Mrs. Dominique Ouattara, President of the Children Of Africa Foundation officially launched the school kit distribution campaign on Friday, October 14, 2022, in Toumodi.

The ceremony took place in the Dominique Ouattara School Group in the capital of the Autonomous District of Lakes. It witnessed the preence of Mr. Jeannot Ahoussou Kouadio, President of the Senate, Mrs. Raymonde Goudou Coffie, Minister-Governor of the Autonomous District of Lakes, Mrs. Mariatou Koné, Minister of Education and Literacy and many other personalities.

For this school year 2022-2023, 15,000 school kits worth 150 million CFA francs will be distributed to schoolchildren by Mrs. Dominique Ouattara, President of the Children of Africa Foundation. For more than 20 years, this social action of the Foundation of the wife of the Head of State aims to relieve schoolchildren from disadvantaged backgrounds during school year.

For the official launching ceremony, the wife of the Head of State offered 5,000 school kits to the schoolchildren of Toumodi. The generous donor also offered food for the school canteen, table benches to equip the classrooms, teaching materials and various other equipment. It should also be noted that on the sidelines of this ceremony, the President of Children Of Africa proceeded to the inauguration of the new library of the School Group fully equipped with 1,000 various books and 10 computers. The value of the donations for the Dominique Ouattara School Group is 100 million F CFA.

150,000 school kits distributed in 24 years

Taking the floor, Mrs. Dominique Ouattara recalled that for several years, this action in the field of education aims to support the Ivorian Government’s education policy. "These actions also aim to support the efforts of the Government to promote education among children," revealed Mrs. Dominique Ouattara. Taking the opportunity to welcome the policy of school for all thanks to which school is now compulsory for children aged 6 to 16 years since 2015.  Also, since the creation of the Children Of Africa Foundation in 1998, 150,000 school kits have been distributed to school children in the country. "To date, 150,000 school kits have been offered to children from disadvantaged backgrounds throughout Côte d'Ivoire, to enable them to complete their schooling and hope for a bright future," revealed Mrs. Dominique Ouattara.

For this school year 2022-2023, the Children Of Africa Foundation will be distributing 15,000 school kits worth 150 million CFA francs to schoolchildren across the country. "For this school year 2022-2023, the Children Of Africa Foundation offers 15,000 school kits worth 150 million to children in Côte d'Ivoire," said Mrs. Dominique Ouattara. Mrs. Dominique Ouattara also had a word of encouragement for the teaching staff, as well as for the parents of the students whom she urged to supervise the children for better school results.

Mrs. Mariatou Koné, Minister of National Education and Literacy, thanked Mrs. Dominique Ouattara for her contribution to the improvement of the education in the country. She recalled the commitment of the Ivorian Government to make school free and compulsory through the school kits delivery programs. In this regard, the Minister said that the Government has distributed more than 44 million school kits valued at about 121 billion CFA francs.

Mr. Drissa Koné, Mayor of Toumodi, thanked the First Lady Dominique for choosing his city to launch the school kit distribution campaign. Also, for him, the school kits are tools to reduce illiteracy. "You bring hope because well educated young people is vital for the country’s future," he said.

Miss Konan Aya Edwige, aged 10 and student in grade 9, carried the voice of her friends to thank their mother Dominique Ouattara.

It is important to note that the children presented to the many visitors and their mother Dominique Ouattara a sketch and a traditional dance.