Answering the Call to Serve: Investing in Children’s Futures in Côte d’Ivoire

We believed we had found our calling in caring for young schoolchildren when we first encountered a group of seven third-grade students in a small village deep in Côte d’Ivoire. With the little we had, we shared with them and resolved to return a few months later to support a nearby school. Our goal was simple: to bless these children with essential school supplies such as book bags , pens, pencils, textbooks, and other basic necessities.

However, the more we engaged, the more we realized the need was far greater than we initially imagined. At our first school award ceremony in July 2023, we were able to recognize and support 64 deserving students from four different schools, providing them not only with school supplies but also laptops—an important step toward bridging the educational gap.

Just last week, we traveled to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, specifically to the town of Bingerville, home to the country’s juvenile rehabilitation center. This facility, recently established, serves incarcerated underage children who are undergoing rehabilitation to help reintegrate them into society. At the center, we met 23 boys and one girl, ages 13 to 17, who had committed petty crimes and were sentenced there to receive guidance and support rather than incarceration alongside adult offenders.

This center is the first of its kind in Côte d’Ivoire. It provides dormitory-style accommodations, protecting these children from the emotional and psychological harm that often results from cohabitating with hardened criminals. Since opening its doors in October 2023, the center has implemented programs designed to help children overcome social distress and build positive character traits.

Despite limited government funding, the Director, Mr. Silue Songui, and his deputy, Madam Sekongo—who also serves as the education inspector—have established impactful programs. The children are taught basic reading and writing, arithmetic, and vocational skills such as raising chickens and rabbits, growing farm produce, and managing a mushroom farm. These initiatives foster responsibility, accountability, and self-sufficiency.

One of the greatest challenges arises after the children complete their sentences. Due to a lack of funding, social workers are often unavailable to provide follow-up support. As a result, some children struggle with reintegration and return to the center because their underlying circumstances—often involving the absence of parents or stable homes—remain unresolved.

The Bien-Être Foundation is forging a partnership with this center to serve as a sponsor for these children by providing essential resources such as reading materials, computers, clothing, and other necessities. Founded from our experiences in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, the Bien-Être Foundation was born out of a desire to create a positive, sustainable environment that empowers individuals and communities.

Our work is guided by three core focus areas:

1. Inclusive educational development

2. Qualitative healthcare provision

3. Entrepreneurship, self-reliant development, and empowerment

This mission is why we have committed ourselves to becoming a primary sponsor for these children—to help them build a brighter and more hopeful future.

This is a call to action. The center is in urgent need of in-kind donations. Its library holds fewer than ten books. A computer lab designed for fifteen computers currently has only one desktop. There is also a significant need for shoes, clothing, basketballs, soccer balls, and basic human necessities. Many of the children aspire to return to school and continue their education with proper sponsorship and social reintegration support.

Every contribution, no matter how small, makes a meaningful impact. We thank you sincerely for your generosity, partnership, and support. We can be followed on all social media platforms.