IMMERSION À LA MAISON D'ACCUEIL “MÈRE TÉRÉSA DE CALCUTTA”

Name: IMMERSION À LA MAISON D'ACCUEIL “MÈRE TÉRÉSA DE CALCUTTA”
Start: 2022-07-18
End: 2023-08-05
Location: Kpalime, Togo

Code: ac843d05-fd01-11ec-8398-fa163ef8d720 Copied

Togo Social work Group Social work Fixed dates

About the project

📝 Detailed information

🏢 About the local organisation

"Mother Teresa of Calcutta" reception centre in Kpalimé is one of the local partners with whom ASTOVOT carries out social and health projects for the benefit of dozens of residents of this centre. These residents are taken in by the Sisters because they are in a situation of extreme poverty or because they have been abandoned; therefore, they have no family to look after them. Often these people have no shelter, no food and often have chronic illnesses or disabilities. This summer, ASTOVOT is launching an international workcamp that will allow volunteers to bring their compassion and love to the sick and vulnerable by participating in various activities that contribute to the improvement of the health of the sick and the development of all residents. The services provided in this centre are multiple, varied and free of charge. The volunteers will have to carry out several tasks: helping the nurses of the centre in their different tasks, organising recreational and educational activities for the benefit of the residents, cleaning, cooking, maintaining the premises, etc. The volunteers will work under the supervision of the Sisters of the hostel.

💼 What the programme involves

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this international workcamp is to contribute to the improvement of the development of the sick and vulnerable people cared for by the "Mother Teresa of Calcutta" shelter in Kpalimé.

Specific objectives:

- To help the staff of the centre in their daily tasks in order to lighten their workload, and to promote a friendly atmosphere through animation with the residents and workers;

- To learn about other realities, in particular disabilities and how society responds to the needs of vulnerable people;

- Reflect on the intersectionality of issues such as gender, poverty and disability;

ACTIVITIES
Volunteers take part in the centre's activities. These are many and varied.
- Maintaining the green space of the centre (gardening, sweeping, etc.)
- Participating in the household chores: preparing and distributing meals to the residents, cleaning the dormitories, washing up... ;
- Organising games and educational activities for the benefit of the residents;
- Helping the nursing staff in the care of the centre's patients: treatment of patients, distribution of medication, hygiene, dressings, physiotherapy, massages, etc;

🏠 Accommodation on site

ACCOMODATION

Housing conditions are generally rudimentary, simple and specific to the location of the project. On site, volunteers are accommodated in groups of three or four people per room. The distribution per room depends on the collective organization of the volunteers themselves. Depending on the location, volunteers can use dry toilets and showers without tap water. The association available to volunteers some plastic or foam mats. Volunteers can bring sleeping bags with them if possible. There is access to drinking water on the site. However, access to electricity and the internet may be limited. This is due respectively to the blackouts and the difficulties of accessing the Internet.

🍲 Food

FOOD

During the entire period of the workcamp, it is the volunteers themselves who prepare their own meals. An internal organization will make it possible to create groups which will alternate to take care of the different household tasks including cooking. Food products used for cooking are both imported and local, and sometimes organic. The diet of each volunteer will be taken into account in the preparation of meals. Volunteers will have access to tropical fruits such as bananas, oranges, pineapples, mangoes, avocados, papayas, etc.

📍 About the location

LOCATION

Located 120 km north of Lomé, the commune of Kpalimé is the ideal place for nature lovers and hikers who wish to discover beautiful mountainous landscapes and tropical flora. Numerous natural waterfalls will allow you to refresh yourself at the water's edge. Kpalimé is also home to the country's most important craft centre where a large number of artists and craftsmen have settled.

With about 105,000 inhabitants, Kpalimé is a tourist town in the Plateaux region. The capital of the Kloto prefecture, Kpalimé is home to numerous infrastructures such as: district hospitals, the post office, the town hall, the prefecture, the police station, the gendarmerie, banks, schools, in short, all public and administrative services are represented.

🎒 Leisure activities

LEISURE

In addition to the main activities of the site, several other activities are organized such as discovery walks, hikes, parties or cultural meetings. These activities allow volunteers to get in touch with local populations but also to discover Togolese culture. During the weekends, collective excursions are organized by the volunteers and their leaders to discover the tourist sites of the region where the workcamp is taking place. It should be noted that expenses related to excursions and outings of volunteers are not included in the participation fees.

⚠️ Requirements

REQUIREMENTS

This project requires a great deal of involvement from the volunteers because it's demanding a permanent mobilization of the public around the activities. The volunteers must have a real interest in the themes of interculturality and solidarity.

The languages of the site are English and French. However, we recommend to non-French speakers to having basic in French before arriving, because the official language of Togo is French. A large majority of local volunteers and local communities have a very low level in English

🤝 Meeting point

ACCESS TO WORKCAMP

There is a member of our organisation who is in charge of welcoming volunteers at Lomé airport.He will take care of your accommodation in Lomé.

- The price of a taxi between the airport and the bus station or the hotel varies between 5000 and 6000 FCFA (between 7.5 and 9€) ,

- Transportation is by bush taxi or a bus that takes you to Kpalimé. The ASTOVOT headquarters is the meeting place for the volunteers and also the starting point for the workcamp. The distance between Lomé-Kpalimé is 121 km and the duration is 1h 45 to 2h drive. The price of a taxi between Lomé and Kpalimé is 3000 FCFA at the parking places (5€). But there are often surcharges. We advise volunteers to buy two places so as not to be too tight in the car.

ℹ️ Additional information

PARTICIPATION FEES:

Astovot as any association in Togo does not benefit from any subsidy from the Togolese State. It is the participation fees of the volunteers that enable Astovot to finance its projects. The cost of participation in volunteer workcamps amounts to 200€ per person for 2 to 3 weeks. This participation will cover : accommodation costs; food; accompaniment of the group; administrative costs; purchase of materials and equipment for the project. The funds paid by the volunteers are distributed as follows: 3/4 for the organization of the project activities and 1/4 for the administrative management of ASTOVOT.

FORMALITY :

- A passport still valid at least 6 months after the date of the end of stay and containing two blank pages (for the visa);

- A visa, the application is made on www.consulatogo.org. It is advisable to apply for it well in advance, the sooner the better.

- International certificate of yellow fever vaccination to be presented at check-in but also at your arrival.

HEALTH :

- Vaccination against yellow fever is mandatory to enter the Togolese territory. (The international certificate of vaccination will then be given to you).

- It is strongly recommended that you update your vaccinations and seek advice from your doctor or an international vaccination centre (specialist in tropical diseases). Certain vaccines such as viral hepatitis A and B, DTP, or typhoid fever may be recommended.

- Malaria is a disease transmitted by mosquito bites. It is therefore necessary to obtain mosquito repellent for tropical areas, especially during the evenings and nights. There are also treatments for textiles (effective for two months and resistant to washing). Medicinal treatments exist, it is advisable to contact your doctor or a vaccination centre.

You should take with you: mosquito repellent for tropical areas as well as treatment for textiles; a mosquito net (it is advisable to buy the nets locally, i.e. in Togo, because it is cheaper than in Europe); a flashlight or headlamp (electricity cuts are common in Togo); first-aid kit (disinfectant, bandages, compresses, physiological serum, hydroalcoholic gel, medicine against headaches, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation, sun cream ); a practical water bottle to have water when you're on the move; a duvet or a meat bag; a K-way; sneakers or hiking shoes; flip-flops or sandals; toiletries (towel, toothbrush, cream, shampoo etc.); bathing suit; long and light clothing for the evenings, a good jacket or vest, but also dresses, skirts (for girls), bermuda shorts, shorts etc.; a backpack, satchel, etc.

The little extras for a successful volunteering:

- Contact your bank to find out the fees and the limit for withdrawing money in Togo.

- International Permit

- To have recorded the important numbers (number of the association and of your interlocutor, number of the consulate of your country in Lomé)

- Photocopy of passport, identity document,

- Books, notebooks, pens (always useful)

- Small sewing kit

- Children's clothing, instruments, and anything else that may be related to your project (gardening gloves, colouring for the children, compresses/disinfectant for health projects etc.).

- An external charger (solar is a plus)

CONTACTS:

Projects coordinator Alid ADOM : +228 90 82 04 52/00228 99 66 82 76

Welcoming charger (Airport and accommodation) Rodrigue AHOVISSI : +228 91 25 97 83

Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.

📷 Project photos

IMMERSION À LA MAISON D'ACCUEIL “MÈRE TÉRÉSA DE CALCUTTA”

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📅 Available sessions

ASTO 03

17/07/2023 at 00:00 → 05/08/2023 at 00:00

Closed

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♂ 0/8 ♀ 0/8

ASTO 05

18/07/2022 at 00:00 → 07/08/2022 at 00:00

Closed

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ℹ️ Key information

Age required

18–99 years old

Solidarity donation

200.00 EUR

French tax residents may be eligible for a tax reduction of up to 66% of their costs (membership, plane tickets, solidarity donation).

📍 Location

Kpalime, Togo

Togo

🌍 Location info

Local currency

West African CFA Franc (XOF / CFA)

Exchange rate

1 XOF = 0.001531 EUR

Rate as of 31/05/2026

Timezone

Greenwich Mean Time

Local time: 22:01 (12/11/2026)

🛡️ Before you leave

Security information

📞 Contact us

[email protected]

+32 2 888 67 13

Contact form

✅ Features

🏠 Accommodation

Collective

🗣️ Languages spoken

English French