A Heart to Keep Kids in School

A Heart to Keep Kids in School

     I’m Shannon and I’m an international volunteer with Human Promotion and Development (HPD), a non-governmental organization in West Africa.  HPD works locally to provide educational, social, and developmental support for members of the community in Lomé, the capital of Togo.  I'm currently working with HPD on the campaign A Heart to Keep Kids in School, where we are raising $2,000 before the end of September to provide students in need with school supplies,  and to continue that support throughout the year.  This campaign offers the chance to provide real change on the local level to community members in need before the school year starts in September.  Here's to hoping everyone has A Heart to Keep Kids in School.  


     HPD started the campaign in order to provide resources and support for students in need in Avedji-Cité, the Lomé district where the organization is located. The campaign has four main objectives that will ensure sustained school attendance. The faster the donations are collected, the better support HPD can offer the students as the school year is just about to begin. The first step to sustained attendance is to provide school materials such as notebooks and pencils for 100 students who do not otherwise have the resources to acquire school supplies. These materials will give students the jump start they need to attend school and confidence to actively participate in the classroom. The next part of the campaign consists of monitoring student attendance and participation through school visits. Members of HPD will visit the schools of the students to talk with teachers and develop a relationship with the students. This relationship will continue through home visits, where HPD workers will talk with parents and family members to further develop a student’s support network and encourage school attendance. These follow-up visits will give HPD the opportunity to monitor the student’s school participation and offer guidance where necessary. It also allows HPD to continue to develop a community presence as a resource for students. Through the monitoring work of HPD in conjunction with family and teachers, children can continue their education and grow to be active students and members of their community. Finally, every Wednesday afternoon tutoring will be provided at HPD’s center to give students of all ages help with homework and their classes. This tutoring offers yet another source of support for students to continue their education. Through these four main objectives – the provision of school supplies, school visits, home visits, and after-school tutoring – HPD can play an active role in students’ lives to help them start and stay in school. Donations will go directly to the realization of these four objectives. Half of your donation will go to toward purchasing school supplies for 100 students in the community. The other half will help provide a motorbike for the HPD center to carry out school and home visits. The motorbike is key to guaranteeing follow-up monitoring and a sustained relationship with the students. Without reliable transportation, these visits will be impossible and the work of HPD cannot be sustained. Your donation will directly affect the lives of students in Avedji-Cité by providing school supplies and transportation to carry out follow-up home and school visits.
     This campaign is a chance to make a tangible difference in the lives of children in need who will be able to develop and grow through your support and the work of family members, teachers, and HPD workers.  Thank you so much for your time and for showing support for HPD and the A Heart to Keep Kids in School campaign.  Working with the people in this community has been an amazing experience, and I’m excited to see the growth of the students as they start school this September.  Thank you!   

For more information on the work of HDP visit www.pdh-togo.org