PEBCo – BETHESDA
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The late 80’s were characterized by an unprecedented socio-economic crisis in Benin. The NGO BETHESDA was created in 1990 by 24 Protestant and Evangelical churches of the country. The first activity to emerge was the health department. Subsequently, other departments have been created: the department of Community Development and Sanitation of the Environment (DCAM), the department of savings / credit and the education department.
The purpose of this hospital, which has been financially independent since its inception, is to ensure the health of the disadvantaged population through quality care both accessible and at low cost. In 2003 BETHESDA identified the need to expand its activities outside the hospital to community development and preventive health care. An information and urban waste management service was established complemented by preventive health awareness raising, for example for the prevention of the kwashiorkor disease (malnutrition) to the benefit of women.
But to have the financial resources necessary to meet vital human needs, people must sustain their lives. It is facing this situation that, in 1995, the DCAM department of the Hospital BETHESDA started preparatory activities to support income-generating activities.
From 1995 to 2013, the microfinance activities have been managed as a project of the NGO. For a progressive empowerment and in order to comply with current regulations regarding decentralized financial systems (DFS), the NGO BETHESDA decided to spin off the microfinance activities in a separate, regulated entity in the legal form of an association. Thus was created in May 2013, the “Promotion de l’Epargne-crédit à Base Communautaire-BETHESDA” (PEBCo – BETHESDA).
The department dedicated to education is the fourth and the latest department created. Key activities have been the construction of a school and a college. This department is directly related to the BETHESDA Hospital and dedicated to the initial intervention area of Sainte Rita in Cotonou.
