December 2023 Newsletter

I feel a real sense of excitement as I sit down to summarize all that's been happening at Bio-Benin during 2023. The government has finally (a year later!) given us approval to market our craft beer, La Natayaise, both brune and blonde. Guillaume is ramping up to sell it to high end restaurants in Cotonou and the largest sales outlets, all of whom have expressed interest. Our brewery training program can now start in earnest.

La Natayaise beer brune and blonde

We've been encouraged to apply for a major Development Innovation Ventures grant from USAID. This will allow us to relocate the brewery from the restaurant to the farm and build a much larger solar-powered coolroom, so that we can expand production 10-fold and start training some 50 students in beer-making each year. We will also have enough space to build showers and flush toilets for workers, as mandated by the government to stay certified

Thumbs up from restaurant employees and apprentices!

All being well, we're on the pathway to self-sufficiency. But we still need your help. So please keep us in mind for your year-end giving. It means a lot to know that we have support from each one of you. As we move forward, your donations will help fund continued infrastructure and scholarships for the very poorest students. There will always be a need.

To donate, please go to www.bio-benin.org and click on the Donate button. Or, if you want to mail a cheque in the U.S.: 7483 Pinebrook Road, Park City, UT 84098. In Canada: 1897 Sherbrooke East, Montreal, PQ H2K 1B6. In the U.S. we are a 501C3 non-profit.

Thank you for your generosity and best wishes for the holiday season.

With love from Julie and Guillaume

LIST OF DONORS FOR 2023

Henry Burton

Karen Chaffraix

David Cobbett

Anne Cushman

Carolyn d'Almeida

Lisa D'Arrigo

Russell Davidson

Patty Driscoll

Margaret Dunham

Steve and Virginia Fisher

Anne Follweiler

Thomas Herrmann

Margie Matter

Lana Moriarty

Mark Peacock

Bunny and Dan Reardon

Norman Riddell

Sarah Smith

Gail and Doug Todgham

Mary Usher-Jones

Robert Wells

GOALS FOR 2024

Launch La Natayaise in major outlets across Benin and generate revenues of $100,000.

Relocate brewery to farm and build a solar-powered coolroom large enough to increase beer production 10-fold.

Install showers and flush toilets for workers in brewery.

Convert beer containers from bottles to cans.

Rebuild fishpond barrier and start to harvest and sell tilapia.

Acquire electric van for delivery of beer.

Upgrade all solar power at farm and restaurant.

Drill new well at farm for beer production.

Buy small tractor and electric tricycle for farm.

TOTAL INCOME FOR 2023: $35,781.00 in donations plus sufficient profit from the restaurant to pay salaries, maintenance costs and train 20 interns.

Thanks for your support!

Bio-Benin: 1897 Sherbrooke East, Montreal, QC H2K 1B6, Canada 438-233-6059

7483 Pinebrook Road, Park City, UT 84098, U.S.A.