SPES International works to support children in Togo

Our motto is revealing: “Whoever saves a child saves humanity”.

Why SPES ?

Population displacement and the economic and social crises in Togo have an impact on traditions. Moreover, urbanization is increasingly drawing young men and women from rural areas to the cities in search of a better life.

These circumstances lead to unstable unions with unexpected pregnancies and births. Unfortunately, this situation exposes them to all kinds of illnesses, family conflicts and other social distress, and the consequences are dramatic:

Refusal to attend school;
Mistreatment of children and adolescents;
Child trafficking;
Early pregnancies followed by school dropout among very young girls;
Excess maternal mortality leaving orphans;
Abandonment of some children who are partially or totally orphaned.

The aim of SPES is to contribute to the development of children in difficulty by providing human, material, and financial support to foster their growth and the well-being of their personality.

SPES is committed to alleviating the physical, psychological, and material suffering to which innocent children are exposed. This is how the two child reception centers were created: the first in Lomé in March 2001, and the second in Kpalimé in February 2009, each with a capacity of 108 children.

SPES needs you to help them!

Who are the children of SPES?

They are Togolese children, boys and girls, who are partially or totally orphaned. They come to us between the ages of 6 months and 5 years. They keep their family name and are not available for adoption.

SPES welcomes them to help them overcome the difficulties that the surviving parent or guardian has been unable to resolve. The latter are strongly encouraged to visit them regularly in order to maintain relationships that are beneficial to all three parties involved: SPES / Families / Children.

How are they entrusted to us?

The process goes through several steps, beginning with their identification within their community, either by traditional or religious authorities, by State social workers, or by other well-intentioned individuals.

Two assessments—one social, the other psychological—are carried out by the Ministry of Social Action and submitted to a Child Judge, who issues a placement order. These are immediately followed by a clinical examination by a pediatrician. Based on the clinical results and medical tests, a specific initial treatment is prescribed for each child if necessary.

The pioneers of SPES

“There is more courage than talent in most successes” (Félix Leclerc, Québécois writer and singer).
A figure from the artistic world shares their perspective on the importance of courage in achieving projects. Sometimes, all it takes is the courage to begin and to believe in something. We must thank the pioneers of SPES — perhaps they knew this beautiful quotation?

The founders of SPES INTERNATIONAL

Njördur Njardvik (Iceland), Denise Ponet-Van-Acker (Belgium), Dorothy Ann Oswald (The Netherlands), Claude Voileau (France), Helen Boutall (Great Britain), Rita Asanti (Finland).