Fierce

Camp Filles d'Avenir 2012 in Kandi was a great success. The group of girls this year had great energy. Throughout the camp I noticed that the campers really fed off of each other's positive attitudes and behaviors. What an inspiration! Pictured above is Nadeje, one of many of my favorite tenacious campers this year.

One night before bed, I came into one of the classrooms to find the girls writing acrostic name poems for each other on the chalkboard. They also started writing empowering proverbs such as the one pictured here, "Vouloir c'est pouvoir," which translates to "To want is to can."

The highlight of the entire camp was possibly a skit performed by a group of campers illustrating how to respond if a school director or a teacher expresses sexual interest in you as a student, which is sadly a very real and serious problem in Benin.

Raising Beds

Shortly after our tree planting at Ecole Primaire Publique Founougo the kids and I started up a rainy season garden adjacent to the school. We planted seeds for cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, and tomatoes.

It is difficult to find a wide variety of nutritious fresh produce in Founougo all year round. Market gardening exists in the district but only for about three to four months starting in January. There is a good deal of potential for the rural town to expand its market gardening initiatives. However, for most people, the farming of cotton and corn overrides any want or need to start up a fresh produce business.

In the same garden space, we planted a dozen Moringa saplings. Moringa is a tree native to India but now cultivated in many tropical countries. Its leaves are rich in vitamins and minerals and is currently being used in Benin to fight malnutrition in children and pregnant women.

Arbor Day 2012

On June 1st, 2012 Founougo Primary School planted 15 saplings and constructed the necessary fences to protect the young trees from freely roaming livestock in the community. Throughout the following week, the school planted an additional 50 saplings. Due to widespread agriculture in the region, Founougo falls victim to the by-products of deforestation such as drought, soil erosion, and the lack of shaded spaces. By planting saplings, the school is laying a foundation for the future of their community.

Girls' Camp Funded!

Thank you to all who donated to the camp for girls being organized in Kandi, Benin by the local Peace Corps Volunteers. We have received full funding for this project. The dates of the camp are set for July 9th-July 13th, 2012. We appreciate your support and look forward to a great week of fun and informational activities for our participants!

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! The French colonized present day Benin on June 22nd, 1894 making French the official language of the newly defined territory. 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.