Community Nursery School in Agotime, Togo

In Togo, nearly 61% of a generation of school-age children still do not have access to school, and nearly 23% of those who do drop out before completing primary school. In small rural villages, sectoral policies are not fulfilling their role in education. Indeed, there are significant disparities between children living in urban areas (24.9% per 100,000) and children living in rural areas (7.8% per 100,000).

Furthermore, for several decades, the country has witnessed a proliferation of private schools. Schools are being built in ponds, in unsanitary locations, and even houses are being converted into schools. Faced with this situation, the government is planning a measure requiring the regular renovation of classrooms. By 2025, the goal is to expand preschool access by developing community-based learning programs for the benefit of rural populations.

The village of Agotimé-Xenonué, located approximately 130 km from Lomé in the Plateaux region of central-western Togo, lacks any infrastructure. The village has about 500 inhabitants, including 265 children under the age of 12, none of whom attend school. To address this problem and align with government objectives, the Perle du Monde association and its local partner, Res Togo, plan to build and operate a preschool that would provide children with access to recreational activities. The main goal is to enable children to prepare for their future, learn about basic skills and hygiene, reduce illiteracy, and prevent them from working in the fields.