Benin: ‘Building a meaningful life plan’
Benin: ‘Building a meaningful life plan’
In Benin, many young people struggle to find their place in the world of work. Together with its partner Carrefour Jeunesse Afrique (CJA), Louvain Coopération supports them in gaining skills, regaining confidence and building a meaningful life plan.
Benin has a very large number of young people in need. The Mono department, in the south of the country, is characterised in particular by high rates of youth unemployment and under-employment. “Many leave the education system early due to a lack of financial means and lack both the technical skills and the resources needed to set up their own business. This situation drives many young people to migrate to the major cities, to neighbouring countries (particularly Nigeria) or even to the West in search of opportunities that are often precarious,” explains Arielle Dossou, director of CJA (Carrefour Jeunesse Afrique), a partner of Louvain Coopération. “Yet these young people have enormous potential. When they receive appropriate training, personalised guidance and support to get their businesses off the ground, they succeed in developing income-generating activities and become key players in local development.”
From guidance to integration
Louvain Coopération and CJA are therefore rolling out a comprehensive support programme for young people that aims for much more than simply helping them find a job. It is also about enabling young people to regain their self-confidence and build a sustainable career plan.
It all begins with a service offering a listening ear, guidance and psychosocial support, which helps each young person to develop their career plan. This is followed by training courses leading to qualifications and, for some, entrepreneurship training. To prevent financial difficulties from causing further dropouts, food aid may also be offered during the training, whilst the costs associated with certifications are covered.
Tailored support for girls
For young women, the path to entering the world of work is fraught with additional obstacles. Sociocultural constraints, gender stereotypes, early marriage and pregnancy, limited access to certain traditionally male-dominated professions… Added to this are sometimes financial difficulties or a lack of family support, which force them to abandon their education. “CJA is implementing tailored support that takes their needs into account, boosts their self-confidence and promotes their economic independence. Projects specifically designed for girls are being developed to open up more opportunities for training and integration,” Arielle adds.
Viviane, aged 20, shares her story
“My name is Viviane, I’m 20 years old and I’m originally from Comè. After my father passed away, followed by my mother who was ill, I had to leave school in Year 7 to sell ablo (a small cake) on the street to support myself. My life changed when a CJA community centre referred me to the counselling service. There, I decided to learn dressmaking. Throughout my training, CJA and its partners supported me by providing breakfast, hygiene kits, covering the costs of my CQM (Certificate of Vocational Qualification), work tools and a start-up kit. Today, I run my own sewing workshop and am training five apprentices. Thanks to the support from CJA and its partners, I have become self-reliant and am building a better future for myself.”
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