Mâtiné de Souza.

Beninoise

Educator, Tour Guide, Trader, Women’s Right Activist and Street Children Crusader

I met Mâtiné three years ago on a road trip from Nigeria to Togo. I was so impressed with her accomplishments that I wrote a magazine article, Ghost of Slavery Past and Present.’ At the time she cared for street children in her home helping them find a foothold.

Mâtiné had a dream to open a center/school for street children of Quidah, her home town. Mâtiné’s positive attitude crossed paths with an American photographer and traveller, Craig Sherod, and within the last year, they opened:

Homeless Children’s Center of Ouidah

All Photographs and text are under international copyright laws. No re-use without the written permission of Lesley Lababidi 2023.