MAY 2006 - UPDATE TO THE GLOBAL BOARD

Progress Report

Epicenter Strategy

THP-Benin has six L-shaped epicenters, four of which have buildings and two of which will build once funds become available.  The six epicenters serve a total of 800,000 people.  In Akpadanou, the newest epicenter, the people are building a facility with all the services and structures needed by the villagers in that area.

Vision, Commitment and Action (VCA) Workshop: Animator training

The VCA workshop is an important tool for empowering our rural partners to become self-reliant in their efforts to end hunger and poverty.  THP-Benin conducts VCA workshops in all its epicenters, and has recruited and trained almost 2,000 VCA leaders, called “animators.”  These dedicated leaders act as role models to support and empower their fellow villagers to end their own hunger and poverty. During the first three months of 2006, over 3,000 partners in Benin have completed VCA workshops.  THP-Benin has reported that our partner populations and local government officials continue to attend VCA workshops. 

Food security

Increased Food Production

THP-Benin continues to empower local farmers through classes and workshops on how to increase food production for both the market and household consumption.  Farmers are also taught to diversify their crops, growing varieties of maize, rice and corn and vegetables such as onions and carrots.  In particular, the African Woman Food Farmer Initiative program (AWFFI), by providing credit and training, has greatly increased women’s participation in food production and other income-generating activities.  AWFFI trains our women partners how to increase food security and income through the use of appropriate technology and improved seeds and methods of storing food.

Food Banks

Each epicenter includes a food bank maintained by our partners.  In addition, families are encouraged to set up to small household food banks. Products harvested from cooperative village fields supply the food banks, which provide for the members of the epicenter in the “lean season” when people can borrow or purchase needed grains.

Micro-Credit and epicenter Rural Banks

THP has established rural banks for its micro-finance program for men and women. The micro-credit program continues to empower our partners to become self-reliant in a sustainable manner by increasing food production and income-generating activities.  The AWFFI micro-finance program includes three important elements: funds for revolving loan, interest of repayments of loans and savings.  Within the next five years, funding from the micro-finance program will enable THP-Benin to create government-recognized “Rural Banks.”

Education and Adult Literacy Program

Adult literacy in the local languages is important for our rural partners’ efforts to end their own hunger and poverty.  THP-Benin has established over 30 literacy centers.  Thanks to the partnership it has established with the government, THP-Benin has access to teaching materials from the government for use in the literacy centers. The literacy classes are conducted by animators trained by THP-Benin. So far THP-Benin has trained over 500 literacy animators to teach in local languages.  Over 10,000 men and women served by the epicenters are now able to read and write.  The literacy teachers have found that although the adult literacy program is designed for both men and women, women are much more willing than men to take advantage of the program.

Health and Hygiene

Each epicenter includes a health center which trains our partners to improve their health and nutrition. In addition, the health centers provide vaccinations and immunization for children along with primary health care for women.  Some local governments, working with our rural partners, have constructed latrines and wells for safe drinking water.  As an expression of the government’s partnership with THP, the Health Ministry supplies each epicenter with at least two trained heath officers, who are available at all times to the people served by the epicenter.

HIV/AIDS Program

For the past two years, THP-Benin has used the “HIV/AIDS and Gender Inequality” workshop at all of its epicenters.  The workshop, developed by THP, teaches new ways of thinking and, based on gender equality, prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. Over 300 men and women have been trained as HIV/AIDS animators. This program has contributed greatly to raising our partners’ awareness that gender inequality is one of the root causes for the spread of AIDS in Benin.  When men take responsibility in this matter and commit themselves to safe sex, the spread of AIDS is reduced.  We know the program works — according to local health officials the rate of new infections has dramatically decreased among the rural populations served by our epicenters.