Since 2009, the FFL has been supporting the Maison de l’Enfance de Bouaké (MEB), run by the Association de la Maison de l’Enfance (AME). This centre takes in children and young people aged between 5 and 18 who are extremely vulnerable and living on the streets.
This projects provides prevention, family and socio-professional reintegration for these young people in difficult situations, as well as medical, food, clothing and psychological care. Elementary-level classes are provided to enable these children to reintegrate into the mainstream school system.
Initially, the children are identified either through referrals or directly during street rounds. They are then welcomed, some of them temporarily housed and cared for at the centre until they can return to their families. In 2024, 54 children were welcomed to the MEB including 41 new admissions.
To ensure successful family reunification, the MEB team does invaluable work, conducting street rounds day and night to raise awareness among children about returning to their families or being taken in by the MEB, conducting research to trace families, and arranging mediation and family visits. This process requires appropriate means of communication as some families live far from Bouaké and sometime even outside Côte d’Ivoire. A total of 65 children have been identified this year through these street rounds, referrals and reports.
At the same time, individualized psychological support is provided to promote the children’s mental well-being and help them overcome their trauma. This support promotes their personal development, given their particularly difficult life experiences at such a young age. This year, awareness-raising sessions were also organized to encourage children to take responsibility and reinforce good hygiene practices. Learning continues with extracurricular activities: 101 taekwondo sessions, 97 art sessions, and 93 dance sessions have contributed to their physical and emotional well-being.