Country Welcome for Benin

Welcome to our Benin webpage!

Whether you are interested in traditional two-year service, Peace Corps Response, or Virtual Service, we guarantee that Benin will offer you a life- changing experience. I invite you to explore our website and social media channels to learn more about the incredible history of Peace Corps Benin and our current work and Volunteers.

Peace Corps has been working in Benin since 1968. For the last 58 years, more than 2300 Volunteers have worked directly with Beninese counterparts in rural communities throughout the country, creating lasting friendships, exchanging knowledge and culture, and making lasting and measurable impact on multiple generations.

We are extremely proud of our Volunteers’ hard work across the Health, Agriculture and Education sectors. English language teacher Volunteers expand young minds and enhance the English skills of students and teachers. Sustainable agricultural systems Volunteers partner with community leaders and NGOs to innovate and implement improved and diversified food production techniques while supporting entrepreneurship and enhanced nutrition. Health volunteers work with community health workers support improvements to maternal and child health and promote the health and well-being of adolescents and young people, making a tangible difference in health outcomes in your community. In all sectors we prioritize youth development and community-based solutions for sustainability. One of the advantages of working in a smaller country with good infrastructure is that Peace Corps Volunteers are constantly collaborating across sectors, further enriching their communities and the volunteer experience.

The Peace Corps’ mission is to promote world peace and friendship, an audacious purpose that is more important now than ever. I had the honor of beginning my career as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon, which shaped the rest of my professional and personal life. I have maintained connections with the communities where I worked. My family and friends in the U.S. would never have known about life in Cameroon, nor the exceptional qualities of its people, if I hadn't served there. It brings me immense joy to know that the children I worked with in several rural villages are now adults—earning honest livings thanks to the education they received, educating their own children, and contributing to the well-being of future generations.

Having lived and worked in many African countries after my Peace Corps service, I can assure you that Benin is truly one of the most rewarding countries in which to serve. Beninese people are warm, respectful and welcoming. The country is forward-looking and developing quickly. Benin has deep and rich culture, art and history, offering so much to learn and see. Most importantly, you can and will make a difference in people’s lives, including your own.

Thank you for your interest in serving!