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About SADIL-TOGO March 2015 EDITION

SADIL-TOGO (Structure dAppui pour le Dveloppement des Initiatives Locales au Togo) is an independent, nonprofit organisation that was founded in 2008 by two ex-AIESEC employees from Togo (Eloi Aboutou) and the Netherlands (Jacob Roex). They combined their professional strengths to create an organisation that helps underprivileged children in the most remote areas of Togo. By focusing on Human Rights and Community Health, SADIL-TOGO aims to improve opportunities for these children and support their progression to adulthood.

At present, SADIL runs the ongoing Education Pour Tous program (see below for more information), as well as Ad Hoc projects with partners such as Plan Togo. SADIL - TOGO works in Togos Central and Plateau Regions, with the headquarters based in Tchamba and a regional office in Sotouboua, allowing better access to the rural areas where many of its projects take place.

NEWSLETTER

Note from the SADIL- TOGO Director

On the behalf of SADIL-TOGO, I would like extend my sincere gratitute to you all for your collaberation and the diverse ways in which you have supported our organisation. With your assistance, we were able to help impoverished and abused children and young people and their families gain full possession of their rights (Education, Protection, Participation, Health, Hobbies etc). Through a wide range of recreational activities, workshops and exchanges, we were able to help these young people learn how to defend their rights and empower themselves. Local and grassroots development organisations have also benefited from our technical support and advice.

However, there is still much more work to be done! With you at our side, we can work together to help local communities develop a prosperous environement for the future.

I hope that 2015 is a year of peace, prosperity and success in all that we do, individually and together, to promote peace in the world.

The path is long, but we will succeed.

Eloi Aboutou

Executive Director

Eloi teaches young students how to wash their hands properly during a school training session.

The SADIL team at Tchamba. From left to right: Eloi, Paul, Abrhim, Samoudine, Franoise, Rodolphe, Sophie.

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Education Pour Tous

Student Profile: Marhouma Agbere

We currently support 150 children in twelve rural villages in the central region of Togo:

1. Bago2. Koussountou3. Laouwai4. Mdina5. Ani Kpassa6. NKognon7. Yliwa8. Tchkl

The children are connected to sponsors from five countries: Belgium, Togo, England, The Netherlands and Denmark.

Marhouma, 15 years-old, is sponsored through the Education Pour Tous program. She attends school at CEG Larine, a state institution in Tchamba, where she is in 1st form. Her attendence record is excellent and she has gained some good grades in the past. She hopes to study medecine and become a nurse. Her favourite subjects are Biology, History and Geography.

Marhouma is a lovely girl, always polite and kind to everyone. She enjoys playing games with her friends, especially armpe (a dance competition to a clapping rhythm) and echoeu (like hop-skotch). Maize pate (ground maize boiled in water and left to set into a paste) with baobob sauce is her favourite food, and she likes fanta and coke. Her hobbies are reading and cooking.

Marhouma has a close relationship with her sister, 17, who is at the Local Lycee, in 5th form. Her mother is a housewife and her father is a farmer. They frequently travel to Nigeria so that Marhoumas father can work on plantations to earn a living for the family. Therefore, Marhouma and her sister live

with their grandparents. The parents send money from Nigeria, however this is only enough to pay for Marhoumas most basic needs - food, clothes and accomodation. The family does not have enough money to buy the school materials and text books that are essential for her education.

This is where Marhoumas sponsors come in. Each year they pay for the supplies and SADIL-TOGO ensures these are distributed. SADIL staff also regularly visit Marhouma at school to ensure she is progressing well in her studies.

Marhoumas family situation is common in Togo. Often parents work abroad in neighbouring countries, leaving their children with relatives. As such, these children lack parental support, which can lead to physical and psychological problems that negatively impact on their education. SADIL tries to mitigate these problems by keeping a close eye on the well-being of sponsored students, frequently talking with their teachers, parents/guardians and extended family.

To her sponsors, Marhouma would like to say Thank you for helping me so much

Marhouma, right, with her sister, pictured outside the SADIL-TOGO office.

Sponsored children with their parents recieving their school supplies in Tchkl, a village 3km from Tchamba.

SADIL-TOGOs Education Pour Tous program sponsors 150 students in the Central and Plateaux regions of Togo. SADIL interviewed one of the young girls on the sponsorship

program to find out more about her life.

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The sponsorship program Education Pour Tous aims to connect underprivileged children in rural areas with international sponsors, who support their education. The project was created in July 2008 and is now in its sixth year. At the start of each school year, SADIL-TOGO gives school fees, textbooks and stationary to underprivileged young people (orphans, victims of trafficking, disabled children etc).

During the course of the year 2014, SADIL - TOGO organised two trips to evaluate the progress of the sponsored children. The SADIL team visited both the school and the house of each child to talk with their parents/guardians and teachers and acertain their school and family situation. This permitted SADIL - TOGO to provide extra support and advice to the sponsored children and their families when necessary.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the sponsors involved in Education Pour Tous. Your support is invaluable to the children you sponsor, and the team at SADIL - TOGO is grateful for your continued commitment.

Marhouma Agbere

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Overview of activities in 20141.Education and Human Rights

Projet de renforcement du droit la protection des Enfants Handicaps - April 2014

In collaberation with NGOs Construire Ensemble, Monde Radieux, and Plan Togo, SADIL - TOGO trained womens groups on disability issues through a series of group discussions, presentations and activities. SADIL helped the groups develop action plans to implement what they had learned in their communities. Through a series of home visits and mass presentations, including dances and drama sketches, the women sensibilised the public on the issues of disability and how to help disabled people in their communities.

Projet lutte contre le trafic des enfants travers lducation et la formation professionnelle de Plan Togo - Dcembre 2014

SADIL - TOGO supported the implementation of this project by training local clubs and committees on the topic of child trafficking, principally techniques that can be used to sensibilize local communities on its harmful physical and psychological effects for children involved. As part of the same project, SADIL - TOGO led a campaign that aimed to raise awareness of the importance of educating young girls in the Tchamba district.

Concours Message de nol 9 eme dition - Novembre - Dcembre 2014

The theme of the government sponsored Message de Noel competition was The importance of education: the place and role of parents. SADIL - TOGO administered the comptetion in the Tchamba and Sotouboua school districts and helped the students with their messages, songs and pictures. Staff then accompanied the winners to the final at Lom, during which the children presented their messages and designs at an official celebration. The aim of the competition was to sensibilize parents on the importance of their support for the education of their children and to encourage them to assume a greater role to help their children succeed.

2.Community Health and Sanitation

Amlioration de lAccs lEau, Hygine et Assainissement Tchkl, - Janvier Juin 2014

After forming hygiene and sanitation committees at a local school in Tchkl village , SADIL - TOGO improved their capacity to work effectively by training them on good hygiene practices through a series of lessons, discussions and activities. The student clubs then organised sensibilization activities in the locality. By using home visits, informative posters in the village, and a mass presentation, the clubs informed their peers and the wider public about good hygiene practices. SADIL continues to support their activities promoting the sustainable development of the school and community environments.

Projet de promotion de lHygine et Assainissement dans les Etablissements Scolairesde Tchamba

This project aimed to encourage students to contribute to the improvement of their school environment, focusing on sanitation and school maintenance. SADIL - TOGO formed and trained a health and maintenance committee, which includes 20 girls and 20 boys, and helped the committees to develop a plan of action. The team noted a real enthusiam amongst the students to contribute to the upkeep of their school grounds and sensibilise their fellow students about good sanitation practices.

Projet de formation des clubs anti- SIDA

An ongoing project, implemented in partnership with the Peace Corps, that has established and trained anti-HIV clubs in secondary schools in Sotouboua and Tchamba districts. The primary objective of these clubs is to teach the students about sexual health and the prevention of HIV transmission. Group discussions create awareness and games keep everyone engaged and help to de-stigmatise the central issues.

Project at Tchkl: learning how to wash hands properly

Students from Tchamba learning about school maintenance

SADIL facilitateur Rodolphe teaching students about sexual health

The Message de nol semi-finalists are presented with their prizes.

Local women are sensibilised on disability issues during a group discussion.

A club is taught about child trafficking during a group activity.

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Are you looking for an unforgettable experience where you can both make a difference and develop yourself? Are you up for a challenge in a completely different country? Join SADIL TOGO for a development internship!

SADIL-TOGO organises internships on a continuous basis. Interns will work in our office in Tchamba, Togo, and provide a wide range of support to Sadil's development team. In return, Sadil-Togo will provide an opportunity for the intern to gain experience in the day-to-day operations of a nonprofit organisation and increase their understanding of contemporary issues in development.

Past volunteers have participated in the following activities:

- Project Development

- Communications

- English teaching

SADIL-TOGO has previously welcomed 17 international volunteers (from England, Germany, The Netherlands, Denmark, Japan etc.).

Staff are available for pre-departure advice and support interns for the duration of their stay.

SADIL - TOGO is looking for your support!

1. Become a Friend of SADIL TOGO For only 10 a year you can become a Friend of SADIL TOGO. You will receive the bi-yearly newsletter with updates about our projects and activities.

2. Participate in the Education Pour Tous project We want to ensure continuity for the children in the Education Pour Tous project by giving international sponsors the opportunity to support one or more of the children in the project during a full year. For only 15 a month you will be connected to one of the children in the project and kept up to date with his/her progress and photos.

3. Make a donation Next to the options mentioned above, you can always decide to support us with a donation of any value. All contributions are important to us, even small ones.

4. Donate in kind Instead of giving a financial contribution, you may also opt to make a donation in kind. Notebooks, pens, pencils, color pencils, clothing, toys, balloons, or other gifts are very welcome! Please contact us at sadiltogo@gmail.com in case you want to donate in kind.

5. Follow us on social media!To keep up to date with news of our projects and activities at SADIL - TOGO you can subscribe to our blog, follow us on Twitter and like our Facebook page.

Blog - www.ngosadiltogo.wordpress.com Twitter - @sadiltogo Facebook - Friends of SADIL - TOGO

Internship Opportunities!

We would like to thank you for your invaluable support! Our English intern Sophie at the Message de nol semi-final with students from Tchamba district.

SADIL TOGO is a non-profit organization and therefore completely dependent on volunteers and financial contributions from individuals. In order to continue to make an impact in the coming years, SADIL TOGO is urgently looking for both financial means as well as volunteers to participate in our projects.

How can you help us? There are several ways to participate, either in a direct way (have a look at the internship opportunities on the left) or an indirect way (please see below):

Children take part in a traditional festival at Affem-Boussou.

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