My name is Mireille. I was born in a small village in Côte d’Ivoire called Lossome. My mother gave birth to me when she was only 14 years old. Because she was so young, she could not take care of me, so I was left in the village with my grandmother.

I grew up with my grandmother until I was three years old. During that time, I suffered greatly and was left with a serious wound on my thigh after being burned by my uncle.

One day, a woman named Joséphine came to the village for a funeral and saw me. When she learned about my story and the difficult conditions I was living in, her heart was deeply touched. Unable to have children of her own, she decided to take me in and raise me as her daughter.

At the time, the wound on my thigh had become so severe that doctors recommended that my leg should be amputated. But Joséphine refused to give up on me. Instead, she cared for me with love and determination, treating the wound locally for more than a year until it finally healed. Her sacrifice, patience, and unconditional love saved my leg and changed my life forever.

My adopted mother Joséphine was not a rich woman. Everything she did for me came purely from compassion and love. Her husband refused to be financially involved in my upbringing, but my mother never gave up on me. She struggled daily by selling small items in the village market just to provide food, care, and education for me.

Joséphine gave me love, hope, and a future. She sent me to school, paid for my education, and constantly encouraged me even during the hardest moments of my life. I grew up in a difficult environment where I often felt rejected and unloved by others around me. But my mother Joséphine always reminded me that my life would change one day. She told me stories about princesses and inspired me to believe in myself and dream beyond my circumstances.

Later in life, I participated in a beauty contest that opened the door for me to travel to Europe and begin a new chapter in my life. That opportunity changed my future and gave me the chance to build a better life.

Today, I carry my story not with shame, but with purpose.

That is why I founded Mireille Hope Alive Foundation — to give love, hope, support, and opportunities to vulnerable children, young people, and families facing hardship. Through this foundation, I want to share my story to inspire others and remind every child that no matter where they come from, their future can still be bright.

Mireille Hope Alive Foundation was born from a journey of pain, resilience, hope, and love.