Benin
Stories from change-makers in Benin
Daouda is one of the adolescent girls participating in Plan’s Girl Power program in Benin – which uses all-girl soccer teams as a way to challenge gender stereotypes.
“I’m lucky to have been selected for the team. We train several times a week and participate in workshops to strengthen our trust, learn to speak in public and understand the rights of girls.”
The program aims to equip girls like Daouda with the tools they need to address the issues facing them and determine their own futures.
“At first, in the village, we were criticized. Now, we are appreciated, because we dare to tackle sensitive topics like girls’ education, teenage pregnancies and early marriage.” Daouda explains. “Sports are a way to be respected. In football, we do as well as boys. And now, they listen to us! I never imagined that sport would change my life.”
Help more girls challenge stereotypes through soccer
The program aims to equip girls like Daouda with the tools they need to address the issues facing them and determine their own futures.
“At first, in the village, we were criticized. Now, we are appreciated, because we dare to tackle sensitive topics like girls’ education, teenage pregnancies and early marriage.” Daouda explains. “Sports are a way to be respected. In football, we do as well as boys. And now, they listen to us! I never imagined that sport would change my life.”
Madjidath is a young influencer, entrepreneur and Plan advocate from Benin.
She’s working on a digital platform to help young people deal with sexually transmitted infections during lockdowns caused by COVID-19.
The app is called Confidence, and it enables young people to connect with doctors and psychologists online. It provides access to a directory of health services, includes a hotline and chat function for consultations, and provides health and sexuality information. Users will also be able to order contraception and test kits for home delivery.
“I could not have imagined that I would have such a rich and diverse experience working with a team of young people from diverse backgrounds,” Madjidath says. “We now hope to secure funding and launch the application in the near future.”
Meet more young people advocating for change
The app is called Confidence, and it enables young people to connect with doctors and psychologists online. It provides access to a directory of health services, includes a hotline and chat function for consultations, and provides health and sexuality information. Users will also be able to order contraception and test kits for home delivery.
“I could not have imagined that I would have such a rich and diverse experience working with a team of young people from diverse backgrounds,” Madjidath says. “We now hope to secure funding and launch the application in the near future.”
Kevinne’s parents married her off to an older man when she was just 14 years old.
“I didn’t know I was being given away for marriage,” she says. “My uncle took me to another village on a motorbike and dumped me at a man’s house. I didn’t know him. He was 25, I was 16. I was forced to marry him. I am his fourth wife.”
Kevinne quickly became pregnant, and her husband became severely abusive. “I had to escape for me and my baby. I didn’t love him. What was I supposed to do?”
Kevinne was able to return home. She still faces many challenges, but she has been able to take control of her own life. Through Plan, she’s now involved in educating other girls about the risks of teenage pregnancy. And she’s being trained to become a hairdresser.
“I want to make my own income and build a life for me and my children,” Kevinne says. “In the future, I want to graduate and open my own salon.”
Read more about how we protect girls
Kevinne quickly became pregnant, and her husband became severely abusive. “I had to escape for me and my baby. I didn’t love him. What was I supposed to do?”
Kevinne was able to return home. She still faces many challenges, but she has been able to take control of her own life. Through Plan, she’s now involved in educating other girls about the risks of teenage pregnancy. And she’s being trained to become a hairdresser.
“I want to make my own income and build a life for me and my children,” Kevinne says. “In the future, I want to graduate and open my own salon.”
Plan International has been working to improve children’s lives in Benin since 1994.
Our work in Benin
Offices & operations
Plan Benin’s country office is located in Cotonou, with program unit offices in Adjohoun, Bohicon and Natitingou.
Technical areas
Education, child protection, health and skills and work.
Number of sponsored children
As of June 2022, people like you sponsor 29,106 children in Benin through Plan International.
Gender equality is a fight we must all take on together. Through sponsorship, you can change lives and create long-term impact in communities.
The full circle of Fate
When you sponsor a child through Plan, you form an incredible friendship.
But that’s just the beginning. With Plan, you also have the unique opportunity to:
Send them birthday gifts and cards.
Give them special holiday presents called Little Treasures.
Subscribe them to Plan’s educational kids’ magazine, Sunny Days.
Arrange a visit (pending any travel restrictions), with individual travel assistance from us.
Each gift offering is safely hand-delivered by us, and given to your child with personalized cards from you. It’s likely that the child you sponsor will have never seen anything like these gifts, and with the exception of Little Treasures they’re available year-round to make the bond between you and your sponsored child even stronger.
Meet a child to sponsor