During her trip in the United States, the First Lady Dominique Ouattara met with her ivorian sisters for a time of discussion, on Friday June 26, 2015 at the Embassy of the Ivory Coast in Washington DC. Mrs Anne Désirée Ouloto, Minister of Solidarity, Family, Women and Children, Mrs Patricia Yao Sylvie, Chief of Staff of Mrs Ouattara, Mrs Massandjé Touré –Listé, CEO of the Council on Coffee and Cacao , and Mrs Nadine Sangaré, Executive Director of the Foundation Children of Africa were also present at this event.

Using the Akwaba, the traditional welcome usage, Mr. Daouda Diabaté, Ambassador of the Ivory Coast in the United States expressed his joy and the ivorian diaspora's too for meeting the First Lady on that day, three years after her last visit in July 2012 when invited by Mrs Hillary Clinton, former American Secretary of State.

His excellency Daouda Diabaté at this occasion reminded that the former Secretary of State, during her 2012 meeting with Mrs Ouattara had praised the leadership of President Alassane Ouattara and had indicated that the United States will be supporting all efforts to adjust the Ivorian economy and social environment. We should also not forget that during that visit the First Lady of the Ivory Coast received the World Cocoa Fondation award for her advocacy regarding the battle to end children's labor in the cocoa fields.

The Ambassador ended by thanking warmly the numerous women who came to this ceremony.

For her part, the women's spokesperson, Dr Bakayoko Nojon Diomandé made a point to greet and congratulate the First Lady Dominique Ouattara by expressing herself using these words: “ On behalf of the women of the Ivorian diaspora, we thank you very much for your availability despite your busy agenda. We would like to express our gratitude and our satisfaction for all your battles in favour of children and women and also your generosity. We genuinely thank your husband, President Alassane Ouattara, who, in only four years has changed the configuration of the Ivory Coast, with all the heavy works undertaken , works that may be compared to Hercule's. Mrs The First Lady, please believe that the women of the Ivorian diaspora, are ready to serve our native country, the Côte d’Ivoire, our beautiful country whose emergence is pointing on the horizon. Thank you Mother Dominique for having us today at this meeting with you.”

The First Lady was the last one to speak. She did express her happiness for meeting her sisters of the diaspora, every time, she is visiting abroad. Some of the women asked to meet with her and it kept to her heart to spend some time with them. It was also the opportunity to transmit the enthusiastic greetings of the President to the women and at the same time to hear about their interests and concerns.

She also told them that the country is doing fine and is firmly riding the path of development. She pinpointed that developmental heavy duty enterprises were in progress at home and that their fellow sisters and brothers there, are working hard.

The First Lady recalled that she's been dedicating herself, for many years, to the well-being of children in Côte d’Ivoire, and in that capacity, as the President of the National Surveillance Committee in matters pertaining to the fighting against children's labor, she is in Washington DC for annual meetings on battles against children's labor in the cocoa fields. Children should be in school not in the cocoa plantations.

In this regard,, she specified that the establishment of mandatory schooling by the government until the age of 16 years old will facilitate the fight against children's labor.

Details and clarifications offered by the First Lady regarding some concepts not well understood by some of the partners, should contribute to a better understanding that may lead to a final solution to this issue.

To conclude, the First Lady of Côte d’Ivoire shared some of the values that she cherishes such as peace, cohesion, and fraternity that allow our country, today, to achieve significant progress.

It was a rewarding discussion between both parties .

Nevertheless, during the discussion, there was a social case that was brought to the attention of Mrs. Ouattara. An ivorian citizen passed away in the state of  Massachusetts and for whom the local Ivorian community is experiencing financial difficulties to send the body back home.

The First Lady Dominique Ouattara responded to this humanitarian problem by giving 8 000 dollars so that the body can be repatriated to Côte d’Ivoire. Furthermore, she gave 10 000 dollars to the Ivorian women of the DC Meropolitan area present at the meeting.

The meeting was wrapped up by a visit to the Ivorian art exposition organised by the Fatou Sylla Foundation at the Embassy of Côte d’Ivoire.