Oct 17

 Today was spent meeting many more people regarding microfinance and it seems to me that microfinance offers might have now moved away from the original objective of helping those at the “bottom of the pyramid.” Microfinance offers could now be defined as personal or business loans but for small amounts (as can be typically found at any bank). To get a loan, the individual usually has to offer guarantees and (if applicable) have a business already in place with a business plan to expand! This does not match the needs of the poor parents of vulnerable children that EDEM is helping. They have no guarantees and business plans might be no more than an idea. Fortunately, the “original” microfinance solution can still be offered but only on a project basis in partnership with a funding sponsor.

We also met with a consultant who has been engaged by EDEM to perform a needs analysis of the orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs). Some of his initial insights were quite fascinating! For example, we had been thinking of a project to provide breakfasts for the OVCs; however his analysis revealed a more fundamental need: water! Only approximately one in four households have access to drinking water, so to help the OVCs at school there might certainly be a need for a drinking water project (either drilling for fresh water, purifying rain water or purchasing and distributing mineral water). Another identified need was safe lighting so the children can do their homework at home: again, only 25% of households have electricity and the consultant had witness accounts of many children leaving the safety and security of the home to find a street light to work under! Giving rechargeable solar lamps to the OVCs might be a solution…

We did not have a meeting with the minister of microfinance today. As anticipated earlier in the week, meeting such a high-ranking official was always quite ambitious – the original schedule was yesterday! Nevertheless, it is still a possibility and it is tentatively planned for tomorrow. Not that it’s straightforward to get access to a minister in any country, but the approach to time and organising this meeting here in Benin has highlighted to me a particularity of the local culture: everything is in the “moment”, life is in the immediate present with little regard for the future. A planning exercise here seems to be a “high level” review of possibilities – more like scenario planning than scheduling! We did get to see the secretary of the minister in person today and being there face-to-face did give us some leverage to get further: we will try again when tomorrow becomes today!

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: motorbike taxi with mother, rice and (the little bundle at the back) baby strapped on…