Social area : First Lady Dominique Ouattara Receives Marie Mitterrand in Cocody

On Thursday, April 21, 2026, First Lady Dominique Ouattara received Marie Mitterrand, President of the NGO Yara LNC, at her offices in Cocody. Discussions focused on the education of vulnerable children and the sharing of experiences to benefit Sahelian populations.

 This meeting comes at a symbolic time for both parties, as Yara LNC celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, while the First Lady’s Foundation has been carrying out its charitable work for 28 years.

During this meeting, the President of the NGO Yara LNC presented a summary of its work in Niger, where the organization manages 11 schools dedicated to educating children from rural villages and nomadic camps. “We have established vocational training centers for young people who have dropped out of school or have never attended school,” explained Marie Mitterrand. Despite a regional context marked by security and economic challenges, the NGO has maintained its social impact, a resilience commended by the First Lady.

One of the main objectives of this visit was to seek the expertise of the Ivorian First Lady for expanding Yara LNC’s activities in Côte d’Ivoire. Mrs. Marie Mitterrand expressed her desire to support the Sahelian populations living in Côte d’Ivoire. “I thought it was the right time to meet with her to seek her advice on launching a project here in Côte d’Ivoire,” the NGO president said after the meeting. She also emphasized her desire to collaborate with local institutions through exchanges of experiences to improve educational performance.

Following the meeting, the First Lady commended her host’s implication in social issues, particularly her commitment to children’s education in her country. She also expressed her appreciation for Mrs. Nathalie Sassou-Nguesso’s efforts to promote a better future for younger generations.

This meeting is part of an ongoing effort to strengthen partnerships and share experiences among stakeholders committed to social development in Africa.