The Ministry of Youth in Côte d'Ivoire has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering young girls through the Girl Power program. On November 14, 2026, the Civic Service Center in Guinguéréni, Boundiali department, hosted the graduation ceremony for the 9th cohort of the program. The 100 beneficiaries, including 23 young mothers and their 25 children, completed a three-month civic, citizenship, and professional training program.
The program, implemented by the Ministry of Youth, Insertion, and Civic Service through the National Civic Service Office (OSCN), aims to provide a second chance to vulnerable adolescents and young women. The training covered various fields such as sewing, hairdressing, pastry-making, and agro-pastoralism, as well as literacy, entrepreneurship, life skills, civics, and first aid. A crèche was also available for the children of young mothers, allowing them to attend the program without worrying about childcare.
The graduation ceremony was presided over by Claude Patrick Kragbé, Central Sub-prefect of Boundiali, who commended the beneficiaries and program staff for their efforts. He encouraged the young women to be disciplined, persevering, and responsible, and to apply the skills they acquired to build their autonomy and contribute to community development. Wayou Grâce Andréa, a beneficiary from Sikensi, expressed her gratitude to the authorities and program staff for the transformative experience.
The UNICEF representative praised the program's relevance and the Ivoirian government's efforts to support vulnerable youth, particularly young girls. The representative highlighted the childcare facility and initiatives deployed in remote areas, reaffirming UNICEF's commitment to accompanying these actions. Bakary Sidibé, Director of the Civic Service for Development (SCAD), recalled the National Civic Service's mission to offer a second chance to vulnerable youth through resocialization and vocational training.
The Girl Power program is supported by UNICEF and funded by Switzerland as part of the Generation Unlimited (GenU) initiative. The program aims to strengthen the capacities of young girls and prepare them for socio-economic integration. The beneficiaries will now begin a new chapter in their lives, implementing their professional projects and taking their place in society.
The Ivoirian government and its partners reaffirm their ambition to make education, inclusion, and empowerment of young girls essential levers for human and social development. Through Girl Power, the National Civic Service turns vulnerability into a starting point for autonomy, dignity, and success. The program has empowered 100 young women to become agents of change in their communities.
The Girl Power program demonstrates the Ivoirian government's commitment to supporting vulnerable youth, particularly young girls. The program's success will be measured by the beneficiaries' ability to apply their skills and become autonomous and contributing members of society. The Ministry of Youth and its partners will continue to support the empowerment of young girls in Côte d'Ivoire.
Key points
- 100 vulnerable young girls complete 3-month training program in Boundiali
- Program aims to empower young girls through civic, citizenship, and professional training
- UNICEF and Switzerland support the program as part of the Generation Unlimited initiative
