Benin
West Africa
 

 

 
Site Design: Steve Colberg, WebByPros.com

New Hope in Benin
thru “Universal Primary Education” -- the Benin School Project

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Benin School Project, Benin West AfricaBenin

Benin, a coastal sliver of land in West Africa, is like most of Sub-Saharan Africa. This small country is home to 40 ethnic groups each with their own language. Dependent on subsistence agriculture, the majority of Benin’s 6.5 million people live on less than $2 a day. Benin has enjoyed considerable political stability for over 20 years and continued economic growth as a transportation hub for land-locked neighboring countries. These positive political and economic indicators promise a brighter future for this often overlooked country. ...more about Benin.
 

The Benin School Project

The United Nations, through its many agencies, has declared that Universal Primary Education is the first step out of crippling poverty (UN Millenium Development Goals).  The Benin School Project’s goal is to assist children in taking that first step. Studies have shown that children need to complete primary school to benefit from the economic and social effect of schooling. Through scholarships that pay for school fees, uniforms, school books and supplies, children are given the opportunity to attend school. The project maintains frequent contact with the students and their families further assuring student’s success.
 

History of the Project

In 2001, the Rowland family spent 6 months in Benin as volunteers with the Anastasis Mercy Ships. During that time we became good friends with a man named Albert Zankpo. He took us to visit the church where his brother is a pastor. The church, a humble building made of sticks, is in the town of Lokossa, near the border with Togo. Albert and his brother asked us if we could help the children in the congregation with schoolbooks. Not wanting to just hand over money without any accountability, we asked him to write up a proposal with the details. In 2003, Albert sent us a proposal for a much bigger vision- to provide primary school education at the local public school for 75 children who lived in the vicinity of his brother’s church. With the assistance of a few friends, we were able to meet that need.

The following school year, he requested that we assist 125 children. Again, with the help of friends, we were able to pay all the school expenses for these children and provide a salary for Albert to manage the project. Now in its third year, the Benin School Project has been overwhelmed with requests for assistance. This current year, 225 children are being sponsored by this project.
 

A snapshot of the project:

 

2003-2004

2004-2005

2005-2006

Kids in school

75 kids

125 kids

225 kids

Boys

45

 

82

Girls

30

 

121

 

 

 

 

Costs

$4,500

$6,500

$11,000


100% of contributions go to the Benin School Project.

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