A Fresh Start, Cotonou

In recent years, Benin has worked intensively to improve the living conditions of children and implement children’s rights. The country has ratified important international conventions, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. Despite this, many children are affected by poverty and social challenges. In urban areas such as Cotonou, many children live on the streets, especially around the Dantokpa market. Poverty, unstable family circumstances and a lack of educational opportunities mean that these children find themselves in dangerous situations that endanger their physical and mental health.

The project in Cotonou has set itself the goal of offering targeted support to children in difficult situations and promoting their reintegration into society. A central concern is to improve the living conditions of these children. By providing safe accommodation and promoting education, their quality of life is to be sustainably improved. In addition, the aim is to reintegrate the children into their families or stable social structures. To this end, tailored services are created to promote socio-familial reintegration and educational support so that the children can develop positive prospects for the future.

The project pursues several approaches to achieve these goals. Firstly, street children are actively sought out in the streets and markets of Cotonou. These children are encouraged to visit the “Baraque” in the Dantokpa market. There they can not only find protection and safe accommodation, but also make important social contacts and acquire basic skills. At night, the children are taken to a safe dormitory where they are protected from the dangers of the street.

For young people aged 14 and over, the project offers the opportunity for vocational training. In various workshops, the young people can learn practical skills to build an independent existence. The training areas on offer include tailoring, aluminum and glass work and hairdressing. These training opportunities are tailored to the needs of the young people and help them to find their feet in society.

Another key component of the project is an accelerated education program for children aged 10 to 17 who are struggling with difficult life circumstances. This special education program provides the children with basic school skills and prepares them for a self-determined future. The program is designed to help them develop their potential and find a way out of their precarious situation.