Member comments

The Friends of Bonou
reactions_from_members.htm

Members describe their visits to Bonou

Peter writes : “Having heard so much about Bonou from Laurence, it was with great excitement and anticipation that we arrived and we were totally overwhelmed by our reception: At the entrance to the village we were met by a group of musicians, drummers and girls dancing. With immense noise and energy they escorted us to the village itself where about 600 people were sitting waiting for us… In Europe we are used to images of passive helpless Africans but the reality we saw is a vibrant community with its effective democratic structures in place, which knows what it wants and how to get there. This is real overseas aid: direct cooperation with local people! Our joint financial contributions will make this project work. We are not giving hand-outs but sharing a journey with the people of Bonou. We were privileged to share their lives and to learn as much from them as they do from us. We are rich financially but they have immense social wealth that we have lost: family solidarity and social obligation, respect for the old and the sense that a child is a gift for the whole extended family and not just the parents, a way of resolving conflicts peacefully and fairly ... I have returned full of energy to do more and having had the greatest welcome of my life.”

Mark writes “Money is important to any such work, but one thing people in Bonou definitely do not need is help from any more “parachutists” – specialists who come in for brief assessment visits, file reports, make recommendations and then leave to go and do something else. What is essential is engagement with them in a project of their choice (since only they really know what they need), assisted by us who provide the financial seed-corn, and perhaps can help to buy in specific outside technical help, without any hint of patronising”.

Sylvie writes: “Although Laurence had told us to expect a “warm” welcome when we went to “our” village in Bonou, even she, I think, didn’t quite expect warmth on this scale! For those among us who, being British by birth or by adoption, are of a more reticent nature, it was overwhelming but utterly contagious…What struck me most though was first the exemplary way the village is structured and organised, and has already set up so many self-help schemes: from micro-credit to training schemes for women – and secondly, something which the more sceptical among us find difficult to believe until they have seen it: this, what we are trying to do in Bonou, is not just about money – it’s about friendship”.

Caro writes: “Just five days in Bénin and now for the big day: We are off to attend the inauguration of the girls’ Training Centre. After two hours hard driving we arrive in Bonou at 10.30am to see a large welcoming banner announcing the Inauguration in huge bold letters. As we climb out of the car we are immediately overcome by noise, excitement, colour and three zangbeto (Village guardians, voodoo characters made of heavy straw and reminding me of ‘It’ in the Adams family). It is extraordinary and totally exhilarating to be caught up in the crowd of smiling faces and noise. The sound of the drums, clapping and singing sweep us along and we are directed to a freshly built green palm canopy on velvet and wooden armchairs at one end of an open space surrounded by even more people. To one side is a collection of women bedecked in a riot of colours, deep pink, green, red, purple, blue, all bright but harmonious and energising in their exuberance. They are singing and making music and swaying. We are shepherded to the chairs, given the “water of welcome” offered to each of us in turn and we have to tip a little to the ground to honour the ancestors. The zangbeto begin their show of illusion overseen by a tall elegant man with cowrie shells at his neck and a spirit woman who moves with a graceful power. Finally the ceremony begins as the Préfet (the highest civil servant in the province representing the Minister) has finally arrived with her retinue… She turns out to be a rather impressive woman with a lovely manner and a strong presence. She tells the crowd that she had been charged by the minister to emphasise the importance of education for girls and reiterates the government’s promise to aim for free education for all. It is time to open both the centres and to cut the yellow and green ribbons before walking around the lovely pink and blue buildings laid out around a central “paillotte”. After a feast of mutton, tomato, chilli and rice, we are taken back to the Centre to a meeting with the village elders under the palm shelter before the light fails and the evening falls. We sit in the easy chairs with the sun getting lower in the sky, so aware of this unique privilege, listening to the elders… Too soon we realise that sadly it is time to go. Darkness had fallen by the time we joined the main road to Porto Novo and on to Cotonou, but this unforgettable day will stay with me for ever as it has had a profound effect on me. I returned to Britain determined to do my utmost to help the village and to be an even more active member of FoB”.

Patsy writes: “The students and staff of Dangbo Lycée fêted us with a wonderful welcome: students lining the road into the school, with drums and dancing … The purpose of our visit was to present football kit to the school in the hope that this is only the beginning of an ongoing relationship and friendship; we are hoping this will lead to a full and two-way school link with a secondary school in Oxfordshire and the building of a new library. Dangbo Lycée has 2600 students from a wide catchment area including Bonou, the students are taught in classes of 70-80; commitment to education is high but resources and infrastructure – particularly buildings – are poor. The celebration began with a group of six students – 3 girls and 3 boys - performing a colourful and expressive dance accompanied by drums and singing. This was followed by an amusing role-play by members of the football team on the theme of the need to have both talent and good equipment to make a successful team. The humour and laughter was infectious and thoroughly enjoyed by all. The formal business then followed with the presentation of the equipment preceded by the inevitable speeches of welcome and thanks from the Director of the school, the mayor of Dangbo and Laurence on behalf of the Friends of Bonou. The kit was very gratefully received by the team and following the presentations we were offered drinks and croissants from the staff. A female teacher approached us to let us know that she planned to set up a girl’s football team in the near future – a note for FOB to remember to fund their equipment in due course!!! We left the school again accompanied by drums, warm greetings and friendly faces and with increased determination to improve our link with Dangbo Lycée”