Confucius Institute brings Chinese culture to SOS Children's Village in Benin

The Confucius Institute in Benin on Wednesday brought Chinese culture to deprived children at Abomey Calavi SOS Children's Village.

From next school year onwards, Chinese language teaching will be part of the education curricula of the Benin SOS Children's Village.

"Our purpose is to support Chinese language teaching to children so as to give them more opportunities for the future," said Dr. Julien Segbo, director of the Confucius Institute.

"As children, they can easily assimilate the Chinese language," he added, noting that the partnership is part of the celebration of the June 1 International Children's Day.

The Confucius Institute also took the opportunity to donate books and toys to the Abomey Calavi SOS Children's Village.

"We welcome Confucius Institute officials' commitment for this partnership and we wish that the venture become effective to the benefit of the education of our learners," Wilfried Aime Tchibozo, program coordinator of the Children's Village, told Xinhua.

Over 3,000 Beninese of diverse social background are said to have enrolled for Chinese language learning at the Chinese Cultural Center, the Confucius Institute as well as in public and private universities and secondary schools in Benin.

Benin Confucius Institute was established in 2009 in the literature, arts and science faculty of Abomey-Calavi University.