Supporting village children into school in Benin

Summary

This project aims to get poor rural children into school, many of them are orphans. Their previous classrooms were washed away by the river Oueme in flood - we have helped to almost complete three new classrooms on stilts, just rendering and painting remains. We seek to support the school in providing good quality education and a meal for them each day, also helping older children into apprenticeships or further education.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

Benin is a poor African country and orphaned children are often the most needy, as are children with disabilities. We are seeking to support ABOPHA ('Action pour le Bien-etre des Orphelins et Personnes Handicapees'), a local group which helps these most disadvantaged children, so that they may get in to school, access treatment if required, and then later go on to vocational training or further education.

How will this project solve this problem?

Providing new flood-proof classrooms has made education a much more secure possibility in Dogba village and the local community. A HANDS AROUND THE WORLD child sponsorship scheme costing $16 (£10) per child per month allows for ongoing support.

Potential Long Term Impact

We hope that enabling larger numbers of children to access education will significantly impact on their lives. Particularly, educating girls is well known to have a dramatically beneficial effect on the health and well-being of the next generation, including improving child and maternal mortality rates.

Project Message

Orphans and children with disabilities are desperately vulnerable. With our supporters' help we really are bringing hope and giving access to education and health for a brighter future for them.
- Geoff Burnett, HATW link volunteer, retired UK school headteacher