Benin, formerly known as Dahomey, has emerged as a beacon of democracy and one of the most stable countries in Africa. In the first decade after independence in 1960, the country was ruled by a succession of military leaders until Major Mathieu Kerekou seized power in 1972 and gradually restored civilian rule.

While Benin has seen economic growth over the past few years, it remains among the world's poorest countries. Human and material resources are often insufficient for the country to provide quality teaching for schoolchildren, to care for the health of families, to preserve and restore the natural environment, and to promote business skills. Peace Corps Volunteers are addressing these needs with a broad range of activities in business development, education, environment, and health. In a recent letter to the Peace Corps, former President Kerekou of Benin declared, "Your Volunteers offer to the citizens of my country a model and another view of what they themselves can contribute to the development of the Republic of Benin. The reports I receive from the people, as well as from the Ministers of my government, bear witness to the need and the durability of Peace Corps activities in Benin's development."

Business Development

Informal business activities dominate the Beninese economy and provide jobs for the majority of people outside of the public sector. However, local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and micro-entrepreneurs lack basic management skills. At the government's request, Volunteers work directly with market women, entrepreneurs, village associations, and NGOs to teach marketing, accounting, business management, and organizational techniques. As a result, more goods are being produced for a profit and local organizations are able to address some of their communities' needs.

Education

Volunteers have helped Benin improve the quality of education by teaching English, math, physics, and chemistry in secondary schools and by developing improved teaching materials, such as instructor lesson plans and student workbooks. It also collaborates with the Ministry of Education to provide qualified English teachers and develop English textbook materials.

Volunteers are incorporating the international science program, Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE), into the school curriculum. GLOBE connects students around the world via the Internet to share their knowledge of the environment.

Environment

Benin is faced with serious environmental consequences due to annual deforestation of 2.5 million acres of land, rapid reduction of soil fertility, and 70 percent of its population working in rural agriculture. In response, Peace Corps has strengthened its environmental action project and expanded its scope to include environmental education. The project includes development of an environmental education guide, and the promotion of environmental clubs and the GLOBE program.

Volunteers are working on activities related to community forestry, soil conservation, environmental protection, and environmental education. Volunteers help to increase villagers' awareness of environmental degradation and to provide training in practical methods to address these problems.

Health

Rural communities in Benin face a myriad of health issues, including high infant and maternal mortality rates, poor to nonexistent healthcare, an accelerated HIV/AIDS rate, low immunization coverage, and few social services for disadvantaged people. Volunteers collaborate with social service centers throughout the country, which are sponsored by the Ministry of Social and Family Protection. The focus of the project is health education with an emphasis on maternal and child health issues.

Additionally, HIV/AIDS is one of Benin's growing social health problems. Volunteers in all projects continue to integrate HIV/AIDS information and education into their activities.