In the historic coastal city of Grand-Bassam, Côte d’Ivoire, where stories of resilience echo through colonial facades and ocean breezes, a new kind of gathering unfolded — one not of tourists, but of truth-tellers and changemakers.

Representing FAWE Regional Secretariat, Kossi Tsenou, Senior Communication Officer, took part in the EOL (Education Out Loud) Regional Convening 2025 — a powerful convergence of education actors committed to one bold idea: governments must be held accountable for every promise made to Africa’s children, especially its girls.

The convening brought together voices that matter — from the Ministries of Education and Women of Côte d’Ivoire, to Girls Not Brides, ANCEFA, UNICEF, and AU-CIEFFA. What bound them was not uniformity, but unity: a shared mission to create systems where no child’s potential is silenced by poverty, gender, or policy gaps.

We didn’t come to simply take notes — we came to raise the volume on girls’ education. Through panel discussions, one-on-one exchanges, and strategic conversations, we spotlighted our advocacy for:

  • Ending child marriage,
  • Enforcing gender-responsive education policies,
  • Ensuring that national commitments aren’t just words on paper but actions in communities.

As Tsenou put it, “Accountability is not just a checklist. It’s a commitment to every girl whose education has been interrupted or denied. We’re here to say — we see them, we stand for them, and we expect more from those in power.”

The EOL convening reminded us that the work ahead is collective. No one organization can do it alone. But together—with civil society, with ministries, with brave voices in every country — we can shift the landscape.

We leave Grand-Bassam with more than inspiration. We leave with new partnerships, new strategic entry points, and a stronger continental solidarity rooted in one truth.
When girls learn, nations rise. But only if leaders lead with courage and citizens keep them honest.