A special day for AVSI staff at the orphanage in Dabou, the Côte d’Ivoire

Recently, AVSI personnel in Côte d'Ivoire spent a day at the orphanage in Dabou as part of the “ENSEMBLE: Education and Health for Children with Disabilities in Dabou” project funded by the Emilia-Romagna Region. The initiative allowed AVSI team members to experience daily life at the orphanage and spend meaningful time with the children living in the center.

The Dabou orphanage—located in southern Côte d'Ivoire—is a safe haven for children and youth with disabilities, many of whom are orphans or have been abandoned. Through the ENSEMBLE project, AVSI aims to improve the well-being of the most vulnerable children in the center by training staff, providing recreational materials, and supporting medical care, including essential tests. Recently, the center opened a fully equipped and renovated medical unit with tools worth 6,100,000 CFA francs (over 9,000 euros), ensuring quality care for the young residents.

Following an introductory overview of the orphanage's daily routines—cooking, laundry, physical therapy, and cleaning—AVSI staff worked side-by-side with the center's team: assisting in therapy sessions for children with limited mobility, employing specialized massage techniques, helping with laundry, and preparing meals. The menu for the day featured soumara lafri, a traditional Ivorian dish. Volunteers carefully prepared the ingredients, chopping onions and blending vegetables, and supported the "moms of the day" in feeding the youngest children, a delicate moment that requires both patience and care.

After the work came time for fun and relaxation. Staff and children danced and played together, and as the day drew to a close, the goodbyes were heartfelt. Orphanage Director Korotoum Ouattara thanked the staff, expressing her appreciation for their presence and the love they showed to the children.

“This volunteer day showed that, beyond material and technical support, AVSI staff can give their time, affection, and skills to those in greatest need,” commented Bamba Lassiné, AVSI Country Representative. “These values are at the core of AVSI’s commitment, which every day is dedicated to supporting the most vulnerable.”