Togo: Volunteer Care/Orphanage work

Togo: Volunteer Care-Work with Children

• Placement locations: Lomé
• Types of care projects: Care centres, kindergartens, orphanages
• Age of children: 0 - 16
• Number of people cared for:
  10 - 35
• Role: Assisting with local staff including playing with children, basic teaching and giving general help
• Accommodation: Host families
• Price: From £1395
• What’s included? Food, accommodation, transfers, insurance, personal webpage, induction and orientation, 24/7 support, social activities
• What’s not included? Flights, visa costs, spending money
• Length of placement: From one month
• Start dates: Flexible

Volunteering in an orphanage or care centre in Togo - one of Africa's poorest countries - can be challenging but also incredibly rewarding. Whether you are on a gap year, holiday from university or coming to development work as an older volunteer on a career break, you will have a role to play and your contribution will be valued.

The number of orphans and street children in Togo is a problem for the country's rudimentary social welfare services. In the orphanages that do exist, staff struggle with limited resources to feed, clothe and educate the children in their care. Staff often don't have the time to provide the individual love and attention that these children need so they can have as normal a childhood as possible.

Voluntary Community Development and Orphanage work with Projects Abroad

Projects Abroad works with several different orphanages in Lomé, the capital of Togo. Many of the country’s most vulnerable children end up here. The orphanages are privately owned and of varying sizes. Some are home to mostly young children, whereas some have adolescents and young adults.

The most rewarding tasks involve helping the children with their homework, teaching hygiene and setting up group activities. Volunteers can also help with household tasks such as cleaning, cooking and washing. Some volunteers set up regular sports or arts and crafts classes with the children.

It is also possible to work in a nursery, with babies and young children. It is important to teach them basic behavioural tasks, such as treating people kindly and throwing rubbish in a bin. There is a playground outside, with plenty of space for outdoor activities.

Volunteering Abroad on a Care Project in Togo

In whichever volunteer Care project in Togo you find yourself, you need to be ready for a challenge. Many of the children are desperate for attention and there will undoubtedly be children present who have health problems and some who may need special attention due to disabilities.

Projects Abroad volunteers help by spending time with the children, playing with them and putting a smile on their faces. Whether you are taking a group out for an afternoon to the nearby beach, helping older children with school homework or playing a game with the younger ones, you will be an essential part of their development.

Any extra interests or skills that you have can be put to good use, and please let our local staff know about them when you apply.