Interview with Christine, a community volunteer

An interview with Christine, a Plan’s community volunteer from Benin, on her work, women participation, and girls’ education in her community.

Eric-Christian Ahounou

Women like Christine are helping their communities to develop

>>How do you see women participation in your community?
 
In my community, Hélétoumey, women work a lot but individually, for their homes. They hardly participate in community activities because most of them are illiterate. I have lived in Hélétoumey since I was 13 and I don’t know one single woman who is educated. In the general assemblies in which we participate, it is very difficult for women to speak out; men often make fun of us, or worse, insult us.
 
>>What about girls’ education?
 
Concerning children’s schooling, especially girls’ education, things have changed over the last few years. Women themselves have taken the initiative to send their daughters to school. However I sometimes question the reasons behind that and believe that some mothers send their daughters to school because of fear of losing Plan support in the community.

The road to make sure, we, parents understand the importance of girls’ education is a long one and only when mothers see the benefits of having an educated daughter, will they truly change their behaviour. But a lot of things are happening to facilitate that, Plan has organised activities at community level to foster dialogue between parents and children on the importance of education and parents are encouraged to participate more actively in their schooling.
 
>>How do you find your volunteering work – being the only woman?

There is mutual respect. Most of the men think that because I’m older than them, they respect me. But we all work as hard, we walk the same distances, we do the same tasks and that has made them realise that I am not here to get any favours from them or to boss them about – just to help the development of my community.
 
>>What do you find difficult in your role as community volunteer?
 
The community volunteering work is not easy, and being a woman and mother is doubly difficult. When sponsors’ requests concerning their sponsored children or urgent communications arrive, I leave my family to take care of them, and sometimes walk for a few kilometres to get to the sponsored children. The same happens during our trainings when we sleep outside our homes or when we compile the annual progress reports. I cook my children’s meals for few days the day before going to work and when we finish I hurry to return home to see them. But the work I do is very satisfying; knowing that I am contributing to the development of my community with my work brings a smile to my face.
 
>>What advice would you give women in your community?
 
The only useful advice I can give is to tell them to come to the meetings concerning our village’s development and dare take part in decisions, speak out for what they think is right. And if they do that, they will see, they quickly get used to it and they will be very pleased with themselves they have done it. Women’s place is not only in the kitchen but also as active members of our community.

Interviewed by Spero Guy Comlan