Abou Fofana spent his student years making the most of the opportunities on offer in Abidjan, Ivory Coast鈥檚 bustling economic capital of six million people.
But after finishing his studies and newly qualified in farming, the 33-year-old decided to move back to his hometown in the country鈥檚 west.
Sangouine, a fraction of Abidjan鈥檚 size with 63,000 inhabitants, is in a farming area surrounded by mountains in one of Ivory Coast鈥檚 poorest areas.
The western region was particularly caught up in the violent political unrest that broke out in the 2000s and still casts a shadow as the west African country gears up for presidential elections next month.
Yet, unlike other places grappling with a rural exodus, AFP spoke to a number of young Ivorians who have chosen the west for putting down roots and starting a business.
鈥業 went to Abidjan to acquire knowledge, but my basis and my vision is really to help this rural population,鈥� Fofana told AFP.
On the route between Man, the biggest city in the west, and Danane near the Guinean border, mountains peek out of dense forest that conceals gushing waterfalls.
The road is under construction in areas and difficult to travel on.
But access issues have not deterred Fofana, who moved back several years ago and set himself up on two hectares (five acres) of land left to him by his father.
He married, had a child and became a poultry farmer, feeding his chickens local corn, on his farm entirely powered by solar energy.
鈥榃hen I came in 2019, there were no experienced breeders in the region, in our department,鈥� he said.
鈥楾he experience I learned, the training I acquired, propelled me,鈥� he added.
His revenue has more than quadrupled since he began, last year reaching around 40 million CFA francs ($70,000, 60,000 euros).
Fofana devotes his free time to training other farmers, is involved at the office of the local traditional chief and chairs a youth association.
鈥楢n ambitious and busy youth can keep away from crises, anger, frustration鈥� and not be concerned about October鈥檚 presidential polls, despite the region鈥檚 troubled past, he said.
President Alassane Ouattara, who is standing for a fourth term, was first elected in 2010 but his old rival Laurent Gbagbo contested the result, leading to months of violence which killed 3,000 people, a third of them in the west.
鈥榃e still have enough potential for young people to come鈥� and 鈥榩rovide a service to this region鈥�, Fofana said.
Zephirin Foro agreed. Having also quit Abidjan to move to Sangouine, he said he was 鈥榩leased with his professional and personal life鈥�.
He began a business selling drinks about a decade ago and supplies informal local bars, where young people hang out.
鈥業t鈥檚 a fertile region, everything works. Often you hear young people saying there is no work, when there are a lot of things to do here,鈥� Foro said.
Man was one of five cities across the country where the ministry of youth announced two years ago it would open entrepreneurship support centres.
People in the farming region mostly make a living cultivating rice, cassava and cocoa, the latter of which Ivory Coast is the world鈥檚 leading producer.
Half of those living in the region of Tonkpi, where Sangouine is located, get by on less than $55 a month, though the number of people has fallen by around a fifth compared to 2018, according to official data.
Almost 200 kilometres (124 miles) away in the farming town of Blolequin, Danielle Massandje Bakayoko, 35, has run a carpentry workshop since 2023 after studying and working in Abidjan as an executive assistant.
鈥業 don鈥檛 want to go back to Abidjan any more... I might go for holidays or family reasons,鈥� she said.
鈥楪oing out is expensive,鈥� she said, whereas in her home western town 鈥榶ou eat properly鈥� on just 2,000 CFA francs ($3.70).
As well as her work, Bakayoko chairs a carpenters鈥� association that she set up and is a regional councillor.
One of her apprentices, 22-year-old Lancine Bamba said he didn鈥檛 know the economic capital but it held no interest.
鈥業t doesn鈥檛 attract me,鈥� he said. 鈥榃hen I finish, I hope to open my own workshop鈥� in Blolequin or another western town.
Bakayoko said that 鈥榤any young men and women are involved in catering, livestock farming, commerce鈥�.
鈥楾he region is being rebuilt,鈥� she added.
