Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
26 Jan 2026
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 5 days
Feedback
9
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Email verified
Badges (4)
Details
Description
We started our activities in 2000 as a solidarity group of women supporting mothers in distress. In 2004, the group became a registered NGO. We are women facing precarious living conditions who decided to take action to change our lives and improve our environment.
We are based in Cotonou, the economic capital of Benin, where children and women are among the most vulnerable, in a context of widespread poverty, gender inequality, and limited protection of children’s rights.
In 2008, we created a nursery and daycare center, offering:
daily care for children (hygiene, meals, safety),
early childhood education (nursery and kindergarten),
tutoring for primary school children,
holiday activities and camps,
support and training for women in difficulty, including single mothers and out-of-school girls.
⚠️ Important reality
Our center does not receive any stable funding from the government or institutions. The small school fees paid by families are far from sufficient to cover operating costs. As a result, the sustainability of the center depends largely on donations, fundraising efforts, and external support.
For us, welcoming volunteers through Workaway is therefore not only about help on site, but also about building long-term sustainability for the children and women we support.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Teaching
DIY and building projects
Babysitting and creative play
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Interests
Sustainability
Farming
Events & social
Culture
Charity work
Gardening
Drawing & painting
DIY & crafts
Nature
Dancing
Beach
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We remain flexible with working hours to allow volunteers to:
discover Beninese culture,
enjoy the seaside of Cotonou,
visit places such as Ouidah, Ganvié, and Dantokpa market,
participate in local social and cultural life.
We aim to create a welcoming, respectful, and family-oriented environment.
“In Benin, the foreigner is king” — hospitality is part of our culture.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
🔹 TYPES OF HELP & LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Volunteers support our local team but do not replace permanent staff.
We are especially looking for volunteers willing to contribute to:
Fundraising & resource mobilization (essential)
Communication and visibility (social media, storytelling, campaigns)
Website creation or improvement
Support to children (tutoring, creative activities, English, games)
Environmental improvement and small projects
Awareness and training activities for adults (depending on skills)
💡 Volunteers who are motivated to become ambassadors of our cause will have the most meaningful experience here.
🔹 IMPORTANT – FUNDING & SUSTAINABILITY (KEY SECTION)
We provide accommodation (ventilated rooms) and meals, which represents a real financial cost for our center — higher than what we are currently able to pay in cash to our permanent local staff.
For this reason:
Volunteers are considered as support, not replacements.
Fundraising, visibility, or resource mobilization is an essential part of the volunteer mission.
Long-term stays are only possible if they contribute to the sustainability of the center.
This may include:
launching or supporting online fundraising campaigns,
mobilizing personal networks,
seeking partnerships or donors,
collecting financial or material support,
helping finance local staff or educational materials.
Transparency is very important to us, and we prefer to discuss these aspects before confirming a stay.
🔹 IDEAL VOLUNTEER PROFILES
🔹 Short stays (2–3 weeks)
Support activities on site
Help with visibility or a specific fundraising action
🔹 Medium stays (1 month)
Active involvement in fundraising
Clear objectives discussed in advance
🔹 Long stays (2–3 months)
⚠️ Specific conditions apply
Strong commitment to fundraising or contribution
Clear agreement on objectives before arrival
Languages
Languages spoken
French: Fluent
English: IntermediateThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
We offer private ventilated rooms for volunteers.
Some common areas such as bathrooms and shared spaces are communal.
Volunteers also have access to the kitchen, and meals are prepared using local products (rice, beans, pasta, yams, vegetables, fish, fruits, etc.).
⚠️ As accommodation and food are provided, volunteers are expected to contribute to the sustainability of the project through fundraising or resource mobilization.
What else ...
🔹 FINAL MESSAGE TO VOLUNTEERS
Workaway is for us a tool to build sustainability, not only to receive help.
Volunteers who understand this reality and are willing to engage beyond daily activities will find here a deeply meaningful, honest, and impactful experience.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
This project involves children. Volunteers must respect child protection guidelines and understand that continuity and safety are ensured by local staff.
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
Can possibly accept pets
This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (8)
Ce fut une expérience très enrichissante.
J'ai été accueillie comme une membre de la famille et est adorée échanger avec Hortense qui est une femme en or !
J'ai évidement participé à l'encadrement des enfants mais le besoin principal est la collecte de fond permettant de… read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.7)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(4.9)
Ce fut une expérience très enrichissante.
J'ai été accueillie comme une membre de la famille et est adorée échanger avec Hortense qui est une femme en or !
J'ai évidement participé à l'encadrement des enfants mais le besoin principal est la collecte de fond permettant de… read more
Hortense et Wulfran, qui ont crée le centre, et le gèrent au quotidien, sont des personnes très investies dans leur projet. Ils mettent beaucoup d'énergie à faire fonctionner l'école et améliorer les conditions d'accueil des élèves.
Leur maison se trouve dans l'enceinte de l'école… read more
! Important !
Au… read more
J’ai passé 1 mois au centre
Super expérience.
Hortense et sa famille sont très accueillant.
On se sent chez nous.
Pensez à amener des jouets pour les enfants en venant. Des fournitures scolaires et tout ce que vous pouvez pour les aider.
Vous avez libre choix de votre emploi du temps. Nous avons pu visiter le Bénin comme le voulait.… read more
Hortense et Wulfran sont des personnes très chaleureuses avec qui j'ai eu de belles discussions et partagé de beaux moments.
Je n'en retire que du positif, j'ai été ravi de pouvoir vous aider.
Je vous souhaite le meilleur pour la suite :)
Hortense a toujours le soucis que son hôte se sente bien sans pour autant être intrusive.
C'est vraiment une expérience enrichissante qui permet de pouvoir comprendre le quotidien des béninois.
C'est sans hésitation que je recommande de réaliser un séjour… read more
