Ivory Coast has lost over 80% of its forests since the 1960s, causing significant environmental, social, and economic problems that many people are unaware of. To address this issue, Telebo Soundele, who worked as a marketing manager for a forest management company, founded Green Skill Africa to educate children about environmental issues.
In 2020, Telebo's business, Green Skill, was chosen as a finalist for the State Department's Academy for Women Entrepreneurs program. She was awarded a US$10K USADF grant, which helped her expand her business and develop an educational program for children called Eveil en Foret. This program focuses on the environment and sustainable development in Ivory Coast and Francophone West Africa. The grant also supported the creation of environmental education kits called The Forest: Source of Life. These kits included a game on endangered African animals, a coloring book on African fauna, a tropical forest-themed activity book, a field notebook for outdoor group or individual activities, and a fluorescent vest to encourage the safe exploration of nature.
During the project, Telebo successfully introduced the Eveil en Foret program in two schools in Ivory Coast. In addition to this, Telebo also organized workshops for children through partnerships with NGOs and hotels. Green Skill conducted one such workshop at an NGO-run Care Centre for children, where they taught about recycling and the flora and fauna of the Ivory Coast. They even took the children on trips to the Anguédédou forest in Abidjan. This weekly workshop lasted for two hours and continued for nine months, allowing 25 children to experience nature and gain extensive environmental knowledge.
In its first year, Green Skill's awareness programs and education kits helped 92 children in Ivory Coast, highlighting the significance of environmental education at an early age. The program's success led to its adaptation in other Francophone countries, such as Gabon. With support from USADF, Green Skill is equipping the next generation of Ivorians and Africans with the knowledge and passion to make better decisions for their environment.