Thisexclusive interview with Madame Lamiziata Fofana, Executive Director of Madiawa, focuses on the launch of the “Elite Workshops for Women” program, in partnership with Cybastion. This ambitious initiative aims to support former Ivorian footballers in their transition to new professional opportunities through training in cybersecurity and digital skills.

1.Tell us about your background

I was born in Ivory Coast, among a large group of siblings. Football has always played an important role in our family. I discovered my passion thanks to my brothers, and our daily games. I quickly started with neighborhood tournaments, then other larger ones. Unfortunately, the future prospects for women's football players are not very promising in Ivory Coast. I retrained as a chocolatier, real estate entrepreneur and at the same time manage the activities of my NGO.

2. Where did the idea for Madiawa come from, and how did this idea come to fruition?

Madiawa is the name of my maternal grandmother. She was an exceptional woman, who had love for her neighbor. She instilled in me humanist values, and her example greatly inspired my life. After his death, I took up the torch and decided to help where I can. Madiawa is a tribute to this great woman and her generosity of soul.

3. Who and in what capacity does Madiawa help?

Madiawa today focuses on former professional football players in West Africa, and particularly in Ivory Coast. We support these young women because women's football entities are somewhat discredited. Madiawa was born from a gap to fill: How can we help these women live their careers day to day, how can we support them when they retire from work? All these questions remain without an official answer from the different federations. This career choice is a choice of the heart, the salaries do not allow us to get by, and we do not really receive media coverage which would allow the emergence of advertising contracts or other partnerships.

4. How do you support these women? What type of training is most useful?

We offer physical, moral and educational support. That is to say that we organize tournaments, we promote the development of women's clubs, and the registration of our players in various training courses which will help them in their lives after their sporting careers. We live in a world in which everything is digital; digital training is the future, whatever the field (chocolate, architecture, real estate, etc.).

5. What are Madiawa’s next goals, and how can we support your initiatives?

Some federations categorically refuse access to education for their athletes, to force them to place all their hopes in their sporting careers. We want to offer academic education to as many female footballers as possible to give them a choice for the future. We want to amplify our voice, inspire potential partners to offer training, internships and jobs for these deserving women. Madiawa will continue to help and support women in football, we thank Cybastion for its initiatives, its training and its partnerships for the development of women, particularly in digital technology.

THANKS!

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Program Launched to Help Train Ivorian Female Soccer Players Transition to Tech Careers