Meet Our Partners in Atomè (ah-toh-MEH!)

This month marks a significant turning point for our friends in Atomè, Benin: we are building the district’s first health center. Atomè is located in the southwest of Benin and comprises 16 villages just a few kilometers from the Togolese border. The district has a population of about 30,000 people, a significant portion of whom are women and young people.

Access to healthcare has been a major challenge for this district; we cannot overstate this reality. The closest health center is 40 kilometers (about 24 miles) away and is not readily accessible by road. This makes it extremely difficult to manage pregnancy-related emergencies, among many other health needs.

This month, we began construction of the district’s first health center and GPiH’s first health center in Benin. We anticipate it will be operational by October 2026 and will begin addressing many of these medical needs.

Our story with Atomè is an evolving story that is ever-growing and full of potential. The journey began in 2022 when ONG LA RESCOUSSE, in Benin, with offices in Cotonou and Abomey-Calavi, reached out to us. The local Beninois organization connected with our CEO, Ian Vickers, with whom a relationship was built, based on trust, shared values, and commitment to working with communities in equal partnerships. 

ONG LA RESCOUSSE then connected us to Atomè, introduced us to the community, the leaders, the women, the men, the youth, and the children. Our very own Project Manager, Cooper Idt, and intern, Raoul Djidjoho, have been there and have their own stories to share about the district and its people. 

Raoul’s reflection from his first visit to Atomè:

“I truly valued my time in Atomè, especially seeing how engaged and aware the community is about the work being done and its impact on the village and surrounding areas. The warmth and welcome extended to our team made the experience truly memorable. I visited alongside Cooper, and villagers gathered with clear excitement, showing how deeply this partnership resonates with the community.”

While we cement our growth in partnership with Atomè by building our newest health center, we want you to expect to hear a lot about Atomè from us, and we hope to get questions from you about Atomè. We have more to share! 

It is pronounced ah-toh-MEH!