The 2019-2020 school year begins well for the children of Duquesne Cremone, a cocoa community located at 10 Km from Adzopé in Côte d'Ivoire. They just got the keys to their refurbished school and school kits. The old school was in a very advanced state of disrepair. The tables-benches only existed by name and the electrical circuit failed. Thanks to ICI, and with funding from Nestlé, all this is a bad memory today for the children of this village and their parents.
The school has been completely renovated and equipped. The malfunctioning electrical system was also refurbished. It is a new school that will welcome the children of the village of Duquesne Cremone for this new school year.
For the 2019-20 school year, a total of 4 newly constructed fully equipped schools and 3 rehabilitated schools, as well as 9780 school kits, will be offered in the coming weeks to children from cocoa communities. The construction and rehabilitation of schools began in 2018. Key returns will continue in the coming weeks in Zengobly, Toa Zeo and Ouangolo 2, communities of Duekoué Department.
For Mr Thomas Caso, General Director of Nestlé Cluster Atlantique (Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Guinea, Mauritania, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, and Cape Verde), " a school can change the life and destiny of a child because it opens the doors of infinite knowledge. A school improves the quality of life and allows us to dream of a better tomorrow. This is also why Nestlé exists: to improve the quality of life and contribute to a healthier future."
Nestlé, through the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI), its partner, has been providing support to cocoa farmers since 2012 by building schools and offering school kits to previously identified beneficiary children.
This support is part of the cacao culture education initiatives and is part of Nestlé's action plan to combat child labour in its supply chain. Nestlé's action plan is itself part of the 2019-2021 National Action Plan to combat trafficking, exploitation and child labour.