Empowering Girls, Inspiring Futures
By Miléquêm Diarassouba | Photojournalist West Africa
Murielle Ahouré Demps, a world champion sprinter and NChampion for Children with UNICEF Côte d’Ivoire, visited South-West Côte d’Ivoire in 2024 to empower young girls and children. Her mission was to promote hope and resilience in the community. I had the honor of documenting this impactful event as a photographer for UNICEF. I captured her heartfelt interactions with the children in the region. These moments highlighted a shared vision for a brighter future through education and support.
Bernadette, 16, shows UNICEF Ambassador Murielle Ahouré Demps how to disassemble an engine under a car hood in San Pedro, South-West Côte d’Ivoire, 14 October 2024. Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
Throughout her visit, Murielle Ahouré Demps connected with girls who are breaking barriers in fields like automotive electricity, where young girls such as Bernadette are forging new paths. Witnessing their determination and drive to succeed, it was clear that Murielle’s words of encouragement had a profound impact. These girls are not just pursuing skills—they are building the future of their communities, and being there to capture that growth was a humbling experience.
During her visit to San Pedro, South-West Côte d’Ivoire, on 14th October 2024, UNICEF Ambassador Murielle Ahouré Demps is shown the interior of a car by 16-year-old Bernadette, who is training in automotive electricity. Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
18-year-old Marie Grace works underneath a car while UNICEF Ambassador Murielle Ahouré Demps kneels beside her during a visit to San Pedro, South-West Côte d’Ivoire, on 14th October 2024.Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
UNICEF Ambassador Murielle Ahouré Demps meets 18-year-old Marie Grace, who is training in mechanics in San Pedro, South-West Côte d’Ivoire, on 14th October 2024.Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
During her visit to San Pedro, South-West Côte d’Ivoire, on 14th October 2024, UNICEF Ambassador Murielle Ahouré Demps meets 17-year-old Élodie, who is cleaning an air conditioning unit with a pressure washer as part of her cold chain training.Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
During her visit to San Pedro, South-West Côte d’Ivoire, on 14th October 2024, UNICEF Ambassador Murielle Ahouré Demps meets 17-year-old Élodie, who is cleaning an air conditioning unit with a pressure washer as part of her cold chain training.Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
During her visit to San Pedro, South-West Côte d’Ivoire, on 14th October 2024, UNICEF Ambassador Murielle Ahouré Demps meets 17-year-old Élodie, who is cleaning an air conditioning unit with a pressure washer as part of her cold chain training.Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
During her visit to San Pedro, South-West Côte d’Ivoire, on 14th October 2024, UNICEF Ambassador Murielle Ahouré Demps meets 16-year-old Bernadette, who is pursuing her dream of becoming an automotive electrician.Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
UNICEF Ambassador Murielle Ahouré Demps, her husband Jeff Demps, and 18-year-old Marie Grace share a smile while posing together during their visit to San Pedro, South-West Côte d’Ivoire, on 14th October 2024.Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
During her visit to San Pedro, South-West Côte d’Ivoire, on 14th October 2024, UNICEF Ambassador Murielle Ahouré Demps meets 17-year-old Élodie, who is cleaning an air conditioning unit with a pressure washer as part of her cold chain training.Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
The mission also took us to Guédikpo, in South-West Côte d’Ivoire, where Murielle visited the Centre Civique d’Action pour le Développement, a community hub transforming the lives of young mothers through the Girl Power initiative. Supported by UNICEF, this program offers a second chance to vulnerable girls aged 16 to 24 by providing vocational training in fields like pastry-making and hairdressing, along with essential childcare services. Over three months, they build life skills and civic awareness while their children are cared for on-site, followed by six-month internships with master artisans.
Teenage mothers have the right to dream and hope for a better tomorrow.
The courtyard of the Centre Civique d’Action pour le Développement in Guédikpo, South-West Côte d’Ivoire, on October 15, 2024, where dozens of vulnerable young girls, aged 16 to 24, receive a second chance through training and support. This initiative empowers them with essential life skills, employability training, and civic engagement, fostering their path to successful social and professional integration. Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
On 15th October 2024, at the daycare in Guédikpo, South-West Côte d’Ivoire, Jeff Demps, husband of UNICEF Ambassador Murielle Ahouré Demps, holds 7-month-old Mael, while Murielle stands by his side during their visit as part of the Girl Power project. Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
On 15th October 2024, at the Centre Civique d’Action pour le Développement in Guédikpo, South-West Côte d’Ivoire, UNICEF Ambassador Murielle Ahouré Demps participates in a pastry class, making a cake alongside the girls as part of the Girl Power project. Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
On 15th October 2024, at the Centre Civique d’Action pour le Développement in Guédikpo, South-West Côte d’Ivoire, UNICEF Ambassador Murielle Ahouré Demps participates in a hairdressing class, where the girls are learning to make wigs as part of the Girl Power project. Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
On 15th October 2024, at the Centre Civique d’Action pour le Développement in Guédikpo, South-West Côte d’Ivoire, UNICEF Ambassador Murielle Ahouré Demps poses with the girls from the hairdressing class, proudly wearing one of the wigs they made as part of the Girl Power project. Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
On 15th October 2024, at the Centre Civique d’Action pour le Développement in Guédikpo, South-West Côte d’Ivoire, UNICEF Ambassador Murielle Ahouré Demps participates in a makeup class as part of the Girl Power project. Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
On 15th October 2024, at the Centre Civique d’Action pour le Développement in Guédikpo, South-West Côte d’Ivoire, UNICEF Ambassador Murielle Ahouré Demps applies makeup to one of the girls during a makeup class as part of the Girl Power project. Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
UNICEF Ambassador Murielle Ahouré Demps joins the girls in the classroom at the Centre Civique d’Action pour le Développement in Guédikpo, South-West Côte d’Ivoire, on 15th October 2024, as they all raise their arms in the empowering Girl Power gesture. Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
On 15th October 2024, at the Centre Civique d’Action pour le Développement in Guédikpo, South-West Côte d’Ivoire, Jeff Demps saws during a blacksmithing class under the watchful eye of his wife, UNICEF Ambassador Murielle Ahouré Demps, as part of her visit. Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
On 15th October 2024, at the Centre Civique d’Action pour le Développement in Guédikpo, South-West Côte d’Ivoire, UNICEF Ambassador Murielle Ahouré Demps cuts metal while the girls from the blacksmithing class hold the piece steady during her visit. Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
On 15th October 2024, at the Centre Civique d’Action pour le Développement in Guédikpo, South-West Côte d’Ivoire, UNICEF Ambassador Murielle Ahouré Demps meets with the girls from the automotive mechanics class during her visit. Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
On 15th October 2024, at the Centre Civique d’Action pour le Développement in Guédikpo, South-West Côte d’Ivoire, UNICEF Ambassador Murielle Ahouré Demps poses with young mothers and their babies during her visit as part of the Girl Power project. Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
On 15th October 2024, at the Centre Civique d’Action pour le Développement in Guédikpo, South-West Côte d’Ivoire, world champion sprinter and UNICEF Ambassador Murielle Ahouré Demps organizes a race for the girls during her visit. Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
In the villages of Félixkro, Tchebakro and Rémikro, Murielle focused on the importance of education. She engaged with children in an itinerant classroom, she distributed school kits and participated in lessons. Watching the children learn and play, I was reminded of the critical role education plays in shaping their futures. Murielle’s presence, along with her story as a world champion, served as a powerful motivator, inspiring these children to dream big and believe in their potential.
On 16th October 2024, UNICEF Ambassador Murielle Ahouré Demps gives a reading lesson in the itinerant teaching class in Rémikro, near Méagui, South-West Côte d’Ivoire. Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
On 16th October 2024, UNICEF Ambassador Murielle Ahouré Demps participates in an itinerant teaching class in Rémikro, a village near Méagui, South-West Côte d’Ivoire. This initiative allows children to learn directly in their camp thanks to the mobile nature of the itinerant teaching program. Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
On 16th October 2024, during her visit to Rémikro, near Méagui, South-West Côte d’Ivoire, UNICEF Ambassador Murielle Ahouré Demps plays with the children from the itinerant teaching class during recess. Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
On 16th October 2024, UNICEF Ambassador Murielle Ahouré Demps and her husband, Jeff Demps, distribute school kits to students at the primary school in Tchebakro, South-West Côte d’Ivoire. Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
On 17th October 2024, UNICEF Ambassador Murielle Ahouré Demps distributes school kits to eager students in the itinerant teaching class in Felixkro, South-West Côte d’Ivoire. Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
On 17th October 2024, UNICEF Ambassador Murielle Ahouré Demps plays with the children during recess in the courtyard of the itinerant teaching class in Felixkro, South-West Côte d’Ivoire. Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
On 17th October 2024, UNICEF Ambassador Murielle Ahouré Demps and her husband, Jeff Demps, play with the children during recess in the courtyard of the itinerant teaching class in Felixkro, South-West Côte d’Ivoire. Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
On 16th October 2024, UNICEF Ambassador Murielle Ahouré Demps plays with the girls in the courtyard of the primary school in Tchebakro, South-West Côte d’Ivoire. Captured by Miléquêm Diarassouba, Photojournalist West Africa.
For me, being part of this mission went beyond the role of a photographer—it was a profound experience, witnessing the power of education and mentorship in action. Through my lens, I sought to capture not just the moments, but the emotions, the dreams, and the hope that filled the air. This mission, entrusted to me by UNICEF, was a testament to the transformative impact that education, empowerment, and encouragement can have on the lives of girls and children.
For more information on UNICEF’s Girl Power initiative, click here: Girl Power – Pregnancy is not a barrier to a career.
