February went very well, with many of the challenges successfully met. The children and young people are doing very well, as is the entire support team. As of today, the centre has the same number of residents as last month: forty-six (46), of whom twenty-five (25) are in the nursery and twenty-one (21) in the teenage centre. The thirty-three (33) young people who are in foster care, with families or in Benin are in addition to these forty-six (46) residents at the centre, bringing the total to seventy-nine (79) children and young people cared for by SPES Lomé during the month of February 2026.
SCHOOLING
Lessons are progressing very well for our pupils from nursery through to sixth form, in line with their respective curricula. Tutoring sessions with external tutors and support from the ‘uncles’ and ‘aunts’ in the boarding houses are continuing very well at both primary and secondary school levels. As for the sixth-formers who benefit from tutoring and support from the mothers, they also take part in paid tutorial sessions organised by their teachers at their school.
From Monday 2nd to Friday 6th February 2026, our lower sixth-formers sat their second-term exams. We hope that everything went well for them and that they will bring us good results.
As for the students at the modern secondary school, they have received their first-term results, and these have not met our expectations. These results will be communicated and made available to the mentors at the end of the first term of 2026 by the Mentoring Coordinator.
In light of these unsatisfactory results from the secondary school pupils, new measures have been introduced in addition to tutorial sessions (TD) to better support them in their studies and ensure they are well prepared for upcoming assignments, essays and, above all, the various exams that are already fast approaching. Skills in educational supervision techniques for the dormitory mothers and uncles, a training course in the Competence-Based Approach (CBA) was delivered, led by the center’s psychologist over four (4) days. A total of fourteen (14) people, including ten (10) mothers and four (4) uncles, took part in this training course and are now well equipped to look after the children.
A total of fourteen (14) people, including ten (10) mums and four (4) uncles, took part in this training and are now well equipped to look after the children.
The activities take place both at the early learning center and at the library with the children, under the guidance of Uncle Justin.
SMILEY PROJECT
The Smiley Project went very well throughout February. Every Wednesday at 3 pm, the secondary school pupils take an active part in the project whilst practicing their maths under the supervisor’s guidance.
UPDATE ON BOARDING AND DAY STUDENTS
The young man undergoing priestly training in Benin is in contact with the management. He is doing very well and continuing his training successfully, as is the young woman training to be a nursery school teacher in Lomé. As for our young students at the University of Lomé, they have started their exams and everything is going very well for them according to the exam schedules of the various departments.
HEALTH
During February, our children suffered from malaria accompanied by coughs and intestinal infections. Some were referred to the Jean Jacques Bazin Medical and Social Centre in Kégué (the Sisters of Mercy Hospital in Kégué, not far from the Centre) and others to the pediatrician. They were examined, treated and cured.
The psychologist continues her work at both SPES TOGO Centers.
OTHER INFORMATION
During February, as part of efforts to promote chess in Togo, we had the honor of welcoming a delegation from the Togolese and International Chess Federations to the SPES Lomé Centre. The delegation was composed as follows:
– Mr Nigel SHORT (British), Grandmaster, Chairman of the Board of Directors for Chess Development, International Chess Federation (FIDE).
– Bruno BOTSOE: General Treasurer of the Togolese Chess Federation
– Ave-Maria DZOGLO: Head of Organization at the Togolese Chess Federation.
– Abalou BADJONA: Special Adviser to the President of the Togolese Chess Federation.
Madam President, Irène Ashira ASSIH, and several members of the SPES Togo Board of Directors were present to welcome the delegation.
Mr Nigel SHORT took the opportunity during this visit to play a game with our children to assess their level, particularly our four (4) girls who will be taking part in the upcoming Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan this coming September. At the end of the game, he urged the girls to train regularly to prepare well for these Olympiads, and refreshments were then offered to them before they parted ways.
On 17 February 2026, the administrative staff, mothers and guardians attended a staff meeting organized by the head teacher. The purpose of this meeting was to present the first draft of the action plan based on proposals made by the management team and the needs expressed by staff during the assessment. The selected actions are aligned with the strategic priorities defined in SPES International’s action plan for 2026. She therefore presented all the details of this action plan to the entire staff, placing particular emphasis on the development of a job description for each role to ensure staff is aware of their respective responsibilities. This will enable each member of staff to fully fulfil their role and contribute to the smooth running of the center. Staff provided input to improve the document. This meeting was held online with the participation of the Director of SPES Kpalimé.
Furthermore, during February, the head teacher met exclusively with the mothers – key members of the care team – to encourage them to do their best work (improving meal preparation, introducing new menus requested by the children, supporting the children’s academic progress, and ensuring their personal hygiene and neat appearance); all this was done with professionalism, for the children’s well-being and development.
WEATHER
Lomé is currently experiencing a very hot spell, heralding the imminent arrival of the main rainy season.
We wish you a wonderful March 2026.
Done at Lomé, 9 March 2026
The Management
