Ivory Coast: Guiding Young People Towards the Future

In several regions of Ivory Coast, the socio-professional  integration of young people represents a major challenge. Between a lack of access to information on professional jobs and difficulty entering the job market, many youth and young adults struggle to find their way. Faced with this challenge, Bibliothèques Sans Frontières (Libraries Without Borders) and the Ivorian Youth Ministry are deploying the project “BiblioBox” in several youth centers to support them in their career paths and their professional integration.  

Guidance, a lever for the future

Despite sustained economic growth, the job market in Ivory Coast remains impacted by a high rate of youth unemployment. One of the solutions to this challenge resides in providing access to reliable information on career options and possible training to enable young people to make informed choices and construct a solid career plan.  

It is within this optic that BSF and its partners installed fourteen Ideas Box in 2024, mobile and connected media libraries, in various civil service centers, regional youth directorates, and youth employment agencies across the country. These learning spaces provide young people with varying resources: books, board games, job descriptions, career advice, videos and interactive modules on entrepreneurship and vocational training.  

Presentation of the Ideas Box – Abidjan

Inauguration of the BiblioBox project – Abidjan

“Access to an education of quality is essential for every young person, as it represents the key to their personal development, their professional success and their civic engagement. By transmitting knowledge, technical skills and an open mind, education allows them to better understand the world, to access employment opportunities, and to actively contribute to the development of their community and their country.” Prisca Wakoubo, project manager of the BSF project in Ivory Coast.

Comprehensive support for sustainable integration 

Beyond professional guidance, the Ideas Box also offers content on essential themes such as gender equality, social cohesion, media literacy, and human rights. These resources permit young people to acquire cross-disciplinary skills and develop a critical outlook on societal issues.  

Our libraries are part of a comprehensive support program that combines training, practical workshops, and personalized support for young people: interactive sessions, for example, are organized to help them better prepare for job interviews, upload an effective CV, or explore entrepreneurial opportunites.  

Training – Bouaké Ideas Box

Video Workshop – Bouaké Ideas Box

“This project has greatly facilitated our interaction with young people at the center. The Ideas Box awakens in them a real thirst for learning and finding solutions to their problems. Young people flock to our premises and enthusiastically call out to us outside! The center has become an important transit point–which was not the case before.” Kouma Atta Kouassi Gérard, schoolteacher at the Bondoukou regional youth directorate. 

The BiblioBox project is funded by the Ivorian Ministry of Youth Promotion, Professional Integration and Civic Service, which places access to information and training at the heart of its youth employment strategy. Its ambition is to make programs accessible to as many people as possible and to ensure their sustainability through the involvement of local stakeholders. 

With young people representing more than 75% of the Ivorian population, providing them with the tools to better prepare for their futures is a priority. With the BiblioBox project, BSF and its partners are providing a concrete response to the challenges of professional integration and education, giving young people the keys to constructing their futures with confidence.