Togo
HI's objective in Togo is to reduce inequalities and improve the living conditions of people with disabilities and individuals experiencing extreme hardship. Our program promotes the development of an inclusive society.
Students burst out laughing during a participatory theater performance by the association Nyagbe ("The Word") at the Lycée Gbodjomé in Goumoukopé. | © A. Surprenant / MYOP / HI
Our actions
The school system in Togo is not sufficiently adapted to the needs of children with disabilities. HI is therefore running a project to ensure inclusive access to primary and secondary school and to develop vocational training for children and young people with disabilities. Alongside schools and public authorities, HI is raising awareness of inclusive education and adapted teaching methods.
Our teams train teachers, support schools, provide educational resource centers and work to ensure that disability and the adaptations needed to make services more accessible are incorporated into government directives.
The program is also running a mental health project to provide psychosocial support to people experiencing psychological distress. In a country where access to psychosocial care is complicated by a shortage of health professionals and a lack of knowledge of the subject, HI is lobbying for the integration of mental health into the training curriculum for the sector’s professionals. In addition, the program is mapping existing services and training partners and community members to support more people while also supporting mental health awareness campaigns in schools.
In the north of the country, HI is committed to strengthening the resilience and community cohesion of populations affected by conflict and violence. The program develops spaces for dialogue and raises community awareness of peaceful conflict resolution. Our teams work with local players to promote peace, the economic integration of unemployed young people and the development of social cohesion supported by the communities themselves.
Moreover, HI is training local actors in logistics and supporting other NGOs in the delivery of humanitarian goods. HI is working with the country's other humanitarian actors to make their responses more inclusive.
Lastly, HI is engaged in the promotion and strengthening of disability rights, with a particular focus on gender discrimination. To this end, the program supports civil society organizations that fight violence against women by strengthening their skills and encouraging them to share good practices.
Areas of intervention
Latest stories
Good news from HI in June: rehabilitation in Somaliland and Togo, economic inclusion in Venezuela.
Despite the obstacles, Edwige aspires to become a teacher
Edwige is a 20-year-old student with vision loss. She has been in education since the age of four, but it has not always been easy getting to where she is today.
Supported by HI and APHMOTO, Gawalé went to school and became a garment maker
Gawalé, 24, currently works as a garment maker. She is also blind. With determination and the support she received, she was able to go to school Today, she talks to us about her experience and why we need to make the school system inclusive.
a life
Background
Although rich in natural resources such as gold and phosphate, inequality and poverty in Togo remain extremely high, especially among people with disabilities who face numerous barriers.
Situated in West Africa, Togo has experienced several political crises linked to the organization of presidential elections. Indeed, although the country has had a democratic regime since independence, these strongly contested elections have caused considerable unrest..
Today, the country is facing a growing terrorist threat due to its porous borders with Burkina Faso, which has been plagued by terrorist attacks since January 2015.
Negative societal perceptions of disability and a lack of accessible infrastructure mean that people with disabilities are often excluded from education and do not have equal access to services. However, these issues are becoming more visible, mainly thanks to the advocacy work carried out by organizations of people with disabilities. HI is taking steps to change this situation in collaboration with its many governmental and non-governmental partners.
Number of HI staff: 37
Programm opened in: 1992
