Overview of Evariste's Mission to Three Villages in Ivory Coast

The rest of this paper documents the first donation of cocoa scales by Project Hope and Fairness. The scales were purchased from a Lebanese merchant in Abidjan by Evariste Plegnon, the foundation’s Director of Operations. After purchasing the scales, Evariste rented the merchant’s truck and driver and they made their way toward Daloa and Issia, two of the most important villages in the Western Cocoa-Growing region. They paid the usual fees to pass numerous military barricades, which are largely self-supporting, and reached the Yamassoukro area, where they were stopped and the scales were impounded. For $150, the scales were released on condition that they return to Abidjan.

Evariste set out again, this time with a letter of intent from the foundation identifying the purposes of the scales. In Yamassoukro, the government had been suspicious of their purpose, as they could be taken north of the border with the rebels where they might be used to improve economic conditions in the occupied zone. Evariste also took with him two policemen, who cost a total of $1200 for the 11-day trip. Their purpose was to demonstrate power and credibility. He purchased their services from the director of airport security, a personal friend.

Below are maps that help the reader understand the geography of the region...