Projects

Here is just a small sample of the projects that past and current volunteers have worked on in Benin:
St Augustin Orphanage
The St Augustin orphanage in Allada provides general care, pre-school and primary-school education to orphans from 4 months to 18 years old. Run by Sisters, with the assistance of some ‘mamas and tatas’, the orphanage appreciates the help of international volunteers in teaching English, drawing, hand writing, singing, sports activities, and a range of other educational activities. Volunteers may also assist with feeding and bathing of children and their general care. There is plenty of scope for the development of your own creative projects.

Caritas Franciscane
Caritas operates a social welfare centre in Cotonou that houses, educates and provides general care to children in difficult situations. These children come from a variety of backgrounds: orphans, abandoned by their parents, victims of child trafficking, persecution or forced marriages etc. During their time with Caritas they are housed according to age:
House 1) 4 - 11 year olds – about 18 people
House 2) 11 - 16 year old boys – about 20 people
House 3) 12 – 18 year old girls – about 23 people
House 4) 17 - 18 year old boys
They undergo schooling and professional training, and are prepared for social reinsertion.
Volunteers can help by providing day-to-day care, playing games, teaching English or mathematics, assisting other employees and by just being there to listen to the children’s problems.

‘Arc en Ciel’ Medical Centre
The Arc En Ciel (Rainbow) Medical Centre in Cotonou is a NGO that provides information, advice, consultations, medical testing, house visits and a variety of other services to the general population, and in particular to people living with AIDS. The team consists of 3 doctors, 2 nurses, 4 carers, one laboratory technician and a mediator, and the centre has a hospital room comprising 14 beds.
The Centre is particularly looking for volunteers with a medical background.

La Congregation des Petites Soeurs des Pauvres (‘The Little Sisters of the Poor’ Elderly Home)
This eldery home in Calavi was founded in Benin in 1999 by the international, French-based religious congregation Les Petites Soeurs des Pauvres. The home provides modern facilities and an atmosphere of peace and serenity to care for 27 elderly people, regardless of their
language, race, culture and religious beliefs. The home consists of separate rooms for men and women, for the clergy members, a chapel, a gymnastics room, a large dining room, kitchen, laundry, nice gardens, an infirmary, waiting rooms, television room…
There is also the vocational training centre that is called NONVICIAT. The Nonviciat trains women who want to devote their life to the care of elderly persons.

The only substantial means of living of the Little Sisters of the Poor is through charity, donations, and financial support from organisations and charitable persons.

Working from 8 am to 12 pm / 3 pm to 6 pm Monday to Friday (Saturday optional), under the supervision of Mother Grégoria, the volunteer may assist in:

Serving food, help with eating and drinking, taking medicine, getting out of bed and putting to bed.
Washing, using lifting apparatus, help with dressing.
Work at the laundry, infirmary and gymnastics room.
Suggest entertaining activities
Physiotherapy skills would be helpful.