Meals were barely adequate, the children’s schooling became hypothetical, and diseases were treated poorly, if at all, since there was no money to cover medical expenses. In 2006, Juliette joined the family strengthening programme of the SOS Children’s Village Abobo in Côte d’Ivoire. The programme was a true lifesaver to her, giving her family another chance.
Four times a year, Juliette and her children receive a food kit containing staples like rice, oil, tomatoes, pasta, fish, sugar, salt, and cleaning products. This kit also includes insecticide to ward off mosquitoes, vectors of malaria. The children received school supplies including the uniforms, support with medical expenses as well as clothing every Christmas and Easter and upon request. Gradually, the improved conditions became noticeable on the children. Juliette is especially grateful for the school support since it helps to shape her children's future.
7 January 2010: Juliette's own Independence Day
The year 2010 was a crucial one for Juliette's family, since by the end of December, they had to be standing on their own two feet. To ensure Juliette's independence is set on solid foundations, several measures were taken to help Juliette and her family fend for themselves. In 2009, Juliette applied for a position as a teacher in the Ivorian civil service.
The family strengthening programme supported her initiative by paying the application fee of 25,000 CFA, a bit less than 40 Euros. "Compiling my file was very difficult because it required documents like my birth certificate and police record that I could only get from my village, which is far from Abidjan. In addition, I had to wake up early in the morning to get in line at the police academy, hoping to be among the first for the medical test," she confides. Once she had submitted her application and done the medical test, the next step was taking the written tests which she passed. Juliette began the two-year training - one year of theory and one year of practice- without having to worry about her family, as they continued to receive support from the family strengthening programme.
Juliette started teaching
Juliette started teaching in a public school in Abidjan on 7 January 2010 and is now officially an employee in the Ivorian civil service. During her first year, she was teaching third-graders language, poetry, reading, mathematics, physical education, and civics, among other subjects. She admits that she had a hard time at first because she had to combine theory with practice. But with time, she eventually managed to overcome the pitfalls of the first days and started learning the ropes of the profession she always wanted to pursue. "I love what I am doing; it is my choice. For years, I always dreamed of being a teacher," she says. Students are currently on holiday and classes for the 2010-2011 school year will resume in mid-September throughout the country.
At it is customary for Ivorian public service employees to receive payment only after several months on the job, Juliette has not yet been paid, but she hopes that when her salary comes, she will be able to meet all her needs.
"I know how lucky I am"
It is hard to imagine that this independent, self-confident woman who loves her job and rediscovers herself and her new role every day was vulnerable and fully dependent on the help of others only a few months ago. "I know how lucky I am," she says, "professional training and job opportunities are rare and not easily accessible in this country. I hope local authorities will set up structures that will enable more young people to care for themselves, overcome poverty and live independent lives, like I will".