Help Us Equip 200 Children in Côte d'Ivoire for a Brighter Future – 2025 Back-to-School Campaign

Dear Friends and Supporters,

My name is Patrice, and I’m a board member and volunteer with Public Health International (PHI) - a humanitarian nonprofit dedicated to improving lives through basic, low-cost public health programs in disaster settings, refugee situations, and underserved regions.

Thanks to your generous support in 2024, PHI—in partnership with ECOVERSION, a grassroots organization in Côte d'Ivoire, was able to distribute school supplies to more than 50 children in the rural cocoa-farming town of Akoupé. These children also received a warm meal during the ceremony, and their gratitude was immeasurable. This effort provided not just materials, but hope.

Building on this momentum, we are launching our 2025 Back-to-School Campaign, and we need your help more than ever. Our goal is to raise $6,000 to support the education of over 200 children in rural Côte d'Ivoire through three critical initiatives:

1. Establishing Birth Certificates

Many children in these communities do not legally exist on paper. Without a birth certificate, they are denied access to school and are at greater risk of illegal labor and exploitation. This year, we are working with ECOVERSION to cover the administrative fees and facilitate the legal process for children to obtain their birth certificates—giving them identity, dignity, and access to their right to education.

2. Distributing School Supplies

A child cannot learn without the proper tools. Books, backpacks, pencils, paper—items many of us take for granted—are out of reach for families living in poverty. Your donation will help us purchase and distribute essential school supplies to ensure students begin the year prepared and confident.

3. Supporting Scholarships

In addition to supplies, some students face barriers like school fees and uniform costs. This year, we’re expanding our efforts to include scholarship assistance for vulnerable students to keep them enrolled, especially girls and those at risk of dropping out.

Child labor remains a staggering issue in Côte d'Ivoire, where over 1.5 million children are involved in hazardous cocoa farming work. We believe education is a powerful antidote to this crisis. As Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Your support will change lives—today and for generations.

Donate Now via GoFundMe. If you prefer to donate through another method, please contact me directly.

No amount is too small. Every dollar counts. Your contribution is more than a donation—it’s a declaration that every child deserves a future.

With gratitude,

Patrice

Board Member & Volunteer

Public Health International