Success Story: Youth Excels in Leadership Program
Nineteen year old Firmin lives in the village of Yadio, Côte d’Ivoire. Coming from a poor family of low social standing, Firmin left school at age 13.
Life began to change for him when he started to attend CLASSE agricultural leadership classes for out-of-school youth.
Through the program he learned farming techniques for cocoa and other crops, child labor prevention, HIV/AIDS awareness, small business training and leadership skills.
Upon graduation in November 2006, he began to put his new skills into practice establishing a nursery (pictured at left) and helping his father to modernize his farm.
On his own plot of land, negotiated from his father, Firmin planted 1,666 cocoa trees.
Adults and other youth in the community began to visit Firmin asking him for more information on his farming practices and sometimes seeking his assistance to modernize their farms. He notes, “People admire my knowledge. They often visit my farm to observe while I work.”
With a desire to help others and new status as a resource for other farmers, Firmin approached CLASSE about becoming one of the first master youth trainers under a new pilot initiative.
As a master youth trainer, Firmin will supervise youth activities in Yadio when a CLASSE agent is unable and visit participants’ farms to identify common mistakes and offer suggestions for improvement.
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