DAGBE

Our goal is to provide children in crisis situations in rural Benin with the care and support structure that they need to flourish. We work on a case-by-case basis, determining the needs of every child and tailoring our approach to those needs. While continuing to provide care for the children that need it, we also train community leaders in prevention strategies that we hope will reduce the number of children in crisis situations (orphans, vulnerable children, victims of child trafficking, abuse, and extreme poverty) in the next several years.

We operate within a community-centered approach, seeking to make an impact in the region where we work. Our team works closely with community leaders, authorities, and social services representatives in the region in our four strategic program areas - Care for Children & Families, Human Rights & Child Trafficking Intervention, Education & Youth Development, and Social Enterprise & Business Training - to provide better opportunities for the children that we serve. By focusing on this particular region and demographic, we can provide more personal and comprehensive care for children, making sure that their needs are met. This approach, because of its focus on the community, also continually builds local support providing a better platform for sustained success in the future.

Our non-profit was founded by former Peace Corps volunteers who served in the region in Benin where we work. Our personal connections, knowledge of the area and culture, and passion for the work that we are doing set us apart in our ability to make an impact. Our team members' professional backgrounds also leave us uniquely positioned to address the areas of need that we have identified using our deep understanding of the region. These assets, along with our growing donor base and expanding social enterprise projects, allow us to develop our organization for sustainable impact.

Our organization has grown each year, providing better care for more children. In 2013, we assisted over 450 children across all program areas and counted nearly 700 beneficiaries overall. Over 90% of our funds went directly to our work in Benin and we positioned ourselves for even greater impact in 2014. Our organization is extremely well-received in the region where we work and our connections with community leaders have grown stronger each year.

In coming years, we hope to continue to grow our impact while at the same time setting a wider base of sustainable support by elaborating more potential social enterprise projects that could provide a source of revenue for our center in the region.