The Kekeli Center has had a dynamic month of September. Faithful to its mission of protecting children and promoting women, it has promoted various initiatives that contribute to building a better future for the children, young people and women it accompanies.
Distribution of educational material
On Tuesday, September 2, 2025, the Kekeli Center delivered school kits to 152 beneficiary children. This action allows the students to start the 2025-2026 school year in the best possible conditions. The coordinator took the opportunity to raise parents’ awareness of the importance of schooling and to encourage them to ensure that their children attend school regularly.
With this gesture, the Center reaffirms its commitment to the education and well-being of children, while helping to alleviate the financial burden on families at the beginning of the school year. This assistance is made possible thanks to the constant support of the Center’s technical and financial partners, whose generosity helps to reduce parents’ difficulties.
Awareness-raising about fire
Following the success of the first evening held in April 2025 on violence and sexual abuse, the Kekeli Center repeated the experience on September 5, 2025 with a second edition. More than 200 neighbors enthusiastically participated in this initiative, which took place in a welcoming and popular atmosphere.
The objective was to offer a festive and educational encounter to local children and adults, this time addressing the serious problem of trafficking and economic exploitation of minors. This action is part of the Center’s ongoing efforts to prevent and combat violence and abuse against children. The theme chosen was: “Trafficking and exploitation of minors”.
In the late afternoon, neighbors gathered together with various community stakeholders, including members of the Hanoukopé Neighborhood Council, led by its president and chief. They all gathered in front of the Kekeli Center in a lively atmosphere of conviviality.
From 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, the theater troupe “Il y a Dieu dedans” (He has God inside), directed by slammer and writer Mathias Koulihouen, conveyed the message through stories, slam poetry, animations, slogans and games. When the flame of the fire illuminated the façade of the Center, the company symbolically greeted this glow as an announcement of a new day.
The Center took advantage of this mobilization to raise awareness of child trafficking and exploitation, a reality that persists and hinders children’s access to education, especially on the eve of the new school year. It was also an opportunity to publicize the actions undertaken in support of victims and in the fight against this social scourge.
Closure of the 2nd edition of the micro-savings project
On September 12, 2025, the second cycle of the Adakavi savings program closed at the Kekeli Center. Adakavi savings program. Since its inception in 2023, this project, with the financial support of Manos Unidas, has transformed the lives of Hanoukopé women by providing them with access to savings and loans that strengthen their economic activities and reinforce their autonomy.
The closing ceremony was marked by the presentation of savings shares to the participants, in recognition of a year of effort and perseverance. The testimonies were unanimous: thanks to Adakavi, the women have been able to expand their businesses, increase their income and take better care of their families. As a symbol of this achievement, they all received a cooking pot.
“Adakavi is much more than a savings bank: it is a school of solidarity, hope and autonomy,” says a happy beneficiary.
For the President of group 2, “it is a good initiative launched by the Sisters and it helps us a lot. We thank them and the partners who support them”.
The afternoon concluded with a festive atmosphere in which women and staff of the Kekeli Center shared songs and dances to express their joy. At the end, the participants returned home with smiles and hopeful looks on their faces.
The latest good news is the creation of a third savings group, which meets at 10:00 a.m. at the Kekeli Center. This reflects the importance of these groups for the empowerment of women and girls, and confirms that the project continues to grow and attract more participants determined to take charge of their future.
Kekeli Center
