Follow up

Our trip to Cote d'Ivoire came to an end on November 14 2009.

For three weeks, we were welcomed and cared for beyond our expectations, so leaving the country was tearful for all of us. We visited Abidjan, Assinie, and Yacolidabouo. For each location, we had a different goal since the villages have different needs.

The village of Yacolidabouo was more complex because many things are happening at different levels in education, personal financing, health, infrastructure, immigration, etc. We found ourselves confronted to developed countries issues in a poor African rural environment.

In Assinie, the focus was on a sanitary campaign we financed and co hosted with the JEDAS (Youth Association for the development of the Village of Assinie), getting to know the area, the people and understanding how well they are organized.

On one hand, we came to not only bring assistance but also understand the deep issues that are scaring Africa. On the other hand, we discovered the generosity, kindness, abundance of Africans. I wish I were an excellent writer to convey how we were deeply affected by the trouble Africans are facing on the daily basis but also by the determination they have to survive and improve themselves. The problem is that they ARE NOT BEING HEARD.

Let me make clear that I am only talking about the population at large, not the head of states and governments. What is flagrant when in African and no one is actually addressing is the fact that African leaders do not care or value the life or well being of an African person. From this point on, the aspirations, goals and needs of the population are completely overlooked. They have not much room to evolve which creates the never ending circle of poverty.

Yacoli.Org search villages who take the responsibility to erase poverty by identifying, organizing and solving their own problems. Erasing poverty must be an organic process and as an international organization we help them structure and/or finance their solutions. Furthermore, we encourage and arrange for the younger population to work together, share information and ideas on how to resolve issues. Maybe one village success could be the solution for another village problem?
It is a way to guarantee that the work we are doing toward sustainable development remains for generations, especially when the solutions are driven by villagers.