Category | Arts & Living

SOW planting seeds of knowledge in Benin

Published on February 16, 2010 by Berlin Sylvestre

Dr. Lucie Viakinnou-Brinson knows a thing or two about not taking education for granted. 

A collection of students sit in the crowded classroom, often having to share desks.

As a child growing up in West Africa’s Republic of Benin, she attended a school that, in spite of its lack of a library or a lab, was considered one of the best in her area. After traveling back to her native country and observing the lack of teaching materials in the classrooms, along with the impoverished conditions of the schoolhouses, she was inspired to create and spearhead Seeds of Knowledge (SOW).

SOW is a federally-recognized nonprofit organization that supports the educational needs of underserved children in Africa. Her passion has caught on, and last year, more than 100 students from KSU joined the effort by donating times and supplies.

“I knew I could not remain indifferent and carry on with my life as if what I saw and experienced no longer concerned me,” said, Viakinnou-Brinson, a KSU assistant professor of French. “Poverty in one country ultimately affects the wealth of another country, and there are so many poor and hungry children all over the world. For me the question is, ‘where do we start to make a difference?’”

Taking with her the yield of all the volunteers’ work and the assistance of local businesses such as World Gym and Chick-Fil-A, Viakinnou-Brinson traveled back to Benin in 2008. After navigating the terrain of washed-out roads and large potholes, the teacher’s team completed the trip of thousands of miles and was able to witness the reaping of their harvest. The response was overwhelming.

“SOW went with the hope of distributing books, textbooks and school supplies to 100 children, but when we left 500 children had received [them]!”

she said.

After putting educational materials into the hands of young African children, Viakinnou-Brinson opened new doors that would have remained closed for them.

“Parents and children alike were extremely grateful,” she said. “They were visibly touched.”

Viakinnou-Brinson anticipates the assistance of even more students this year. With great ambition and a dedicated team of students at KSU, she dreams of expanding SOW into other countries.

One way she is underwriting the cost of her goals is by hosting the Evening of Shining Hope, an annual event that will be held for the third time on Feb. 27 at the Westin Airport Hotel in Atlanta. The event will feature a three-course meal, African dance, student musicians and a silent auction. Tickets to the dinner are $70 per person. There will also be a silent auction to raise money for Haitian orphans.

KSU’s SOW chapter, though unofficial, is called Seedsowers. Jessica Gates, a senior French major and geography minor, leads the team.

“So far we have made posters to send to Africa,” she said. “I hope to build schools one day there. ”

Gates realizes that when something as simple as a rainstorm can collapse the thatched roofs of their modestly-built schoolhouses, African schoolchildren are especially thankful for rare and luxurious items, such as crayons and books. Seedsowers KSU is planning a chalk, pencil, pen and crayon drive for the children. Donors can contact Gates at seedsowers.ksu@gmail.com to learn about other ways to help.

Monetary donations made at SOW’s Web site help the organization purchase textbooks and activity books in the children’s native French. To learn more, visit SOW online at seedsofknowledge.org.