UNOCI goes to Houphouët-Boigny and Thanry neighbourhoods in Guiglo to discuss development with local youths

The community sensitisation activity to promote peace and reconciliation, known as ONUCI Tour, and the distribution of potable water in the Houphouët Boigny and Thanry neighbourhoods were the highlights of the commemoration of the Ivorian National Day of Peace on Friday, 15 November 2013 in Guiglo, situated some 530 km west of Abidjan. It was an occasion for the United Nations, represented by its Office Coordinator, to appeal to youths in the two neighbourhoods to take an active part in the development of their locality.

After explaining their different mandates and activities to people who attended the event, and appealing to them to cultivate the virtues of peace, the Public Information Office, the Rule of Law Section, the United Nations Police (UNPOL) of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), discussed several important issues with them.

The UN Office Coordinator highlighted the actions that the Organisation had carried out to benefit the people in Guiglo: "{We have started weekly distribution of potable water and strengthened the day and night patrols carried out by UNPOL. However without the active involvement of the youths, your area will not develop. Stand united because together we are strong," }he added.

Madeleine Bellé, the second deputy mayor of Guiglo, thanked the United Nations for organising the activity. "{These discussions have given people the opportunity to find out what exactly you do and to get to know you better},"she said, adding that better collaboration between the UN and local government will mean better responses to the needs of local people.

The youth president, Kpassé Leblanc, took the opportunity to outline to the local authorities the many difficulties faced by many local people, such as insecurity, lack of potable water, electricity, a clean environment and unemployment among the youths.