A lasting anchor for education in a context of crisis
In northern Benin, the inauguration of a resource room at the heart of a training center marks a key milestone for the APEV program (Learning in Peace, Educating without Violence). A place designed to support children, equip teachers, and strengthen communities.
In Benin, thousands of children are growing up in environments shaped by violence, displacement, and insecurity, particularly in the country’s four northern departments. In response to this challenge, the APEV program (Learning in Peace, Educating without Violence), led by Graines de Paix since 2019 in partnership with Swiss Cooperation, works to transform educational environments so they become safer, more inclusive, and more resilient.
On March 26, 2026, the program reached a concrete and symbolic milestone with the inauguration of the Artisans of Peace resource room, the first space of its kind to open as part of the Semeur de Paix Center project, within the Liweitari Training Center in Natitingou.
A space serving children, teachers, and families
The Artisans of Peace room is not just a building. It is an initiative designed to strengthen the impact of the APEV program over the long term, as close to the field as possible, by providing concrete educational and psychosocial resources for all those who support children on a daily basis.
Teachers
Practical tools to welcome and teach children affected by trauma, along with a peer-support space for sharing best practices.
Families & Communities
Simple resources to support children’s schooling at home and strengthen ties between host families and displaced families in times of crisis.
Youth ages 15-25
Through the partnership with the FORCE Program, pathways to vocational reintegration and a role as “Youth Peace Relays” to help prevent radicalization and delinquency.
Children in crisis situation
Psychosocial support and emotional well-being assistance for children affected by trauma or displacement.
A ceremony at the highest institutional level
The inauguration was presided over by Salimane Karimou, Minister of Preschool and Primary Education, in the presence of Gabriella Spirli, Head of Swiss International Cooperation in Benin, the representative of the Prefect of Atacora, the Mayor of Natitingou, as well as numerous local officials, including pedagogical inspectors, social workers, religious leaders, and traditional chiefs. A large number of beneficiaries and partners were also present to witness the event.
The ceremonial ribbon-cutting, carried out jointly by the Minister and Gabriella Spirli, marked the culmination of a collective effort built over several years between Graines de Paix, the Beninese authorities, and Swiss Cooperation.
“There can be no lasting peace without education. There can be no learning in instability. The Artisans of Peace room will not be just another building; it will be a laboratory for citizenship.”
Salimane Karimou, Minister of Preschool and Primary Education
This partnership was recently further recognized through a letter of recommendation from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), dated March 31, 2026, commending the quality and relevance of Graines de Paix’s approach in the current security context.
The Artisans of Peace resource room in Natitingou is a first. It will not be the last.
Read the article published in La Nation (April 7, 2026)
This project is made possible thanks to:
Coopération Suisse au Bénin · Programme PAQUE · Programme FORCE
Centre de Formation Liweitari · Ministère des Enseignements Maternel et Primaire