The NGO Association Togolaise des Volontaires au Travail (ASTOVOT) has over 60 years of experience in international voluntary service. Each year, it welcomes many volunteers from around the world for short, medium, and long-term projects (from 3 weeks to 12 months) in Togo. These projects allow around 200 national volunteers to interact with international volunteers and create meaningful intercultural exchanges throughout the year. ASTOVOT is a member of: Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS – UNESCO) Network of Africa Voluntary Organisations (NAVO) It partners with volunteer organizations in Europe, Asia, the USA, Canada, and Africa. Its projects mainly focus on: Community development Education and citizenship Health and social action Environmental protection Intercultural learning Construction and renovation of community infrastructure

Description

This summer, ASTOVOT is organizing an international volunteer program in the village of Agomé-Tomégbé, combining educational support and preservation of oral heritage. Mornings: school support workshops for village children, focusing on core subjects such as French, mathematics, and English. The aim is to offer practical, playful, and interactive activities that help children strengthen their knowledge without formal lessons. Afternoons: workshops to collect local stories from families and village elders. Volunteers will help document the traditions and tales of the Ewe community, which will later be compiled into an educational collection for future use in Togolese schools

Objectives of project

Provide interactive and playful educational support to strengthen children’s knowledge
Preserve and promote Ewe oral heritage through the collection of local stories and narratives Foster creativity, self-expression, and self-confidence in children
Develop intercultural awareness and solidarity between volunteers and the local community

Volunteer Tasks
Educational Support (Mornings)

Supervise practical and playful workshops in French, mathematics, and English
Organize educational games and interactive exercises to make learning engaging

Story Collection and Oral Heritage (Afternoons)

Participate in collecting traditional Ewe stories and narratives from village elders and families
Document and transcribe the stories to create an educational and cultural collection
Lead workshops around the stories, including readings, theater, and performances for children
Help promote cultural heritage and support the dissemination of these stories in local schools

ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation is usually basic and depends on the project location. Volunteers stay in groups of 3–4 per room, with room-sharing arrangements decided collectively. Some sites have dry toilets and showers without running water. Mats are provided, and volunteers may bring sleeping bags if possible. Drinking water is available on site, but electricity and internet access may be limited.

FOODS

During the camp, volunteers are responsible for preparing their own meals. An internal schedule organizes volunteers into groups that take turns handling household tasks, including cooking, cleaning, and meal preparation. Ingredients may be local, imported, or organic, and special dietary needs are taken into account whenever possible. Volunteers also enjoy a variety of tropical fruits such as bananas, oranges, pineapples, mangoes, avocados, and papayas, which are readily available during the camp.

Apart from the main camp activities, several recreational and cultural activities are organized, such as discovery walks, hiking, festive outings, and cultural exchanges. These activities allow volunteers to interact with local communities and to explore Togolese culture. During weekends, group excursions are arranged by volunteers and camp coordinators to visit local tourist sites in the project area. Please note that costs related to excursions and outings are not included in the participation fee.

Motivated and interested in children and non-formal education Ability to lead playful and interactive workshops Patience, cultural openness, and teamwork Adaptability to simple living conditions in a rural environment

Passport: Must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the end of your stay and contain at least two blank pages for the visa. Visa: Application is done online. Current procedures and requirements for traveling to Togo are available at https://voyage.gouv.tg/. It is strongly recommended to apply well in advance.

The working languages of the camp are English and French. However, non-French
speaking volunteers are advised to have basic knowledge of French before arrival,
as French is the official language of Togo. Most local volunteers and community
members have limited English skills.

Upon arrival at Lomé airport, a member of ASTOVOT in charge of volunteer reception will meet you and escort you to your accommodation in Lomé. The taxi fare between the airport and the hotel ranges from 5,000 to 10,000 CFA francs (approximately €7.5–13). Transport to Kpalimé is by bush taxi or minibus. The ASTOVOT headquarters serves as both the volunteer meeting point and the starting location of the workcamp. The distance between Lomé and Kpalimé is 121 km, with a travel time of about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours. Taxi fares from Lomé to Kpalimé are around 3,000 CFA francs (~€5) at taxi parks, but additional charges are often requested. Volunteers are advised to pay 5,000 CFA francs to ensure the driver brings them directly to the ASTOVOT headquarters.