The First Lady of Côte d’Ivoire and President of the Foundation Children of Africa, Dominique Ouattara, arrived in Salé, Morocco, yesterday afternoon, for a working visit to launch the second phase of her country’s “United, We Hear Each Other Better” campaign. The initiative seeks to restore hearing to underprivileged African children who are deaf.
Children of Africa, an NGO created in 1998, supports children across the continent, concentrating on urban, rural, and underprivileged regions. It runs care facilities and offers healthcare services, education, and a safe refuge with mentoring and staff supervision.
The foundation operates in 11 African countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Central African Republic, Senegal, and Togo. As part of phase one of the “United, We Hear Each Other Better” program, 35 children from West African countries were invited to Morocco for welfare services and cochlear implant operations in October 2022.
Princess Lalla Asmae welcomed Ouattara as she disembarked at the Rabat-Salé regional airport.
After passing an honor guard of Auxiliary Forces, both Lalla Asmae and the First Lady were greeted by high-ranking officials and representatives of the region.
Lalla Asmae received greetings from members of the Ivorian delegation accompanying the First Lady, including Yves Tadet, chargé d’affaires of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire in Morocco; Patricia Sylvie Yao, the First Lady’s chief of staff; and Nadine Sangare, National Director of the Children of Africa Foundation.
Ouattara was then treated to the traditional Moroccan ceremony of milk and dates, before heading to the Royal Guest Palace, where she will stay during her visit.