GROUPE SCOLAIRE AGBE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
The families we serve are among the 62.4 percent of the lvorian rural population living under the poverty line (less than $1/day). The only opportunity for their children to an elementary school was to walk 25 miles (40.23 km) away. The long distance between the nearest school and the community curtails access to education for most of the children especially the younger ones who cannot do the daily trips on foot to school. Due to their isolation and the poor quality of educational resources available to these children, the vast majority will not receive an education beyond grade 7, the highest grade for a free education. On their way to school, five small children under the age of 16 died while crossing a major road. Parents then refused to send their children to school due to the dangerous path that they had to walk for miles to get to school. Without education, children in this community, the only careers for boys and girls are to serve as farmers or the girls serve as housewives. In 2011, the community members and La Voie Du Salut Church mobilized themselves and started a school in a structure built with clay and thatched roofs (See pictures). However, the school infrastructure did not provide a safe and supportive learning environment.
In this picture you are looking at the old school classroom. The children are in grade CP1, which is equivalent to first grade in the United States of America.
This dilapidated and unsanitary school classroom was used by children in grade CP2, which is equivalent to second (2nd) grade in the United States of America. The children had classes in an unclean, and unsafe environment.
Broken and unsafe plywood used to build the old classroom. Clear signs of old age and danger are visible. The children are in grade CE1, which is equivalent to third grade in the United of States of America.