Hershey inaugurates three schools in Côte d'Ivoire on October 29, 2024
- The Hershey Company has inaugurated three public primary schools in Côte d'Ivoire, a major cocoa-producing nation, as part of an initiative to enhance educational access.
- The project involved constructing one new school and renovating two others, funded through a collaboration with the Ivorian government and the International Cocoa Initiative.
- These efforts aim to provide quality education for children in cocoa-farming communities and reflect Hershey's commitment to improving local infrastructure and supporting families.
On October 29, 2024, The Hershey Company inaugurated three public primary schools in Côte d'Ivoire, marking a significant step in its mission to improve education in cocoa-producing areas. This initiative was part of a broader agreement with Côte d'Ivoire’s National Oversight Committee for Actions to Fight Child Labor, Trafficking and Exploitation and the International Cocoa Initiative. The project encompassed the construction of a new school and the renovation of two existing ones in the Gly village of the Lôh-Djiboua region. Hershey’s ongoing commitment to supporting cocoa-growing communities has led to investments in educational infrastructure. In April 2023, the company signed an agreement to build 12 primary schools by 2025 in areas that currently lack adequate school facilities. This project seeks to address the barriers to school enrollment, thereby encouraging local children to pursue their education. The involvement of local advocates, such as First Lady Dominique Ouattara, underscores the importance of these initiatives for children's rights and well-being. Hershey's actions not only focus on improving educational access but also strengthen the community's overall resilience. Through this investment in education and infrastructure, Hershey aims to create a more sustainable supply chain and improve the livelihoods of families in cocoa-farming regions. This initiative is part of a more extensive program that includes efforts to enhance farmers' incomes and promote environmental preservation in the region.