Construction of Food Processing Center

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Template:Project HELP Construction of Food Processing Center Project Type(s):
Community Name:	Benin
Country:	Benin
Volunteer(s) Name:	A Forbes
Volunteer(s) Homestate:	North_Carolina
Funds community contributed:	$3367
Percentage community contributed:	25%
Funds needed were:	$9108
Funds requested were:	$9983
PPCP #:	680-172
Year of project approval:	2009
Projects started in Benin 2009 (4).
Ballin' in Benin, Construction of Food Processing Center, Secondary School Classrooms, and Training and Environmental Education for the Guides and Students of Alfkoara and W National Park
Other Projects in Benin (21).
Abomey Secondary School Renovation and Addition, Ballin' in Benin, Construction of Food Processing Center, Craft Workshop for Women's Local Language Literacy School, Girl's Leadership Camp, Girls Leadership Camp, Girls' Internships, Gouka Well Construction, Library Book Project, Library and Computer Center, Literacy Initiative, Malanville Sports Center, Program for the Eradication of Informality Among Artisans, Rent the Books, and Revitalizing Agricultural - Animal Husbandry Training Center … further results
Other Projects by Volunteers from North_Carolina (12).
A Court For Change, Sandra Brooks, Community Fitness Center, Construction of Food Processing Center, Grain Bank, Travis Hellstrom, Kherson Successful Women - Women's Shelter, Lugansk Environmental Preservation through Education and Protection, Maternity Construction, Mohlaletse Classroom Construction, Polytank for a High School, Beverly Robinson, Tourist Information Center, Uganda Integrated Resource Center, and Ukraine Foreign Literature Department and World Studies Resource Center
Other PCPP Projects by Volunteers (438).
Developing an Expanded English Curriculum
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Mapped Projects around Benin (0).

Info about the Construction of Food Processing Center

In 2004 a Center for Education and Development was founded in a rural commune in Benin. Here, some 33 at-risk children receive lodging and food. Presently, 15 boys and 14 girls are learning trades on site and all 33 receive a primary school education on site. All the children receive training in agricultural production and animal husbandry as well.

The Peace Corps volunteer works with this center on agricultural production, environmental activities and education, with the goals of improving the children’s nutrition and creating income-generating activities.

The Center presently grinds its corn and soy (for human and animal consumption) off site, at a local mill. This is both labor-intensive and costly. A processing center on site would eliminate this expense and help reduce labor. Funding has recently been received for the purchase of a mill, but a facility to house the equipment and carry out transformation activities is lacking.

The construction of this facility would provide a space where villagers could grind their corn and soy (at a reasonable price) and could also be trained in agro-alimentary transformation activities. The children will also be trained in these activities. Such skills may prove useful upon the completion of their sojourn at the Center and their reentry into society.

The construction of this center will serve 5 primary goals: 1) Reduce labor and save money for the Center; 2) Encourage income-generating activities at the Center, and in the community; 3) Help the Center come closer to financial independence; 4) Provide a space for community trainings. 5) Community access to quality food products.

Note: This summary was provided by a Peace Corps Volunteer and the community administering this project.