Who we are
PreserveOurLanguages is an initiative dedicated to the digital preservation and promotion of African languages. Founded by Josué Godeme, a Computer Science and Applied Mathematics student, our mission is to bridge the gap between technological advancement and linguistic heritage. We are a team of passionate linguists, technologists, and cultural advocates working to:
- Create digital resources for underrepresented African languages
- Develop AI-powered translation tools for native African languages
- Document and preserve oral traditions and folktales
- Promote the use of African languages in education and technology
Our work spans from creating the first-ever digital corpora for languages like Adja to partnering with global organizations to develop dictionaries and learning curricula. We believe that every language is a unique window into human experience, and by preserving these languages, we're safeguarding entire worldviews.
© CRAterre / Ensag
History and Background
PreserveOurLanguages was born out of a personal journey and a startling realization. In 2024, our founder, Josué Godeme, a native Adja speaker from Benin, attempted to reconnect with his mother tongue. What he discovered was a glaring absence of digital resources for Adja - a language spoken by nearly a million people.
This discovery sparked a mission. With support from the Davis Project for Peace and the Dickey Center at Dartmouth College, Josué launched a summer project to digitize and preserve the Adja language. What started as a personal quest quickly evolved into a larger mission.
In the future, PreserveOurLanguages aim to become a vibrant community of language enthusiasts, researchers, and technologists dedicated to safeguarding Africa's linguistic treasures. Our platform should serves as a hub for language documentation, education, and cultural preservation, empowering communities to celebrate and protect their unique languages.
IMPACT STORIES
Impact stories coming soon!
La Jarre Trouée
According to Beninese historians and the words of the Dahomey dignitary Dah Adjolohoun Zohoncon, King Ghézo created this symbol to emphasize the importance of unity and collective effort for the nation's progress.
The "pierced jar" is a metaphorical jar with holes. The story goes that this jar contains the water that brings happiness and prosperity to the country. However, due to the holes, the water leaks out, symbolizing the challenges and problems the nation faces.
King Ghézo's message was that if all the children of the country came together and used their fingers to plug the holes, the jar would hold water, and the nation would be saved. This act of coming together and collaborating represents the collective effort needed to overcome difficulties and achieve progress.
For the NGO PreserveOurLanguages, the pierced jar is an apt symbol. Just as the jar requires many hands to stop the water from leaking, the preservation of low-resourced languages requires the collective effort of many individuals and communities. It is not a task that can be accomplished by one person alone; it needs the support, participation, and contributions of everyone involved.
OUR LEADERSHIP
Our leadership team is dedicated to preserving low-resourced languages through innovative research, community engagement, and technological solutions.
Josue
Founder of the Project
OUR TEAM
We are working on assembling an amazing team. Stay Connected!