I am very proud and honored to be here. My name is Sefora Kodjo and I am a member of

the 2015 Mandela Washington Fellowship cohort. Myself, along with 14 amazing

Ivorians have been selected from a pool of 3000 people to represent the Côte d'Ivoire in

this program. We were sent to study at different universities throughout the United States,

where we were trained in leadership and development. We had the great opportunity to

attend the Presidential Summit with American President, Barack OBAMA.

Today, we are celebrating FREEDOM and I would like to take us back to several

decades ago. Most of you were not free...

...not free to vote,

...not free to do the work you wanted,

...not free to make your dream a reality.

Fortunately, our legend Félix Houphouet Boigny and others Ivoirian leaders have

advocated for change, and because we are free today, you can work for development in

Ivory Coast. But how can development be sustainable without the youth ?

The great work you are trying to achieve everyday can be elevated or decreased by the

next generation. And as Houphouet Boigny said ‘‘Our combat is not over, it will never

be over. The real combat, the combat for peace is still going on”.

Then , today, I do not think I am by myself. By inviting me, the cote d'Ivoire embassy in

the United states invited :

The Young people who have a dream...

Young people who want to take part in the decision-making...

Young people who want more access to education and heath ...

Young people who want peace ...

and as well women !

Actually, I am representing a community, THE YOUTH ! Giving me the voice to speak

here today, is giving voice to all young Ivorians.

Most people see slavery as violence only. However, slavery is any kind of pressure and

also the non-opportunity to decide for yourself, by yourself

So, if today you can vote, today we can stand for our issues as young people and be

included in government actions...