JIF 2023 : JCI Cotonou Zénith honors the women of the Vêdoko market

International Women's Day(JIF 2023) has a utilitarian character among the women of the Vêdoko market. Instead of dancing and singing around hearty meals with extravagant scarves, it is a ceremony to award certificates of end of training that these brave women were entitled to. The initiative comes from the JCI Cotonou Zénith.

The delivery of certificates marks the end of a process. It all started with a sanitation session organized on 18 February 2023. More precisely, a plastic bag collection operation in several streets around the Vêdoko market. This was followed by the recycling stage punctuated by knitting training for the 21 at 25 February 2023. Women learned to make handbags, key rings and other gadgets for everyday use. Their spokesperson, in his word, thanked the JCI Zénith Cotonou for thinking of associating them with this type of multidimensional project.

This is an opportunity for the sponsor to reiterate her attachment to grassroots development initiatives, especially when they focus on women.. “I did not hesitate to give my approval when the president of JCI Cotonou Zénith approached me to talk to me about this project. First, I understood the merits of the project and any initiative which consists of promoting women is welcome in my home” confided Orianne Homeky. To finish, she urged women to make this training a source of income to improve their living conditions.

In his speech, Koffi Charlemagne Gbonké, president of the JCI Cotonou Zénith praised the commitment of these women and their desire to add another string to their bow but also to change their living environment. “Pleasure and satisfaction, this is what this ceremony of handing over certificates to these brave women and young girls who have made the resolution to move forward is all about. Start from an idea, give birth on paper and propose to the local steering committee of JCI Cotonou at the start of the year, the brave members of Zénith trusted me and today you can see the concrete realization of the dream”, he declared before adding “Thank you to the project team for the work done, thank you to the CDL for the efforts made for the success of the project. I would also like to thank the sponsor of the activity who grew in us and agreed to support us on this project.. For the autonomy of women, no effort will be too much”.

Arnaud ACAKPO (Coll)