Volunteering
SYTO Benin has many years of experience placing young and not-so-young international volunteers in worthwhile development projects in Benin. We offer both urban and rural placements of varied duration (based on your and your host organisation’s needs) in a variety of fields:
- Education (primary and middle school, training centres)
- Health (dispensaries, clinics, hospitals, education centres, family planning etc.)
- AIDS (testing, people living with AIDS groups)
- Social work (orphanages, social centres)
- Agriculture, Environment, Civil engineering, IT centres
- Women’s collectives, Agricultural production
You can read about some selected projects on our Projects page.
In addition to finding you a volunteer placement, SYTO Benin offers the following services :
- Meet and greet at Cotonou’s international airport
- 3-5 day orientation program
- Host family placement for the duration of your stay
- In-country support
- Sight-seeing trips to Benin’s many tourist attractions (additional fee)
SYTO Benin also offers the opportunity to participate in French as a Second Language and Dance and Drum courses, either in addition to your volunteer program or as a stand-alone activity.
For more information on volunteering please see our FAQ below.
You can read about some of our past volunteers experiences on our Testimonials page (coming soon). For the moment you can check out the personal web-site created by a group of our former volunteers, describing their stay in Benin (in French).
To apply, please download, print and complete the volunteer application form and send it to us via postal mail. Depending on your country of residence, you may also apply through one of our overseas partner organisations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Country Information
Tell me more about Benin.
The population of Benin is almost 7 million, and the majority of inhabitants live in the south of the country. Cotonou is the largest city and the economic capital of Benin, while Porto Novo, about 30km to the east of Cotonou, is the political capital. The currency in Benin is the Franc CFA (Communauté Francophone de l’Afrique), which is also used in neighbouring countries such as Togo, Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal. XE Universal Currency Converter is a useful on-line currency converter.
The official language of Benin is French. However, particularly in rural areas you will find many people who only speak their local language(s). There are around 100 dialects in Benin, including Fon, Yoruba, Bariba, Mina, Adja etc. Fon is the language the most widely spoken in Cotonou.
You can find more information at:
Wikipedia Benin
Lonely Planet Benin
Routard Benin
The Official Benin Tourism site
Are there ATM machines in Benin?
You can easily use your visa card to access your money from ATMs throughout Cotonou. There are also some ATM machines in Porto Novo. In other parts of Benin access is limited so it is advisable to carry sufficient money with you when travelling. Otherwise you can bring foreign currency and exchange it on arrival in Cotonou. Euros and US dollars are the most widely accepted currencies in local banks.
You may also wish to bring travellers cheques. Don’t forget to bring the receipt for your cheques – it is often required to present the receipt along with the cheque at the bank.
What is the climate like in Benin?
Southern Benin has two dry seasons and two wet seasons. The main dry season is from December to March, during which time the harmattan, a dry and hot wind, is present. There is a short dry season from August to September. The main rainy season is from April to July and then there is a shorter rainy season from October to November. The temperature varies between 20 and 35 degrees Celsius.
Northern Benin has a long dry season from November to May and a long rainy season from June to October. Temperatures can reach 42 degrees Celsius.
How safe is it to volunteer in Benin?
Benin is a peaceful country which, unlike some of its neighbours, has not experienced civil war. It is a generally safe country but as with anywhere in the world you should be careful with your wallet etc when walking the streets, and you should avoid going out alone at night.
What is the average cost of flights to Benin?
As with any destination, costs vary depending on season and your chosen route. Flights are to be arranged by the volunteer him/herself (unless you are travelling with one of SYTO Benin’s overseas program partners).
Benin’s major airport is in Cotonou. The easiest way to fly to Benin is via Paris.
Volunteers from Australia or New Zealand may find it easier to fly via Johannesburg (South Africa) or Dubai (UAE) to Ghana or Nigeria and arrange a connecting flight to Benin.
Do I need a visa for Benin?
Most nationalities, apart from those from certain West African countries, require a visa to travel to Benin. Contact the Beninese Embassy or Consulate in your country for more details.
Health concerns
What vaccinations/immunisations are required?
All travellers to Benin require a Yellow Fever vaccination.
What if I get sick while volunteering in Benin?
There are hospitals in all the large towns of Benin. If you fall sick you can easily access health care at one of these centres.
Is it safe to drink the tap water in Benin?
It is not advisable to drink the local water, although some volunteers drink Cotonou’s tap water without any problems. Bottled mineral water is widely available. Otherwise you may boil your drinking water or use water purifiers.
Volunteering
How much does it cost?
To cover the administration costs of program and host family placement, the orientation program (introduction to Beninese culture and language, immigration and visa issues, health, communication facilities, money, transportation and food matters, plus a tour of Cotonou) and in-country support, SYTO Benin asks the volunteer for the following fees:
- Volunteer (individual) € 700
- Volunteer (group) negotiable
- Dance and drum courses € 300
- French as Second Language courses € 300
In addition, a fee of 27€/week (or 17 500 FCFA) is payable to the host family, providing you with 2 meals/day on weekdays and 3 meals/day on the weekend.
Who can apply?
Volunteers of any nationality can apply. You must be aged between 18 and 70 years old. Previous experience is generally not necessary (except for certain health-related placements).
Can I volunteer with a friend?
Yes, of course. It is possible to place you in the same host family and the same project.
Will I have the chance to meet other volunteers in Benin?
If there are other volunteers working in Benin at the same time as you, SYTO can put you in touch with them. Most volunteers come during the Northern Hemisphere summer, although volunteer placements are available throughout the year.
What should I pack?
Apart from your clothing and personal items, we suggest the following items:
• Malaria tablets: consult your doctor
• A first aid kit e.g. aspirin, Bandaids (plasters), anti-septic cream, anti-histamine cream, diarrhea tablets
• Particularly if you are to be placed in a rural setting, you may wish to bring water purifying tablets. Although bottled mineral water is widely available it may be useful to have an alternative.
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent (preferably with a high DEET content)
• Adaptor plug for your electrical equipment (chargers, MP3s etc.)
• Your mobile phone – you can easily and cheaply purchase a local SIM card.
• Don’t forget your visas, plane tickets, passports, money etc.!!
It is also a nice idea to bring photos of your family and friends to show to your host family etc.
You may also wish to bring donations of medical supplies, clothing, second-hand spectacles, toys, books, teaching materials etc. Please discuss this with SYTO Benin prior to your departure.
What clothing is appropriate? Any cultural restrictions?
Light, long-sleeved clothing is ideal for the heat, and to protect you from the sun and mosquitoes. You may wish to have clothing tailored for you in the local style during your stay in Benin. There are no major clothing restrictions although you may feel more comfortable covering your knees (both men and women), particularly if in rural areas.
Do I need travel insurance?
You should definitely obtain travel insurance before leaving home. When choosing an insurance company, read the fine print – some insurance companies offer travel insurance at reduced prices but on reading the conditions you may find that they provide inadequate cover.
Will I get the chance to do any sightseeing while volunteering?
SYTO Benin can arrange sightseeing trips, for a fee, to some of the many tourist sites of Benin such as:
- Marché Dantokpa – West Africa’s largest market
- Ganvié – Africa’s Venice
- Ouidah – the slave route, python temple
- Abomey – royal museum
- Porto Novo – the official capital of Benin, museums
You may wish to arrange trips with other volunteers or with friends that you make in Benin!
Orientation
Most volunteers participate in the following orientation program. The program may vary if you have a placement outside of Cotonou.
Day 1
• Arrival, meet and greet at the airport
• Transfer to initial accommodation in Cotonou
• Dinner
Day 2
• Breakfast
• Introduction to local transportation (zemidjan – motorbike taxi)
• Introduction to SYTO office, initial information
• Map of Cotonou (to be explained)
• Embassy visit (registration)
• Post office (phone booth and cards-communication center)
• Lunch
• Supermarkets –restaurants-fast food
• Local language orientation (Fon)
• Dinner
Day 3
• Breakfast
• Big regional market (DANTOKPA)
• Missebo (second hand items market)
• Lunch
• Art center (Centre de Promotion de l’Artisanat)
• Dinner
Homestay
Tell me more about the accommodation
You will be placed with a host family near to your place of work. If you are volunteering in an urban setting you can expect to have a flush toilet, electricity and running water, although water and electricity cuts are not uncommon. In rural settings conditions are more basic.
Your host family will provide you with breakfast and dinner from Monday to Friday, and breakfast, lunch and dinner over the weekend.
Do you cater for vegetarians?
Vegetarians and vegans can be catered for. If eating out, salads, fries, beans etc can be easily found, and tropical fruits are available everywhere. There is even a vegetarian restaurant in Cotonou!