With over 235 million inhabitants by 2025, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. Despite its abundant natural resources, Edo State is ranked among the 10 poorest of the country's 36 states. In the suburbs of Benin City, the port and capital of this state in southern Nigeria, the majority of primary schools are inaccessible to children with disabilities. Poverty, inflation, insecurity and discriminatory traditional beliefs make it difficult for these children to access quality education.

An innovative response to education

The Lindalva Inclusive School was founded in 2019 by the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul in the suburbs of Benin City. Its mission is to welcome and educate, in a caring and secure environment, disadvantaged children and children with disabilities who suffer from social and educational exclusion. 

‘The school staff, sisters and lay people, work in a strong spirit of collaboration for the holistic development of the children. The school also has a strong parent support group for the effective integration of disabled children.’ Sr Martha

Thanks to your donations, Projets Rosalie has already supported the development of this inclusive school: school supplies and textbooks, IT equipment, daily meals and the creation of a small poultry farm to generate income. 
But the school continues to face many challenges.

Essential needs in school furniture

The lack of school furniture directly affects the quality of teaching and the well-being of pupils. Current learning conditions are precarious, with a growing number of children without adequate space in which to study or eat. 

Sr Martha explains: ‘The number of children is increasing day by day, so that the limited furniture (chairs, desks, tables, benches) is no longer sufficient for the children. It is very difficult for us, the educators, to teach the pupils in these areas and situations of poverty, where the children and teachers have only a few chairs and desks in their classrooms and refectory!’

The aim of the project is to provide quality, durable and safe furniture that is suitable for disabled and non-disabled children to improve their learning conditions. 

It will enable :
- improve the equipment in the classrooms
- make the dining hall more comfortable
- create an educational environment that is safer and more conducive to learning: pupils will participate more fully in class and academic results will be better, particularly for children with special needs
- increase the school enrolment rate.

The direct beneficiaries of this project are 250 pupils (110 boys and 140 girls) aged between 2 and 13, from disadvantaged backgrounds and with disabilities.

This will enable the Lindalva Inclusive School to continue to provide an inclusive educational environment where every child, regardless of background or ability, can learn and grow with dignity.

Thank you for your support!
With them, thanks to you