The 2025-2026 school year is coming to an end. The month of May is marked by various activities, including the children revising for their different end-of-year exams and tests, sharing experiences from some inspiring role models, visits from young people to family and rented homes, social surveys for recruiting new children, and female staff mentoring girls at the center. This month has also been marked by many extraordinary meetings of the management staff on specific issues.
The support teaching staff have developed strategies to further motivate the children in these final moments when you can tell the kids are a bit tired.
For this last stretch of the school year, some children are receiving special attention.
The BAC 1 and BEPC candidates received a medical check-up from the midwife for both preventive and curative purposes to avoid any surprises on exam days. The probatoire candidates were given a special diet (milk, homemade bissap juice with orange, pineapple, and lemongrass) three days before the exam and during the exam to strengthen them. Those who are with their families received a special exam support allowance sent via Tymoney, and the only probatoire candidate in Lomé, in addition to this allowance, had a visit from the psychologist at the request of the Kpalimé administration.
Two young bosses, one in hairdressing and the other in cooking, have now returned to their families. While waiting for the funds allocated for setting up their businesses, they are practicing their trade. The third young hairdressing boss continues working with his employer while waiting for his family to come and pick him up officially. A discussion with his boss about managing the workshop for a termination contract is scheduled for June.
The center has been especially blessed by regular donations. The Bio Synergy Group, whose CEO donated food, also provided clothes for all twenty primary school children. Other anonymous and named donors have offered their support as well. These donations have been beneficial for the center, and the management has shared with the center in Lomé.
The accountant of SPES Togo on assignment this month met with SPES’ certified public accountant. In the presence of the director, the norms and standards for invoices and receipts were discussed, and a few suggestions were made. Since then, the information has been shared with all staff while waiting for a formal meeting to inform and raise awareness about SPES TOGO’s new approach to accounting and transparency with staff, donors, sponsors, and the Togolese tax authorities.
The psychologist on assignment joined the director to finalize SPES TOGO’s safeguarding policy, organized online by the SPES board.
As usual, the psychologist’s mission is already known from the previous assignment, and upon her arrival for this month’s mission, a meeting with the management allows her to review her mission and check in before she leaves, highlighting the points to focus on for her next assignment.
This month’s points focused on developing the IDPs, chatting with the little kids in primary school, to get the moms involved in implementing the year’s educational program.
One of the three candidates for the CEPD has huge learning difficulties. If he doesn’t succeed, it’s not clear that he would agree to retake the classes next year. The management sent out an SOS to certain key people to rescue the situation, including the psychologist, as if to say, our preteen must succeed no matter what.
The psychologist, in collaboration with the youth coordinator, drew up 6 Individual Development Plans before leaving.
Her presence in the field for social investigations aimed at recruiting new children carried weight on certain matters and helped revisit some cases. On the SPES side, the director of Social Action and Solidarity somewhat reconsidered his position.
The vulnerability of families and children is obvious, but this criterion doesn’t carry as much weight compared to the United Nations guidelines on the well-being of children within their biological families. SPES will always be useful for saving children and impacting the future of humanity. However, the impact would be much bigger if the target group could be expanded and revisited.
The psychologist couldn’t work with management on the point about analyzing school results from her last mission due to lack of time, field activities take up a lot of it.
The official introduction of the center’s girls to their mentor took place on May 25. Explanations were given, and each woman went to meet her goddaughters. The little girls of the staff who weren’t selected in April were assigned to certain women after a draw. And each one, at her level, is expected to stay true to her commitments. After three months, when classes resume, a meeting of the mentors will take place to see what each has done and what the impact of this action has been on the girls’ lives.
On May 16, the head of the adolescents accompanied the youngest primary school children to the inauguration of the new EPP Volové building, constructed by the NGO Agriculture, Artisan, and Development Togo France (2ADTF).
The IT Technician at SPES TOGO, spent three days at the center to set up the computers in the computer room. He also bought the photocopier for the center and connected it to the computers in the administrative block.
The little ones from the Garden went on a field trip organized by their school to explore some sites in the city of Kpalimé on May 26. This outing marked the end of their school year. There is a plan for managing them, but it’s done in an informal way. The management will get back to the issue with the two key committees in charge of looking after the children.
To give kids a chance to make the most of their time at the center before heading off with their families, we’re thinking about useful vacations or learning-focused holidays that take the center’s realities into account.
A careful look at the qualities and interests of preteens and teens has allowed us to reach out to certain partners and donors so the kids can have enriching experiences.
Two young people have already been working at DENYIBGA Cacao, a company that makes cocoa-based products, for three weeks. They are high school sophomores who have finished their school year. Two other teenagers in their junior year are expected by the general manager of the food trade company Jour en Jour. Six young people (two preteens and four teenagers) are registered to take a training course at their high school to learn shoe decoration. Those who stand out during the training will be selected to work for the organizers and get paid.
Three bosses (ladies and men), two of whom are in haute couture, are being contacted to take other children starting the week of June 8. A baker in the community will also be contacted to take the older girls.
The garden and livestock are facing some problems right now due to the death of chicks. The committee is trying to find solutions as best as they can.
The young chili plants are bearing fruit. But it’s noticed that the children are already using them very poorly. Vegetables like Adémé, Gboma, and spinach are still provided by the health and catering committee for the center’s meals.
To maximize the produce from the vegetable garden, a work session is planned for better use of space and to monitor the implementation of management’s recommendations. Ginger has become a highly sought-after and expensive spice. Yet, it had long been planned to be planted.
Since May 7, the SPES Kpalimé staff now has their delegate and deputy.
Indeed, on May 7, two labor inspectors were present. After setting the scene, they explained the election process. Four candidates were on the list. They campaigned, and then the vote took place. Following the election, the chief inspector provided training on the roles and responsibilities of the staff delegate, emphasizing the contract duration, the delegate’s mission, and their means of action.
From May 4 to 6, three interns from the Normal School of Social Training at the University of Lomé, sent by the Prefectural Directorate of Social Action and Solidarity, stayed at the day and night center. Their presence was appreciated, and they made detailed observations on the children’s learning, the behavior of some children, and the organization of life at the center. In three days, they brought us a lot. The prefectural director gave us positive feedback on the interns’ visit. The interns’ presence is a good thing for the life of the center, as long as everything is well planned, organized, and monitored.
Renovation work is continuing.
After rewinding the generator, it started with difficulty because the battery wasn’t working. It had to be replaced. Everything is working well now. The disruptions caused by the recurrent problems of the generator are behind us. The children were able to study without the inconveniences of recent months. The repairman explained that the current generator is under heavy use given its capacity, whereas in the past two generators supported the center. This is a concern. It is desirable to find a long-term solution. The repair of the generator during this time prevented taking other actions on the house maintenance section (see Budget).
The city of Kpalimé is in the midst of the heavy rainy season.
School section
The second term report cards for middle school students have been handed out and received by the administration. They have been scanned and sent. The results don’t meet the expectations of the management staff given the measures put in place and the team’s commitment to academic support.
However, it’s worth noting that among the primary school boys, two have an average of 8, while in the first term there were zero averages. Four middle school students have shown progressive results. And these efforts have been rewarded with a slight increase of 50F in their breakfast allowance since receiving the results.
In all the CEPD tests, out of the three candidates, two always got the average score. On the other hand, the candidates in the regional BAC2 practice exams didn’t get the average, just like two out of the three first-year candidates living in the center.
The third-term exams for middle and elementary school students will start on Tuesday, June 2. Those for 11th and 10th graders took place from May 4 to 7. The sports BAC1 exam was held on May 11. The actual exam (BACI) took place from May 18 to 22 across the entire country. There are seven candidates in total, six girls in series A4 and one boy in the science series. Five live with their families and three at the center. The administration has made arrangements, mentioned above, to motivate and encourage them, but also to ensure their well-being during the exam. The results are pending.
All the students from 6th grade to 9th grade are at home for general revision. The 11th graders and the little ones are also at home. Special attention is being given to supervising the 5th graders, 9th graders, and 12th graders.
All students at these levels will start their exams next June. June 9th marks the beginning of the BEPC, and June 16th is the turn for the students at both extremes: CEPD and BAC2. The summer holidays will start on July 10th. The next academic year, 2026-2027, is scheduled to begin on Monday, September 14, 2026. The staff is organizing themselves to ensure the best management of time with the children who will leave, those who will not, and others who will come back to return to their biological families.
Learning section
The apprentices and young people in vocational training are doing well, except for a young auto electrician apprentice who had some vision problems. He was checked and returned after two weeks for a follow-up. Everything is fine for him.
Two young bosses living at the center went home to their families—the hairdresser and the cook. The third young hairdresser is continuing to wait for a scheduled meeting to discuss the management of the workshop with his employer. The young female hairdresser returned from Lomé to settle in a rental in Kpalimé after a week of relaxation with her uncle, who had taken her back. She comes to the center to do her brothers’ and sisters’ hair. Her file for reconstitution and supplementary judgment is in the process of being signed by the court for its transcription at the town hall at the beginning of June.
Young people outside the center
Young students, pupils, and apprentices in Lomé and Kpalimé are doing well. A high school senior living with his mother and stepfather has been affected by the death of the latter. He is being supported so that it doesn’t affect his last moments of studying too much. Everyone has received their allowances for May 2026. The post-reintegration follow-up of young people in families has continued in the Kloto 1 and 3 municipalities (Agomé Kusuntu, Agomé Yoh, Zomayi, Agomé Kpodzi). All reports on the follow-ups of young people in Kpalimé and Lomé are completed. It’s a great experience for the young people living with their families, with its ups and downs. The parent-guardians are also showing patience in most families, except for one. There are observations that are made following this monitoring, highlighting the strengths of the support received at the center and obvious weaknesses. Based on what is seen, heard, felt, and observed, a session is planned to discuss this with all the participants to take action for those currently there and those who will come after, to correct and improve certain practices.
The young student at INFA, has spent some time at the center helping first-year students and some middle schoolers with their reviews. He also continues to help the gardener during his breaks and on weekends. This is appreciated by the staff and the children.
Health section
A few cases of malaria have been reported. They are being treated and are doing well. The health of the young person in the family who is learning auto electricity shook up the center. The worst was avoided. But he is under observation. Another young person during the follow-up of youth in the family had a health problem. He was encouraged to consult a doctor, which he did. He is currently under treatment.
Visits
Follow-up visits in the workshops for young people in vocational training continued.
The center also received a visit from three interns sent by the Prefectural Director of Social Affairs (DP) of Kpalimé from May 4 to 6. Workshops were held with the children following the signing of the individual commitment document related to the center’s rules. They were able to explore life at the center by providing help in different areas, especially: school support, cooking, and cleaning/maintenance. They supported the children in their studies. Since their stay was short, they did not get to take part in the activities of the livestock and gardening project committee.
A few parents and donors came to provide support for the children’s needs.
Other news
Social investigations for recruiting new children took place from May 4 to 26 in several areas of the city of Kpalimé: Yokélé, Agomé, Kuma, Agou, Kpélé, Kpimé. Six families were visited. Among these six families, nine children are considered vulnerable.
Several extraordinary military-style meetings were held to improve the work. They are enriching and encourage everyone to review educational practices at the center in their own way. Stakeholders are being called out following the analysis of weaknesses identified during the follow-up of the children in their biological families.
The staff held their regular meeting on Thursday, May 28. The following points were discussed: the children going on vacation and the staff’s annual leave, the organization for providing the Child’s form to godparents, preparations for the departure of young adults who have reached adulthood to their families, and a few miscellaneous items. Following this meeting, certain dates were set.
The children will leave with the first wave of moms from July 9 to August 8. The second wave runs from August 8 to September 7. All of these plans are so that the whole team is present before September 14, the official date for the 2026-2027 school year to start. The form, prepared by a small team, was presented to the staff since it had already been sent to the director in Lomé for compilation.
Assessments of the situations of the families of young people who are going to join a family will be possible during June. Each situation will be evaluated taking into account the best interests of the young person. In the worst case, the prefectural director of Social Action and Solidarity will be involved to ensure the children’s well-being is not compromised.
It was suggested for the end of June 2026 to start evaluating the families’ situations. Among other things, a general meeting of all the children’s parents is planned before the children leave for vacation.
The accountant worked for a week with the director before the arrival of the chartered accountant for the continuation of the financial work in terms of monitoring-evaluation and auditing. The psychologist, in her monthly mission, was able to develop six (06) PDPs with the technical staff team. Fifteen PDPs have thus been developed to date. The adolescent coordinator will continue with the other members.
On the other hand, the IT technician, in his SMILEY project mission, came to install the computers donated, a gift from SPES Austria. The center also benefited from a new printer requested outside the budget to make work easier. He also worked on the said printer that he bought himself in Lomé.
The May 1st celebration, Workers’ Day, was celebrated by the salaried employees of SPES KPALIME. For the first time, the staff went out into the city to a leisure area to share moments of joy and interaction. The organizing committee was congratulated for its dedication and commitment to making the event a success. The management took the opportunity to send words of encouragement and perseverance, emphasizing self-giving to achieve the goals set in the PA 2026.
Carpentry, painting, and plumbing work are currently underway. Children and teenagers actively participated in these activities.
The teaching team of the management held its weekly planning meetings. They are making an effort to have them more on Fridays than on Mondays during this month of May.
After the visit from the School and Career Guidance Counselor as part of sharing the journey of inspiring role models with the children, it was the turn of Adjutant from the Kpalimé police station and a woman entrepreneur in Kpalimé working in the field of transforming cocoa into various products (chocolate, peanut croquettes, ointment, soaps…).
The first one talked about how she joined the police training school and what her aspirations and motivations were. The sergeant wanted to change the course of her mother’s life, who was mocked by some women in the neighborhood because of their poverty. Today, she has acquired a plot of land in Lomé and has built for her parents, as well as in their native village. She encouraged young people to be ambitious, to work hard for their future, as not everyone is meant to work in public service. She adds that most of today’s wealthy people are entrepreneurs, some of whom have never even set foot in a school; So you have to aim high and be ambitious. She encouraged the kids to be ambitious, dynamic, and courageous, not envious or greedy. Ms. Véronique told the girls to fight for themselves. To everyone, a message of hope: the main thing is to fight to find your place. She warns the girls to be cautious about the work of young girls, which is very widespread across the country right now. She left a message for the moms: ‘Say positive things about your children’s lives, don’t stigmatize them. Words have a powerful impact on someone’s life. They are your kids, don’t use their history against them…’.
The second one focused on everyone’s abilities, aspirations, and dreams. She really emphasized each person’s value. She told them that anyone can succeed. You just have to do well what you can do and what you know how to do. With real-life testimonies, she managed to capture the teenagers’ attention. She promised to come back to talk to them about her own story. This adventure will continue when classes resume with a role model who has an exceptional journey.
Gardening and farming
The vegetable garden and farming activities are going on as usual.
The garden:
Adémé vegetables, Gboma, etc., are always served for the center’s meals. The chili plants already have fruits that the children pick early. The vegetable garden has regained its beauty thanks to regular rains.
The plot of corn, yams, and banana plants has been weeded.
According to the gardener, the excess rain is affecting some crops. To address this, he plans to select seeds for the new beds.
Four overgrown palm trees were cut down after getting approval from the coordinator.
The children, together with the staff, celebrated Tree Day on June 1st by planting cocoa trees. Other fruit plants were also planted after that day, including guava, a mandarin tree, lemon trees, and avocado trees.
Farming:
Livestock is struggling this month. Deaths are being recorded regularly. This is explained by a lack of technical support from the partner. A donor in this area has been contacted to provide their expertise. The team is expected. Nevertheless, the team is taking great care of the poultry. Hope hasn’t been reached. There’s also an outbreak of plague in the area.
Weather
The town of Kpalimé has experienced regular rainfall with showers. The rain on Sunday the 17th caused quite a bit of damage. It affected part of the garden fence and the livestock area. The weather is humid and less hot. Farmers are continuing to sow seeds. Some are already harvesting the early maize. The fresh maize is being enjoyed by the locals.
Done in Kpalimé, on June 9, 2026
The Director
Essoham PALANGA
