Local Alley-Oop Africa camp: 14 young people equipped with skills on gender, social inclusion and health in and through sport thanks to the Awa Lôkan project.
From June 26 to 30, 2023, the stade omnisport de Pobè in the Plateau department hosted the local Alley-oop Africa camp initiated by REPAC-SJ-BENIN as part of the implementation of its national Alley-oop Africa campaign for health and equality through sport “AWA-LOKAN”. 14 young handball players selected at the end of the social mobilization tour in schools took part in this enriching camp full of exchanges, experience sharing, training and socio-cultural activities. During the camp, discussion workshops on the ten (10) Alley-oop Africa teaching kits were run by trained socio-sportive leaders, and presentations were given by experts and specialists called in to help the participants. The presentations covered topics such as : General information on gender Sport and life skills STI/HIV and unwanted pregnancy prevention through and in sportPrevention of physical and mental health through sport The local Alley-oop Africa camp also featured a number of creative workshops, during which the young campers were introduced to the technique of personalizing sports jerseys, and to recycling plastic waste into training balls. A large quantity of waste collected after an eco-citizen walk was recycled into a mini training ball. They were also given the opportunity to learn new techniques to improve their handball skills and performance. Added to this were workshops in socio-sports games, which enabled the youngsters to tackle various subjects through play, such as “Tick-tock ball for inclusion”, “Union is strength”, and the game “One or the other stereotype”. Not forgetting the nights of screenings of the Alley-oop Africa docu-series, enriched by fruitful exchanges with the animation team led by Elvis Kpatinvoh and Serge Alokpowanou. On the evening of Thursday June 29, 2023, participants gathered around a campfire. Reinforced by a team of scouts mobilized for the occasion, the young people enjoyed themselves and spent pleasant moments of cultural integration. On Friday June 30, 2023, the first official mixed handball match was held at the Pobè sports stadium. The event pitted the AS Lumière Awa Lôkan team against the Pobè commune handball sports class. Attended by leading figures in Beninese sport, this unique and original match ended in victory for the mixed Awa Lôkan team. It was a joyous and emotional occasion, with the focus on sport for health and equality. And you could hear it in all the spectators’ mouths: “you don’t even feel that it’s girls and boys together on the pitch”. This last activity marked the end of the 5-day local Alley-oop Africa camp and the birth of the LUMIERE AWA-LÔKAN sports academy for development, to which these young ambassadors have committed themselves, now equipped and ready to work for the preservation of health through sport and the inclusion of gender in sport.
The REPAC team promotes gender equality in and through sport by opting for the co-ed experience.
On June 30, 2023, a special sun rose in Pobè, in Benin’s Plateau department. For the first time in the history of handball, the omnisport stadium hosted the first official mixed-gender match in Benin. The experience is part of the “Awa-lôkan” project, implemented by REPAC-SJ-BENIN thanks to the Alley-oop Africa program run by NGO RAES with funding from the Agence Française de Développement-AFD. It marks the end of the 5-day local youth development camp held from June 26 to 30, 2023, and the birth of the “AWA-LÔKAN” sports academy for development, to which the young player-ambassadors are committed, now equipped and ready to work for the preservation of health through sport and the inclusion of gender in and through sport. From 10 a.m. onwards, sheltered from Mother Nature’s threats, the Pobè stadium’s hanbdall pitch shook for an hour to the rhythm of the communicative warmth, the manifest solidarity, the lively emotions communicated, the healthy emulation and the demonstration of strength shown by the young handball players from the competing teams. The event pitted the mixed AS Lumière Awa Lôkan team from REPAC-SJ-BENIN against the mixed handball sports classes team from the commune of Pobè. The match, which took place in conditions meeting international standards, received outstanding support from the Red Cross, firefighters, security guards, health workers and Beninese scouts. The representation of the Departmental Sports Directorate in the person of Mr. Issa Djamal, Departmental Sports Director, and that of the Direction des Enseignements Secondaires in the person of Mrs. Janviette Fagbohoun, Departmental Educational Inspector, added to the resonance and sparkle of the event. Not forgetting the representation of local partners, opinion leaders and others. AS Lumière Awa Lôkan’s victory was only the background to the comments that formed the basis of the participants’ general appreciation. In essence, we note the satisfaction of the spectating and curious public, the pride of the local authorities present, the joy and satisfaction of the organizers convinced of the scope and impact of this experience in the dynamics of gender equality and inclusion in and through sport for the achievement of sustainable development goals in Benin and Africa. For all concerned, seeing young boys and girls sharing the same field for the first time as part of an official sporting challenge sends out a strong message, a call for the promotion of gender equality, capabilities and opportunities. Some could even be heard to testify that “you wouldn’t even know it was two different sexes playing”. Others even wished that the organizers would think of an official mixed-gender tournament, and not just an exhibition. Thanks to this successful exercise, charged with emotion and hope, REPAC-SJ-BENIN has taken another step forward in its fight to deconstruct gender stereotypes and norms, its fight against discriminatory practices and discourse, and other social and societal habits that stand in the way of a culture of equality, equity, co-education and inclusion. With the aim of continuing to make a big splash, the experiment aims to unleash the passions and interests of the world of sport for development. It is intended to be the driving force behind a new dynamic that integrates gender diversity and inclusion into sports offerings (training, competitions, championships, etc.) at local, national and international level.
Hovivi 2023: festival programme unveiled to the press
At a press conference, the organizing committee of the 2023 edition of the Hovivi international festival of the arts and citizen speech unveiled the content of this sixth edition (1st edition in its international form). Several countries are expected to take part in this festival, with a number of shows to be discovered at several sites, in both community and educational settings. Find out more about the shows, companies and programming below. Tuesday December 19 sees the opening of a major artistic event never before seen in Benin’s Plateau department. The first Hôvivi International Festival performances will take place in partner schools from 10 a.m. onwards. In the afternoon, artistic and cultural education workshops on cultural diversity will be held for middle-school pupils. On Wednesdays, the shows will be taken to orphanages. These orphan children will benefit from the storytelling and puppet shows. Because they too have a right to leisure and entertainment, even though their position doesn’t give them the opportunity. It’s the perfect opportunity to bring smiles and joy to these orphans. During the day, a large artistic caravan of integration and cultural diversity is scheduled for 2 p.m., followed by the opening ceremony. Dance performances and a live concert featuring the African Salsa Ochestra from Pobé, accompanied by the group Arole Oyimbo and the musical community of Ikpinlè are also scheduled for the evening. Thursday 22nd will be devoted to junior workshops on body movement, diction and corporal expression, followed by a theatrical evening in the festival village. These two activities are scheduled to start at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. respectively. On the penultimate day, there will be senior workshops in cultural administration at 09:00, and a professional meeting (round table) at 15:00 on the use of storytelling, oral heritage as a tool for intercultural dialogue. The grand final of the Hôvivi challenge will pit the twelve ambassadors of storytelling selected from several communes against each other. And to round off the day in style, there’s the big storytelling night. A unique night of storytelling around a village-style bonfire, bringing together professional storytellers from a variety of backgrounds to share tales from near and far with the local community. The last day of the festival will bring Santa Claus to the village, thanks to CEDAS-ONG. Noel au village is a game of reflection, oration and expression for children in the presence of Santa Claus, followed by the distribution of gifts by Santa with the NGO CEDAS.
