Togomonde 108 Dec 2016

108 TOGOMONDE 2016
Issue No. 108

December 2016
News from the PDH Social Centre Promotion et Dveloppement Humain
https://www.gofundme.com/together-we-can-for-pdh-togo
Our campaign is booming!!! Thank you for all of your support. Our
Christmas fundraising was exceptionally successful and the roof has
already been started! See section 2 for more information.
PDH is looking for previous volunteers to leave reviews on a few
websites. Please see Section 10 for more details!
Please scroll down to read the recent news from Togo and the work done by PDH.
1. Our Objectives at PDH

2. Business as Usual
3. Good News
4. Sad News
5. Whats New in Togo?
6. Volunteer News: Join Us!
7. Reflections on Donations
8. How to Donate
9. Sponsorship: Distance Adoption
10. Help With Empty Pockets
11. A Great Big THANK YOU!
This issue of TOGOMONDE was written by:

Luana Da Cruz, Brazilian; 166th volunteers at PDH Lom, Togo, West Africa
Katie Shiraishi, Australian/Canadian; 167th volunteers at PDH Lom, Togo, West Africa
Centre Social (PDH) Promotion et Dveloppement Humain
02 B.P. 20832 Lom, Togo, West Africa Tel: 00228 22 51 77 52 / 90 10 46 34
E-Mail: centre_social@yahoo.fr
Website: www.pdh-togo.org / www.pdh-info.tg
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PDHTogo Twitter: www.twitter.com/PDHTogo
TOGO MONDE No. 108, December 2016
1 Our Objectives at PDH

::
To conduct life education that seeks to change behaviour.
::
To assist with schooling, literacy, learning and professional

training.
::
To listen to, inform and educate the disadvantaged and povertystricken.
::
To provide assistance and a means of gaining independence to

those already possessing professional skills.
::
To assist the disadvantaged and poverty-stricken in regards to

nutrition, psychological, sanitation, medication, material needs
and finances.
::
To provide financial assistance and support for those seeking to

establish a small business.
::
To assist the handicapped, refugees and prostitutes to re-establish

themselves both professionally and financially.
::
To assist the elderly and encourage sentiments of self-worth.
::
To promote family planning, family health and AIDS prevention.
::
To fight against AIDS and HIV.
::
To cater for the psychological, health, medical and nutritional

needs of those living with AIDS or HIV.
::
To care for children orphaned due to AIDS.

Business as Usual
A Christmas to remember and the preliminary works for our roof!!

https://www.gofundme.com/together-we-can-for-pdh-togo
We are simply lost for words with the generosity we have witnessed from our supporters
around the world. Especially with 2 campaigns during the month of December, a time of
year which can already be financially straining. With your generosity, we raised funds for
the Christmas event with the kids as well as a good portion of the funds required for the
final roof section over 2 other classes at the centre. Although the project for the roof is still
in progress and more funds will be required, we are enthusiastic to see such a great start
to this project.
We say with confidence that Christmas 2016 will be one that wont be quickly forgotten.
The families most in need that are supported by PDH, received food packs for their
Christmas dinner. The food packs, included large portions of unprepared traditional foods
so that these families could cook and eat a fulfilling and nutritional meal on Christmas
within their own communities.
In addition, we prepared some small gifts for all the 70+ children registered with PDH. The
children arrived early and enthusiastic for a day filled with games, lollies, gifts and fun!
PDH and staff were able to provide all the children a meal of rice and chicken while at the
centre for the day. The day was extremely successful, and could have not been possible
without the support of all of you. Thank you!

3 Good News
Nutrition finally available for Attisso Koffi
Attisso Koffi is a young 3 month old infant who was abandoned by his mother and father.
His Grandmother has been struggling to provide the necessities for him and unfortunately
earlier this month he had to be administered in hospital due to malnutrition. By this time
he was sick, weak and grossly underweight. His nightmare continued with severe
infections and lack of funds for his treatment in hospital.
His grandmother approached PDH for help, and with the additional assistance of the nuns
of La Providence de Saint Gaetan, Attisos grandmother was able to pay for the hospital
treatment that little Attisso required for both malnutrition and the infection around his scalp.
It is with extreme joy that we confirm that he has been released from hospital and is
recovering very well. The nuns of La Providence de Saint Gaetan will be ensuring that
Attisso receives formula milk until he is able to consume a healthy diet of solid foods.

Sad News
The struggles of one 16 year old girl

Early in December we met a young apprehensive mother by the name of Adenyo Akauss.
Adenyo is the mother of 2 beautiful children, and a recent widow. Her loving husband
passed away earlier this year, and as an Orphan herself, she was overwhelmed with the
great responsibility of caring for both her children truly on her own, without employment
and at the young age of only 16.
Her oldest daughter should now be registered in school, but as she struggles with
providing the necessities for her children, she has been unable to enrol her in school. A
visit to her home confirmed the impoverished state of her current living conditions. We
were also able to meet both her children, and instantly could see they required better
nutrition and a visit to a podiatrist as we have minor medical concerns for them both.
PDH has tried to register her child in school, but as the school year is now too advanced,
she will only be allowed to register next year. As she lives a considerable distance from
the centre we have only been able to follow up on the telephone through one of her
neighbours. We hope to get her children registered in school, and healthy as a matter of
priority. The PDH Centre will be working hard to assist her in providing for her children
and finding appropriate employment.

5 Whats New in Togo?

Togos Dangerous Roads
To say that it is complete chaos on the roads in Togo would be an understatement. As
Luana and I took the 11 hour journey to the North of Togo we counted 3 large trucks rolled
over on their side, 1 car totalled and a 3 car pile-up. To add to this on our return to Lom,
our bus had to take a detour to go pick up stranded passengers from another bus which
had crashed.
The roads are crowded, shared between pedestrians, motorbikes, pedal bikes, cars,
busses, trucks, wheelchairs, donkeys, goats, chickens, paved, unpaved, filled with
potholes, narrow and unpredictable.
Upon our return to Lom, we were saddened to hear that one of the neighbours of PDH,
was accidently hit and had his leg broken and minor injuries to his head. It goes without
saying that events like this can be debilitating to a family already struggling to provide the
basic needs to their family.
It is why I am taking the time to remind everyone, to be safe and extremely cautious when
out on the road.
One minor mistake, one simple distraction could have great
consequences.
I would also like to take some time, to bring to your attention the importance of community
support no matter where your home may be. I was left speechless, when I witnessed on
Christmas day, the arrival of the gentleman who was driving the vehicle on the day our
neighbour was hit. This man, has shown great courage and a truly caring soul. He not
only accompanied our neighbour to the hospital after the accident, but it is my
understanding that he also covered the charges. In addition, to arrive on Christmas day
with bags of food and required items is something we should all learn from.
Accidents happen, and when in Togo, road accidents are very likely. But let not the error
of one moment lead to greater suffering. I encourage you all to take the lesson of this one
man, and to do everything in your power to rectify errors, find solutions and support your
community. One act of kindness, could help someone in more ways than you could
imagine.

6 Volunteer News: Join Us!
PDH warmly welcomes international interest in our volunteer program. We have hosted a
diverse crowd in Lom over the last decade from solo travellers, to groups of friends, to
one mother-daughter pairing all of whom fit into the organisation equally well.
Regardless of your age (we have seen 19 through to 67) or your profession, volunteer
work in Togo can be a profound, rewarding and enjoyable experience
Volunteer Testimonial:
Arriving in Togo and the PDH centre has been such a grand experience for me in so
many different ways, with different thoughts and ideas but always with the same goal
Promoting human development.
I have seen and learnt that we only can help those who want to be helped, those
who need help need to be open about their problems and believe that there is still
some hope.
Walking along the dirty and dusty streets of Lome you can clearly see the
inequalities between those who live here. I can easily see the benefits of what could
be accomplished if the community worked together. Here at PDH, I can see its a
small start, but they work hard to educate, support and better the kids for the future.
It can be hard and even frustrating, sometimes to prepare things, even simple things
can take a long time, but we must remember the culture of where we are, and how
things are done here.
Just a short walk around the neighbourhood can be a very good experience, people
will seem stunned at the sight of a white person, but you quickly get used to it.
Stopping for a beer in a local bar to refresh your mind on those hot days in Togo is a
great idea, talking with other Togolese and going to the local market are amongst the
things we will never forget.

Goodbye and Thank You

N
Name
N/A
Nationality
Date of Arrival
Departure
Current Volunteers
N
Name
166
167
Luana Da Cruz
Katie Shiraishi
Nationality
Date of Arrival
th
Brazilian
27 November 2016
th
Australian/Canadian 27 November, 2016
Proposed
Departure
th
27 January, 2017
th
27 January, 2017
Confirmed Future Volunteers

N
168
169
170
171
Name
Suzuka Satoh
Natascha Sekerinski
Benjamin Francis Lew
Kian Deshler
Nationality
Japan
Canadian
Australian/British
American
Proposed Arrival
23rd January, 2017
January 27 2017
6th February, 2017
February 27th, 2017
Proposed Departure
9th June, 2017
March 10 2017
3rd April, 2017
April 22nd, 2017
Want to add your name to the list? Read on!
What does a typical work day look like?

From Monday to Friday, you will typically have your brekky at 07:30 and attend our
daily meeting at 08:00 before accompanying one of our agents on a case visit. From
13:00 to 14:45 you are encouraged to take a long lunch with your host, before
returning to document your visit in the afternoon and assist with activities at the
centre until 17:30.
What is the accommodation like?

You will stay in a family home, either at the centre or with a partnering family. You will
have a private, comfortable room with basic amenities. Please keep in mind that
conditions in Togo may not meet what you are used to at home, however we work to
make your stay as pleasant as possible. Let your host know of any dietary
preferences so they can tailor meals to you!
How long can I stay?

There are no minimum or maximum stays at PDH. We are willing to work with your
schedule to find something that works for both of us.
How much does the program cost?

Volunteers are asked to make a 100,000 CFA (150/US$200) donation on arrival.
Full board accommodation is provided at a rate of 25,000 CFA (37.50/ US$50) per
week, i.e. the total for twelve weeks would be 400,000f CFA (600/US$800).
How can I fund my trip?

While living expenses in Lom are low, getting here can be a financial challenge.
Research flights on sites such as http://skycanner.com, http://hipmunk.com or
http://matrix.itasoftware.com to find the cheapest option. You might want to consider
fundraising through friends and family or researching organisations that offer
volunteer grants, such as
http://go-volunteerabroad.com/volunteer-abroad-scholarship.
How can I access my money while in Togo?

Please note that only VISA & MasterCard bankcards work in Togo. Maestro and
American Express are not accepted anywhere. ATMs are not difficult to find; there is
one a relatively short distance from the centre. There are also Western Union and
MoneyGram outlets in case you need to have money sent from home.
How can I get more information?

For more information on volunteering and what life in Lom is like, you can visit our
website, www.pdh-togo.org. You should also like us on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/PDHTogo to get updates on our work here.
How can I apply to be a volunteer at PDH?

Express your interest today by sending an email to pdh_volontaires@yahoo.fr or
centre_social@yahoo.fr. Please allow up to one week for our reply, we work with a
very limited internet connection! When you receive a response, please carefully read
the Essential Guidelines for Volunteering at PDH, which we forward to all
prospective volunteers.
7 Reflections on Donations
We often get questions about what people can send to us to help. Over the last
couple of years more and more things that we need such as school books, stationery
and condoms are available here to buy. Monetary donations are the most liquid, and
thus most effective donation that we can receive. We avoid postal costs, and often
prices are cheaper here so we can gain the maximum value from your money.
Another positive outcome is that it helps the local economy here in Togo. On the
other hand if there is something in particular that you would like to send over (e.g.
clothes, puzzles, board games) then feel free to do so; we know sometimes it is
nice to send over products that you have chosen, so we will always happily accept
any packages. We are also very grateful for supplies that volunteers bring with them
from their families and friends.
Our postal address:
Antoine Dzakas (The Project Director),
La Promotion et Dveloppement Humain,
B.P. 20832 Lom, Togo, Africa.
Please email centre_social@yahoo.fr to let

us know were expecting a package as our
post office does not directly notify us of
deliveries.

8 How to Donate
Very often at PDH we are forced to turn away people that we quite simply cannot
help due to our extremely limited financial and material resources. We are 100%
dependant on donations and volunteers and believe that PDH is an excellent choice
for those of you who wish to donate money to a small non-governmental, non-profit
aid organization. Our administrative costs are very low and we guarantee that your
donation, in its entirety, will provide relief that is desperately required by those in
need. Before making a donation, we recommend consulting us to decide the best
method in order to avoid excessive fees.
By cheque sent
directly to Lom
(in , US$ or ):
Payable to: Centre Social PDH

Address: 02 B.P. 20832, Lom, Togo, West Africa.
Please be aware that it might take several weeks to arrive
as the post can be quite slow.
By Western Union, Please make sure to send the transfer details via email to
Ria or
centre_social@yahoo.fr
MoneyGram:
By bank transfer:
Orabank Togo
Code Banque
Code Guichet
TG116
01101
IBAN (Identifiant International)
TG53TG1160110104000025710480
Domiciliation
LOME
CENTRE SOC. PROMO DEV. HUM
BP 20832
LOME
Relev didentit bancaire

Numro de
Cl RIB
Compte
040000257104
80
Code BIC
ORBKTGTG

10
9 Sponsorship: Distance Adoption

PDH supporters now have the opportunity to
sponsor a child, adult, or family, providing one
year of school tuition and food for a child,
subsidising an apprenticeship to set a young
person up for life, or helping a struggling family
put food on the table. Ongoing sponsorship
enables PDH to commit to helping individuals
or families over the long term, and alleviates
some of the precarity of relying on ad hoc
donations.
1. The future Sponsor will contact Centre Social PDH to express their preference in
sponsoring a:
a. Girl aged 18 years or under
b. Boy aged 18 years or under
c. Girl aged 19 years or above
d. Boy aged 19 years or above
e. Family
2. The Sponsor will complete the Agreement/Contract of Sponsorship Between
PDH and Sponsor and email to PDH: centre_social@yahoo.fr.
3. The Centre Social PDH will send details of a sponsorship candidate to the
Sponsor.
4. The Sponsored Person will write a letter via Centre Social PDH to the Sponsor.
5. The Sponsor will send future correspondence to the Sponsored Person via
Centre Social PDH
02 BP 20832 Lom, Togo
Tel # 00228 22 51 77 52 / 90 10 46 34
Email: centre_social@yahoo.fr
6. It is the Sponsor who decides the amount, frequency and the duration of the
sponsorship.
7. The Sponsor sends their donation to the Sponsored Person via Centre Social
PDH.
8. Centre Social PDH receives the donation and ensures the money is used
effectively to help the Sponsored Person.
9. Centre Social PDH will regularly follow up on the Sponsored Persons situation.
10. The Centre Social PDH is responsible for the Sponsored Person and how the
money is used. PDH will send an annual report to the Sponsor detailing the
progression of the Sponsored Persons situation.
N
1
2
3
SUGGESTED DONATION TO COVER THE NEEDS OF A SPONSORED PERSON

NEED
AMOUNT
Monthly Supply of Food
23 Euro
Monthly Expense to Monitor Sponsored Person
4 Euro
Annual School Fees / Professional Apprenticeship Fees
45 / 12 = 3.75 Euro
Monthly Total
30.75 Euro

11
C E N T R E
S O C I A L
Promotion et Dveloppement Humain

BP 20832 Lom Tl :(00228) 22 51 77 52 / 90 10 46 34 Togo E-mail: centre_social@yahoo.fr
Agreement/Contract of Sponsorship Between PDH and Sponsor

First and Last Name of Sponsor __________________________________________
Nationality ___________________________________________________________
Address _____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Telephone Number ____________________________________________________
Email Address ________________________________________________________
I, the Sponsor, agree to sponsor a (select one):
Girl aged 18 years or under

Boy aged 18 years or under
Girl aged 19 years or above
Boy aged 19 years or above
Family
I agree to send PDH at least _________ euros every ________ month(s) for ______
month(s) for the sponsored person, beginning on the _________________________,
thus lasting until the _________________________.
Signed by the Sponsor ___________________________
Date ________________
Please return completed form to PDH via email: centre_social@yahoo.fr
Please see Section 8: How to Donate for details

on how to transfer funds to PDH.

12
10 Help With Empty Pockets

We at PDH are aware that many of you
who would like to help our cause here in
Togo simply cannot due to your own
financial limitations. There are, however,
various alternatives to sending money
that can greatly benefit the humanitarian
work of PDH.
Promote PDH Our website (www.pdhtogo.org) features a Download Depot,
which stores posters and various images. You can download and print these items in
order to promote our organization in relevant locations around your town or city, e.g.
cafs, churches and universities. You could provide them with a copy of this
newsletter to distribute.
Spread the word Help to raise our profile by telling your friends and family about us
and showing them this newsletter. The more people who know about PDH, the
greater our support network - it's that simple. You may know somebody who is in a
position to promote our cause: a university lecturer who could throw us up on a slide,
a local priest who could speak to his congregation, or even a travel agent.
Like us on Facebook! Every acknowledgement of our work means a lot to the local
volunteers, so consider liking us today! Please go to www.facebook.com/PDHTogo
and click Like to receive regular updates on the vital work were doing here in Togo!
We now have over 250 likes on our Facebook page. Thank you so much to those
who have supported us in this way.
Pray For those of you who are religious, you will know the value of prayer that
money simply cannot buy. Please remember us in your prayers, as everyone's
spiritual faith is integral to the work that we carry out here.
Fundraise You can help PDH raise funds by conducting your own fundraising event,
for example, auctioning off old belongings on eBay, hosting a dinner with a silent
auction, or organising a table quiz. Please see Section 8: How to Donate for details
on how to transfer funds to PDH in Togo.
Previous Volunteers Please consider taking the time to leave a testimonial on the
following websites:
Go Abroad: www.goabroad.com/providers/promotion-et-developpementhumain-promotion-and-human-development/programs/promotion-and-humandevelopment-139766
Go Overseas: www.gooverseas.com/volunteer-abroad/togo/pdh/21322
Volunteer4Africa: Email PDH if you are willing to leave a review and we will
send your information to V4A so that you can have a free account to do so.

13
11 A Great Big THANK YOU
PDH wishes to express gratitude and appreciation to all of you who have helped in
some way: benefactors, donors, volunteers, supporters and those who have shown
an interest in our on-going work. Akpe kaka! Merci beaucoup!
We would also like to thank those who might come to Togo in the future to volunteer
for PDH. If you would like more information on how to volunteer, please visit
www.pdh-togo.org or turn to Section 7!
Special thanks to:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Jim ONeill, Ms. Patty & Theresa

Brandon Drier
Eduard Anghel
Christine Todd
Andrea Bediako
Tatsuyoshi Shiraishi
Richard Douglas
Simone Maringer
Mimi, Rod and Bertha Wiltshire
Kimberly Ebanks
Tania Beukes
Sarah D
Rebecca Wilkins
Tanya, Jelani and Khyanna Johnson
Warren Trottier
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
Oana Macavei
Stephanie Armitage & Scott Legacy
Caroline Edmunds
Stephanie Bibeau
Anne Francis
Diane & Conrad Lurette
Ghita Benlarbi
MJ Cyr & Fred Vicaire
Jo Hambling
Zachary Hollo
Julie Lurette
Blythe & Grazi
Louise & John Landry
Nico Naper
John David

14
Our Team for the Month: December 2016

N
N/Ref
NAME
DATE OF
ARRIVAL
NATIONALITY
OCCUPATION/
PROFESSION
ADMINISTRATION
01
01
DZAKAS Y. S.
Antoine
Togolese
th
15 February 1999
02
10
DUNYA Rachel
rd
Togolese
3 April 2003
President and Founder,

International relations,
Correspondence,
Communication,
Mail distribution
Coordinator at the centre
FIELD TEAM
03
340
MOTCHON Ulrich
Togolese
04
350
Togolese
05
355
06
166
07
167
08
358
09
359
10
11
12
13
360
361
362
365
14
366
KPANTCHARE
Kantam Alfred
DEGNIDE Dossavi
Love
DA CRUZ,
Luana
SHIRAISHI
Katie
PAKOUN
Palakiyem David
GATI, Afi Emefa
Benedicte
AZIADEKE Ameyo
TCHEMA Kodjo
KONAM, Kpante
RAGATOA,
Dissirama
Bagnaguin
GBEMU, Afiwa
Sefenya
Togolese
Brazilian
Australian /
Canadian
Togolese
Togolese
Togolese
Togolese
Togolese
Togolese
Togolese
st
31 December 2015 Department of Adults
st
1 July 2016
Department of Adults
th
Department of Children
th
International Volunteer
10 October 2016
27 November,
2016
27th November,
2016
International Volunteer
nd
rd
Secretary
2 November, 2016
3 November, 2016
7 November, 2016
14 November, 2016
15 November, 2016
12 December, 2016
13 December, 2016
Reception
Reception
Thank you for all the work you do for us!

15

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108 TOGOMONDE 2016

Issue No. 108

1. Our Objectives at PDH

This issue of TOGOMONDE was written by:

TOGO MONDE No. 108, December 2016

1 Our Objectives at PDH

To conduct life education that seeks to change behaviour.

To assist with schooling, literacy, learning and professional

To listen to, inform and educate the disadvantaged and povertystricken.

To provide assistance and a means of gaining independence to

To assist the disadvantaged and poverty-stricken in regards to

To provide financial assistance and support for those seeking to

To assist the handicapped, refugees and prostitutes to re-establish

To assist the elderly and encourage sentiments of self-worth.

To promote family planning, family health and AIDS prevention.

To fight against AIDS and HIV.

To cater for the psychological, health, medical and nutritional

To care for children orphaned due to AIDS.

Centre Social (PDH) Promotion et Dveloppement Humain

TOGO MONDE No. 108, December 2016

A Christmas to remember and the preliminary works for our roof!!

Centre Social (PDH) Promotion et Dveloppement Humain

TOGO MONDE No. 108, December 2016

Centre Social (PDH) Promotion et Dveloppement Humain

TOGO MONDE No. 108, December 2016

The struggles of one 16 year old girl

Centre Social (PDH) Promotion et Dveloppement Humain

TOGO MONDE No. 108, December 2016

5 Whats New in Togo?

Centre Social (PDH) Promotion et Dveloppement Humain

TOGO MONDE No. 108, December 2016

6 Volunteer News: Join Us!

Centre Social (PDH) Promotion et Dveloppement Humain

TOGO MONDE No. 108, December 2016

Goodbye and Thank You

Confirmed Future Volunteers

Want to add your name to the list? Read on!

What does a typical work day look like?

What is the accommodation like?

How long can I stay?

How much does the program cost?

How can I fund my trip?

TOGO MONDE No. 108, December 2016

How can I access my money while in Togo?

How can I get more information?

How can I apply to be a volunteer at PDH?

Please email centre_social@yahoo.fr to let

Centre Social (PDH) Promotion et Dveloppement Humain

TOGO MONDE No. 108, December 2016

Payable to: Centre Social PDH

Relev didentit bancaire

Centre Social (PDH) Promotion et Dveloppement Humain

TOGO MONDE No. 108, December 2016

9 Sponsorship: Distance Adoption

SUGGESTED DONATION TO COVER THE NEEDS OF A SPONSORED PERSON

Centre Social (PDH) Promotion et Dveloppement Humain

TOGO MONDE No. 108, December 2016

Promotion et Dveloppement Humain

Agreement/Contract of Sponsorship Between PDH and Sponsor

I, the Sponsor, agree to sponsor a (select one):

Girl aged 18 years or under

Please return completed form to PDH via email: centre_social@yahoo.fr

Please see Section 8: How to Donate for details

Centre Social (PDH) Promotion et Dveloppement Humain