The Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) in Benin is bustling with activity as young people, like Carine Judith Aboua, engage in garment manufacturing. Aboua, who moved from Porto-Novo to join the GDIZ workshops in July 2022, is part of a government initiative called the Azôli program. This program, supported by the World Bank, aims to provide employment opportunities for youth with little or no education.
Aboua's journey began when she registered online as an intern and passed the final test. Following her training period at GDIZ, she now works on sewing military fatigues. The program offers trainees a monthly stipend and guarantees employment upon successful completion. Over 5,000 young individuals have been trained and recruited in GDIZ's cashew processing and textile industries.
The opportunity has allowed Aboua to contribute financially to her household without relying solely on her husband's income from Natitingou. "I can now afford some expenses without necessarily waiting for my husband... I feel a little more fulfilled and prouder," she stated.
Isaac Gounon shares a similar story of transformation. Before joining GDIZ, his family faced financial instability. His wife Béatrice remarked that their move from Bohicon to Glo-Djigbé has improved their situation significantly.
In another sector of Benin's industrial landscape, Mahouton Geoffroy Gbénou transitioned from dealing smuggled petrol to training through the Azôli program alongside his wife Bernice Noutaï. They hope this new path will lead them away from precariousness.
The Azôli program is part of the Youth Inclusion Project (ProDIJ), overseen by Benin's National Employment Agency (ANPE). Urbain Amégbédji, Director General of ANPE, described it as "a concrete response to the challenges of youth employment." It aims to secure jobs for 25,000 youth in key sectors identified by the government.
Many beneficiaries express gratitude for this chance at economic inclusion and personal development. One participant shared how her life improved since joining: "The two children abandoned to me by their father are now better supported thanks to my income... At first, I lost all hope, but this opportunity gave me the chance to live a new experience."