Donation of school supplies to the orphanage 'Bethel House'
We've distributed school supplies to orphans. A generous gesture very much appreciated by the orphans and the leaders of the orphanage, who showed us their gratitude. Of course, all this has been made possible through your generosity, for which we will never stop thanking you. Thank you for believing in us and supporting our cause.
Assistance provided to a family of five (5) orphans and vulnerable children
We are today in Kouti, a village located in Avrankou, a city of the Ouémé department, in the Republic of Benin. Only SAHFA members acted as part of this tour. We provided assistance to a family of five orphans. These children are fatherless, and their mother was the only support. But it didn't last long, because their mother's in-laws rejected and kicked her out of the house. These cases are numerous in Benin. But the case of this family has particularly caught our attention. In addition to the donation of school supplies, we paid school fees for one of the five (5) children. He did not attend school last school year, as he was unable to attend school last year due to non-payment of school fees by his mother.
Donation of school supplies to the public primary school in Ikpele centre
In cooperation with the NGO CEDAS, the NGO JESPD and with the support of the Lions Club Tolérance and the NGO JSFN, we responded to complaints from poor children and their parents, of the public primary school Ikpele centre in Pobe, a municipality of the department of Plateau, in the Republic of Benin.
Distribution of school supplies to the Vêdoko School for the Deaf
We visited deaf and dumb schoolchildren from a school in the Littoral department and distributed school supplies as part of the tour, which began on 21 September 2019. These adorable children, did not know how to hide their joy, and thanked us very much.Thank you for believing in us and supporting our cause.
Event: Ecorunning - Special World Cleaning Day 2019
2019/09/21
Event: Ecorunning - Special World Cleaning Day 2019
This Saturday, September 21, 2019, like other countries around the world, Benin celebrated World Clean Up Day. On this occasion, the collective #SachetHéloué, initiator of the popular Ecorunning event, called together all associations, organizations, international and national institutions as well as the Beninese population to mobilize in Cotonou, Porto-Novo and Calavi for a major day of cleaning up the waste from the highways of the cities mentioned above.
Donation of school supplies to the villages of Lokoli and Koussoukpa
A SAHFA team visited the Koussoukpa Public Primary School in the commune of Zogbodomè, located in the department of Zou, in the Republic of Benin. This village which had already welcomed us during this summer during the holidays for our school support project. Our donations of school supplies were therefore intended for the schoolchildren of this village, who during three weeks attended school vacations with our volunteers. The number of students was estimated at 200.
Festival of solidarity and Festival of AlimenTERRE - National meetings
A national meeting that brought together all (if not the majority) associations and NGOs from all departments of BENIN for an information and training session on the two festivals but especially for a better organization of the two festivals this year in Benin.
Smile and Happiness for All Association celebrates 1 year
As part of the celebration not only of a year of existence but also of actions in the humanities field, SAHFA organized a gala dinner. Representatives of associations and NGOs, parents of both members and volunteers of the association and of course some distinguished guests were invited. The gala dinner was also an opportunity to take stock of the Association's activities, and to think about the Association's future projects and actions.
30th anniversary celebration of children rights
2019/08/28
Benin National Children's Forum organized by UNICEF BENIN
Following an invitation from UNICEF, the SAHFA Association participated at the National Children's Forum in Benin. This forum brought together children from Benin, particularly those from the Association of the Benin Children's Council (ANACEB), for an enriching debate on their rights as children and, above all, on children's grievances towards their parents and the Beninese government.
Ashoka Foundation meeting
2019/08/28
Ashoka Foundation meeting
Following an invitation from the ASHOKA Foundation, the SAHFA Association participated in a meeting whose objective was to detect, train, monitor and promote the actions of young talents with innovative projects. Those young talents are called: changemakers.
Food and clothing donations to the NGO 'Terre rouges'
2019/08/15
Food and clothing donations to the NGO 'Terre rouges'
The SAHFA association has donated food and clothing to help and support the efforts of the NGO 'Terres Rouges', which cares not only for children but also for orphans.
As part of the international solidarity project, the SAHFA Association has opted for school support activities. The beneficiaries chosen for this project are schoolchildren from the village of Lokoli. The activities planned for this project are school vacations given by SAHFA volunteers, information sessions for children on children's rights as set out in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and activities (games, sports...)
Workshop for presenting the results of the census of volunteer structures and information on the implementation of the qualification system in volunteerism and exchanges
The Benin Office of the Volunteer and Youth Service organized a workshop based on the theme 'Restitution of the results of the census of volunteer structures and information on the implementation of the qualification system in volunteering and exchanges'. The purpose of the workshop, which brought together various associations and NGOs, including SAHFA, is to discuss the new reforms implemented by the Beninese Government to support non-governmental organizations in their actions. The workshop was also an opportunity to present the new regulations issued in order to provide greater clarity and facilitate the authorities' follow-up on each action undertaken by an association or NGO.
Clothing donation to the 'Espoir d'Enfants' orphanage in Ouidah (Benin)
The volunteers of the SAHFA Association gave the orphans of this orphanage some clothes obtained after a several days collection. We thank our generous donors.
Workshop on the revitalization of international solidarity projects in Benin
A workshop organized by France Volontaire for the benefit of international solidarity structures. The objective of this workshop is to reorganize the implementation of the worksites by the above-mentioned structures.
The SAHFA Association has been invited to lead a communication on Volunteering and Sustainable Development Goals (SDOs) at this event, with a focus on the environment.
Donation of school supplies to the Bethel House orphans"
Start and end Date of Activity:
October 12th, 2019
Location of Activity:
Comè, Department of Mono-Couffo (Republic of Benin)
Nature of Activity:
Donation
Activity Organizer :
Smile and Happiness for All (SAHFA)
Donation details
314 notebooks
46 blue and red ball-point pens
02 mathematical instruments boxes
Khaki notebooks cover of 17 meters in length
Donations
Event Overview
Name of Activity:
Donation of school supplies to the centre for the blind, "St-Paul friend of the blind"
Start and end Date of Activity:
October 03th, 2019
Location of Activity:
Tori Station, Department of Atlantique (Republic of Benin)
Nature of Activity:
Donation
Activity Organizer :
Smile and Happiness for All (SAHFA)
Donation details
54 notebooks
20 blue ball-point pens
10 ball-point pens
10 rulers
05 erasers
10 pencils
06 coloured pencils boxes
01 chalk box
02 mathematical instruments boxes
Donations
Event Overview
Name of Activity:
Donation of school supplies Koussoukpa's public elementary school
Start and end Date of Activity:
September 21st, 2019
Location of Activity:
Villages of Koussoukpa and Lokoli (Republic of Benin)
Nature of Activity:
Donation
Activity Organizer :
Smile and Happiness for All (SAHFA)
Donation details
400 100-pages notebooks
31 200-pages notebooks
250 ball-point pens
Khaki notebooks cover of 60 meters in length
50 pencils
2 chalk boxes
Forum
Participating organizations: UNICEF BENIN, the National Association of Children's Councils in Benin (ANACEB)
28th of August 2019, Cotonou (Benin) - Benin's National Children's Forum is being held under the stamp of the 30th anniversary celebration of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CED30). The forum served as a showcase for the children who confronted the Beninese authorities with their responsibilities. It is at BlueZone de Zongo in Cotonou that UNICEF Benin, in partnership with the ANACEB, has decided to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Through this national forum, children reviewed BENIN's commitments since the ratification of the CRC and made pleas to the authorities present, including the resident representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in BENIN.
The audience, composed for the majority of children, in particular from ANACEB, but also of representatives of international organisations and institutions and certain political personalities, greatly appreciated the debate on children's rights and the opportunity was given to children to deliver their messages to the competent authorities.
Because the main target of its actions are children, the Association Smile and Happiness for All was present at this forum. We thought it was appropriate and good to know what these children really want and what their lack of clarity was about the rights they have under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Donations
Event Overview
Name of Activity:
Donation of food and clothing to the orphans of the NGO “Terres Rouges”
Start and end Date of Activity:
August 15th, 2019
Location of Activity:
Municipality of Cotonou (Republic of Benin)
Nature of Activity:
Donation
Activity Organizer :
Smile and Happiness for All (SAHFA)
Donation details
10 liters of cooking oil
Clothing
Couscous packs
Rice bag (25 kg)
Spaghetti packs
Sugar packs
Sweetened condensed milk cans
Etc.
International solidarity project
Rapport des activités de soutien scolaire : Comment un chantier de solidarité international contribue-t-il à l’amélioration de l’éducation des enfants?
On October 27th, 2018, we went to a village called Lokoli, located in the department of Zou in Benin Republic. Although the initial objective of this visit was to donate school kits, it was difficult for us to remain indifferent to the lack of teachers that the schoolchildren in this village are suffering. Thus, we had made a commitment at the time to recruit a teacher at our own expense. The recruitment of this teacher was to be used to fill the severe lack of teachers within the School, in view of the number of pupils to be supervised. In addition to the recruitment of this teacher, we have committed to come back during the summer to give those children vacation classes. See details in the report. These promises were kept and below is the report.
Throughout the 2018-2019 school year, the SAHFA Team not only recruited and paid a teacher, but also organized tutoring courses from July 22 to August 11, 2019.
The school project, which did not take place in a day, required a lot of preparation from both SAHFA members and local communities. Indeed, it was essential to study in detail the feasibility of the project, in particular as regards logistics issues.
Despite the problems of the journey, it was with great motivation and joy that our volunteers arrived at their destination on Sunday, July 21, 2019; for a three-week adventure. Once everyone was settled in, they all slumbered and slept.
Activity details
Despite a slight delay this Monday, July 22, 2019 of the schoolchildren, they quickly got back in the mood. Indeed, a day full of activities and animations awaited them, and our volunteers were all there. Thanks to the collaboration of the teachers (Mister Gratien; Mister Michel; Mister Brice) and the two school’s principals (Mister François and Mister Justin), our volunteers were able to animate the whole village of Lokoli for three weeks and in particular the children who remain the main beneficiaries.
Every day and for the duration of the work camp, our volunteers carried out a program spread as follows:
Morning courses – including dialogue on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to increase their knowledge, understanding and claim of their rights;
Animations in the afternoon.
Objectives achieved
As the happy faces testified, we were particularly proud to say that we were able to achieve the objectives we set for ourselves as part of this project. It was with a smile that we came out of the village of Lokoli and the children were happy to have spent such a beautiful holiday with us.
We are also able to affirm that, in view of this school project carried out, the quality of the children has increased significantly. There is also no doubt that they will have a very fond memory of their summer holidays in 2019.
Donations
Event Overview
Name of Activity:
Clothing donation to the 'Espoir d'Enfants' orphanage children
Start and end Date of Activity:
June 20th, 2019
Location of Activity:
Municipality of Ouidah (Republic of Benin)
Nature of Activity:
Donation
Activity Organizer :
Smile and Happiness for All (SAHFA)
ACTIVITIES DURING THE EVENT
Games and animations with the children to bring them more smiles
Clothing donation to the 'Espoir d’Enfants' orphanage children
Workshop
Participating organizations: Benin Scout, Benin Vignon Orphanage, France Volontaire, JESPD NGO, OPESVat NGO, Smile and Happiness for All, Terre d'Espoir Association
2019 June 13th, Cotonou (Benin) - The workshop 'Revitalization of International Solidarity Projects (ISPs) in Benin' focused on the assessment of ISCs today, while taking stock of ISPs in 2019 with an additional follow-up schedule. Work was also carried out on France Volontaire's new action plan to optimize the performance of future CSIs. Finally, proposals were made by the participants to revitalize the ISPs.
In order to carry out a review of the ISPs, each association representative was invited to review the activities of their organization; in this case the ISCs, organized since the creation of their organizations. All these actions have made it possible to identify any imperfections, which will be corrected in future editions of ISPs. With regard to the ongoing CSIs undertaken by the associations present at the workshop, an update was made, and France Volontaire in collaboration with the associations agreed on a schedule for monitoring future projects.
The workshop allowed the associations present to create or strengthen their link. Opportunities for partnerships have thus been considered and even created.
One-day discussion
Acronyms
ADEE: Association for the Development of Education and the Environment (Association pour le Développement de l’Éducation et de l’Environnement)
ATE: Land of Hope Association (Association Terre d’Espoir)
SAHFA: Smile and Happiness for All
Forum Title: One-day forum organized by SAHFA on the theme: “youth care and humanitarian commitment”.
Date : May 30th, 2019
Panelist :
Mr. Madrick Tonakambio, Smile and Happiness for All at Benin (Coordinator)
Mathieu Djodeme, Association Terre d’Espoir (President)
Yannick Soumanou, Association for the Development of Education and the Environment (Vice-President)
Summary of the session
The meeting organized by the Association Smile and Happiness for All (SAHFA) on the theme 'Youth and Humanitarian Aid' brought together representatives of partner associations, such as: ADEE, ATE, ATE, NGO M-FARSH-BENIN. In addition to these associations, we can also note the presence of Miss Grace POHOUEGBE, winner of the Beninese reality show 'Tell me who is the most beautiful'.
The meeting began with an exchange between the assistance and SAHFA on volunteerism in humanitarian settings. Then, a communication animated by the president of the ATE on the theme 'Volunteer and Voluntary' was given. Explanations were given on financing associative projects approaches, on the different ways of integrating an association as a volunteer. The interventions ended with testimonies from former volunteers present in the assembly and who had participated in humanitarian workcamps. These interventions were very informative, as each participant was able to learn lessons about the humanitarian world and how it works.
After the lunch break, the participants were introduced to the different activities and games (in this case the miming game), carried out as part of an international solidarity project. A workshop on origami making facilitated by SAHFA volunteers was also held during the meeting.
Objectives achieved
The participants' knowledgebase about humanitarian world within the volunteering concept is also expanded and their human focus is sharpened;
Initiation of participants to the organization and animation of humanitarian projects, in particular the international solidarity project;
Management in the humanitarian field has its own rules. Thus, participants received information’s on the approaches to financing associative, on the different ways of integrating an association as a volunteer.
