The CLASSE project began in 2003 at a primary school in Cote d'Ivoire with the support of the U.S. Department of Labor (USDA). The reach of the program has been enhanced by the support of industry partners, including the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) and the Norwegian Association of Chocolate Producers.
Mars partnered with the Winrock CLASSE project beginning in May 2005 to further increase the number of beneficiaries in the cocoa growing regions of Cote d'Ivoire. This part of the project focuses on enhancing the educational opportunities of children in cocoa farming communities and empowering them with vocational and life skills. Vocational skills include many aspects of rural, small-farm agriculture, ranging from tilling and irrigation for food production to nursery management and business skills for those farmers producing cocoa or other tree crops.
Community awareness is also an important component of the project, which aims to make parents and the community understand and support the project to ensure interest, attendance and sustainability.
In early 2005, teachers from West Africa visited the United States as well as the Mars Center for Cocoa Science in Brazil to prepare for a collaborative Mars/Winrock vocational education program in West Africa.
