Côte d’Ivoire: First Lady Dominique Ouattara offers 11 top schoolchildren an educational trip to cap d’ail

The 9th edition for Côte d’Ivoire’s top students’ departure for the educational camp in Cap d’Ail, France, took place this Friday, July 18, 2025, at the Children Of Africa Foundation headquarters in Cocody, in the presence of Mrs Mariatou Koné, Minister of National Education and Literacy.

This initiative by the Children Of Africa Foundation, in partnership with the French association Cité Club Universitaire, celebrates academic performance and offers young Ivorian talent an exceptional opening onto the world.

For this 9th edition, 11 students, including 5 girls and 6 boys, among the brightest in Côte d’Ivoire, benefited from this educational stay in Cap d’Ail, in the south of France.  The winners’ averages ranged from 17.55 to 18.58 out of 20. For three weeks, they will have the opportunity to rub shoulders with children from diverse backgrounds, discover other cultures, and above all, returning home richer in lessons and dreams.

Organized every year, the educational trip is a real cultural, social and personal springboard for children who are selected. Since 2015, this collaboration has enabled students from various schools in the country, distinguished for their excellent academic results, to spend three enriching weeks at the Centre Méditerranéen d’Études Françaises on the Côte d’Azur.

In her speech, Mrs Mariatou Koné, Minister of National Education and Literacy, revealed that a total of 89 students from all social background and regions of the country had benefited from this program. The Minister of National Education also thanked the First Lady for her commitment to the well-being of the most vulnerable children. She thanked the Cite Club Universitaire Association for this beneficial partnership for Côte d’Ivoire. She concluded by urging the young beneficiaries to be role model for the country.

Nadine Sangaré, Director of the Children Of Africa Foundation, hailed the lasting partnership between the two organizations, stressing that it embodies a shared desire to reward the hard work and self-sacrifice of these young people. “This unprecedented adventure, which comes to reward their excellent academic results, is made possible thanks to the partnership between the Children Of Africa Foundation and the Cité Club Universitaire Association. This partnership, established since 2015, embodies our shared commitment to offering our children: a trip that broadens their vision of the world ; opportunities for discovery; as well as a social and cultural experience. Indeed, this partnership enables us during each school holiday, to accompany children selected thanks to their excellent academic results for a three-week stay in France, at the Centre Méditerranéen d’Etudes Françaises,” revealed Mrs Nadine Sangaré, Director of the Children Of Africa Foundation.

The ceremony was also an opportunity to express heartfelt thanks to the Ministry of Education, responsible for best students selection and mentoring. Nadine Sangaré also spoke about the criteria used to select the candidates. Indeed, Mrs Dominique Ouattara’s collaborator revealed that the winners had to be aged between 16 and 17 . They should have obtained high averages during the 3 terms of the school year. And finally, they had to respect parity and choose children from all regions of the country. Addressing the students, Madame Nadine Sangaré reminded them of the symbolic significance of their trip. “Mrs Dominique Ouattara, your mother, would have loved to be with us today. She asks me to convey to you her warmest congratulations, and all her love. She sends her encouragement to each and every one of you, and invites you to remain committed to the values of hard work, respect and self-improvement. The First Lady is convinced that you will carry the colors of our beloved counbtry to Cap d’Ail,” said Mrs Sangaré.

Dr Nys Alain, President of the Cite Club Universitaire Association, presented the city of Cap d’Ail, located between Monaco and Nice. He also gave a brief history of the creation of the Centre Méditerranéen d’Etudes Françaises (CMEF). Created in 1952, the center opened its first session in 1953. The center covers an area of 4 hectares of vegetation. The CMEF is an international language learning campus. According to Mr. Kouassi, young Ivorians will benefit from the 15-16 year-old program, which will enable them to exchange with young people from all over the world.

Miss Kouassi Leslie, spokesperson for the beneficiaries of the 2025 edition, thanked the First Lady for the opportunity to visit France through this educational trip.  “This initiative fills our hearts with joy”, she revealed.

A testimonial by Miss Aladé Danielle, a member of the 2023 cohort, enabled the new beneficiaries to discover the various opportunities offered by this summer camp. A film presented by Dr. Alain Nys, President of the Cité Club Universitaire Association, also enabled the beneficiaries and their parents to discover the different programs of this stay.

The ceremony ended in a cheerful atmosphere over cocktails. The First Lady and the Cite Club Universitaire Association presented pocket money to each of the young beneficiaries.  The eleven (11) beneficiaries boarded their flights to France in the early evening at the Felix Houphouët-Boigny international airport.