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Empowering Cocoa Households with Opportunities and Education Solutions (ECHOES) Alliance

Map of Cote d'IvoireProject Dates: October 2007-September 2009

Countries: Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana

Alliance: US Agency for International Development, World Cocoa Foundation, Cloetta Fazer, ED&F Man Cocoa, The Hershey Company, Kraft Foods, Mars Incorporated, Norwegian Association of Chocolate Manufacturers, Olam International Ltd., and Starbucks Coffee Company

Implementers: International Foundation for Education and Self-Help, Winrock International, and Making Cents International

Overview

Map of GhanaBuilding on World Cocoa Foundation member-supported pilot education programs, ECHOES aims to expand opportunities for youth living in cocoa growing communities.

Ultimately, the program seeks to serve as a replicable model for education in rural West Africa. Initially, ECHOES is working in the districts of Abengourou, Aboisso, Adzopé, Alepé, Daloa and Yamoussoukro in Côte d’Ivoire, and Akontombra, Agogo, Berekum, East Akyem, Juaboso and Sefwi Wiawso in Ghana.

Program Targets:

  • 6,000 pre-service and in-service teachers trained in improved teaching methodologies.
  • 7 resource centers established/upgraded
  • 7,780 youth, young adults and farmers trained in functional literacy
  • 3,990 primary and secondary school students receive in-school vocational agricultural training
  • 260 out-of-school youth (ages 15-30) receive vocational education, business training and a start-up kit
  • 250 parent/student pairs receive family support scholarships
  • 170 parents receive small business development and leadership skills training

Progress to Date:

  • In-school and out-of-school youth training begins. Training for in-school and out-of-school youth is underway in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.  The first participants will complete training at the end of the 2008/2009 school year. Cocoa plots and school gardens were established to support the training.

  • 20 family support scholarships awarded in Côte d’Ivoire. Mother-child pairs from Adzopé and Biéby were awarded scholarships equivalent to three years of the child’s school-related expenses.

  • Literacy classes begin in Côte d’Ivoire. Classes are led by trained local tutors using a cocoa-specific functional literacy manual developed under a previous WCF member-supported pilot program.

Success Story: Family Support Scholarships - Parents' Entrepreneurship for Children's Education