Church of Jesus Christ Donates Food to Thousands in Cote d’Ivoire

In the country of Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has donated food to more than 1,000 families and 8,000 school children in the cities of Abidjan and Yamoussoukro. Local Church leaders worked with leaders of the Ministry of Family, Women and Children and the Ministry of National Education and Technical Training to determine which families and institutions would benefit most from the Church’s donation.

Over the course of four days, ceremonies were held in the municipalities of Yopougon, Treichville, Attecoube and Abobo in Abidjan to celebrate the donations with the beneficiaries. A donation ceremony was also held in Yamoussoukro. The food packs consisted of rice, pasta, sardines and oil.

In Abobo, the Church donated more than five tons of food to two public primary schools of the regional directorates of National Education and Literacy of Abidjan. The donation was made to bolster the school’s ability to feed their students through their canteen programs.

Thierry Keke Guina, a member of the presidency of the Abobo Cote d’Ivoire West Stake of the Church, said, “These donations are part of our Church’s ‘Light the World’ initiative. We look to share our love of the Savior by giving to those most in need. We are hoping to share our culture of sharing and solidarity.”

The director of National Education and Literacy in Abidjan, Marie-Claire Gla, said, “Engaging in school feeding is a high-profile humanitarian effort that will boost the work of learners and enable them to achieve good academic results. We thank your Church for this initiative and encourage other donors to follow in your footsteps.”

Representing the director of school canteens in Cote d’Ivoire, Yvonne Balogoun, said “I can affirm that this donation will contribute to the retention of children in school, improve their attendance and increase their safety and nutritional health.”

Working with the Ministry of Families, Women and Children, families from three municipalities in Abidjan received assistance from the Church of Jesus Christ. Ceremonies were held in Attecoube, Yopougon and Treichville, and hundreds of families received food donations. Attending the ceremony in Attecoube was Mayor Danho Paulin, who took the opportunity to thank the Church for its selfless giving.

Also attending the ceremonies was Director Ehublah Marthe Sekou from the Ministry of Families, Women and Children. She noted that the Church has always been a partner with the ministry in strengthening families and caring for children. 

“We can learn from their example of service to others,” she said. “Everyone benefits when we have strong families and healthy children.”

In the city of Yamoussoukro, the Church joined with Rotary International, one of the largest service organizations in the world, to distribute food packets to needy families.