Today around one half of Togo's population lives under the international poverty line, and Togo is widely condemned for its human rights abuses. Despite tentative steps towards a more open democracy, many see these steps as stalled and Togo remains relatively unstable and one of the poorest countries in the world with many of its citizens living in neighbouring countries such as Benin. Culturally in Togo, children are seen to have no rights and harsh, physical abuse of them is seen as acceptable as is enforced hard labour.

One out of every thirty children in Togo die of the preventable disease malaria, accounting for 25% of all childhood deaths, not least because, although the disease in rampant, only about 15% of children under the age of five in Togo sleep under a malaria net despite being available for just a pound or so, but out of the reach of poor families.

You can help when your sponsor a child in Togo:

www.plan-uk.org
www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk

There are also some other charities who work with communities in Togo:

www.selfhelpafrica.org

If you work with children in Togo tell us about your work here.