Lomé, July 22, 2024-(©AfreePress)-Compassion International Togo discussed, Friday July 19, 2024, during a sharing lunch with its strategic partners such as schools and institutes of higher education and a financial institution involved in the training of young participants of its program in Togo.
It was an opportunity for the first leaders of this christian NGO and the various universities and professional training centers to take stock of their partnership, to identify the difficulties and to define new strategies for better collaboration in favor of participants in need.
Indeed, to enable its particpants from disadvantaged families to pursue their university or professional careers, the NGO Compassion International Togo has set up a program called: “Nehemiah Education”. This project not only allows young high school graduates to obtain a student loan at 0% interest rate from Coris Bank International Togo to cover tuition fees and other expenses, but also to be supported through activities master classes, training in setting up projects and action plans that could enable them to benefit from financing.
Apart from the Nehemiah Education program, Compassion has also established partnerships with universities and higher education institutes which offer reductions on diploma training fees.
“We have brought together our partners who are higher education establishments because we have our young beneficiaries of the Compassion program that these schools and establishments support with scholarships to reduce tuition fees. So, at the end of this academic year, it was important that we could come together to evaluate the year and see the performance of the students who are placed in the different schools and the result they had at the end of this year », indicated Koffi Ahonon, national director of Compassion International Togo.
These various partnerships have already enabled at least 150 young people registered in Compassion program to receive training at the best universities and institutes in fields of their choice.
The ambition of Compassion International Togo through this meeting is to plead with these partners for an increase in the number of students benefiting from scholarships and reductions.
« We have more than 1,000 new high school graduates that these establishments are called upon to support with scholarships and special reductions so that these young people can achieve the paths of their dreams. So, this meeting allowed us to think about the mechanisms to put in place, especially the Nehemiah Education component. We have again selected a number of young people who will receive student loans at 0% interest rate so that they can have all the equipment and all the financing to be able to carry out their training » added Mr. Ahonon.
The particularity of “Nehemiah Education” program lies in the choice of areas. To guarantee the employability and integration of these young people, only promising areas are funded. The program also facilitates access to internships and volunteering projects for young people. Young people also benefit from master classes and training in setting up projects and action plans. Beneficiaries have up to 4 years after their studies or professional training to repay the loans which are granted at an interest rate of 0%.
“Compassion International Togo is doing exceptional work and we are committed as a citizen bank to supporting these efforts. By supporting these young people, we are preparing a good succession for tomorrow,” added the representative of Coris Bank International Togo.
To mark its recognition, Compassion International Togo awarded honorary certificates to its partners at the end of this meeting.
This school program, the objective of which is to improve access to education through obtaining a student loan, allows Compassion International to transform the lives of its beneficiaries by creating in them responsible citizens to make a difference in their communities.
Launched in 2008, Compassion International Togo supports more than 85,000 children and young people across the country.
Raphael A.
