There had to have been a way to avoid the heat and strain, but there we were, hiking up and down the hill, digging holes, and struggling to get enough water. For the plants, that is.
Libraries make information more accessible and provide places for people of all ages to read, study and learn about the larger world. They’re also valuable as community meeting spaces and technology hubs.
From 1992 to 1994, David Goldman served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Boukombé, Benin. Fifteen years later, David returned to continue the work he started, and Atacora Essential was born.
Kolective began as a grassroots project in the rural village of Cobly in northwest Benin. The project was started by Rural Community Health Volunteer Andrea Nasser as a way to empower adolescent seamstress apprentices by producing and selling handcrafted and unique fashion goods.
Samirath’s story is one of hope. She overcame some of the biggest obstacles that young girls her age face, continuing her school and striving to finish her education with limited resources, while caring for a young son at home. She has a lot of promise, and I know she will go far if given the chance.
We capped off my “Help Mamas Earn” project with a closing ceremony including the distribution of diplomas (or “attestations,” as they’re referred to here) and the delivery of a palm oil processing machine. And suffice it to say, it was a huge success.
