Public Primary Schools of Kpanroun-Center and Kpanrou-Ahowegodo
District of Kpanrou
Community of Abomey-Calavi
Republic of Benin
Community of Abomey-Calavi
Republic of Benin
Background and History
The chief of administration of the district of Kpanroun had heard about our engagement and support for the rural communities in the Republic of Benin. He made the first contact and invited me to visit the villages of Kpanroun.
To get to Kpanroun one must travel a short distance on the main road that leads from Cotonou to the North of the country, passing Godomey and Calavi up to Akassato. Where there is a T-crossing with a red soil road leading east to Sinvié, we turn and follow this road up to Sinvié. We drive round the market place and continue the red soil road that turns left at the end of the market. The road is severely damaged by corrosion and leads through a swampy area. After 10 km we finally arrive at Kpanroun-Center. While passing through the village we first discover a small hospital on the right side of the road. Then on the left side, we see the public secondary school of the district. Again on the right side we pass an old mosque and right behind that mosque we have reached our destination: the Primary School of Kpanroun-Center.
The Public Primary School of Kpanroun-Center had been created in 1958. Two years before the colonial government quit the French colony of Dahomey, they constructed one solid school building holding three class rooms for this village. The frame of its roof is made of metal, the roof is covered with cement asbestos sheets, and the walls of this building are solid even today. I am impressed to find this building so well maintained.
A second building made of red soil had been added by the villagers later on. It crumbled down, and the remaining foundations are its only evidence. To offer students at least a roof to protect them from sun and rain, the present government headed by Dr. Boni Yayi built a shelter made of wood. Unfortunately termites are already about to destroy this building.
At a distance of 8 km from this school we find the Public Primary School of Kpanroun-Ahowegodo which had been created in 1999. Here the villagers have built one building holding three class rooms. Children of other classes are being taught under shelters covered with palm branches. During rainy season they have to stay home.
I feel like getting involved with this community, but I have doubts on how building materials could be transported across the extremely bad road and the swamp. When I communicate these thoughts to the chief of administration, he tries to calm my worries by promising to make sure that a bridge would be built across the swamp. I doubt the words of the chief of administration. Up to that very day I had never experienced that promises of this kind had ever been met. Three months after my first visit to Kpanroun the chief of administration surprised me by picking me for a drive to Kpanroun. Beaming with pride he showed me the heavy machinery that was about to build the promised bridge. I was emotionally swept off my feet and promised right then that we would construct a building for each of the two school locations.
Objective
I propose to build for each of the two schools one building holding 3 classrooms (9m x 7m) each. This building should also house one office for the principal (4m x 3,5m) and one room (4m x 3,5m) as storage for school materials. I estimate the cost for each building to be 25.000 Euro.
At each location one toilet block would be needed. The cost for one block would be about 8.000 Euro.
Rationale
Solid buildings would enable the children of Kpanroun-Center and Kpanroun-Ahowegodo to attend classes at all atmospheric conditions. The students would be better prepared for their exams and get a real chance to continue their studies at high school level after primary education.
The parents promised to send more girls to school.
Evaluation
It has been my personal experience that "grass roots" projects of this nature are highly effective in the fight against poverty and diseases in developing countries. It is especially important to me that communities are fully involved in planning and executing the project to make it spiritually their own property. At the same time communities are relieved of the duty of gratefulness. Our work on the construction site thus takes the shape of a partnership.
My work in West Africa offered me many positive experiences, in the villages but also at "home" on my chase for financial and spiritual support. Whatever I do or plan in the rural areas of Africa depends on this support.
I ask that you give serious consideration to any support that you may provide to this project. Thank you in advance for your readiness to help the children of Kpanroun-Center, Kpanroun-Ahowegodo, and the surrounding villages, so that in future they will be better prepared to compete with the privileged young people of industrialized nations.
Astrid Toda
The chief of administration of the district of Kpanroun had heard about our engagement and support for the rural communities in the Republic of Benin. He made the first contact and invited me to visit the villages of Kpanroun.
To get to Kpanroun one must travel a short distance on the main road that leads from Cotonou to the North of the country, passing Godomey and Calavi up to Akassato. Where there is a T-crossing with a red soil road leading east to Sinvié, we turn and follow this road up to Sinvié. We drive round the market place and continue the red soil road that turns left at the end of the market. The road is severely damaged by corrosion and leads through a swampy area. After 10 km we finally arrive at Kpanroun-Center. While passing through the village we first discover a small hospital on the right side of the road. Then on the left side, we see the public secondary school of the district. Again on the right side we pass an old mosque and right behind that mosque we have reached our destination: the Primary School of Kpanroun-Center.
The Public Primary School of Kpanroun-Center had been created in 1958. Two years before the colonial government quit the French colony of Dahomey, they constructed one solid school building holding three class rooms for this village. The frame of its roof is made of metal, the roof is covered with cement asbestos sheets, and the walls of this building are solid even today. I am impressed to find this building so well maintained.
A second building made of red soil had been added by the villagers later on. It crumbled down, and the remaining foundations are its only evidence. To offer students at least a roof to protect them from sun and rain, the present government headed by Dr. Boni Yayi built a shelter made of wood. Unfortunately termites are already about to destroy this building.
At a distance of 8 km from this school we find the Public Primary School of Kpanroun-Ahowegodo which had been created in 1999. Here the villagers have built one building holding three class rooms. Children of other classes are being taught under shelters covered with palm branches. During rainy season they have to stay home.
I feel like getting involved with this community, but I have doubts on how building materials could be transported across the extremely bad road and the swamp. When I communicate these thoughts to the chief of administration, he tries to calm my worries by promising to make sure that a bridge would be built across the swamp. I doubt the words of the chief of administration. Up to that very day I had never experienced that promises of this kind had ever been met. Three months after my first visit to Kpanroun the chief of administration surprised me by picking me for a drive to Kpanroun. Beaming with pride he showed me the heavy machinery that was about to build the promised bridge. I was emotionally swept off my feet and promised right then that we would construct a building for each of the two school locations.
Objective
I propose to build for each of the two schools one building holding 3 classrooms (9m x 7m) each. This building should also house one office for the principal (4m x 3,5m) and one room (4m x 3,5m) as storage for school materials. I estimate the cost for each building to be 25.000 Euro.
At each location one toilet block would be needed. The cost for one block would be about 8.000 Euro.
Rationale
Solid buildings would enable the children of Kpanroun-Center and Kpanroun-Ahowegodo to attend classes at all atmospheric conditions. The students would be better prepared for their exams and get a real chance to continue their studies at high school level after primary education.
The parents promised to send more girls to school.
Evaluation
It has been my personal experience that "grass roots" projects of this nature are highly effective in the fight against poverty and diseases in developing countries. It is especially important to me that communities are fully involved in planning and executing the project to make it spiritually their own property. At the same time communities are relieved of the duty of gratefulness. Our work on the construction site thus takes the shape of a partnership.
My work in West Africa offered me many positive experiences, in the villages but also at "home" on my chase for financial and spiritual support. Whatever I do or plan in the rural areas of Africa depends on this support.
I ask that you give serious consideration to any support that you may provide to this project. Thank you in advance for your readiness to help the children of Kpanroun-Center, Kpanroun-Ahowegodo, and the surrounding villages, so that in future they will be better prepared to compete with the privileged young people of industrialized nations.
Astrid Toda
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