Balkissa lives with her younger sister Nematou, her mom, Manam, and her dad, Moumini.  Her parents are peasant farmers, and the household speaks Moore.

Balkissa is an active girl who likes playing hopscotch, playing with dolls, and helping care for her younger sibling.  Her best friends are Awa and Minata, with whom she always plays.  She is currently in third grade doing very well in school, and her favorite subjects are reading and sports.

Recent developments include polio immunization campaigns, HIV/AIDS counseling and testing centers, and a new hand pump for retrieving safe drinking water from a borehole.  Hygiene is a problem given only public toilet facilities or open fields.  Also, half of all grade school children are not getting an education.