In a heartfelt ceremony held on July 22, 2025, twenty teenagers proudly received their diplomas marking the end of their apprenticeship at the Amigo Doumé Center in the village of Lokoa, Yopougon commune.
After two rigorous years of training in trades such as ironwork, agro-pastoralism, carpentry, and pastry-making, these young graduates are now poised to enter the professional world.
“These children are mostly those taken off the streets through outreach, and some are experiencing family conflicts. Today marks the end of their professional and human training, as they have acquired skills for successful professional integration. They are thus gradually gaining the confidence of their parents and in themselves.
The Amigo Doumé Center is a reflection of constant hope and offers much more than professional care, that is, a dignified life,” explained Father Ange Loboué, the Amigo Foundation’s delegate in Ivory coast.
Charbel Koffi Kouassi, 16, the spokesperson for the graduates, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the religious leaders and supervisors at the Center.
“You supported us, refocused us, and followed us, despite our initial lack of will.
But today, we are graduates, happy, and ready to enter the professional world and master craftsmen’s workshops to perfect our skills. We also haven’t forgotten the joy we see in our parents’ eyes,” he said, urging his peers to approach their crafts with honor and discipline.
Among the achievements highlighted was the success of six trainees who took the BEPC (National Vocational Training Certificate) exams, all of whom passed. Remarkably, one trainee succeeded in the Gendarmerie Competition and is now training at the Gendarmerie School in Toroguhé, Daloa.
Brother Sylvestre Bini, director of the Amigo Doumé Center, reaffirmed the institution’s dedication to supporting government efforts in training and reintegrating vulnerable youth. “A rehabilitated young person means a whole generation saved. Every young person must have the opportunity to fully develop,” he declared.
The graduation ceremony was filled with vibrant sketches, ballets, visits to workshops, and an exhibition and sale of the students’ handcrafted works, showcasing their talent and creativity.
The Amigo Foundation currently supports 85 beneficiaries—38 girls and 47 boys—across its two centers: the Lokoa center in Yopougon specializing in ironwork, carpentry, and agro-pastoralism, and the Zagal center, focused on pastry arts. Residents range in age from 13 to 21, benefiting from socio-educational programs, vocational training, literacy and digital skills classes, as well as psychosocial support aimed at holistic reintegration.
Established in 1995 and spanning over seven hectares, the Amigo Doumé Center offers vulnerable youth a nurturing environment where they can learn valuable trades and rebuild their lives under the care of the Amigonians, a community of Catholic monks dedicated to this mission.
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