Strengthening the inclusion of people with disabilities through comprehensive support

Flore Adebiyi, 43, lives in Cotonou, the economic capital of Benin. As the mother of two daughters, whom she raised alone with the money she earned from her hairdressing business, she has had to show determination and courage. With the support of HI, Flore has gained in autonomy and developed her professional skills: thanks to a training course in hairdressing, to her orthoses and to her tricycle, she can now cycle around town doing the hair of her many clients, and she dreams of expanding her workshop.

Losing the use of her legs at the age of six

I was born in Cotonou, one of a family of eight children. When I was six, I fell ill with measles and my parents took me to hospital for treatment. But the treatment was injected wrongly, and the next day I couldn't move my legs.

Dad spared no expense, trying various treatments in the hope that I would walk again. It's thanks to him that today I can move my feet and get around on crutches. When he fell ill a few years later, we no longer had enough money to continue the treatments or to keep me in school.

My father’s illness got worse. Three years later, we lost him and my mother decided to return to her village of Sakété. I was 17 at the time, and I helped her as best I could. At first, I helped groups and individual women to make gari, which is roasted cassava flour. But in fact, my ambitions lay elsewhere: ever since I was a little girl, I've had a passion for hairdressing. God gave me this unique gift, and I'm very proud of it.

“Whenever I saw a new hairstyle, I'd try it out on one of my sisters. So one day I took the plunge: I set up by the roadside and started to braid women's hair. They were delighted to have a new hairdresser in the village. Everyone knew me, and I was able to support myself with my earnings.”

Raising her two daughters alone

It was during those years that I fell for someone. At first, I was very much in love but unfortunately, the honeymoon didn't last. When I became pregnant with my eldest daughter, my husband denied being the father and demanded that I terminate the pregnancy, which I categorically refused to do. I had to fend for myself for nine months, resorting to traditional treatments.

After that, my husband never supported us; it was thanks to hairdressing that I was able to raise my daughter on my own, as well as her little sister, born seven years later. When my youngest was a year old, Mum decided to move back to Cotonou and I decided to follow her with my daughters. The family wasn't too happy about this, as tradition dictates that a husband should be responsible for his youngest child; but for me, it was out of the question!

I regained my freedom

The day I arrived, I gathered up my hairdressing equipment and set up shop on the corner of the street to offer my services. I did hair on the street, at home, and soon had clients from outside my neighbourhood. At the time, I had a wooden cane and it was difficult for me to get around. Sometimes I stayed at home because I was afraid of falling on the way.

One day, some friends advised me to go to the “guichet unique de protection sociale” (one-stop social protection office), a government service that identifies people with disabilities and determines their needs so they can be addressed. That's how I came to meet the HI teams, who are partners in this scheme. As I had great difficulty moving around, HI provided me with new crutches and a tricycle.

“The tricycle comes in very useful when I go out to braid my clients’ hair in other parts of town, or when I have to go shopping. Today, I can go where I want, when I want - I've got my freedom back! I've also been given braces that I wear when I go out because they help me to walk.”

I had also asked for help to develop my business and was able to attend in a six-month training course in hairdressing. You see, today's fashions change very quickly and I needed to perfect my skills to keep up. With my two daughters to support, I could never have afforded the training without HI's support. I even got help with travel expenses during my training, which was very useful.

My project: to expand my workshop

At the end of this training and on the basis of my personalised project, HI provided me with the equipment I needed to open my own workshop: a large mirror, curlers, scissors, a hair wash chair, a perm heater, etc. I use this equipment every day. I see about six or seven clients a day. I mostly do braids, but I also do manicures and make wigs.

“When I've had a good week, I organise a big meal for my family at the weekend. I have a reputation for being a good cook, so I spoil them! My specialty? Corn dough with vegetables in sauce.”

I'm part of a self-help group that we set up with my neighbourhood’s Guichet Unique de Protection Sociale. It brings together small business people from different trades and professions. We meet every month to exchange advice on subjects like finance, marketing and business coaching. This help is invaluable. I used to have a lot of unnecessary expenses, but thanks to this advice I've learned to manage my budget better and I'm now able to put money aside.

“I dream of being able to move to larger premises, or at least cement the floor in my workshop so there's less dust. I'm also thinking of hiring apprentices to pass on my passion.”

HI and the inclusion of people with disabilities

Flore benefited from HI's professional inclusion project, which supported the personalised projects of some 364 people with disabilities. Some opted for salaried employment in a company - in IT, logistics or accounting - sometimes leading to a fixed-term contract; others opted for vocational training in fields such as pastry-making, graphic design or shoemaking. Like Flore, some received equipment to help them launch their business, a support that facilitates their inclusion in society.

“Flore's skills were greatly improved by her training, and this can be seen in the wat her clientele has grown. Flore has gained in confidence, she feels more and more at ease and she is more socially integrated. That's what I like about this job: I feel that our efforts bear fruit, and that brings me great joy,” says Boris Cohoun, the professional inclusion officer who has been following Flore's progress over the past two years.

HI's professional inclusion project was implemented between July 2021 and December 2024 in partnership with numerous public administrations and institutions, as well as civil society organisations and associations.