This type of workcamp consists in constructing social and collective equipment namely a library buildings. The local population will help the volunteers to achieve the goal, which is to alleviate the lack of social, educational and sanitary infrastructural areas. In this sort of work camp, not only the volunteers will renovate the library but they will also join together their various cultures which must be set to the social goal. The volunteers must be ready to go deeply in the culture of the village in order to bring out knowledge in artistic ways such as mural painting, production of notices, theatre and sketches.
The activities:
- The volunteers will pick up sand and gravel, make bricks, build foundations and walls. Volunteers will work 5 hours in the morning. They are free in the afternoons and then they can make cultural activities with the local population by that time; - Volunteers will essentially do building work, woodwork and painting; - Preparing and leading a group of painting and discussion with young people of the village on current topics such as children exploitation; environment protection; girls education; writing and producing a theatre play about AIDS that may educate the population. This kind of workcamp often ends with showing of the works of the group for the village, may it be painting, theatre production, dance and percussion, batik, ceramics….
Project context for cultural animation:
The project envisages the creation of various activities in favour of young people namely the assembly of a theatrical group commonly called "Kantatata" in Togo. This group will produce parts inspired on the scenes of daily life in our rural and urban environments. Revalorization of the traditionally practised plays which are today in the process of disappearing; introduction of new plays which will be sometimes imported from other civilizations. Creation of a group of ballet and choreography; manufacture of artistic objects (baskets, water-bottles, bow nets, toy cars…); organization of competitions with prizes. These various activities will support rather frequent meetings of the local young people of all the social layers which will also undoubtedly benefit the international volunteers who will carry out this project especially the discovery of the reality of Togolese culture.
Organization of work:
1st phase - It consists in launching a campaign in the media to gather young people of all social layers. In what regards the plays, a research team will be set up to collect sketches. The team will be charged to study them and to select them in order to make a collection for the local youth. 2nd phase - It is the phase of the concrete realization of the project whose broad outlines are in the analysis of the project. 3rd phase - It will be the phase of presentation in the form of a show for which the local administrative authorities will be invited.
Location:
The town of Kpalimé inhabits around 80 000 people. Here, you can find a post-office, telephone, fax, internet, a hospital, a market, banks, video clubs, hotels, bars and restaurants that offer traditional as well as European food and a swimming pool. It is a friendly town situated in 250m altitude. We will visit the arts centre and the weaving-ateliers of Kpalimé. Taking the route to Kpando up the mountains, you are passing cascades, woods of teak and lush vegetation. After some 11km, one reaches Kloto in 600m altitude. One can make a stop in the comfortable campement where a restaurant, bar and sculptures can be found. Passing some goats, you reach Missahohé, a picturesque site dominated by the Mount Kloto (960m), from where you have magnificent views over Kpalimé and Mount Agou. One can ask to visit the Chateau Hausberg, promenade through the beautiful forest of Yoh and see its cascades, numerous flowers, pineapples and wild mangos. You will find products of Africa such as banana, orange, avocado.
Language:
a basic level of French is obligatory.
Hosting fee:
131,000 FCFA, about 200 euros to be paid on arrival.
Mentally disabled children are neglected in our local community. They do not have a good situation in our society and are not well cared enough by their families. The goal of the organisation ENVOL is to help the disabled child to integrate society by sending them to school and giving them professional training according to their qualifications. ENVOL tries to provide better conditions to the children which can help them to lead a better life. ASTOVOT remarked that children do not have enough care during the summer holidays and their health is also often not good. It is therefore important to take action for the good education and training of those children in order to secure them the best possible future. This workcamp was initiated by ASTOVOT in partnership with ENVOL to struggle against the degradation of their situation during holidays. Everybody who likes to work with this particular type of children and is devoted to their cause, can join this project.
Work:
Volunteers will participate in activities such as guiding the children in different activities; working with the children in different workshops (eg. modelling, drawing, playing games, telling tales and songs, dance and music, etc). Volunteers should present typical cultural aspects of their country and can participate in community activities, such as awareness raising on how to promote local development; hygiene; environment protection, etc.
Accommodation:
The volunteers will be housed together by the village community at the location of the workcamp.
Location:
ASTO/07 - The town of Atakpamé is located between the towns of Akposso and Mono. It is the chief town of the Area of the Plates made up of more than 9 prefectures. It is one of the most important cities of Togo. Surrounded by several hills, at an altitude of 500 m. It was a place of commercial exchanges between the people of the coastal regions of the Golf of Benin and those of the interior. The customs and habits are truly preserved in this region, where clans have one or more divinities to which sacrifices are offered. A great way for better knowing the African culture, discovering how Togo managed to preserve its authentic and traditional character.
ASTO/08 - The town of Kpalimé inhabits around 80 000 people. Here, you can find a post-office, telephone, fax, internet, a hospital, a market, banks, video clubs, hotels, bars and restaurants that offer traditional as well as European food and a swimming pool. It is a friendly town situated in 250m altitude. We will visit the arts centre and the weaving-ateliers of Kpalimé. Taking the route to Kpando up the mountains, you are passing cascades, woods of teak and lush vegetation. After some 11km, one reaches Kloto in 600m altitude. One can make a stop in the comfortable campement where a restaurant, bar and sculptures can be found. Passing some goats, you reach Missahohé, a picturesque site dominated by the Mount Kloto (960m), from where you have magnificent views over Kpalimé and Mount Agou. One can ask to visit the Chateau Hausberg, promenade through the beautiful forest of Yoh and see its cascades, numerous flowers, pineapples, wild mangoss, bananas, oranges, avocados.
Arrival:
Volunteers must be in Kpalimé at ASTOVOT's offices at 8am the first day of the project, so please plan on arriving at least the day before if not earlier. Volunteers will be met at the airport IF the volunteer emails arrival details at least a week prior to the start of the project.
Language:
Basic French language skills are required for this project.
Hosting Fee:
131,000 FCFA, the equivalent of 200 EUR payable upon arrival.
Hosting fee:
131,000 FCFA, about 200 euros to be paid on arrival.
Mentally disabled children are neglected in our local community. They do not have a good situation in our society and are not well cared enough by their families. The goal of the organisation ENVOL is to help the disabled child to integrate society by sending them to school and giving them professional training according to their qualifications. ENVOL tries to provide better conditions to the children which can help them to lead a better life. ASTOVOT remarked that children do not have enough care during the summer holidays and their health is also often not good. It is therefore important to take action for the good education and training of those children in order to secure them the best possible future. This workcamp was initiated by ASTOVOT in partnership with ENVOL to struggle against the degradation of their situation during holidays. Everybody who likes to work with this particular type of children and is devoted to their cause, can join this project.
Work:
Volunteers will participate in activities such as guiding the children in different activities; working with the children in different workshops (eg. modelling, drawing, playing games, telling tales and songs, dance and music, etc). Volunteers should present typical cultural aspects of their country and can participate in community activities, such as awareness raising on how to promote local development; hygiene; environment protection, etc.
Accommodation:
The volunteers will be housed together by the village community at the location of the workcamp.
Location:
ASTO/07 - The town of Atakpamé is located between the towns of Akposso and Mono. It is the chief town of the Area of the Plates made up of more than 9 prefectures. It is one of the most important cities of Togo. Surrounded by several hills, at an altitude of 500 m. It was a place of commercial exchanges between the people of the coastal regions of the Golf of Benin and those of the interior. The customs and habits are truly preserved in this region, where clans have one or more divinities to which sacrifices are offered. A great way for better knowing the African culture, discovering how Togo managed to preserve its authentic and traditional character.
ASTO/08 - The town of Kpalimé inhabits around 80 000 people. Here, you can find a post-office, telephone, fax, internet, a hospital, a market, banks, video clubs, hotels, bars and restaurants that offer traditional as well as European food and a swimming pool. It is a friendly town situated in 250m altitude. We will visit the arts centre and the weaving-ateliers of Kpalimé. Taking the route to Kpando up the mountains, you are passing cascades, woods of teak and lush vegetation. After some 11km, one reaches Kloto in 600m altitude. One can make a stop in the comfortable campement where a restaurant, bar and sculptures can be found. Passing some goats, you reach Missahohé, a picturesque site dominated by the Mount Kloto (960m), from where you have magnificent views over Kpalimé and Mount Agou. One can ask to visit the Chateau Hausberg, promenade through the beautiful forest of Yoh and see its cascades, numerous flowers, pineapples, wild mangoss, bananas, oranges, avocados.
Arrival:
Volunteers must be in Kpalimé at ASTOVOT's offices at 8am the first day of the project, so please plan on arriving at least the day before if not earlier. Volunteers will be met at the airport IF the volunteer emails arrival details at least a week prior to the start of the project.
Language:
Basic French language skills are required for this project.
Hosting Fee:
131,000 FCFA, the equivalent of 200 EUR payable upon arrival.
Hosting fee:
131,000 FCFA, about 200 euros to be paid on arrival.
« I can say that the best things about the workcamp and this whole experience were the chance of making a real difference to the lives of very needy children. This is an extremely valuable project where volunteers can have a massive impact. Also the possibility of learning a huge amount about a country so different from our own. I learnt ten times as much by carrying out a workcamp than I would ever do backpacking. »
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