The SPES Kpalimé center experienced intense moments on all levels—activities, strong emotions, and joyful relaxation. The children were reunited with all their mothers in large numbers after the return of the second wave that had been on leave. Visits had an impact on the children’s lives; these were vivid and bittersweet memories. The children and staff will not soon forget the visit of for persons.
The organization of staff and children into committees has impacted the life of the center. The children are more engaged in participating in the center’s activities, which strengthens their fraternal bonds; they support each other. They actively participated in updating the menu. Their voices matter.
The children had a relaxation period from Friday, October 24, 2025, to Sunday, November 2, 2025. This allowed them to take a breather while working on the exercises given to them during this time.
Schooling
The committee system allows for better supervision of the children and peer-to-peer academic support. The Education and Discipline Committee and the Results Committee are actively working alongside the children and adolescents.
The right to participate is making progress through the children’s committees. The children’s committees, through the Results Committee and the Discipline Committee, work together to encourage one another to respect the center’s overall study schedule and to support the younger ones. Everyone is engaged and active.
The Zomayi High School, which all the middle and high school students in the center attend, organized a parent-teacher meeting, in which the center participated through a member of the technical support team, on October 1, 20025. At this meeting, the parents were presented with the academic results of the past year, the difficulties encountered, and the projects. Everyone was urged to support the school in its mission to provide quality education. This quality education also involves providing quality education at the foundational level. That is why parents must take to heart the concern of the institution, which is to support parents at the grassroots level through awareness-raising on sexual health issues to reduce early pregnancies.
Support classes have started for primary school children due to difficulties already identified before the start of the school year. They were divided into two groups: CP and CE on one hand, and CM on the other. For the first group, the focus is on syllabication, reading, and writing. For the CM, the emphasis is more on calculations. It should be noted that there are some CM children who cannot read, as well as some in middle school. With the establishment of reading clubs and the project initiative ‘Book Hour,’ children will gradually start to take an interest in reading. The middle school students in the 3rd grade benefited from review sessions in Mathematics and Physics once a week given the available resources.
The essential documents requested from the children by the teachers are all purchased in addition to their school kits.
The Results and Education committee met on October 28 to take appropriate measures with the support of the head supervisor of the Zomayi High School for managing photocopies. This is to allow the children to have the money they receive only for their breakfast.
An ad hoc committee composed of the cultural coordinator, the psychologist, and the director visited, respectively, the principal of the Zomayi High School and the director of the EPP Volové on October 6, 2025. The objective of this mission was to discuss the partnership for monitoring SPES students and pupils in these institutions. The initiative was appreciated by both school leaders, who made concrete proposals to support the care of the children from the SPES center. The principal promised to meet with them periodically according to his availability. The director of EPP Volové expressed his willingness to support pupils who have difficulties with writing and reading. Notebooks have been provided so that the teachers of these pupils (SPES children) can give them specific exercises to do at home.
The kindergarten principal, the censor, and the general supervisor also met with this Ad hoc commission.
The project outlining the needs for tutoring in scientific subjects and French has been developed and submitted to the SPES TOGO project manager. For better supervision of the children and proper nurturing, the mothers were assigned based on the observation of each one over a period of three months. The testimonies of the adolescents and young people, who have left the center regarding all the mothers, as well as the personalities of the mothers themselves, were taken into account for this reorganization. Other factors considered include sincere love, tenderness, gentleness, discipline, and firmness in education.
The mothers responsible for the boys’ dormitories, pre-adolescents, and the girls’ dormitories have specific internal schedules to better be present in the children’s lives and during study hours.
Apprenticeship
The five (05) awardees of the CFA exams are currently serving their gratitude periods with their employers. By the end of December 2025 and the beginning of January 2026, they will be released.
Health
There have been a few cases related to malaria, most of which were not serious. However, a girl had a severe malaria attack. She is doing well. The mothers pampered her with homemade traditional remedies (lemon juice, Guinea sorrel juice commonly called bissap, and slightly spicy sour tomato sauces) in addition to medical care.
To close out the month of October in style, the midwife organized an awareness session on early breast cancer screening and on the technique of breast self-examination. She also led a discussion on the intimate hygiene of young girls. They were informed about the steps to take in case of intimate discomfort.
Visits
In an effort to support young people who have left the center and to show them SPES’s support, two young individuals were consulted regarding their choice of preliminary training after completing the development of their life plan.
Mr. TCHINI Pascal paid a visit to the directory to check on her management since the handover on September 26, 2025. This brief visit took place in the presence of the psychologist on work assignment. The team’s redevelopment plans were presented to her, as well as the support strategies.
The center received a visit from the godmothers of a boy.
A delegation of friends from “Compassion International” from the Program Support Department of 35 visited the center on October 14, 2025. As part of their annual retreat, they would like, from December 4 to 6, 2025, to stop by for small donations and, above all, to do activities with the children by age group. This NGO is involved, among other things, in combating child poverty and supporting children.
A teenager received a visit on October 1, 2025, from a cousin of his mother whom he knew by name. She had never seen him since his birth. These reunions were moving.
A delegation from SPES Kpalimé visited the youth of SPES Lomé on October 27 at the “30 Août Hotel” for the 2025 edition of the chess championship. This was to strengthen family and friendship ties. In return, they spent the afternoon of October 29 with their brothers from Kpalimé.
Another visit was made to the CAST orphanage as part of sharing their experience with the traditional bread oven. Other topics were discussed, including the issue of care, the possibility of a partnership, and their practices regarding activities or projects to reduce expenses.
In order to support young adults who have left the center during this final phase of the empowerment process, a visitation schedule to the youths in their families was developed. Four families were visited, covering five young people. The young people are well integrated. All twenty (20) young people, however, received their allowance for the month of October 2025.
On October 28, 2025, the children and staff joyfully welcomed the two French ladies. Discussions during their visit included topics such as care management, financial difficulties linked to the decrease in the number of sponsors, and child-to-staff ratios. A private meeting with the director and general information shared with the management team were also part of the time spent at the center. Songs, the children’s choreography, and dances to the rhythms of traditional drums added a festive touch to these unforgettable moments. The children received gifts. Our visitors also promised other donations of educational and teaching materials for the center, including magazines, study works for middle and high school students, coloring supplies, and even computers!
Other joyful moments spent together included visits to the dormitories, the library, and the vegetable garden. Our visitors came back on Friday, October 28, and worked with the children on coloring, math… The children are happy about this visit, as are the adults.
Other news
The second wave of staff on statutory leave for the 2024 year resumed work on October 15, 2025. This allowed the regular meeting to be held on October 16, 2025. At this meeting, the new directions for care were presented to the team, who, through their constructive feedback, enabled the assignments of the dormitory mothers to begin on October 27, 2025. The activities of the committees took effect the same day.
Other issues were addressed at this meeting, including the psychological care of cases of enuresis and the involvement of the mothers in speech therapy care. The psychologist emphasized the importance and necessity of mothers being interested in and involved with the work of specialists. This will improve the outcomes of children in specific care and their follow-up.
An observation notebook has been set up in each dormitory to track the work done with the children and to encourage mothers to update each other after one has attended to them. This would help avoid surprises, especially in case of illness.
The meeting with the boys and girls on October 26 focused on their participation in their success in all areas. Clarifications were made regarding troubling behaviors observed. This meeting was held in the presence of the five mothers who were on duty. The adolescents were also organized into committees. There is the Environment Committee responsible for cleanliness, hygiene, order in the center, dormitories…; the Education and Discipline Committee responsible for maintaining respect, politeness, courtesy, conflict management…; the Academic Performance Committee responsible for ensuring adherence to study schedules established by the adolescents themselves, and the commitment to encourage and support each other through mentoring (established in September); and the Activities Committee responsible for organizing sociocultural activities and bringing life to the center.
Three of the children blew out another candle. Marie Louise’s birthday was celebrated solemnly thanks to the cash gifts from her godmother. Simply but with great joy, the birthdays of Espoir and Elisabeth were celebrated. With simple and innovative ideas, everyone was happy.
The teaching team of the administration holds weekly planning meetings for their activities every Friday. From now on, all staff will meet on the second Thursday of each month for regular meetings.
The attendance log has been in effect since October 20.
The supplementary judgment document for a little girl was prepared and obtained at the Kpalimé Court of First Instance.
Plumbing, electrical, and carpentry work were carried out in the houses. The broken generator has been repaired.
Garden and farming
The garden project activities at the center are proceeding normally. Those of the chicken coop will resume in November given the favorable weather forecast.
The garden:
The diversification of the vegetable garden’s products has allowed for okra beds that are already flowering; tomatoes are harvested as they ripen.
The cabbage seedlings are being transplanted. Unfortunately, the lettuce seeds did not germinate at all; they were paid for twice. Generally, it is observed that lettuce seeds are difficult to germinate. The gardener does not give up and has shared a strategy to grow lettuce beds.
On the other hand, the beet seeds sown have germinated well, giving hope for a good yield. Adémè (Corète) seeds have also been planted. The rainy season has passed, and the Harmattan is almost beginning.
Farming:
The chicken coop is set up but currently empty. The rest of the six (06) organic chickens are doing very well since they roam in the garden and feed naturally. They will soon be enclosed to prevent them from destroying the vegetables.
In November, the livestock activities will resume under the guidance of the Projects, Donations, and Partnerships Commission.
WEATHER
The time when the magnificent green of the Kpalimé landscape invited hiking and getaways is fading. The climate is hot, and the landscape is less green.
Done at Kpalimé, 07th November 2025
