Keeping a promise to return to visit Benin within five years of my departure, I booked a return trip (accompanied by Sarah) to Benin in June of this year. Dhyne, Nady and I had lost touch over the previous two years while I was completely absorbed in my MBA program, but they had prepared a surprise. Remembering my pledge to return they had- unbeknownst to me - been working to construct the dormitory in anticipation of my return. Had I given him more than three weeks notice of my arrival, they probably would have finished it.
Instead, they have made great progress. Project Abeni now has an expansive compound on the outskirts of town, down the road from the soon-to-be-completed new high school where all the girls will attend. A one-story building features (or will feature) a large cafeteria and kitchen, latrines and flush toilets, and eight large dormitory rooms, which will house four girls each. The compound is prepped for expansion: a second story can be added at any time, and there is also sufficient space in the compound for significant horizontal expansion. In the next five years, Project Abeni plans to double the number of girls they assist to over 60.
Why is the dormitory so essential? It has been part of Dhyne and Nady's vision since the second year of the project, when they realized that even if they provided full support to their program participants, at the end of the day the girls go home. And at home, they are expected to bear the lion share of household chores. While their brothers are allowed to study, the girls work. With the dormitory, parents must sign a contract when their daughter joins Project Abeni that during the school year they will live in the dorm and not be burdened with chores at home. Their time will be dedicated to study. Of course, the girls will do chores on site, helping to maintain the building and the grounds.
Besides the girls, there will be an adult female chaperone living on the premises, and a guard who will have his own residence near the compound's front door.
The dormitory was made possible through the generous contributions of friends and family members back in 2000 while I was still a Peace Corps Volunteer, thanks to my mom's outreach (see post titled "Project Abeni and Peace Corps").
Dhyne, Nady and Naima, a current volunteer, peering through the gate at the construction in progress
Dhyne, Nady and I stand in front of the dormitory
On the roof: the building is constructed to allow for a second story to be added easily
Dhyne and Nady in one of the dorm rooms
The kitchen and cafeteria
View of the outer compound wall
No comments:
Post a Comment