Our agricultural project is being realized since March! We are growing a sort of spinach, green peppers, tomatoes, hot peppers and carrots. Watering is very difficult for two reasons: We don't have a motor pump. Our workers scoop the water from the well and carry it in watering cans all the way to the garden which is more than 200m up the hill. Secondly, the well runs dry easily, and we need to dig it deeper.

Our visit with Ruth, Frieda, Abiba, Devine and Ricardo, all living in Cotonou and surroundings, was insightful. We were able to assess the needs of these children, and to know in which areas they need further support. 

They are all doing well, as one can see on the pictures! Abiba lives with her mother and three siblings in a hut made of bamboo. We want to help her repair her tin roof before rainy season starts.

In the past years, we have done awareness-raising on the following topics: malaria, AIDS, tobacco, diabetes, hygene, water use, child labor and trafficking, etc.

We conduct these campaigns, depending on our target audience, in schools, in villages or in our health center. 

The Health ministry invited us in autumn 2007 to help them during their campaign of popularisation of the tobacco law which, until now, is not being implemented in Benin. During the campaign, we informed local politiciens, lawyers, owners of restaurants and bars and other important personnalities of the dangers of tobacco use, and of the new tobacco law. 

One third of all children under 5 die from the consequences of malnutrition. Arbre de vie has engaged in the battle against this easily preventable sickness.