Private sector backs quality education in Côte d’Ivoire

Over the next four years, up to 80,000 children in an estimated 150 cocoa-growing communities in the Côte d’Ivoire will get a better quality education thanks to a USD 8.5 million project organised by the Foundation’s partner TRECC (Transforming Education in Cocoa Communities).

Barry Callebaut, Blommer, Caboz, Cargill, Cémoi, Hershey, Mars and Mondelēz International – eight global leaders in the cocoa and chocolate industry – are the private sector partners committing resources to the initiative, which will test 10 proven models from around the world on topics related to education and child development with the collaboration and support of the national government.

The Bernard van Leer Foundation’s involvement ensures that activities affecting the youngest children are included in a comprehensive approach alongside efforts to improve primary schools and interventions such as financial literacy courses and vocational training for youth. In line with our Parents+ approach, these will include interventions supporting parents to nurture and care for their young children being bundled with other services, such as farm schools and village savings and loans associations.

Read more on TRECC’s recently launched website.