IDAY BENIN

Key contact person

Mr Issifou MOUSSA

Contact details

Telephone: + 229 93 02 59 00 / +229 90 66 17 34
Email: idaybenin@yahoo.fr
Postal address: Cotonou, quartier Mènontin, maison KAKPO Paul, carré 2088
072 PO Box 228, COTONOU

About the coalition

IDAY Benin was created in December 2007 to extend the action of IDAY International in the country through the formation of a coalition of organisations committed to improving education. Starting with 7 members, IDAY Benin counts now 14 members: ODES, ECO BENIN, CIDEV, DDE, A2D, COVADES, LevA, ASMA, OAPIC, AD, Victory Way, CAEPE, EDD and RAPIDEL ONG.

More than 5000 vulnerable children have already received special attention from the member organisations, for instance:
-          ODES runs a school for orphan children in the district of Tanguiéta, with 450 children enrolled for school year 2009-2010.
-          EDD already saved more than 50 children from ritual child slaughter and over 250 girls from excision. This organisation conducted actions against child trafficking which allowed the interception of some 80 children and their reinsertion back in their families and in vocational centres. Awareness campaigns on education, especially on the importance of keeping girls at school, have enabled EDD to guarantee sustained education for more than 500 vulnerable children.
-          CAEPE’s orphanage welcomes actually 63 orphans (3 children following a literacy curriculum, 53 in formal primary cycle and 7 in pre-school initiation)
-          Through its programme “Brousse Mobile Schools”, “tutoring and socio-educative activities” and “Bibliobus” reaches out to over 3000 children every year.
-          OAPIC took care of 207 orphans of Norga (North Benin) in 2009

Strategic goals

Contribute effectively to improving the situation of teaching and education in Benin, so as to achieve the 2^nd Objective of the Millennium for Development (a full cycle of primary education for all by 2015)

Major achievements so far

-          Fight against girls excision (a mutilation which often results in medical complications, preventing girls from attending school)
-          Raise awareness and encourage parents in rural areas to keep girls at school
-          Contribute to providing education to vulnerable children (especially, orphans and children in the remote areas)

Key annual activities:

-          Organisation of celebrations in Benin on the occasion of the International Day of the African Child on June 16, so as to generate mass media impact and entice the national authorities and other European and African representatives to increase the means allocated to achieve quality primary education for all by 2015. The demonstrations consist in marches, seminars, various communications related to the 16 June anniversary and education claims.
-          Organisation of awareness raising meetings with the education Benin authorities and NGOs involved in the education sector in Benin.