Since 2023, Ecoliers du Monde provides financial assistance for the schooling of the children of the Sakété orphanage which is run by the Sisters of the Congregation of Saint-Augustin.
This project is monitored by Marcel OGOUNDELE, Beninese of origin, and his wife Claire. Both are members of the association and regularly visit the site..
It's been several years since Claire and Marcel told us about this project.. Claire was then a member of the Board of Directors of Ecoliers du Monde.
During all these years, they tied, in Benin, an ongoing relationship with an orphanage and its manager during their trips there. Noting the financial problems of this orphanage, the Ecoliers du Monde association has been asked for financial aid to enable the schooling of new children. (school fees, uniforms, stationery, snacks, studies…)
Sakété is a city in Benin. peaceful, compared to its historically tumultuous past.
It is located about sixty kilometers from Cotonou ( about an hour's drive by car).
It is located in the South-West of the Plateau department and covers an area of 700 km2.
In the population, stemming from various migratory movements, both within Benin and from neighboring Nigeria, is estimated at more than 115 000 habitants.
The orphanage is located within the city itself. Sister Marie Stella of the Saint Augustin congregation is responsible for it.. The house currently hosts 31 children: 13 girls and 18 garçons, from a month and a half to 12 year. The children are mostly motherless, a little girl is orphan of father and mother. Most of the children are brought by the social action or the mayor of the village. In some cases it is the family and more specifically the father, who entrusts the child, unable to support themselves.
The goal of the house is to do everything possible to reintegrate the child into his family., at best before the age of 5 years and at the latest, at the age of 12 year, after obtaining the CEP (Certificate of Primary Studies). A moral contract is made between the family and the house to remain in this objective.
Under this contract, families are strongly encouraged to come and visit the children to keep the bond. Families are also asked to contribute financially to the life of the child in the home.. In practice, this aspect is not respected given the poverty in the region.
After the CEP, if the return to the family is impossible despite the many attempts and negotiations carried out, placement with a family is envisaged.
The school year begins mid-September and ends at the end of June, with cycles of 3 months of work punctuated by holidays.
Sakété has at least 4 types of schools : Koranic school, islamic school, public school and catholic school.
Nowadays, 20 children from the orphanage are educated at the private Catholic school Sainte-Anne located just opposite the house. 6 are in kindergarten, 2 in CI, 1 a CP, 5 a CE1, 2 a CE2, 3 a CM1 et 1 in cm2.
Kindergarten begins 2 years and a half generally in Benin and CI (intermediate course) equivalent to the large nursery section.
THE 11 other children below 2 years and a half are entrusted to women called “moms” who live in the orphanage.
The children go to school at 7:30 a.m. to start school at 8 a.m., until 11:30 a.m. for kindergarten and 12 p.m. for primary ; then resumed at 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. for kindergartens and 5:30 p.m. for the others. In the meantime, the children go home to have lunch.
St Anne's School welcomes 86 students for a maximum capacity of 140 students, job 6 primary school teachers and a kindergarten teacher for the 2 levels.
This school is right in front of the orphanage, which allows children to walk there on their own, safely, without the risk of being run over by a vehicle. So there are no shipping costs..
