Girls of the Future

Every year in my region a week long camp for 24 outstanding girls is organized by local Peace Corps Volunteers. This camp serves to empower our young participants to continue their education and prepares them with the confidence they need to succeed in Benin. We are currently fundraising in order to make this camp a success. Please check out our project and thanks for your support. As of May 14th we have $740 left to fundraise!

MADAGASCAR

Baby

Mud Stoves

Since June my work partner Tori and I have been holding trainings on mud stove building in small villages throughout the commune of Banikoara. We have given over 20 trainings, educating more than 200 women, and resulting in the construction of at least 200 stoves. Mud stove building requires minimal resources, no money, and is an easy way to decrease wood consumption in already deforested areas of Benin.

Hair I Love

Homage to my Woman

My work partner Gnon Tori Sanni Guera, President of the Union Communale Groupement des Femmes of Banikoara

Welcome to Benin

Mi Kwabo! For the next 27 months I will be stationed in Benin, West Africa serving as a Community Natural Resource Advisor in the United States Peace Corps. Benin (pronounced buh-nin OR buh-neen) is a country the size of Pennsylvania located in the "arm pit" of Africa. The country is bordered by Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria. Take a look!


























About 50 different native languages are spoken in Benin! If you ask me, communicating with your neighbor sounds like a hassle. Fortunately, the French colonized present day Benin on June 22nd, 1894 uniting the country through the French language. Problem solved! When people aren't speaking French, some more commonly spoken native languages include Fon, Yoruba, Bariba, and Dendi. "Mi Kwabo" means "Welcome" in Fon.

For the next 3 months I will be training outside of Cotonou, Benin. While Cotonou is not the capital of Benin, it is however the largest city in Benin as well as the seat of government. Porto-Novo is the official capital of Benin and is Portuguese for "new port." Good to know.

I will keep you updated as adventures progress.