Côte d'Ivoire, Grand Bassam
LE CARREFOUR JEUNESSE (Youth Crossroads)

The Carrefour Jeunesse (or Youth Crossroads) of Grand Bassam is the second part of the Communauté Abel project of Grand Bassam. Set up in 1986, it particularly intervenes in open youth activities. The Carrefour Jeunesse of Grand Bassam generally takes care of all the children and youth that have been detached from the family and who sleep in the street.

The children and youth of Carrefour Jeunesse of Grand Bassam represent about 50 percent of the town's population which is estimated at about 80,000. This fringe of the population is made up of 30 percent of youths and children living in difficult conditions, and 10 percent of detached children and youth. Their ages range from 8 to 18 years.

Way of life:
" some sleep in the night by market watchmen
" some sleep on busy cinema paths under the protection of the "bellas"
" another group that plays poker and consume drugs is found in Mossou, and
" others also play poker in the swamps behind the Carrefour Jeunesse centre and sleep at the centre.

Activities:
" return to families by trying to discuss with the parents
" professional rehabilitation (literacy courses, organisation, there is a category of the CDFSEs who look forward to guiding tourists and sometimes undertake prostitution)
" we try to integrate them in some associations in the neighbourhoods and which in turn develop activities with regard to families
" they are also placed in literacy programmes while negotiations are made to integrate them into their families
" cultural activities: music and choreographic courses
" they come to get medical treatment at the Comité Espoir (Hope Committee)
" food is provided for those who are hungry, and
" bathroom facilities are made available.

Part of the results: We have been able to help some youths to obtain their driver's licence and have successfully involved others in animal husbandry (about 25 of them).

Difficulties: Defective logistic; the town is not so developed, illegimate suspicion, difficulty of those using workshops to pay the rent (all workshops are in debt).
CONTACT:
BP 89 Grand Bassam;
Tel: 21.30.15.95;
E-mail : cebelvia@africaonline.co.ci