The eight hour drive from Cotonou to Natitingou took us through the spectacular scenery of Benin. The undulating green farmland of the South seemed to stretch endlessly until it morphed into the mountainous rocky slopes of the north, carpeted in a variety of trees and shrubs. This landscape is incredibly beautiful and unspoilt, the lack of development however is immediately obvious. There are only two main roads that run through the country and very few cars, many people live in isolated rural communities with few opportunities.
During our time with Plan Benin we visited three villages where new initiatives were beginning to change this. The villages are a collection of round huts made out of crude mud bricks and thatched roofs, the occasional tin roof winks in the sunlight. Smaller structures that look like the bottom half of a four-legged, portly women store the millet, maize and cotton which supply the communities with food and income. The villager’s reliance on such a limited selection of crops offers them little security especially as they are season dependent.
In the first village we visited we saw how Plan are facilitating change geared towards year round sustainability and prosperity. A chicken farming project has been introduced to supplement income and to provide better nutrition for the village. The benefits of this greater economic security allows for development in education and health. Ten women from the village were taken to the Songhai Centre (an organisation in Benin which teaches sustainable agriculture and encourages the sharing of knowledge) and trained in chicken farming.
One major aspect of this is selective breeding which insures that the chickens are strong and resilient against disease. These large healthy chickens also produce more eggs which leads to even more chickens and therefore even greater income. Before this initiative the villages had kept chickens but without selective breeding or the introduction of different varieties the chickens were weak and small offering few benefits.
The training also showed the women the advantages of keeping small vegetable gardens and how to utilise the waste products of chicken farming (the droppings) as compost. Malnutrition is a major problem in the region so diversifying and improving the food eaten is vital to improving the lives of the people that live here. In this specific village 15 children are sponsored and it is obvious that from the support given to these individuals the whole village benefits.
The chicken farming is a new initiative that has been started in nine different villages and though it is only at its beginnings it is easy to see the much needed change it will provide. After Plan’s initial input the women have taken charge and are now in a position to share their new knowledge with others. As women are the main care givers here, allowing them economic independence and the ability to provide for their children guarantees a better future. This project is supported by micro finance which is fundamental to sustainable change and maximises benefits.
The next project we went to see was a women’s micro finance group. We were greeted by 25 women of different ages dressed in matching cloth but in individual styles, incredible! As we approached the women joyfully performed a traditional dance accompanied by much singing and clapping. This was an amazing way to be welcomed and their happiness was palpable. We joined the group and observed their monthly meeting.
Micro finance allows people access to financial services which would otherwise be beyond their means. This system gives them the opportunity to save, to borrow and to access a solidarity fund for social needs and emergencies. Between 10 and 25 women make up the group, at each meeting they are all required to save a minimum of 500 CFA, after a year this money is returned to them in a lump sum to invest as they wish. The more they save the better their credit rating enabling them to borrow more. The amount borrowed and the granting of loans is a collective decision amongst the group. There is a 10% interest rate and all loans must be paid back within three months.
Borrowing money allows the women to further their enterprises, including brewing local beer (chukutu), making cheese, running food stalls and rearing livestock. This gives them a hand in changing their future, as more money means more choices. The ability to provide for their children is fundamental for the community’s progression and gives them a sense of pride and empowerment. At the end of the year the interest gathered is split equally among the women so they all benefit from the borrowing system.
The solidarity fund gives them access to up to 5000 CFA in case of an emergency which usually means a medical one. The money has to be paid back but there is no interest on it. This fund lets them weather crisis by offering a system of social security which was not there before. All the financial transactions are recorded in individual books which are kept along with the money in a safe box that has three keys given to separate women. Plan provided these resources as well as training for the group. They also send a female member of staff to chair each meeting, she is training a member of the group to eventually take over this role. The treasurer, secretary, president and accountants are volunteers from the group and are elected annually.
This micro finance group is three years old and the seriousness with which the women take it is a testament to the impact it has had on their lives. The security of their children’s well-being is fundamental to their own happiness. Micro finance has also helped change social attitudes, breaking down traditional gender roles giving the women economic independence and a powerful voice in their own community.
The second micro finance group we visited was much newer, giving us an impression of the importance of these projects. The abundance of young children in this village illustrated how far resources were stretched and why women here need support. We asked them why they were a part of the group and the resounding reason was to improve the lives of their children. Giving the women economic freedom and stability is the first step towards building a better future. Plan’s micro finance work is of vital importance to sustainable development. It enhances the benefits of parallel projects as well as providing the means for the projects to keep improving. By setting up these systems Plan encourages greater self determination for the communities which means they develop on their own terms. This ethos of grass root facilitation rather than top down direction ensures their work is lasting and effective.
We spent the following day working with Plan Benin’s media club, a group of teenagers who meet weekly to learn how to use computers. The class usually spends the time on school projects but we had come to help them access the wider world through the internet. We set them all up with email accounts, getting them to send and reply to emails as well as showing them the wonders of Wikipedia and Google. We introduced the group to the unlimited potential of the internet, putting them in touch with knowledge from all over the world. It is especially important here as the class have little opportunity to travel or access the same amount of educational and cultural resources that many children their age have.
In the afternoon at their request we got them set up on Facebook, a teenage want the world over! Facebook is a great way to get them regularly using the internet and an incentive to go to the cyber cafe. The internet is the ultimate sharing tool and as it is undoubtably part of the future of the world everybody should have the opportunity and skills to access it. The quiet absorption of the classroom reflected their interest and just how much information is out there and within reach. The day was a true success and the kids a pleasure to work with. During the day they had all helped each other and were excited to use and share their new skills and knowledge outside of the media club. By providing the facilities Plan Benin will continue to help these young people access technology and all the advantages that come with it.
Working with Plan Benin has given us an impression of the first steps that go into creating brighter prospects. The projects we saw here were all quite new and the potential for change massive. Seeing the pride with which the little girls watch their mothers in the micro finance meetings really illustrates the sustainability of Plan’s work. Women are at the heart of children’s development and it was great to meet so many who could now be positive about the future. Find out more about Plan International UK on their website.
