Mrs Dominique Ouattara, President of the Children Of Africa Foundation, inaugurated the new shelter for children, a home for children in difficulty in the neighbourhood of Plateau, on Friday March 1, 2024.

The colorful ceremony was attended by a number of VIPs, including Mrs Denise Tshisekedi, First Lady of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), members of the government and guests of the 9th edition of the Children Of Africa Foundation Gala Dinner, as well as residents of the shelter.

Work to rehabilitate and rebuild this 1st Children Of Africa Foundation home was launched in 2022 following the 8th Gala Dinner. Indeed, Mrs Dominique Ouattara felt it was essential to launch this work in order to increase the capacity of this reception center. As a result, the shelter has increased its capacity from 50 beds to over 80. In addition, thanks to this reconstruction work, the shelter now has a more modern architecture, better adapted to the needs of its young residents.  As a result, the Children Of Africa Foundation's reception center has grown from 3,270 m2 to 6,739 m2, almost double its original size. New buildings have also been added. The Center now has a modern administration building with a meeting room, two study rooms, a new R +1 dormitory for girls, two dormitories for boys, a staff villa, a large refectory with a kitchen, a fully-equipped multimedia room, a sports field with bleachers, a gatehouse and an apatam.

Thanks to the generosity of its donors, Mrs Dominique Ouattara's Children of Africa Foundation has undertaken the rehabilitation of the shelter, reflecting the foundation's ongoing commitment to the well-being and brighter future of the children of Côte d'Ivoire.

Taking the floor, Dominique Ouattara, President of the Children Of Africa Foundation, shared with her guests the importance she attaches to the children's home, as well as the urgent need to rehabilitate it. "(...)This shelter was the first major project implemented by the Children Of Africa Foundation when it was set up in 1998. And after all these years, it was important to me that this living space dedicated to all our children be renovated and enlarged, so that they can feel comfortable there and others can benefit too. Today, the center looks great, and I'm very happy about that," says Dominique Ouattara. The wife of the Head of State recalled that this was one of two projects fully funded by the last Children Of Africa Foundation Gala, held in March 2022. The second, she said, was the construction of a shelter for abused women in Adiake, which will be inaugurated shortly. "Thanks to our generous donors we have been able to complete these various projects. I would like to thank them once again", said Mrs Dominique Ouattara.

Mrs Denise Tshisekedi, First Lady of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as guest of honor at the 9th Children Of Africa Gala, praised the leadership and humanitarian commitment of Mrs Dominique Ouattara, who she sees as a source of inspiration for all. The Congolese First Lady reiterated the importance of investing in projects to care for vulnerable children. Indeed, for the First Lady of the DRC, contributing to this kind of project is an investment in children's future.

Jacques Ehouo, Mayor of the Plateau commune, thanked Mrs Dominique Ouattara for this initiative. For him, through these actions, the Children Of Africa Foundation embodies the hope of vulnerable children.

 Adjaratou Sangaré, an 11-year-old student and resident of the shelter, also thanked the First Lady. Having arrived at Case des Enfants in 2019, she is now enrolled in school and is one of the home's best students. For all these blessings in her life, she expressed her love for her mother Dominique Ouattara: "We love you very much".