There was a time when I would walk into my home and be greeted not with smiles or conversation, but with silence. It was not the peaceful kind of silence. It was the silence that signals discomfort, the kind that builds walls between family members. My children avoided me. My wife spoke only when necessary. I believed that being a strong head of the family meant making all the decisions and expecting unquestioned obedience. What I did not realize was that I had created a home filled with fear rather than love.

Everything began to change when ICS SP introduced the Skilful Parenting training through our cooperative, SOCOPASG, here in Côte d’Ivoire. What seemed at first like a routine training turned out to be a life-changing experience that reshaped my entire approach to family life.

My name is Brou Koffi Athanase, and I am a producer and warehouse keeper at SOCOPASG, as well as a father of three. Before the training, I carried myself like an authority figure more than a caregiver. I made decisions alone, spoke with force, and rarely asked for anyone’s opinion. I believed this was how a father should behave. But what I have learned through the training is that true leadership in a home begins with listening, understanding, and nurturing relationships.

Today, my relationship with my wife and children has completely transformed. I now take time to talk with them, understand their needs, and create space for their voices to be heard. My children come to me freely, knowing they will be met with kindness instead of judgment. I am more attentive to their safety and their emotional well-being. There is laughter in our home, there are shared moments, and above all, there is trust.

The ripple effect of this change has spread throughout our cooperative. More than 50 new members have joined SOCOPASG, many inspired by the positive changes they saw in the families of those who attended the training. Some former members who had left due to past misunderstandings have returned. Although other projects like VSLA, cocoa pruning, and support for children’s education have brought value, it is the Skilful Parenting training that has touched us at the most personal level. It taught us that no matter what we achieve outside the home, happiness and growth begin within it.

We are deeply grateful to Nestlé and its partners for supporting projects that improve our lives in meaningful ways. We extend special thanks to ICS SP for bringing the Skilful Parenting program to our community. It has shown us that protecting children and nurturing families starts with understanding, love, and unity at home.

My greatest hope is that many more parents across Côte d’Ivoire and beyond will have the same opportunity. When families thrive, communities flourish.