From March 13 to 15 in Dassa-Zoumé, 45 Religious women and men gathered for a formation conducted by the Talitha Kum Africa team. The goal of this formation was to deepen the participant’s understanding of the realities of human trafficking in Benin and across West Africa, while equipping and strengthening their skills to identify, prevent, and respond to exploitation. 

We were honored by the presence of Bishop François Gnonhossou and Fr. Aubin Gbessat, Episcopal Vicar, who expressed their support and encouragement for carrying out the mission of Talitha Kum throughout the country. They congratulated the participants, highlighting that representatives from 7 of the 10 dioceses of Benin took part in the formation.

The core training team was composed of Sr. Kayula Lesa, Regional Coordinator for Talitha Kum Africa, along with Sr. Yvonne Bambara who preceded her in this role, and Sr. Marie-Reine Zanou, regional hub coordinator for the Talitha Kum networks in West Africa. During the formation, participants took part in various workshops and presentations on the role of Talitha Kum network and the Church in preventing trafficking, along with national and international legal frameworks. The sessions also highlighted the importance of collaboration, networking, awareness-raising, and youth and survivors empowerment.

Most importantly, the participants gained a clearer understanding of the root causes of trafficking and how to recognize its signs in their communities. In Benin, the common forms of trafficking include domestic servitude, child labor, and sexual exploitation, all exacerbated by poverty. The cultural beliefs around witchcraft to the stigma faced by children so-called “enfants sorciers” is also prevalent; children born with perceived “differences” or those whose mother dies during childbirth, are often rejected by their communities and placed at high risk of trafficking.

The three-day formation was highly impactful with strong participants' engagement and insightful sharing. It culminated in the establishment of a national team, led by Sr. Florence Agbani, OCPSP, committed to the anti-trafficking mission as part of the Talitha Kum global network.

“With the launching of the Talitha Kum Network in Benin, we will align ourselves with the Beninese government’s policy to put an end to human trafficking. May the Lord help us and, with the support of our partners, provide us with the necessary means to protect the most vulnerable from these practices.” said Fr. Firmin Some, member of the Talitha Kum Benin national team.

Congratulations to Talitha Kum Benin!