Continuing with its journey, the caravan led by the two StreetNet affiliates in Senegal i.e. CNTS and SUDEMS, was in Abidjan from 17th to 19th September, in Ghana from 20th to 21st September, in Lomé from 22nd to 27th September and was in Cotonou from 28th to 30th September.

In Abidjan, the caravan was received successively by the President of “ECOWAS Diaspora” Mr. Don Alexander, and Mr. Joseph Léon Ebagnerin Leon, General Secretary of the General Union of Workers of Cote d`Ivoire – UGTCI.

• Meeting with the President of ECOWAS DIASPORA: He expressed his joy to welcome the caravan, he said “you are leading the same fight as us, that of social and economic integration of the people of ECOWAS nations. We must all materialize the idea of integration and you understood it by initiating this caravan. In any case, we are proud of your initiative”. On the occasion, the Coordinator of the caravan Annie Diouf, thanked the President of ECOWAS Diaspora for making himself available. ECOWAS Diaspora is a not for profit association, its activities were launched on 17th December 2010 in Abidjan. Its mission is to promote economic integration in the 15 countries of the ECOWAS sub-region.

• Meeting with the General Secretary of UGTCI: Mr. Ebagnerin Joseph, the newly elected General Secretary of UGTCI and his colleagues welcomed the caravan and put resources at their disposal for 72 hours. During a meeting with the caravan, Mrs. Mariatou Guiehoa, Deputy General Secretary of the UGTCI stressed that the promotion of the informal sector is part of the new vision of UGTCI.

The Stopover in Lomé: The caravan was received by the Consul of Senegal in Togo and the Trade Union Confederation of Workers CSTT-Togo as well as FAINATRASIT and SYVEMACOT, which are the two StreetNet affiliates in Togo. On 23rd September, together with the Consul of Senegal in Togo, the caravan attended the StreetNet Regional Seminar on strengthening the focal point in West and Central Africa. One of the issues discussed at that seminar concerned the work of StreetNet in the SADC region in partnership with SATUCC, and the work in the ECOWAS region.

Cotonou: The caravan went to Cotonou, on 28th September where it was received by Mrs. Chodaton, General Secretary of SYNAVAMAB, on behalf of the two StreetNet affiliated organisations in Benin.

At each stop, the caravan traders negotiated for a selling space to exhibit their products (fish, millet, cassava, cloth, etc.). Visits were also organized in the markets as well as courtesy visits to local authorities. It is worth noting that this Union caravan was composed of twenty people both young people and adults, and they included 13 women and 7 men including bus drivers and mechanics.