Bien Rentré au Foyer Project from 2018 to 2024
With the year 2024, the funding from the 8×1000 Valdese to the project “Bien Rentré au Foyer” (Good Return to Family) comes to an end.
The project was launched in 2018 with the aim of facilitating the exit of young children from the pouponnière and easing their reintegration into their original family group, either through foster families or adoption.
The children, who may be orphaned of their mother, both parents, or come from socially disadvantaged backgrounds, are assigned to the facility by the Ivorian Ministry of Family from their earliest days of life and stay there until around 4-5 years of age or until the best solution for them is found. Currently, the pouponnière also hosts some children aged 10-11 years and older.
The transition from life in the facility to that of a new family can be a critical process for both the children and the host families.
Over the years, the 8×1000 of the Valdese Church has supported the Agency in financing this very important project: psychological and financial support has been provided to the families and children who left each year, those preparing to leave the following year, and continued education for those who had already left.
The project included the payment of school fees starting from preschool, as well as the provision of all necessary educational materials, the hiring of a specialized educator, and a social worker. The role of these key figures was to introduce the children to the school environment, support them in their educational journey, and prepare them for their return to the family, continuing to follow up on them for a long time even after they left the pouponnière to ensure their well-being and proper use of the financial support provided to the families.
In the first year, a dedicated study classroom was specifically created within the pouponnière, and in the following years, some areas were adapted to better accommodate the older children approaching their exit.
The specialized educator followed the group throughout their educational journey and provided specific psychopedagogical support when necessary.
In the final years of the project, repeated missions by Italian volunteer educators contributed to the training of the staff and updated the educator on Italian educational methodologies.
Thanks to these efforts, the Ayamé pouponnière was recognized in 2021 as the best Ivorian institution for child protection.
The social worker took care of gradually introducing the children to their host families, ensuring their successful integration into the family group and the new social context, and initiating corrective actions in case of difficulties.
For the Agenzia n.1 of Pavia for Ayamé and for the pouponnière, the “Bien Rentré au Foyer” project continues through self-financing.
From 2024, the 8×1000 of the Waldensian Church continues to support, with the same dedication, a new project dedicated to the small children during their first year of life: a very delicate age with specific challenges to address.
