On Saturday, October 17, 2026, BYU Pathway Worldwide students gathered in the municipality of Abobo, at the meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the Abobo Stake Center.
The main focus of the event was the distribution of laptops to students to support and encourage them in pursuing the program, which stands out as an effective path toward addressing youth employment challenges in Côte d’Ivoire.
Elder David Datché, a BYU Pathway Service Missionary leading the organization of the event, introduced the purpose of the gathering. He provided an overview of the key stages of the BYU Pathway Worldwide program, highlighting its practical course modules, highly affordable tuition fees, and open access to everyone regardless of religious background, even though the initiative is sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Elder Datché emphasized that English proficiency is required to complete the program; however, preparatory language courses (EnglishConnect 1, 2, and 3) are built into the system. This structure ensures that as many individuals as possible can access this globally successful program, supported by accredited partner institutions such as Ensign College and BYU-Idaho.
Sister Rebecca Onyimadu shared her personal testimony regarding the impact of BYU Pathway on her life. She explained that through the program, she gained a high-quality education and secured a remote job, allowing her to work from home while attending to her family responsibilities. Her interactive presentation created noticeable enthusiasm among the attendees, particularly the female students.
A total of 24 students received high-performance laptops presented by Brother Afam, counselor in the Abobo West Stake Presidency. He reminded the recipients of the importance of making good use of these tools and upholding the program’s honor code, which reflects Gospel principles.
He extended special thanks to the donor organization, Help Start Education Foundation a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to empowering underserved students to break the cycle of poverty by providing them with laptops, enabling them to access online learning, acquire vital skills, and build a brighter future.
The students expressed their gratitude to both the program leadership and the foundation. Special recognition was given to Brother Afam and his wife Rebecca Onyimadu, as well as Elder Mahaman Lumière and his wife, who serve as inspiring role models of BYU missionary couples.
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