Sponsor's update from Dassa-Zoumé, Benin

Child sponsorship update from the SOS Children's Village Dassa-Zoumé, Benin from Summer 2008.

We are pleased to provide you with some new information related to SOS Children’s Village Dassa-Zoumè.

At the National level, one of the key events of 2008 is the unprecedented visit of the US president George W. Bush in last february. Even though the host spent his three-hour stay only at the international airport of Cotonou, it is the first time that an American president has ever visited our country. At his arrival, Mr Bush said his congratulations to the people of Benin for the deepening of democracy, the peaceful environment, the safety of individuals and goods, and for our government’s efforts to eradicate poverty and corruption in our country. The American First Lady in turn, encouraged Benin’s people to send all children to school, especially girls. Besides, local and municipal elections were held across the country during the last April. At the end of these elections, the ruling party FCBE has got more than sixty percent of the seats at national level. However, as far as the country’s economic capital city Cotonou is concerned, more than fifty percent of the votes were in favour the former president and incumbent mayor of the concerned city Nicéphore SOGLO’s party RB. As for Porto-Novo, our country’s political capital city, PRD, the former national Parliament chairman and unfortunate candidate during the presidential elections of March 2006 Adrien Houngbedji’s party. At the social level, prices of consumption goods have increased considerably. The SOS Children’s Villages are suffering from that crisis but will overcome it thanks to our Regional Office’s support. Food self-sufficiency, access to fresh water and to health care still remain our rural populations’ key preoccupations.

Talking about sport, a football team that was composed of girls and boys from the three SOS Children’s Villages across our country (Abomey-Calavi, Natitingou and Dassa) participated to a gala tournament as a fringe event to the African Cup of Nations which was held in Ghana Republic. This gala tournament was called CAN SOS 2008 and took place from January 29th to February 4th 2OO8. At the end of the competition, our team - after ten victorious matches - lost the final one upon which it took on Tema team and the final score was (3 - 4) after extra-time. At the end of the day, Benin won the second prize. But our team’s captain Tchando was declared the best player of the tournament. His firstname is Tchando and he lives in SOS children’ village Natitingou. To sum up, our team was declared to be the revelation of the tournament.

Children growing up in Dassa-Zoumé, Benin

Today, 106 children live in the SOS Children’s Village Dassa. Indeed, 6 new children were recently admitted. They were living in difficult conditions before their admission into the village. They lacked good cares, food, security and love. But now, thanks to the care from their SOS mothers, they are in security and have already forgotten their past bad living conditions. They are joyful and enjoy playing with other children in our care. This has been possible thanks to your support and generosity. Our village celebrated a wonderful Christmas 2007 for children in difficult situation. On that day, all the children wore pretty new clothes and received many gifts from the Christmas Father. Some people from the community made donations to support the event; for example we received donations from the mayor of Dassa-Zoumè city and the one of Glazoué city, and also from one of our country’s former Education minister. All the guests were happy and shared a delicious food with us. In the evening, the community of Dassa-Zoumè and the children under our care attended a big show which was organized by some musicians who came from Cotonou. The concert was dedicated to all orphans and abandoned children in general and to SOS children particularly. The party ended with a wonderful choreography that was performed by children who live in the SOS Children’s Village Abomey-Calavi.

Events at Dassa-Zoumé

As for Easter, a new dress was bought for each child. It was a very special and interesting day. Dressed in their pretty new clothes, all the children went for a picnic 15 km away from their village. They visited a place which is near hills and where there are many trees and fresh air. They had fun very much and performed local dances. Besides, they ate delicious food and drank very sweet drinks. While little children were sleeping on their mother’s back or on mats, their senior brothers and sisters were very happy and couldn’t stop dancing. At the end of the day, they came back home at 4 o’clock PM and were too tired but satisfied.

One of the most important events during the last few months in our village is the story of Catherine, a little girl who could not walk because she suffers from a sickness that paralyses her feet, bringing about disability to walk. The medicine that cures her sickness cannot be found here in Benin. Many people had long thought she could never be able to walk again one day. But thanks to the know-how of our social and healthcare centre’s director, and with the help of some French volunteers who had performed an internship at the above centre, the appropriate medicine was found in France and Catherine has started making a few steps now. From now on, everybody has hope that she will be able to walk on a normal basis, in a few months to come.

We thank you very much indeed for your support without which we couldn’t achieve our goal. Thanks to your generosity, hundreds of hopeless children and families are finding back a smile. We are sincerely grateful to you and hope you will remain our sponsor for a long time again.