A training restaurant to ensure the long-term viability of the Natitingou training center in Benin

In Benin, only 331% of young people aged 15 to 35 have paid employment, while they represent 601% of the population. The poor quality of training is partly responsible for the high youth unemployment rate. The government's 2016-2021 Action Plan demonstrates a commitment to developing vocational training. Tourism, hospitality, and catering are sectors with strong job creation potential in Benin, but the lack of dedicated training centers means these sectors remain under-invested.

In Natitingou, some children at the orphanage run by the Salesian Sisters do not find their path after completing their schooling and end up out of school, homeless, or even exploited. The sisters therefore decided to implement vocational training programs in catering and sewing. The first cohort of students in the program achieved a 100% pass rate on the Vocational Qualification Certificate (CQM), which attracted the attention of the Beninese national education authorities. Since 2021, new cohorts have been established.

To ensure the long-term viability of the training center, the French association France Bénin Vendée and the Catholic vocational training and apprenticeship center run by the Sahelian Sisters are opening a training restaurant. This project will combine theoretical and practical instruction within the trainees' curriculum and will eventually cover the center's operating costs. Furthermore, with the support of professionals in the restaurant industry, the center's instructors have developed training programs focused on the organization and methodology of a curriculum designed to help young people successfully complete the CQM (Certificate of Professional Qualification).