Ivory Coast

The Sisters of Our Lady of the Apostles first arrived in Ivory Coast 1898 in Grand-Bassam, at Moossou which was located behind the uninhabited "sacred forest”. The OLA Sisters were the first Religious Sisters to arrive in Ivory Coast, which was the case for many West African countries.

The OLA Sisters are involved in the education of children and women in both parish and village settings. They are involved in rural development, provision of health care and home visitation.

In the early years, there were up to 42 OLA communities in Ivory Coast and contributed greatly to the country's development. In particular they played an important role in the education and formation of women, who have gone on to contribute greatly in society.

The OLA story in Ivory Coast is an interesting one. There was much growth in the early years but the presence of the sisters declined in the 1960s, following a decision taken by the Bishops of the Francophone West African coast to forbid the OLA Sisters to recruit novices: the sisters could no longer accept novices, the presence of European sisters was not encouraged, and OLA schools and clinics had to be handed over to the Bishops.

Currently, the sisters have 11 OLA communities in Ivory Coast located in Abengourou, Abidjan Adjame, Abidjan, Adzope, Bouake, Divo, Ferkessedougou, Gagnoa, Grand Bassam, Kouassi Datekro and Tengrela. The Sisters are engaged in social work, education (schools, boarding houses and libraries) health care (clinics and leprosaria), rural development, catechesis, missionary animation, the support of displaced persons, and work for peace and reconciliation.

There are 32 OLA sisters in the country, of whom 8 are from Ivory Coast. There are also 9 sisters from Ivory Coast working in OLA communities in other countries.