Afrique couleur d'enfance
Ylang Ylang Orphanage
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela
The French association Afrique couleur d'enfance (ACE) was created in 2010 under the status of the 1901 law on associations. We count 95 members with two members on the board: Vivi Dauphin, the president, and Nelly, who is the secretary. Having no subsidies from the French (because the association operates abroad) or Beninese government, we operate only thanks to the energy of our volunteers, our child sponsorship system, as well as generous donations from individuals who come from France, Benin, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, and Spain.
Vivi spent 19 years shipping containers of medical and school supplies to various African countries (19 in total) without money. Everything was done voluntarily, with an average of 4 to 6 containers per year.
Along with other volunteers, we discovered Benin in 2006. The situation of children, particularly orphans, in this country was so alarming that we decided to build and run an orphanage. Given needs of the the Allada region, we decided to settle here. The district chief of a village located 16km from Allada offered us land with the villagers' consent. We put the foundation stone in April 2016 and we started building in September of the same year.
Location of the orphanage
Source: NGO plan international
We named this orphanage Ylang-Ylang after the magnificent Ylang-Ylang flower that grows particularly in Benin.
Children's reception
The goal of this orphanage is to welcome young Beninese orphans (up to 20 children), most often from the same family so as not to break family links. We strive to give them the best possible living environment, ensuring all their needs. Once they arrive at the orphanage, their lives change completely so they can live as all children in the world should live. They go to school, eat their fill and play. There are currently eight children aged 7 to 18.
Children in 2025.
The priority is their academic progress. All children attend school, and after completing their middle school, they go to high school or learn a trade. The goal is to take them as far as possible and, when they're ready, help them settle in. They all achieve very good academic results despite starting school late. We invite you to read the "Life at the Orphanage" section to learn more about daily life at the orphanage !
Vivi goes three times per year at the orphanage, for a total of 6 months. The orphanage runs thank to the great work of the director mister Aubin, of the cook mister Etienne as well as the other employees who are caretaker, cleaner lady ... who also take very good care of the children education.
Mr. Aubin with the children in 2025.
Mr. Etienne is cooking alloco, a typical Beninese dish !
The orphanage
Built on one hectare and fully fenced, the orphanage is a large house with a
a vast garden as a playground ! After obtaining the land with the agreement of the villagers and the village chief, the building started in September 2016.
The courtyard garden with its football pitch in the background.
The main building is decorated with wonderful bougainvillea.
The main building houses the girls' and boys' dormitory with showers and toilets, the kitchen and dining room, a laundry room and Vivi's small bedroom with her office.
We would like to sincerely thank generous donors who made the construction of this beautiful building possible !
The Avignon Rotary Club generously funded a water tower in 2016, complete with a pump, filter, and all the pipes needed to provide running water. They also took care of part of the fencing. Many thanks to them !
Thanks to donations, we were able to install solar panels in 2018, after living with candles for more than six months.
The water tower built by the Rotary Club of Avignon in 2016.
Installation of solar panels in 2018.
In 2021, thanks to all the donations, we were able to build the building that houses the library, where the children do their homework.
Canal+'s Orphée project funded the blue exterior paint, a beautiful playroom in this building, and a TV ! The children spend a lot of time in the playroom and the library so thank you very much Canal+ !
"Orphée" building painted by Canal+ which houses the library and games room.
