FIPAC
The Silent Cry of Children
In Lomé, every day, dozens of children wander on the beaches, in the markets, and under traffic lights, far from school, far from shelter, far from a future. Orphans, semi-orphans, or simply abandoned by families overwhelmed by poverty, they survive in the shadows of society. Without protection, without guidance, without education, many fall into spirals of vulnerability: exploitation, illiteracy, early pregnancies, despair...
This is not an isolated phenomenon. It is a symptom of a fragile system where poverty, lack of access to education, and the erosion of community ties push young people to the margins. These children do not choose the beach, the markets, or the traffic lights: they end up there for lack of a better option.
Our Association: EVHAS-LOTUS TOGO
In response to this reality, the association Espace des Volontaires pour l’Humanisme et l’Action Sociale – Lotus (EVHAS-LOTUS TOGO) was born in Lomé on July 10, 2007. A humanist, solidarity-based, and sustainable response to restore hope, dignity, and a future to those whom life has too soon left behind.
EVHAS-LOTUS TOGO is a non-profit and humanitarian organization, officially recognized by the Ministry of Territorial Administration, Decentralization, and Local Communities under number 2923 (receipt no. 0GTO/VATDCL-SG-DLPAP-DOCA dated 05/11/2010), and published in the Official Journal of the Togolese Republic (JORT, supplement no. 23 Bis dated 01/08/2011). It is also recognized as a development NGO under number 0966/MPD/2018.
Fields of Intervention:
- Art and Culture
- Education and Schooling
- Health and Population
- Environment, Ecology, and Agroforestry
Strategy:
- Cultural activities
- Training
- Awareness-raising
Our Achieved Projects
| Project | Description |
|---|---|
| Nénuphar | Donation of school kits to students |
| Christmas and Children | Donations to street children, orphans, and the underprivileged |
| Éveil | Support for school canteens |
| Recap-EVHAS | Distribution of donations (clothing, shoes, school supplies) to orphaned children, farmers, and women in Sadayamé (Hahotoé) and Lomé (EPP Akoété Akoé) |
| Akwaba-Togo | Humanitarian volunteering and tourism (visits to tourist circuits in Benin and Ghana) |
| Allo COVID | Food donations to vulnerable people on the coast of Kodjoviakopé (Lomé) |
| MURSPORTS | Sports education activities and animations on the coast with street children, orphans, and the underprivileged |
| HOKUI International Academy | Animation and ballet in collaboration with the youth of Adidogomé district (Lomé) |
The "Christmas and Children" / "Nénuphar" project aims to promote arts, culture, and Mind Education (education of the mind) in schools, for a happy childhood.
Balance: From 2009 to 2024, more than 18,000 people (of all genders) have benefited from these actions.
Challenges and Solutions
Challenges Faced:
- Impact of COVID-19 and weakness in financial mobilization
- Relocation of headquarters
- Breakdown of association vehicles, leading to difficulties in movement and transport
- Decline in the dynamism of regular members
- Distrust from technical and financial partners
Solution Approaches:
- Search for sponsors
- Strengthening the capacities and skills of members, recruiting versatile professional volunteers
- Search for new reliable technical and financial partners
- Closer ties with local and territorial administration
Our Fields of Action
| Sector | Actions |
|---|---|
| Education | Awareness-raising, literacy, protection of young girls, school support |
| Family Support | Direct aid for schooling, parental training, micro income-generating initiatives |
| Sports | Supervised sports activities, prevention of street drift, promotion of health and ambition |
| Camps and Workshops | Cultural immersion for international volunteers, reconnection with roots for the African diaspora |
| Arts and Culture | Living arts workshops, training in cultural professions, creation of expression platforms, cultural entrepreneurship |
| Transmission of Ancestral Knowledge | Oral transmission, artisan practices, action-research with elders, revitalization of intangible heritage |
Conclusion
The past fifteen years have been generally satisfying for EVHAS-LOTUS in terms of project implementation across its various fields of intervention. However, the association deplores the difficulties in accessing funding, which have been a major obstacle to the effectiveness of its actions.
To this end, the executive board plans to submit a resource mobilization plan to the next general assembly, including the establishment of internships for university and training institute students, thereby contributing to national efforts to reduce unemployment and align training with employment.
"I know where I come from, I know where I am going, I know whom I serve." (African ancestral wisdom)
We act so that every child can be proud of their roots, know their talents, and face the future with confidence.