Côte d’ivoire: Scouts launch “Operation Youth for Clean Cities”
On Saturday 21 June 2008, the President of FIS, that is, Fédération Ivoirienne du Scoutisme (Federation of Ivorian Scouting), Dr. DOUMBIA Gnamakolo, reiterating the need to live in a healthy environment, officially launched the 'Operation Youth for Clean Cities' which will be implemented in two phases. First, in Abidjan, then in the interior cities. This colourful ceremony took place in Attecoubé, one of the four pilot areas, in the presence of the Director General of youth affairs, Mr. Sery Bially, municipal officials, traditional and religious leaders, and presidents of youth movements and associations.
In 2002, Côte d’ivoire underwent a political crisis. After the Ouagadougou Peace Accord, there was a return to normalcy and the process of rebuilding the country kicked off. The crisis destroyed buildings, affected lives, but also contributed to the emergence of deplorable new forms of behaviours: cities were littered, pavements were strewn with refuse.
Faced with this state of affairs and challenged to bring their contribution to the process of rebuilding the country, Scout members of the Fédération Ivoirienne du Scoutisme launched an extensive and nationwide campaign against pollution under the banner “Operation Youth for Clean Cities”.
This initiative, which is in line with the fight for the preservation of a healthy and sustainable environment enjoyed the collaboration of the other youth organizations in the country as well as the support of the Ministry for Youth Affairs and Sports. Several local authorities and development partners also joined hands with the Scouts.
After the ceremony, the Scouts in their green, blue, khaki and purple uniform, armed with gloves, mufflers, brooms and dustbins took over the streets and public places of the four pilot areas (Marcory, Treichville, Yopougon and Attecoubé) and started the collection of the refuse. As they marched on, using megaphones, they invited the residents to embrace behaviour change for a healthy and sustainable environment.
Satisfied with the short and long term impact of their actions, pleased with the participation of population alongside the horde of Scouts who thronged the streets, to carry out a real hunt for the refuse and to sensitize the inhabitants, Scouts returned to their headquarters for a meal, still in the presence of the authorities of the Directorate of Youth. They left in the early evening.
The Operation will continue in six other Communes of Abidjan and other towns.
To contact organizers of the Operation, please email:
Courtesy of Aly Badra Ladji COULIBALY ('Chat efficace')
National Commissioner Administration, Communication
FIS/Eclaireuses -Eclaireurs De Côte d’Ivoire
Ambassador of the World Scout Brand
Download PDF version of this page
