In Côte d'Ivoire, the social actions carried out by the wives of heads of state have progressively structured around organizations dedicated to solidarity, health, education, and the protection of vulnerable persons. Three organizations, N'Daya International, SERVIR, and Children of Africa, illustrate different periods and approaches to female philanthropic engagement in the country. These organizations have distinct trajectories, dates of creation, priority publics, intervention methods, and achievements.
N'Daya International was founded in 1987 by Marie-Thérèse Houphouët-Boigny, the First Lady of Côte d'Ivoire at the time. The foundation is dedicated to improving the health, education, and well-being of underprivileged children in Africa. It has notably created a kindergarten in Adjamé, Abidjan, for abandoned children and organized charity galas to mobilize funds for its humanitarian actions. N'Daya International focuses on disadvantaged childhood, intervening in health, well-being, and education.
Marie-Thérèse Houphouët-Boigny's engagement extended beyond N'Daya. In 1963, she created the Association des Femmes Ivoiriennes (AFI), dedicated to women's and youth issues. In 2022, during her decoration as Grand Officer of the National Order, the Grande Chancellerie recalled her commitment to social domains, particularly through AFI and N'Daya. Her actions have had a lasting impact on the country's social landscape.
SERVIR was founded in 1996 by Henriette Konan Bédié, wife of President Henri Konan Bédié. One of its major projects is the International Center for Hemodialysis and Kidney Transplantation in Abidjan, built on a 2-hectare site with a 6,000 m² building. The total construction cost was estimated at 5 billion CFA francs. SERVIR also carries out punctual social actions, including donation caravans, and has provided over 20 million CFA francs in medical and school equipment to N'Zanfouénou.
SERVIR's mission is to improve the living conditions of disadvantaged persons, particularly people with disabilities, women, and orphans, while supporting young promoters. Its action combines social assistance and health intervention, with a focus on health issues, especially kidney diseases. SERVIR has contributed to equipping Abidjan's university hospitals and constructed a hemodialysis center.
Children of Africa was founded in 1998 by Dominique Ouattara in Abidjan. The foundation marks a new stage in humanitarian action, with a presence extending beyond Côte d'Ivoire. Dominique Ouattara created the foundation to help and protect children, particularly the most underprivileged. Children of Africa mainly targets street children, socially marginalized children and youth, orphans, and destitute women.
The three organizations have a common objective: to prioritize vulnerable persons in their actions. Their distinct approaches reflect the evolution of humanitarian engagement in Côte d'Ivoire. While N'Daya International focuses on childhood, SERVIR combines social and health interventions, and Children of Africa extends its actions beyond national borders. These organizations demonstrate the impact of women's philanthropy in Côte d'Ivoire over the past three decades.
Key points
- Women's organizations have played a significant role in Côte d'Ivoire's social landscape.
- Three organizations, N'Daya International, SERVIR, and Children of Africa, illustrate different approaches to philanthropy.
- These organizations have made significant contributions to the well-being of vulnerable populations in Côte d'Ivoire.
