Hope for girls in Toffo

Problem: what if your school stopped at the freshmen year of highschool? What if the nearest school was 40 minutes away on a motorcycle which you do not have money to pay for? This is the state of things for the children in Toffo. Children who want to stay in school; finish their diploma and even possibly go on to college have to rent an apartment in Houegbo or if they are lucky they will go to live with an aunt or uncle. This is especially hard for girls because if they do decide to rent an apartment and go to school here many of them find themselves with unwanted pregnancy. The father? Usually either a teacher; sexual favors equals better grades; or another student. If you thought it was hard to get child support paid in the states do not think it is any easier in a third world country. So the result is that most girls in Toffo do not finish their diploma and probably most boys either but their chances are a little better.

Our efforts: June 20 we are holding a week long camp talking about sexual harrassment, hygeine, health and medical topics, and most of all encouraging them to stay in school. We are also taking two field trips; one to a farming school that produces and sells alot of products besides the vegetables they grow and also a trip to the national assembly. This should be an awesome experience for these girls. I am taking two from Toffo and other volunteers across southern Benin will also be taking girls from their areas. Please pray for these girls and also for myself as I think of ways to council these girls in the future.

Other news: my accounting and marketing formations are going well. I am currently working with three new trainers. We will be finishing up in the next two weeks. They are a great group and really seem to be absorbing the information. Contrary to many in their culture; they show up on time... I was so amazed one day when I showed up late because I could not find a taxi and they were all sitting waiting for me. I am kind of discouraged with one of the other trainers from the last group who had taken the course and did not follow through with finding participants. I know that he was using the information but we could not get people from his area to come.

Microfinance projects: I am so happy with the womens group in Toffo. Those who can have been continually bringing more money each week to save. We have been able to give out 6 loans. The women are also receiving loans from a local ONG. The value of their money has been increasing too as they pay fines and as interest is paid back on loans. As I may have said before, we are trying to grow moringa. Please continue to pray for our starter plants. Not many of them took; about 10percent. There is still a chance that more seeds will grow... pray that they will. One of the Catholic sisters that I work with told me that there is another Sister in another city... that wants to do the same kind of project with the women who come to her center. I will be going to visit them in a couple weeks.

Side projects:
_a local health clinic that I work with has been pestering me to help them more with accounting. I love when people are seeking to improve; the pharmacy tech who works there seems to soak up the tools that I give him.
_I also am looking to working with the radio; their accountant asked me to come help her with the computer. She makes her charts in word instead of excel which takes alot more time.
_I also gave a little advice to our president. She used to have a cook that would make european as well as African food. She only cooks african food now because he was stealing money from her. She never rehired a new cook. I am pushing her to put an ad on the radio and advertise other places too. Also, she told me that before i suggested it she had never thought of asking for references or contacts from previous employers when hiring.

Okay; i will post again sunday night. Please pray for my friend. She owns a boutique and was robbed may 8. She sells alot of stuff and almost all her stuff was stolen. Friends have given her a little money here and there but it will take her a while to build back up to what she had.