Welcome to the best website for information about Peace Corps Benin! If you’re thinking about volunteering in Benin, you found the right place. We’ll tell you about the history of Peace Corps in Benin. We’ll also explore Benin as a country. You can learn the languages spoken there. You can also read about other volunteers’ experiences. Here you can find info on safety and health too. We’ll also share how to contact former Peace Corps volunteers who were in Benin. Get ready to learn more to help decide if volunteering in Benin is good for you.
Volunteers in Benin work on projects in Agriculture, Education, and Health (leave in May).
Table of Contents
- 1. Peace Corps in Benin
- 2. About Benin
- 3. Safety and Health for Volunteers
- 4. Volunteer Experiences
- 5. Resources and Connections
1. Peace Corps in Benin
Focus Areas:
- Agriculture: The goal of the Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) project is to help communities in Benin have enough healthy food all year. It works to make sure families have enough money to buy food, eat well, and stay strong over time.
- Education: The TEFL project supports Benin’s Ministry of Education by helping students, teachers, and communities learn English for school and work opportunities. TEFL Volunteers teach English in middle and high schools, working with local teachers. They also help people in the community improve their English outside of school.
- TEFL Certificate Program: TEFL Volunteers in Benin take part in the Peace Corps TEFL Certificate program. This program includes 120 hours of training and two years of supervised teaching, with practice teaching and classroom feedback. Beninese co-teachers who work with Volunteers can also earn a Certificate in Classroom Practice (CICP) if they meet the requirements.
- Health: Volunteers in the Rural Community Health program work with Community Health Workers, local health centers, and health organizations to improve the health and well-being of their communities. They focus on two main goals: improving maternal, newborn, and child health with an emphasis on nutrition, and preventing diseases by promoting healthy habits like proper hygiene, sanitation, malaria prevention, HIV/AIDS education, and reproductive health for teens and young people.
2. About Benin
Benin is a country in West Africa made up of many different ethnic groups. Some of these groups, like the Yoruba, came from nearby Nigeria a long time ago. The Kingdom of Dahomey was powerful in this area for many years and was known for the slave trade. France took over Benin in the late 1800s, but Benin became independent in 1960, changing its name to the Republic of Benin in 1975.
Geography: Benin is located in Western Africa, next to the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo. It’s mostly flat, with some hills and low mountains. The climate in Benin is tropical, with hot, humid weather in the south and drier weather in the north. There are no natural harbors on the coast.
People and Society: In 2024, Benin has a population of over 14 million people, with slightly more females than males. Many different ethnic groups live in Benin, including the Fon, Adja, and Yoruba. The population is mostly in the south, especially around the coastal cities. Many people in Benin are young, with almost 65% of the population under 25. Many Beninese people migrate to other West African countries and some to Europe.
Environment: Some of the environmental issues in Benin include not having enough clean water, water pollution, and harm to wildlife from poaching. Deforestation and desertification are also problems. Benin has signed many international agreements to protect the environment. The climate is tropical, and the land is mostly used for farming and forests.
Government: Benin is a republic with a president who is both the head of state and head of government. The current president is Patrice Talon. The government has a National Assembly with 109 members. Benin’s legal system is based on the French system, and they have a constitution that was adopted in 1990.
Economy: Benin’s economy is growing, but many people still live in poverty. The country trades a lot with Nigeria. Benin exports cotton. Most of the money made in Benin comes from services, but agriculture is also very important. Some of the major industries in Benin include textiles, food processing, and construction.
Language: There are 55 languages spoken in Benin. The official language is French. Some important indigenous languages are Fon, Yom, and Yoruba. There are also many regional languages spoken in the north.
During their service in Benin, Volunteers learn to speak local languages, including Bariba, Ditamari, Dendi, Fon, French, Mahi, Adja, Kotokoli, and Lokpa.
3. Safety and Health for Volunteers
How safe is it serve in Benin?
As of 2023, 100% of volunteers felt safe or very safe where they lived in Benin. And 100% felt safe or very safe where they worked. More detailed information about safety compared to other Peace Corps countries can be found in the Benin Country Crime Profile.
What are some of the health concerns in Benin?
Most of the medical problems seen in Benin are also found in the United States, such as colds, diarrhea, skin infections, headaches, minor injuries, sexually transmitted infections, adjustment disorders, and emotional problems. For Volunteers, these problems may be more frequent or compounded by life in Benin because local factors raise the risk of or exacerbate the severity of certain illnesses. The medical problems specific to Benin are:
- typhoid, cholera, polio, meningitis, Hepatitis A and B, rabies, amoebic dysentery
- diarrhea, skin infections, dental problems, headaches, respiratory infections, minor injuries
- HIV/AIDS, and STIs
Health problems also can result from local environmental factors, such as dust, humidity, insects, and disease-producing microorganisms. Because malaria is endemic in Benin, Volunteers are required to take anti-malarial medication.
But more detailed information about health related issues at Peace Corps Benin can be found in the Benin Health and Medical Care Summary.
4. Volunteer Experiences
What do volunteers think of serving in Benin?
Since 1975, the Annual Volunteer Survey has been a source of information on the state of the Peace Corps (PC) program for the agency, Congress, researchers, the media, and the general public. In 2019, 91% of volunteers found their overall Peace Corps service rewarding or very rewarding. 85% of volunteers would still make the same decision to serve with the Peace Corps today. 86% of volunteers would recommend Peace Corps service to others. More information can be found in the Benin Annual Volunteer Survey Satisfaction Results.
Where can I learn more about PC Benin volunteer experiences?
PCV blogs and YouTube channels offer a unique look into the daily life of volunteers serving in Benin. These blogs and channels can help you understand the challenges and triumphs that come with being a volunteer. Explore these links for inspiring stories and practical advice from current and past volunteers.
- Emma (Education) interview
- Emily (Education) interview
- Emma (2023-25) YouTube
- Jess in Benin (2016-18) blog
- Meaghan in Benin (2014-16) blog
5. Resources and Connections
How can I connect with Returned PCVs who served in Benin?
If you’re interested in learning more about serving in Benin, I’ve got you covered! Click here to see all of my posts about Peace Corps Benin with details on the experience, culture, food, packing tips, and more.
Where can I find official information about Peace Corps Benin?
- PeaceCorps.gov/Benin
- Projects in Benin
- Stories from Benin
- Living Conditions
- Navigating Identities
- Packing Guidance
This is an PC publication called “The Peace Corps Welcomes You to Benin“, published in 2013. In the past, before the internet, this is how volunteers learned more about Benin. Even though it is many years old, there is still a lot of good information there. You can download it here but remember it is just for informational purposes. For up-to-date information, always check with you Peace Corps contacts and staff.
This blog post gave you lots of useful information to help decide if Benin is a good place for you to volunteer. You learned about Benin culture, languages, and development. We discussed important safety and health considerations for volunteers too. Also, we provided ways to contact former Peace Corps volunteers who served in Benin. We hope this post has aided your search for information about volunteering with Peace Corps in Benin!
The content of this post does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or the Benin Government.
