Nos Activités 2024

The “Art Deco Women’s Leadership (LFAD)” project was designed to train and socio-economically reintegrate 20 vulnerable young single mothers aged 16 to 25 from the municipality of Abomey-Calavi and surrounding areas. Targeting a particularly marginalized group—often out of school, lacking family support, and with limited access to professional opportunities—the project provided a structured, supportive, and professional environment for young women seeking stability and independence.

Launched in December 2023 with a call for applications, the project ultimately selected 25 young single mothers instead of the initially planned 20. Officially inaugurated on February 9, 2024, in the presence of local authorities and technical and financial partners, the program was built around an intensive 12-month training course, combining theory and practical experience in the fields of decorative arts (plasterwork, staff work, stucco, wall and floor coverings, decorative painting) and visual and digital arts (freehand drawing, graphic design, photography, and an introduction to digital marketing).

Drawing, in particular, occupied a central place in the training, both as an artistic skill and as a technical tool for interior design. Participants learned how to create perspectives, design sketches for decorative projects, and develop their own visual style, thereby strengthening their ability to offer customized services.

This multidisciplinary approach enabled participants to develop strong technical skills as well as cross-cutting competencies such as discipline, creativity, time management, professional communication, and self-confidence.

To strengthen their professional integration, the young women completed a four-month internship, from January to April 2025, with local artisans and businesses. This immersion in real work environments helped consolidate their practical skills and facilitated their integration into the local economy. The involvement of industry professionals not only ensured high-quality learning but also fostered lasting connections between the trainees and their socio-economic environment.

Today, the project has entered its post-training follow-up phase, aimed at supporting the long-term empowerment of beneficiaries. A personalized support mechanism has been established, including regular visits to workplaces, technical assistance, business management support, access to a mentoring network, and assistance in identifying market opportunities. This follow-up not only ensures sustained support but also enhances the resilience of the entrepreneurial initiatives led by these young women.

The initial results are highly encouraging. Several beneficiaries have already begun offering their services within their communities, including the design of small commercial spaces, home interior decoration, mural artwork, event photography services, and customized drawings for decoration and visual communication projects. This dynamism reflects their growing capacity for economic self-reliance, renewed self-confidence, and successful entry into sectors traditionally dominated by men.

Beyond individual empowerment, the project has generated multiplier effects at the community level. It has contributed to improving the social perception of single mothers, who are often stigmatized, by demonstrating that they can become agents of change and role models of success. The initiative has also helped reduce gender inequalities by promoting strong female leadership in technical and creative professions traditionally perceived as male domains.

On May 23, 2025, an official graduation and start-up kit distribution ceremony, sponsored by the Mayor of Abomey-Calavi, Mr. AHOAUNDJINOU Evariste Angelo, marked the successful completion of the training program for the project’s young graduates. On this occasion, 25 young single mothers received their certificates in recognition of their commitment and achievements, symbolizing the culmination of a remarkable journey of personal and professional transformation.

Each beneficiary also received a professional start-up kit tailored to her area of specialization, including drawing, decoration, and interior design equipment, to facilitate the launch of her micro-enterprise and support her sustainable integration into the local economy.

This formal ceremony brought together several distinguished personalities, including Mr. AHOMADEGBE Amour Mathias, Departmental Director of Secondary, Technical and Vocational Education for the Atlantic Department, as well as Mrs. Marie-Paule THERY, representative of the French association AGIRabcd, demonstrating both institutional and international support for this initiative.

Beyond its ceremonial significance, the event represented a powerful moment of public recognition, celebrating the commitment, perseverance, and transformation of these young single mothers, who are now prepared to establish themselves as independent entrepreneurs and agents of change within their communities.

Thanks to the support of the International Organisation of  Francophonie (OIF), the project’s main donor, which provided 79% of the funding through the “La Francophonie avec Elles” Fund, this initiative became a reality in a spirit of solidarity, social innovation, and sustainable development. It forms part of a broader effort to combat poverty, promote women’s entrepreneurship, and showcase local talent.

In summary,  “Art Deco Women’s Leadership (LFAD)” goes far beyond a simple vocational training program. It is a social, economic, and cultural transformation initiative that places the dignity, potential, and creativity of young single mothers at the heart of local development. By integrating tools of expression such as drawing—considered here as a universal language of design and empowerment—the project opens new horizons for women who are often marginalized, providing them with the means to fully realize their potential.