His Eminence Dada Daagbo Agbessi Hounon Houna Primary School, a project of The AfroAtlantic Theologies & Treaties Institute
Founded in 1996 by His Eminence Dada Daagbo Agbessi Hounon Houna to provide foundational educational tools for children of the traditional sector, and financed by His Majesty Dada Daagbo Hounon Houna II Guely, until his retirement, The Queen Mother, Her Majesty Kpodjito Dòwòti Désir Hounon Houna II Guely has made it her personal mandate to rebuild the primary school located in the historic City of Ouidah through her organization, The AfroAtlantic Theologies & Treaties Institute [ATI].
Fondée en 1996 par Son Éminence Dada Daagbo Agbessi Hounon Houna pour fournir des outils éducatifs de base pour les enfants du secteur traditionnel, et financée par Sa Majesté Dada Daagbo Hounon Houna II Guely, jusqu’à sa retraite, la Reine Mère Sa Majesté Kpodjito Dòwòti Désir Hounon Houna II Guely a fait son mandat personnel pour reconstruire l’école primaire située dans la ville historique de Ouidah par l’organisation de son organisation , The AfroAtlantic Theologies & Treaties Institute [ATI].
Son Éminence a réalisé que les enfants qui soutiennent les traditions ancestrales sacrées sont comme leurs homologues abrahamiques et ont besoin d’une éducation religieuse incluse dans leur programme d’études régulier. Toutefois, en raison de la négligence historique de la discrimination à l’égard de ces jeunes dans nos sociétés, l’école met l’accent sur l’enseignement des traditionalistes. Avec les bénédictions de Sa Majesté Dada, la Reine Mère établit un équilibre entre la formation reçue dans les connaissances sacrées, l’éthique, l’histoire sociale, les mathématiques, les sciences, les arts, l’enseignement en les langues de Fongbe et Français, et les exigences du 21e siècle. Le DDAPS souligne l’excellence de l’enseignement dans un environnement d’apprentissage où les enfants peuvent être en mesure de fonctionner dans un environnement mondial concurrentiel.
The mission of His Eminence Dada Daagbo Agbessi Hounon Houna Primary School [DDAPS ] is to teach all children requesting education, regardless of their religious orientation. Before he made his transition in 2004, His Eminence realized children who uphold sacred ancestral traditions are like their Abrahamic counterparts in Catholic Schools, Yeshivas and Madrasas, and need religious education included in their regular cirriculum. The school services all children, however, because of the historical neglect of, and discrimination towards those youngsters in our societies, the DDAPS places emphasis on providing traditionalists with schooling. With the blessings of His Majesty, The Queen Mother Dòwòti Désir Hounon Houna II Guely is establishing a balance between the training received in sacred knowledges, ethics, social history, math, science, the arts, Fongbe and French language instruction, and the digital demands of the 21st Century. The DDAPS underscores teaching excellence in a learning environment where children can feel confident they are able to function in a competitive the global environment.
Photo of two circular classrooms on the campus of HEDAPS, in Ouidah.
Currently there are a total of six classrooms on the campus. Younger children begin their training in circular classrooms which underscore principles of democracy, equality and inclusiveness..
These objectives become a challenge without the necessary resources to realize them. The Queen Mother is seeking recources for short and long term objectives ranging from obtaining backpacks to school buses to the rebuilding of the very infrastructure of the DAVH Primary School. The African continent has the youngest demagraphics in the world, we have 100 young people who need your help.
Literacy is a platform for democratisation, and a vehicle for the promotion of cultural and national identity. Especially for girls and women, it is an agent of family health and nutrition. For everyone, everywhere, literacy is, along with education in general, a basic human right…. Literacy is, finally, the road to human progress and the means through which every man, woman and child can realise his or her full potential. – Kofi Annan
Her Majesty The Queen Mother with His Majesty Dada Daagbo Hounon Houna II Guely, Ouidah, Benin
His Eminence Dada Daagbo Agbessi Hounon Houna Primary School, a project of The AfroAtlantic Theologies & Treaties Institute [ATI]
ATI’s Objectives
Renewable Energy and Digital Technology – Phase 1.1
Phase 1.1 from 2020 to 2021
The classrooms of the DDAPS needs basic electricity. After negoticating with the AEG International company, arrangements have been made to secure 25 portable Firefly solar powered generators to celebrate 25 years of operating the Primary School. $8000 is needed to purchase, ship the generators to Benin and install them at their destination.
The Queen Mother is also seeking contributions towards 110 andoroid tablets [or laptops] for the students, teachers and administrators. Routers are also required for the classrooms and offices of the primary school. Our objective is to raise $45,000 to cover the costs of digital tablets, digital pens, printers, routers and freight costs.
Énergies renouvelables et technologies numériques
Les salles de classe du DDAPS ont besoin d’électricité de base. Nous essayons de sécuriser 25 générateurs solaires Firefly portables pour célébrer 25 ans d’exploitation de l’école primaire.
La Reine Mère cherche également des contributions vers 110 tablettes Android [ou des ordinateurs portables] pour les étudiants, les enseignants et les administrateurs. Des routeurs sont également nécessaires pour les salles de classe et les bureaux de l’école primaire.
Backpacks and Buses for Benin -Phase 1.2
Phase 1.2 runs from 2020-2022
What is more reassuring for students returning to school than knowing that they have all their basic supplies needs met in brand new backpacks? In addition to digital tablets, we need conventional paper notebooks, wooden pencils, pens, crayons, rulers, protractcors, erasers, and portable French language dictionaries. We are looking for plain backpacks in classic solid colors of various sizes to accomodate our children who are as young as 3- years old to 14- years old. Our goal is to raise: $ 3000 for furnished backpacks.
Our children are walking up to 6 kilometers [3-4 miles] per day going back and forth to school in all kinds of weather. ATI seeks to purchase 2 to 3 school buses so that children can get to school safely and consistently in the best health possible.
Sac à dos et les autobus pour le Bénin
Quoi de plus rassurant pour les élèves qui retournent à l’école que de savoir qu’ils ont tous leurs sacs à dos? En plus des tablettes numériques, nous avons besoin de cahiers en papier conventionnels, crayons en bois, stylos, crayon, règles, protracteurs, gommes à effacer, dictionnaire de langue Français portable. Nous sommes à la recherche de sacs à dos plaine dans des couleurs solides classiques de différentes tailles pour accueillir nos enfants qui sont aussi jeunes que 3 ans à 14 ans.
Nos enfants marchent jusqu’à 6 kilomètres par jour aller et venir à l’école dans toutes sortes de temps. ATI cherche à acheter 2 à 3 autobus scolaires afin que les enfants puissent se rendre à l’école en toute sécurité et de façon cohérente dans la meilleure santé possible.
Sustainable Architecture and Facilities – Phase 2
Phases 2 begins in 2021-2025
We feel strongy the asethetics, function and form of the spaces we occupy, should reflect cultural values. In this case respect of nature, the importance of community, democracy, gender equity and egalitarianism. A sustainable, green teaching facility that is environmentally friendly with functioning indoor plumbing; offices; and a cafeteria are long terms goals. While ATI writes and submits grant applications, we also accept private contributions to raise $750,000 for redesigning and rebuilding the school.
Architecture et installations durables
Nous ressentons fortement l’esthétique, la fonction et la forme des espaces que nous occupons doivent refléter les valeurs culturelles. En l’espèce, le respect de la nature, l’importance de la communauté, de la démocratie, équité entre les sexes, et de l’égalitarisme. Un établissement d’enseignement durable et écologique respectueux de l’environnement avec la plomberie intérieure fonctionnelle; les bureaux; et une cafétéria sont des objectifs à long terme. Bien qu’ATI rédige et soumette des demandes de subvention, nous acceptons également des contributions privées pour la refonte et la reconstruction de l’école.
What parents and teachers have to say about having upgraded learning tools and facilities
As teachers and administrators we worry our students are falling behind as we have little to no access to digital technology. We possess neither laptops, tablets nor smart phones to close the digital divide. We are a hard working, dedicated group of educators committed to teaching our young generation of future leaders. We’re excited about the possibilies of advancing our school into the 21st Century.
“En tant qu’enseignant et administrateur, nous craignons que nos élèves soient a la traîne, car nou avon peu ou pas d’accès a la technologie numérique. Nous ne posons ni les ordinateurs portable, ni tablettes, ni téléphones intelligents pour combler la fracture numérique. Nous sommes un groupe d’éducateurs dévouvés et travaillants dévouvés qui s’engagent à enseigner à notre jeune génération de futurs leaders. Nous sommes ravis des possibilités d’avancement de notre école dans le 21e siècle.”
― Dah Allotinou, Director
My daughters now have an opportunity that I never had: to attend school regularly… to learn to read and write competently. I know they will have a much better future that I have. I give thanks for His Eminence Dada Daagbo Agbessi HOUNON HOUNA Primary School.
“Mes filles ont maintenant une opportunité que je n’ai jamais eu: d’aller à l’école régulièrement… d’apprendre à lire et à écrire avec compétence. Je sais qu’ils auront un avenir bien meilleur que mois. Je remerci l’école de Son Eminence Dada Daagbo Agbessi HOUNON HOUNA.”
― Awanvo, Grade 2 parent
Looking Towards A Green and Sustainable Future
Help us meet our goals as we reach our 25th Anniversary in 2021
110
Android tablets or laptops for classroom and homework. We want to catch up with the rest of the world.
Tablettes ou ordinateurs portables Android pour la salle de classe et le travail à domicile. Nous voulons rattraper le reste du monde.
100+
Fully loaded backpacks filled with all the basics: notebooks, pencils, rulers, erasers, etc. We’ll be prepared to study and learn.
Sacs à dos entièrement fournis, Nous serons prêts à étudier et à apprendre.
25/25
Solar powered generators for use in school and the community. We’re determined to teach for another 25 years.
Générateur alimenté à l’énergie solaire pour une utilisation dans l’annonce scolaire de la communauté. Nous sommes déterminés à enseigner encore 25 ans.
How do you get your dollars or supplies to us?
There’s more than one way:
1) Please visit our GoFundMe link and click on: ATI Benin: Technology & Backpacks to make your financial contribution.
2) Write us at: afroatlantictheologies@ gmail.com, to set up an appointment to discuss what you’d like to do, and how you can best support our goals to uplift and increase the educational oportunities for our pupils.
We look forward to speaking with you.
The AfroAtlantic Theologies & Treaties Institute is a non-profit interfaith organization committed to providing public and educational programs that promote the human, cultural, and social rights of the global Afro-descendant community, through scholarship, advocacy and public policy formation.
To learn more about The Queen Mother, please go to: http://www.queenmotherdowoti.com or http://www.queenmotherd2h2.net
Veuillez visiter notre page GoFundMe, ATI Benin: Technology & Backpacks pour apporter une contribution et vous pouvez aussi envoyer un courriel à afroatlantictheolgies@gmail.com. L’AfroAtlantic Théologies & Treaties Institute est une ONG interconfessionnelle qui s’engage à fournir des programmes publics et éducatifs qui promettent les droits humains, culturels et sociaux de la communauté afro-descendante mondiale, par le discours académique, et de formation de politiques publiques.
About Us
With a focus on spirit, memory, and place, The AfroAtlantic Theologies Institute is the parent company of the DDPA Watch Group, a human rights organization that monitors the monuments, memorials and historic sites of the Maafa/Maangamizi or transatlantic slave trade in captive Africans.
The City of Ouidah is an ancient port of deportation of enslaved Africans. Home to one of the continent’s “Door of No Return,” Ouidah is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is considered a major tourism destination of West Africa.
In partnership with the Royal Palace of Dada Daagbo Hounon Houna, we are revamping the, His Eminence Dada Daagbo Agbessi Hounon Houna Primary School, as it fulfills its original mission to be a place of educational parity and excellence on the African continent.
Blogs
Address
5 Carmine Drive, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
Agondji-Daho/Docomey-Ouidah BP: 317, Ouidah Benin
Photo-credits: D. Désir; Martial Davis, Messy Room Productions; Michel Myers
The AfroAtlantic Theologies & Treaties Institute 