Akissi Martine Kouamé

As Secretary of my VSLA, community health worker, and active member of the Association for Social Cohesion of Women in Duékoué, I am deeply committed to promoting community health, unity, and sustainable development in my village. As President of women and a member of the Advocacy Committee for Women and Girls, I am actively engaged in defending women’s rights and implementing initiatives that empower them.

My involvement in the HIAP-VSLA project, together with my participation in the introductory leadership and entrepreneurship training for women leaders of Cohort 200, has greatly strengthened my professional capacities. The training, along with the development of my personal leadership action plan and a session I delivered on gender and advocacy, strengthened my skills in leadership, resource management, women’s and girls’ rights promotion, and strategic influence on decision-makers. I apply these skills to grow my income-generating activities, including the sale of clothing for women and children and the production and marketing of attiéké (cassava couscous), while supporting my community in its development through advocacy initiatives focused on women’s and girls’ access to water, health, education, and electricity.

As the spouse of a cocoa producer and a member of the partner cooperative CAPROD and the trader OFI, I actively contribute to the development of the agricultural sector and the empowerment of local producers.

I remain determined to strengthen women’s empowerment through VSLAs and to promote sustainable and inclusive development in my community. I am confident that the initiatives of HIAP-VSLA, supported by the active participation of project members like me, will make this possible. With CARE and HERSHEY, community development takes on a human face, and we are proud to be part of it.