Our Story
In 2020, Samuel Kallet Gnahoua, a former United Nations staff member in Côte d’Ivoire, met two fellow Africans after relocating to the United States. United by shared values, lived experiences, and a deep commitment to community development, they began regularly exchanging ideas on civic responsibility, solidarity, and ways to strengthen support systems within underserved communities.
Drawing from his extensive background in community leadership and civic engagement in Côte d’Ivoire, Samuel Kallet Gnahoua envisioned more than conversations—he envisioned a lasting movement rooted in citizenship, dignity, and collective responsibility.
These discussions led to the creation of a permanent space for dialogue focused on civic values, social inclusion, and mutual support. What started as a simple exchange of ideas quickly became a shared mission to empower individuals and strengthen communities both locally and globally.
In 2021, led by Samuel Kallet Gnahoua, the three young Africans officially founded CITIZ SEED—an initiative created to plant the seeds of civic values, empowerment, and solidarity within communities.
Since then, CITIZ SEED has grown into a mission-driven nonprofit organization committed to empowering women, strengthening families, promoting educational equity, and improving community well-being in both the United States and West Africa.
Rooted in the belief that real change begins when communities are empowered to support one another, CITIZ SEED continues to build bridges between people, cultures, and institutions—advancing a vision of global solidarity where everyone contributes to the well-being of all.
OUR VISION
CITIZ SEED envisions a world rooted in global solidarity, founded on the principles of civic values — where every individual contributes to the well-being of all. This vision reflects a commitment to shared responsibility, inclusion, and collective progress across communities and nations.
OUR MISSION
To empower women and improve family and community outcomes by delivering targeted, community-driven solutions on two continents.
In New York City, we support immigrant and low-income mothers in becoming active contributors to their children’s socio-educational success — equipping them with the tools, confidence, and civic agency to navigate and shape the systems that impact their families.
In West Africa, we strengthen reproductive health systems by investing in midwife education and fostering community collaboration — building the local capacity needed for sustainable, dignified maternal care.
Across all our work, we are guided by a commitment to civic values: the belief that informed, empowered individuals are the foundation of thriving communities.