and 500,000 F for the 3rd. This has raised the level of all leisure holiday shows and increased the sphere of participating teams. Today it is a national competition with groups from Ziniaré, Koudougou, Dédougou, Yako, Ouagadougou, in addition to Bobo-Dioulasso. For the final of the fourth edition a group of Koudougou and two of Ouagadougou are qualified. The coronation of the demonstration will be broadcast live on Sunday, October 12th on the television broadcasting stations of Burkina Faso (RTB).

• How does it work on an organizational and participatory basis?

M.S.: Leisure Vacations is a dance and social event competition in which young people aged fifteen (15) years or older can take part, whether they are students, students or not.

The fact of society is based on the theatre and is based on a theme chosen by the organizers that the competitors must decline in a scene of up to ten (10) minutes. This year's theme is peace. This choice is justified by the political topicality of the moment which questions the need to raise awareness among young people, the basis of any development and the source of any contestation, to preserve social cohesion at all costs. There is also the imposed ballet that performs on a background of traditional or modern Burkinabe music. Each participating group consists of a team of twenty-five (25) people for the ballet with the possibility of using several figures of several people during the dance but each performance must not exceed eight (8) people, four (4) girls and four (4) boys on stage.

Interview with JMT