Child sponsorship update from Abobo Gare, Côte d'Ivoire

Update for child sponsors from the SOS Children's Village Abobo Gare, Côte d'Ivoire from November 2008.

Dear Friend,

We are very happy to get in touch with you again at the end of this year and send you the latest news from your village of Abobo Gare. First, let’s us thank you for your support to SOS Children's work in Cote d’Ivoire.

Today, it’s important to say that our country is resolutely engaged in the search of peace. Indeed, there is at this moment the census of the population for the presidential election. We should also mention the Ivorian president Laurent GBAGBO’s visit to the north, centre and west part of the country (these regions were occupied by the rebels). All this shows that the socio-political environment is calm and auspicious so that every organisation and enterprises can continue their work peacefully.

It is in this social environment that SOS Children’s Village of Abobo Gare has continued to work with the same total number of children as the first semester (174 child and youth). In order to better succeed in our mission of taking care of children, the staff abilities and skills have been built on in regard to the respect of child’s rights. All these training sessions that took place were to make the colleagues understand that SOS Children’s Village makes child’s rights its priority.

Children's education and training in Côte d'Ivoire

Concerning education, the youth in the intermediary classes and at the university passed to the next grade. As to the children at the last grade of primary school; they succeeded at 100% at the final exam which lead to the secondary school. We can also notice the good results of two of our young girls, one who goes up to the third year of medical sciences school with an average of 14 out 20 (grade B) and the other who is at her last year of her doctorate degree in pharmacy. There is also a young man who is in his second year of psychology and who also made good results.

However, like the results of the all country, the performance of our children at the different exams was not really good.

As a matter of fact, we have had 2 over 3 young who succeeded at the vocational training certificate taken at age and the last one has to take again the general education part to validate his diploma. As the A. level (the end of high school diploma) is concerned, there are 2 out of 5 who succeeded and no success at the vocational training certificate at age 18. That is why, a meeting had been organised to encourage them for the new ongoing academic year.

Still concerning results, four of our youth have brightly presented their end of studies’ thesis.

The socio-professional integration of our youth is still a problem. Mainly is seeking for training particularly when it is about their first job experience. However, four of our youth, are spending an internship period in different companies.

This year, we were fortunate to encounter for the very first time the biological mother of one of our young girl. Unfortunately, the mother died a few months after; but the young girl continues to be in touch with the rest of the family.

Children growing up at Abobo Gare, Côte d'Ivoire

Concerning health, we have been informing you that since two year’s ago the case of a youth suffers from kidney failure. After approaching the International office (SOS KDI) the National Office and the Regional Office has obtained the financing for the kidney transplantation. This transplantation will be done in Egypt. The steps are moving forwards successfully and the surgery should be undergone in December.

During the whole the year, children have been involved in several activities that they enjoyed. Among those activities, we had the visit of the FIFA ambassador for SOS Children’s Village in France, Christian Karembeu (international soccer player). We can also mention that 5 of our children took part in summer camp in Ghana thanks to a partnership. All our children also took in an enjoyable entertainment called “a ray of sun for you” in a private playground called “MILO Space”. More a young girl won a gold medal during the West African athletic championship.

At last, one of Regional Office head in charge of building for the village renovation paid us a visit. We are now ensured that the village renovation will be done.

Once more, we would like to thank you for every thing you do and continue doing for the children of Abobo’s village. We take the advantage of this mail to wish you and your dears a very good and happy year 2009.

KOUASSI B. MATHIAS
VILLAGE DIRECTOR