In cities such as Cotonou school drop-out in primary and secondary education amounts to about 28%. Abandonment, child prostitution and juvenile delinquency are common occurrences.
The PRH team in Cotonou wants to turn around this situation with appropriate training of parents and children.
On Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings they organize extra mural activities, during which children in the age group of 8 to 15 years are supervised doing their homework and followed in their personal development. The intention is to motivate them, to strengthen them and to make them more resilient, and to arouse their interest and sense of responsibility.
1800 children and adolescents from Cotonou and surroundings are invited.
The recruitment of the accompanists is done in collaboration with the school’s leaders and the State’s Social Centers (CPS-Centres de Promotion Sociale).
The accompanists receive training in dealing with unmotivated students: homework supervision, working in group, shelter in cases of abandonment, ill treatment, (sexual) abuse, puberty crises, etc. The accompanists follow a training plan spanning 3 years.
During the workshop ‘Who am I’ they become aware of their capacities and strong points, and develop these. Furthermore, they become acquainted with the principles of the ‘helping relationship’ to provide appropriate aid to these vulnerable children. They acquire more insight into their specific needs in order that these children feel themselves as seen and appreciated.
