Volontaire Globalisation (VGlob)
http://www.vglob.org/english/
Volunteer Globalisation (V-Glob) is an independent, non-profit, humanitarian organisation based in Togo, one of West Africa's smallest and poorest countries. We focus on improving educational structures, improving health and sanitation and providing education about AIDS. Above all we put communities at the heart of any work we do. This means giving communities new skills and ownership of projects - ensuring that projects are both effective and long-lasting.
We are currently working on a wide range of projects from building
schools in remote villages to running aids awareness campaigns,
however our main project, and the project to which OPS are
contributing, is in the village of Nyitoe-Zukpé.
Nyitoe-Zukpé
is a small village situated over 100km north of the capital. Agriculture
is the principle income but levels of poverty in the village are
high, with over 70% considered below the poverty line. Access
to clean water is severely limited and health facilities are non-existant
- both child and mother mortality rate is above the national average.
VGlob aims to undertake a series of projects within the village
aimed at improving living conditions. A village association has
been set up consisting of a small group, predominately women,
who will act as a focal point for all projects. To ensure the
group is as effective as possible VGlob has helped provide training
on group decision making, sustainable development, health and
nutrition and AIDS awareness and prevention.
We
intend to renovate the village health centre, built in colonial
times but now derelict and completely out of use. VGlob will support
expenses for construction
and medical equipment, with running costs and staff provided by
the local regional authorities and the medical school in Lomé..
Other projects will include the creation of a mutual insurance
scheme, encouraging the community to save a small part of their
income for future health needs; a study into the improved supply
of clean water and basic education on health and sanitation.
Having worked with VGlob in Togo for 6 months last year I have seen first hand the severe poverty that many people in this country face. This is a great opportunity for OPS to make a real difference to the people of Nyitoe-Zukpé. Through VGlob, all our money is going direct to this cause, and will not only improve living standards now, but improve conditions in the long term; giving villagers skills that will allow them to break out of the cycle of poverty.
Josie Kaye, Oct 2005