Oct 15

Another week in Benin and this week we are looking to the future. We’re building a budget and reviewing a number of further possible projects. The principle project is getting the vulnerable children to school and there is no shortage of candidates in Porto Novo; however EDEM can only grow incrementally so the plan is a steady increase in numbers. Meanwhile, as the numbers grow, there are lots of other potential projects which could further help those vulnerable children such as providing homework spaces, solar lamps for evening study and breakfasts for students.

One project in particular deserves special attention: microfinance for the parents. The parents want to work, but there are few jobs available so they have to become entrepreneurs. This is however often prohibited by lack of capital to make the initial investment. Microfinance could be the solution whilst ultimately allowing the children to become less vulnerable in the future. We’ve got some meetings planned this week (including with Benin’s minister of microfinance) to research the market and regulations and to see how such an offer could be positioned and delivered.

So that’s one of the reasons I’m in Cotonou this week. The place is entirely different to Porto Novo and the difference can be summed up succinctly by the items on sale at the traffic lights. When you stop at one of the few red lights in Porto Novo you have the opportunity to buy food; here in Cotonou, whilst waiting for various green lights I today had the opportunity to buy irons, toasters, fire extinguishers, shelving and wall clocks! How many are sold to passing traffic is another matter, but there is evidently another level of commerce here than in Porto Novo!

If you wish to make a personal contribution to the lives of these vulnerable children, please do so through the fundraising page:

https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/beninvoluntary

All donations go to Youth Action Charity International (YACI) which directly funds EDEM in Benin.

Photo: the port and market...