Welcome to “Beyond Cocoa” – The Exhibition

Byond Cocoa

The sights and sounds of life in a cocoa-farming community.

 

The Garden – Bergère

25 June – 9 August 2024

Hosted to you by the Confectionery and Ice cream SBU

Come join us on an immersive experience from the 25th of June with the ‘Beyond cocoa’ photo exhibition – a showcase aiming to illustrate through photography and sounds, the life within a cocoa-farming community of Côte d’Ivoire.

The exhibition will begin at the start of the corridor taking you to the Wellness, where you will be exposed to various sounds of a cocoa-farming community – from kids at school, forest or women selling goods at their local markets.

You will soon continue to the sliding doors taking you to the gardens where you will be faced with the 15 images representing the four pillars of the income accelerator program.

This innovative family-centred program is aiming to close the living income gap and reduce child labor risks by encouraging change in behaviour and rewarding positive practices – both within the home and on farm.

All the images you will see have been taken by Nestlé employees, Ella Desirée N’Gbo and Darrell High, while working on the ground.

So, what are you waiting for? Come for a stroll into a typical day in a cocoa farming family in Côte d’Ivoire and discover all the work done behind the income accelerator program on the grounds!

 

 

A little about the photographers of the exhibition

 

Darrell High – Head of Nestlé Cocoa Plan

With almost 35 years spent working with Nestlé, Darrell High first devised the idea of creating a cocoa sustainability program in 2008. The Nestlé Cocoa Plan was born the following year. Darrell has led the plan ever since. In 2022, Darrell led the launch of the income accelerator program.

Darrell’s passion for photography started with the purchase of his first 35mm film camera when he was 10 years old. When in the field, he enjoys capturing the beauty of cocoa farming and the people who find their livelihoods within it. His photographic work has been used alongside professional agency photography for Nestlé Cocoa Plan communications for many years.

 

Ella Désirée N’Gbo – Creative Content Producer

Ella N’Gbo’s passion for photography began when she received her first camera as a gift from her father to celebrate her final high school results. Since then, photography has been an integral part of her life. Every time Ella takes a photo, her goal is to convey emotion and tell a story.

After completing her studies in digital arts and images, in which she developed her knowledge of photography, she became a graphic designer. As a photographer from Côte d’Ivoire and a Creative Content Producer for Nestlé Central and Western African Region, participating in the income accelerator program is a source of personal and professional pride. She hopes to send a message of optimism. Behind every photo she takes is a story of resilient and dignified families aspiring to a better future for their children.