Yao Kouamé Prince
Yao’s early life was marked by the loss of his mother, leaving his father as his sole caregiver and unwavering source of support during these challenging times. Since birth, Yao has experienced the profound challenge of being both deaf and mute, severely impeding his ability to lead a normal life and participate in the community. Regrettably, his condition prevents him from attending school and engaging with his peers. Due to his adopted parents’ limited income, they were unable to access the full benefits of modern medicine, however thanks to the scholarship and outside help, Prince finally received a hearing implant and is currently undergoing rehabilitation. These difficulties are not an obstacle for Yao’s strong spirit. His dream is to become a computer scientist. Furthermore, his hobby includes playing football with friends.
Timeline
JULY 2025
Rehabilitation Progress Following Hearing Implant
Prince has begun rehabilitation following his hearing implant surgery. This is a long and complex process that can take from one to two years. Thanks to this, the boy will learn to speak, which will significantly improve his communication skills. During his rehabilitation, Prince will undergo allophonic re-adaptation sessions every two weeks. For the first six months, the procedures will take place in Abidjan, after which he will be transferred to Bouake. Due to the rehabilitation, the boy's mother was forced to give up her job as a hospital cleaner to care for her child. Although she technically retains her position, she currently receives no salary.
Despite external support from sponsors and the professor who runs the preschool, Prince and his mother are in a very difficult financial situation. They often lack food and basic necessities. Furthermore, the boy's father is long dead, having died shortly after discovering his disability, and his grandparents offer no support to his grandson and daughter-in-law. Fighting Prince's disability requires many sacrifices on his mother's part; she has abandoned her dreams of becoming a hairdresser and fully focused on caring for her son.
In the face of such a difficult situation, the scholarship is incredibly important. It provided €1,500 for pre-operative testing. Credit also goes to Professor Asse, who personally paid for the start of Prince’s rehabilitation with a €610 donation. A further donation, approximately €3,000, will be needed over Christmas, which we plan to raise through the Ivory Santa project.
After Prince’s rehabilitation is complete, the professor intends to discuss the boy's future with his mother. Despite his communication difficulties, Prince is remarkably intelligent, which opens up a wide range of ambitious careers for him, such as graphic design or computer science. Personally, the boy dreams of becoming a football player.
Prince's intelligence isn't his only strength; thanks to his determination, he tirelessly overcomes his ailments and strives to live his life to the fullest. His disability doesn't stop Prince from making friends, playing soccer, or taking care of his home. Unfortunately, his contact with others is still limited, relying more on improvised gestures and lip reading than formal sign language or writing. Full rehabilitation will open up a whole new world for the boy, full of previously unavailable opportunities.
