Investing in Village Schools

In the village of Kagbé, Ivory Coast, overcrowded and poorly equipped classrooms have long made learning a struggle for local children, resulting low school attendance and limited educational potential. In response, the farmers of the SOCAHI cocoa cooperative invested over US $30,000 in Community Development Funds to build three new clean, safe, and properly-equipped classrooms. These new spaces can accommodate 180 students, providing a healthier and more focused learning environment. With smaller class sizes and an improved environment, teachers had the time and capacity to make lessons more interactive and engaging. The impact was immediate: absenteeism dropped, and students like 9-year-old Aminata have seen their learning experience transformed. she said. Aminata's dream of becoming a teacher herself now feels more attainable thanks to this straightforward but far-reaching investment in bricks, cement, and ultimately, hope.