The CMA CGM and Magic System Foundations inaugurate their first school in Côte d'Ivoire

Tanya Saadé Zeenny, Chair of the CMA CGM Foundation, Salif Traoré, Chair of the Magic System Foundation, and Saïd M’Roumbaba (“Soprano”) have inaugurated the first school built under the partnership established by the foundations in March last year.

Mariatou Koné, Côte d'Ivoire’s Minister for National Education and Literacy, General Vagondo Diomandé, Minister of the Interior and Security, Amadou Koné, Minister of Transport, Myss Belmonde Dogo, Minister for Solidarity and the Fight against Poverty, Jean-Christophe Belliard, Ambassador of France in Côte d'Ivoire, and Sylvestre Emmou, Deputy-Mayor of Port-Bouët, also attended the opening ceremony.

Ambitious project completed in record time

The CMA CGM and Magic System Foundations joined forces to build, in just 6 months, a primary school for nearly 200 children between the ages of 6 and 10. The school, whose cost was fully covered by the CMA CGM Foundation, was built in Port-Bouët, a district located close to Abidjan, and brings high-quality educational infrastructure to the village of Ellokro, where none existed previously.

The school takes up 560m² comprising 6 classrooms and 1 canteen, as well as an area built from 4 converted shipping containers. This last choice attests to the CMA CGM Foundation’s endeavor to adopt a circular economy approach and give containers a new life after their shipping career. The containers house the school’s library, staff room, office, and reception area.

The CMA CGM and Magic System Foundations handed over the school keys to Ivorian national education authorities, who will oversee the facility’s management.

Artists were also involved in the project. For example, Ivorian street artist Alberic Kouassi painted frescoes on the school walls, with assistance from students at the Abidjan Institut National Supérieur des Arts school of art. Soprano, the well-known singer-songwriter, who is the school’s Godfather, was also present at the inauguration, and met with future students to present them his journey during the event.

A joint commitment to education 

The CMA CGM Foundation has made education for all its priority. It has championed educational successes all around the world, in partnership with recognized non-profit organizations.

The Magic System Foundation undertakes social, economic, and human development initiatives in Côte d'Ivoire, including various projects for children.

Both Foundations have decided to join forces on an ambitious school-building project to address the shortage of school infrastructure, which further exacerbate education inequalities in rural and underprivileged communities.

Launch of the construction of a second school in Côte d'Ivoire announced

The event also gave Tanya Saadé Zeenny and Salif Traoré an opportunity to make a joint announcement about building a second school in Bouaké, a town in central Côte d'Ivoire, in 2023.

Tanya Saadé Zeenny, Chair of the CMA CGM Foundation, commented: “It’s an honor to be here today in Ellokro to inaugurate this primary school, which features an original design incorporating four converted CMA CGM containers. We’re tremendously happy to have completed a project that makes such good sense in partnership with the Magic System Foundation. I would like to wish the 200 pupils who will attend the school every success. We have built it with a great deal of care and attention and with very high hopes for the young people of Côte d'Ivoire."

Salif Traoré, Chair of the Magic System Foundation, added: “Education for all is unfortunately still a real problem for our African countries. It is a crucial issue because the path towards dignity and the construction of the human being requires a quality education. Everyone has the right to this opportunity. This is why we are very happy and proud to hand over the keys of this school to the Ministry of Education and Literacy, alongside our partner, the CMA CGM Foundation.”