OSCAR MAITRE

Week 1

We spent the first day of the weekend with the association, who helped us get settled (SIM card, cash, etc.). After that, we had the chance to walk around the city to get our bearings.

Our first working day on Monday was a presentation led by the manager, explaining the association’s role, its activities, and the tasks we would be carrying out. We also received a brief introduction to the local language and customs.

On the second day, we joined an outreach mission to locate children living on the streets, which was particularly moving.

For the rest of the week, we visited children who were already registered, played with them, and began creating a first connection. We also spent time at the garden set up for young mothers living on the streets.

Overall, the first week was mainly about introducing us to the activities and helping us feel comfortable with both the beneficiaries and the association.

Volunteering Experience in Togo

Week 2

After several meetings, questions, and long discussions, we started to get a clearer idea of the association’s role and the impact of its activities.

Everything felt smoother, although we were still mostly supporting the local staff. We shared some ideas for activities and suggestions on how we could be more involved in the tasks, and these were well received and implemented accordingly.

The mobile school allowed us to get closer to the children and work directly with them, focusing on writing, reading, and other skills. Being French, I was able to work with the children individually, which made communication easier.

At the end of the week, we let the team know that we wanted all of us to be included in the tasks, as there were moments when not everyone could participate, sometimes taking turns.

Week 3

During this third week, we were divided into several groups for the activities so that everyone could have an individual role.

The week was quite busy, with a sexual-health awareness session led by Carlotta and the association’s psychologist, a jewelry-making workshop by Christina, and other gardening, maintenance, games with the children, and food distribution activities.

During these activities, I supported the young mothers by taking care of their babies so they could focus on the workshops, which truly warmed my heart. By this third week, we were starting to grow close to the children and the young mothers, creating a real bond with them.

Personally, I was given the task of creating a questionnaire for an outreach mission planned for week 4, aimed at young girls living on the beach. I wrote 15 questions to identify their difficulties and register them, in order to set a clear objective to help change their situation.

Week 4

This last week was particularly emotional. We went to interview the single mothers living on the beach using the questionnaires we had prepared. We printed many copies and worked in pairs (one volunteer and one local staff member). Since I speak French, I was able to speak with two of them one-on-one, first making them feel comfortable and then gently introducing the sensitive questions. I was impressed by the maturity of their answers — they weren’t asking for direct or temporary help, but rather support in building financial independence or becoming safer.

During the week, we also carried out a night outreach mission to identify unregistered children. I was able to speak alone with two children, who were surprisingly open and shared their stories with me. It moved me deeply, and I had to remain composed so as not to show vulnerability, to stay a reassuring figure for them.

I was left quite frustrated not to see any follow-up on their cases. Despite many of my questions and concerns, I still have no clear idea of what happens next in situations like these. I don’t understand why we never visited any children already placed in shelters or foster families, even though the association told us such cases do exist.

This week ends with a slight feeling of incompleteness, with this uncertainty about what will concretely happen next for these children and young girls — but with a heart full of emotions