Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Africanews
Published on 2024-01-28 14:04:47
In the rural areas of Fapaha and Nakaha in northern Côte d’Ivoire, women are working hard to cultivate vegetables in government-sponsored projects. Covering a 13-hectare field in Fapaha and involving around a hundred women in Nakaha, these projects aim to not only supply school canteens but also empower the women involved.
One success story is that of Nabi, a resident of Nakaha, whose weekly sales at the local market have enabled her to build her own business and send her children to school. The money earned from the produce helps her household and covers expenses, including her children’s schooling.
The impact of the school canteen project reaches far beyond just providing meals. The project has enabled women to feed themselves, save seeds, and sell their harvests, thus building up an economy. According to Kodema Hamadou, regional coordinator of the project, the women have seen significant positive changes in their lives as a result of their involvement. The money earned from the sale of produce serves as personal savings for these women, enabling them to take charge of their lives and send their children to school.
Partnering with organizations such as the World Food Programme, the project provides support and education to the women, helping them differentiate between nutritious and less nutritious crops. The women have formed groups in each village to ensure the success of the project and have even set up income-generating activities to meet the needs of their households.
Overall, 39,000 children in the Poro region benefit from a hot meal a day through the school canteen project, out of a total of 141 schools in the region. This initiative is part of a larger effort in Côte d’Ivoire, where 613 schools benefit from the project.
Through these projects, women in rural areas are not only able to provide for their families but also take charge of their own lives and contribute to their children’s education, creating a positive impact on their communities.
