Child Labor Alternatives through Sustainable Systems in Education (CLASSE) Program
Project Dates: June 2004 to December 2007
Country: Côte d’Ivoire
Funders: World Cocoa Foundation, Mars Incorporated, Norwegian Association of Chocolate Manufacturers and Cloetta Fazer AB
Implementer: Winrock International
Overview
The CLASSE program improves agricultural capacity and prevents child labor by strengthening educational relevance for stakeholders in the cocoa farming sector. The program is active in: Adzopé, Affery, Agboville, Alepé, Asseudji, Biéby, Bonahouin, Daguikoi, Ehoueguie, Offompo, and Yadio.
Program Targets:
- 1,140 in-school and 60 out-of-school students receive vocational agricultural training
- 115 students and their mothers receive micro-credit scholarships
- 8,500 youth are sensitized to child labor and 8,500 are sensitized to HIV/AIDS
- 240 students participate in agriculture clubs
- 11 cocoa demonstration plots and 10 school gardens are established
- 1 tree-replication nursery is established
- 10 schools are renovated
Progress to Date:
- 3,724 children and youth have completed agricultural training. As of the end of the 2006-2007 school year, 3,693 in-school and 31 out-of-school youth completed agricultural youth leadership training. Topics covered include farming techniques for cocoa and other crops, child labor prevention, HIV/AIDS awareness, small business training and leadership skills.
- 146 students and their mothers received micro-credit scholarships. Micro-credit scholarships are designed to support youth education while increasing the income of the student’s mother. Awardees receive funds equal to three years of school fees. The mother recipient pays her child’s school fees for the first year and invests the remaining funds in her business. Under the terms of the agreement, the recipient is to pay the child’s school fees for the next two years. Of the first mothers to receive the scholarships, 100% paid their children’s school fees for all three years.
- 12,609 youth sensitized to child labor. Youth are receiving training through the ILO’s SCREAM methodology which uses the arts to teach youth about child labor issues.
- 10,518 youth sensitized to HIV/AIDS. Youth are receiving training on disease prevention and risk reduction, and have organized World AIDS Day events for other youth in their communities. Events include activities such as a candlelight procession, skits on HIV prevention, and discussions with people living with HIV/AIDS.
- 394 students participated in agriculture clubs. Agriculture clubs engage in a variety of activities depending on members’ interests including maintaining school cocoa and vegetable plots, participating in agribusiness training, taking field trips, organizing events and learning to use computers.
- 10 cocoa plots, 10 school gardens, and 1 tree-replication nursery established; 9 schools renovated. The cocoa demonstration plots are used to provide hands-on experience, as appropriate, to complement the agricultural training. The profits from the plots are used to support the school. The school garden plots provide practical experience with other crops and are a source of fresh fruits and vegetables for the school canteen. The nursery is for use in demonstrations and research on tree replication, which sustainably improves the quality of soil. School renovations have included: school buildings, latrines, classrooms, security measures and a computer lab.
View a map of CLASSE project sites.
Success Story: Youth Excels in Leadership Program
Success Story: On the Road to Entrepreneurship and Self-Sufficiency
Back to CLASSE page