On January 22 and 23, twenty-four young Beninese leaders competed in the French and English versions of the semi-finals of the "Dream or Prophecy" speech contest hosted by the American Cultural Center in Cotonou.

Speaking on behalf of the U.S. Embassy, USAID Education Officer Simone Brown opened the French event and Consular Officer William Astillero opened the English event. They both called on the public to take inspiration from the ideas shared by participants, and to join forces with likeminded people to work toward making those dreams a reality.

Twelve contestants (six for each version) were selected to advance to the finals, scheduled for February 8 at 6 p.m. at the American Cultural Center.

This activity was organized in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Black History Month. The contest encourages youth to choose what kind of future they want for their country, and to take responsibility for making that dream a reality.