In Abidjan, hunger is no longer an obstacle to academic success for thousands of students. Thanks to Yéyiba ("success" in the Yacouba language), an innovative start-up launched by Krys Digbehi , school catering in Ivory Coast is undergoing a professional transformation.

A shift from mathematics to the kitchen

Nothing predestined Krys Digbehi for the kitchen. After studying mathematics and computer science, this young entrepreneur from Danané made a radical career change at the hotel school in Bassam. His observation was simple: in Ivory Coast, more than 64% of schools do not have a canteen .

"As a student, I was forced to eat 'by default': expensive, unprofessional and sometimes risky food," he explains.

The concept: Mobile and professional canteens

To address this shortfall, Yéyiba is deploying an agile and modern model:

1. Converted shipping containers: Real professional kitchens installed directly in schoolyards.
2. Impeccable hygiene: Stainless steel worktop and strict adherence to health standards.
3. The taste of the land: Local dishes (attiéké-fish, alloco, chicken) prepared with care and "with love".

Today, with a team of 15 employees, the company delivers 1,500 meals a day to four establishments in the economic capital.

Eat well to study better

The impact on learning is immediate. For Marc Delphin Kambou, a former student of the Lycée Classique d'Abidjan, the equation is mathematical: "A hungry belly has no ears." It's impossible to concentrate on a complex lesson with just a chocolate bar in your stomach.

The same observation was made at the 2IMPE technical training center, where the director, Bruno Digbehi Zeli, noted an increase in vigilance in the afternoon:

1. Accessibility: Prices adapted to the purchasing power of young people.
2. Balance: Less fatty food that avoids post-meal drowsiness.
3. Conviviality: Teachers and students now find themselves in the same queue.

What are your ambitions for tomorrow?

Building on his initial successes and awards from startup competitions, Krys Digbehi has no intention of stopping there. His next challenge? Expanding his container network to other high schools in Abidjan and, above all, adapting his model to rural schools , where the needs are most pressing.