The Ivory Coast
Dance to the beats of Magic System and take in the unique architecture of Le Plateau. The Ivory Coast, better known as Cote d'Ivoire, has been labeled the Paris of West Africa, and with good reason. It is the hub of West Africa’s music scene and the warm smiling people are sure to please. Before crisis hit, the Ivory Coast was regarded as a post-colonial economic miracle. From the basilica to the skyscrapers, the evidence is there to prove it.
Location in The Ivory Coast:
Abidjan, a busy coastal city with 5million+ people, bustling with cultures from throughout West Africa.
Accommodation:
Homestay with local family, at least two meals per day
Duration & Price:
Minimum of two weeks starting at 900 USD. See Ivory Coast fees.
Our partner, ONG Espoir, has several programs which help to better the lives of people in their community. The literacy program is the largest, and has the greatest need for volunteers. Children and youth served by the centre are from poor families or live on the streets, and many do not go to school. Through the literacy program, children are tutored. For some children, this compliments what they are learning in school, ensuring that they are successful in their studies. For others, it is the only education that they will receive.
Positions Available for this Project
Literacy & Education OfficerEducate orphaned, handicapped, and street children, some of the most marginalized children in all of Abidjan. In this position, you will be tutoring children from ages 5-13. Through your support, you will be playing an integral part in helping children to develop cognitively, increasing their chances of a brighter furture.
Duration:
1 month +
When:
Year round
Language:
At least intermediate French or a willingness to learn.
Who:
Everyone
Description of Activities:
- Evaluate new children to be admitted into the literacy and education program
- Tutor children in various subjects including math, French, social studies and History, with a particular emphasis on literacy
- Assist local staff in implementing extra-curricular activities
- Mentor children
To Apply:
-
Complete online application
The suffering due to HIV/AIDS in The Ivory Coast has been devastating. Despite widespread knowledge of the existence of HIV/AIDS, stigma and misunderstandings are still widespread. It is necessary to raise awareness about how HIV is spread and the importance of getting tested.
Knowledge is power when it comes to fighting HIV. There are many ways to engage communities. For example, public awareness teams can casually speak to people in the community about HIV/AIDS, helping to make it more acceptable in everyday conversation. And campaigns using local forms of media, such as the poster on the right, encourage people to learn more. Alternatively, peer-to-peer presentation are another effective way to help raise awareness. Presentations can be delivered at conferences, in schools, workplaces, and community centres, and to youth who are living on the streets. It is important to educate people about how HIV is and is not spread, the importance of getting tested, and the options available for all those who test positive for HIV/AIDS
Positions Available for this Project
HIV/AIDS Peer Health EducatorIn this position you will be an integral part of the local team that educates people in the surrounding communities about HIV & AIDS. There is an ongoing campaign to educate, and to bring the myths and realities of HIV/AIDS to light. You will be educating primarily through presentations to local youth and community member in schools, community centres, and other venues.
Duration:
1 month +
When:
Year round
Language:
At least intermediate French or a willingness to learn. At the beginning of your palcement you can focus on learning French, but don't forget that in this position you will be teaching others in French.
Who:
Everyone
Description of Activities:
- Become familiar with the fight against HIV/AIDS as it is taking place in The Ivory Coast
- Identify target audiences for program delivery
- Deliver HIV/AIDS awareness as member of education team
- Assist staff in raising awareness in the surrounding community
- Assist staff in developing health education materials
To Apply:
-
Complete online application
Our partners in The Ivory Coast serve the poorest and most vulnerable people in Abidjan. They are conitnually striving to improve their work, and look to volunteers and interns to help make that happen. Community Development refers to activities that help build capacity and create the building blocks for lasting change. It encompasses a wide variety of tasks.
Positions Available for this Project
Community Development InternBuild capacity on behalf of impoverished children and families. Those being helped are among the most marginalized children and families in all of Abidjan. In this position, you will assist in an administrative manner, and learn key skills relevant to capacity building and community development from a local perspective. There is a wide variety of tasks to be completed, which will depend on local need, as well as your skills and background.
Duration:
2 months +
When:
Year round
Language:
At least intermediate French or a willingness to learn.
Who:
Everyone. Grant writing, marketing, and public relations experience are considered assets.
Description of Activities:
- Write grant proposals
-
Create or add to written materials (for marketing purposes)
- Assist local staff in implementing extra-curricular activities
- Translate documents from French to English
- Prepare reports
- Research and develop partnerships with national and international agencies
To Apply:
-
Complete online application
The Need
The work of The Humanity Exchange in The Ivory Coast is in Abidjan. While the political capital is located further north in the country, Abidjan is the major hub and economic capital of The Ivory Coast. It is home to approximately five million people. Lagoons and ocean edge along the south side of Abidjan. It is a busy metropolitan city, as you will see from visiting Le Plateau. However, there is also great disparity. There are many cartiers, or neighbourhoods, with varying degrees of poverty. In Abidjan you can complete a medical, human services & childcare, physical labour, education, or community development placement. In addition, you can complete a placement with a tailored focus or Learn French in Abidjan.
The people of the Ivory Coast are vibrant and welcoming. Sadly, like much of Sub-saharan Africa, it is a country suffering from extreme poverty. In 2008, the Ivory Coast was ranked 166 out of 179 on the United Nations Human Development Index, an indicator of wellbeing in countries around the world. Various factors contribute to this poor ranking. For example, 7.1% of adults under fifty are living with HIV, and almost half of the population lives on less than two dollars per day. In addition, the civil war that briefly erupted in 2002 only added fuel to the fire, pushing many Ivorians further into poverty. There is much work to be done.
History
Indigenous tribes flourished in the Ivory Coast until 1840. The French met great resistance, but eventually colonized the area. As its name suggests, the major export was Ivory, but coffee and cocoa were also grown as export crops. In 1960, the Ivory Coast gained independence. A prominent labour union leader, Felix Houphouet Boigny, became the first president of the Ivory Coast. He claimed he would turn the Ivory Coast into a "Garden of Eden" by expanding cocoa production. The production of cocoa increased dramatically, and citizens from surrounding countries migrated to the Ivory Coast to start cultivating the crop. The economy improved dramatically, and modernization took hold of Abidjan. However, as cocoa prices started to fall from 1980 onwards, it became apparent that the Ivory Coast was struggling. Poverty was on the rise, and civil war erupted in 2002. It was relatively brief, and peace accords were signed the following year. Since that time proud Ivorians have worked hard to restore peace in their beloved country.
Things to See and Do
- Grand Bassam or Assinie (expansive beaches east of Abidjan)
- Rural villages
- The Artisan's Market
- Agricultural plantations
- Ile Boulet
- Grand Lahou (beach best visited in September and October, the crab season)
- Basilique de Notre Dame de la Paix
Program Fees for The Ivory Coast
|
French |
Volunteer |
Intern |
Research |
2 weeks |
1100 |
900 |
n/a |
1050 |
1 month |
1300 |
950 |
n/a |
1150 |
2 months |
1700 |
1150 |
1250 |
1350 |
3 months |
2200 |
1350 |
1450 |
1550 |
4 months |
2600 |
1550 |
1650 |
1750 |
4 months |
3100 |
1750 |
1850 |
1950 |
4 months |
3600 |
1950 |
2050 |
2150 |
Intensive Add-on:
Learn French for 3 hours, 5 days
a week, for 2 weeks prior to placement (includes room & board) for 530 USD, or during placement for 330USD.
See program fees for all countries, and what they do and do not include.
