Are you listening?
In the wake of the November 2010 elections in Côte d'Ivoire, horrendous violence was committed by all sides. More than 3,000 people were killed, countless homes were burned to the ground, and today roughly 360,000 people remain displaced.
These families have lost nearly everything. But the acts of violence that have torn apart Côte d'Ivoire are by no means unspeakable: in fact, the first step to preventing more violence is talking about the bloodshed that has already occurred. That's why CARE is listening.
CARE and local partner ASAPSU are operating a "listening centre" at a camp for internally displaced people in the Ivorian city of Guiglo. This listening centre, the first of several CARE plans to operate in Côte d'Ivoire, is a crucial early step in helping people steer away from vengeance and toward reconciliation.
CARE Côte d'Ivoire has extensive experience with programmes that strengthen the bonds between different parts of society: Muslims and Christians; planters and cattle farmers; and Boso fishermen and local fisherman. CARE continues to believe that the forces bringing them together are stronger than those pulling them apart.
Preventing the spread of Ebola
The outbreak of Ebola in west Africa in 2014 did not spread into the Cote d'Ivoire, thanks in part to prevention and preparation efforts supported by CARE. CARE helped the Ivorian government with an Ebola response plan, and incorporated Ebola awareness into our work with cocoa farming communities in the western region of the country.
