Ange Marie
In the Xwlacodji neighborhood of Cotonou, a cement factory has been looming over residents for years, casting a harmful shadow over their daily lives. The environmental and health impacts of the plant have sparked numerous complaints and anger among residents. Despite a 2009 Constitutional Court ruling declaring its location unconstitutional and a promise to relocate by June 2022, the plant continues to operate, endangering residents’ health and degrading the urban environment.
Health Access Initiative (HAI) is an organization led by young volunteers, committed to promoting equitable access to healthcare and social justice in Benin. In this interview, we speak with Ange-Marie, the co-founder and executive coordinator at HAI on his journey as a Network member.
For several years now, Ange-Marie has been coordinating projects that combine public health, civic engagement, and legal empowerment. His career path is deeply rooted in the belief that every individual, regardless of social or economic status, deserves access to a healthy environment and equitable health services. At HAI, he brings passion and experience in participatory action research and advocacy.
During my university studies, I was struck by the daily realities faced by marginalized communities, the extremely poor, and the uneducated,in rural areas. A key moment was my encounter with families living in the community of Xwlacodji, who were exposed to serious health risks caused by the Cement Society of Benin (SCB) factory but had no local structural support to change the situation. That day, I understood once again that health does not depend solely on hospitals or medicines, but also on social justice- the right to a healthy environment, and humavn dignity. What motivates me to continue despite the challenges is the strength of the communities themselves. They mobilize, propose local solutions, and believe in the possibility of change. I would say that my greatest source of inspiration is found in their testimonies and their trust when they share their stories with us. Every small collective victory fuels my determination to continue and amplify our action for a fairer and healthier Benin.
A striking testimonial comes from Boris AMAGLO, a resident and community paralegal from the Xwlacodji neighbourhood:
What struck me most was the power of sharing experiences among peers. Discussions on WhatsApp and during learning sessions allowed me to discover innovative approaches to community mobilization, such as involving young people and women as community paralegals. One particularly useful resource was the Community Audit, an approach shared by Natural Justice Hub Dakar, which helped us strengthen our advocacy around the Xwlacodji cement plant case. These collective learning spaces convinced me that we are not alone, and that lasting change comes from the power we build together with and for communities.
Recognizing that we needed more knowledge and practical experience, I made a difficult decision to leave my city and work in remote areas of the country under harsh and vulnerable climatic conditions. During this period, I took up various roles in different organizations, learning how things actually work on the ground—especially in terms of organizational management, stakeholder engagement, and field-level conservation practices. Eventually, I returned to my city and joined BELA, bringing with me a wealth of practical knowledge. That entire journey—leaving behind the comfort of home and stepping into the unknown—was a defining chapter in my life. It taught me resilience, adaptability, and the value of real-world experience, which continues to guide me in my work today.
The most significant change has been the shift from an essentially health-based approach to an integrated health-justice approach. Previously, our activities focused on health education and prevention. After becoming immersed in the network, we launched a pilot program of community paralegals. Today, 12 community paralegals are active in neighborhoods in Cotonou (southern Benin) and Parakou (northern Benin). They document cases, support victims of rights violations, and facilitate mediation with local authorities. This change is significant because it gives a voice to the most vulnerable populations and transforms our interventions into sustainable levers for social justice.
It has profoundly improved our strategy. HAI is no longer perceived solely as a health NGO, but as an organization that links health, justice, and human rights. This has enabled us to attract new partners (European Union partnership, International Organization of La Francophonie, Global Center on Adaptation, etc.), strengthen our credibility with public decision-makers, and expand our volunteer base. The integrated health-justice approach is now at the heart of our identity. Given our concrete actions with high social impact, HAI was voted best youth organization by the Beninese government in August 2025.
Yes, thanks to the network, we have developed a culture of legal analysis of laws and participatory action research. For example, we have conducted community surveys that have documented more cases of violations related to the environment and access to health services. This data not only allows us to guide our interventions, but also to inform our advocacy with national institutions. In addition, we are currently developing the “Paralegal App,” which aims to train more paralegals in French and the local Fon language, with an option to document cases.
I would like to emphasize the importance of documenting and sharing our victories and experiences, even the most modest ones. My experience within the network has taught me one essential thing: no victory is too small to be shared. Every step forward, no matter how small, helps to strengthen community power and inspire other struggles. I would like to encourage members to document their actions and share their practices, because it is through exchange that we find sustainable solutions.
In our case, the impact is tangible:
Thanks to our new program on legal empowerment in the face of gender-based violence, funded by the Youth Empowerment Fund/Global Youth Mobilization andOrganisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), we have set up a network of community paralegals who facilitate referral to health services or relevant structures, local mediation, and, in some cases, the filing of official complaints.