The trafficking of young people remains even today as one of Benin’s saddest facts. Every year millions of children, mostly between 6 to 7 years of age, are sold by their parents. From that moment on the girls turn into “Vidomegons” and are exploited day and night doing all kinds of jobs, such as acting as peddlers and breaking up stones. Some of the little ones remain in Benin, others are sent to Gabon, Nigeria and Togo.

The Laura Vicuña residence of the Salesian Sisters recovers these children from the streets, there because of the maltreatment and abuse imposed on them by their guardians.

The main objective of the Foyer is to offer these girls, victims of the slave trade, the opportunity to regain their dignity in a familiar environment, by means of an education based on love and mutual trust.