Girls’ education in Côte d’Ivoire: cornerstone of development and the empowerment of mothers

The ceremony, held under the patronage of UNESCO, took place at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Foundation for Peace Research. A number of high-profile personalities took the floor to underline the importance of education for girls: Her Excellency Mrs Kandia Camara, President of the Senate and recently President of the Association of African Senates, Mrs Nassénéba Touré, Minister for Women, the Family and Children, and representative of the First Lady, Dominique Ouattara, who had agreed to give her High Patronage, and Mrs Haidara Coulibaly, representing Mr Omar Diop, Director of the UNESCO Office in Abidjan, Mr Valère Akissi, representing Mr N’Golo Soro, Secretary-General of the Ivorian National Commission for UNESCO. Several young girls gave speeches and provided sketches recounting their daily lives and difficulties. Nearly 400 people attended the ceremony, which combined celebration and awareness-raising. 

The second International Day of the Girl was coordinated by Jean Bolly Kouassi, President of Aide à la Jeunesse Africaine Défavorisée (AJAD), a member of the MMM network since 2013 and head of the Voix Des Filles (Voices of girls) Côte d’Ivoire group since 2023.

MMM works in Côte d’Ivoire jointly with the Groupe Voix Des Filles Côte d’Ivoire and the Voix Des Filles group made up of various NGOs in official partnership with UNESCO, created in 2016 at UNESCO by representatives of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, Soroptimist International and Zonta International. The aim of this group is to promote access to education for all and gender equality. Today, the Voix des Filles group is expanding, with similar projects taking shape in other French-speaking African countries. 

During her mission, our representative Brigitte also visited the training centre of our member association, AJAD. She took part in the graduation ceremony for 30 young girls who are now being trained in hairdressing, sewing, pastry-making and decoration. She gave a speech in which she congratulated the girls on their success: ‘Today, you are not only receiving a diploma, but also the keys to your independence and your future’. 

MMM is more convinced than ever as a result of this trip to Côte d’Ivoire, of the importance of education as the first essential link in the empowerment of women. Vocational training is an opportunity for women and mothers to develop and express their full potential in order to build a future of their own choosing and peace of mind. Even today, gender inequality and discrimination persist. Because of their menstrual periods or early pregnancies, girls are sometimes quickly removed from the world of education. Yet literacy is the cornerstone of development and empowerment. 

MMM is therefore continuing its commitment to education, both by supporting its member associations such as AJAD and by moving forward in coalition with the Girls’ Voice Group at UNESCO.