News and Events

SALEM-Togo in Bassar has become a small “family enterprise” with our project manager Gbati Nikabou, his brother, his niece and her daughters – showing a lot of commitment, know-how, but also joy and happiness. During my last visit in June I was again able to see and to feel the good atmosphere and mood there – including prayers, singing and laughter.

The SALEM troupe is tirelessly in action. In the months December until March, during the big drought, they have to water a lot to make flourish the plants, particularly the small seedlings in the tree nursery. Thus they had to pay 205 pounds (255 US-$) per month for water! However, if you have a well of your own on your premises you can use the water for free.  

Don’t you also think that we must help them? We intend to build a well and would like to ask you to join us! We calculated that we will need about 3,200 £ (3,900 US-$) for borehole, edging, laying of pipes, safeguarding of the construction and the wages for labour. When you have a well of your own it also means that you are independent whether the water is being cut off by the authorities or not (In order to distribute the water available they cut off the water in the districts in turn for hours or even days).

I have deep respect for Gbati and his team, how they do their work with joy under those difficult climatic and political circumstances in the country. This is why I would like to make work easier for them and would therefore be very happy when you could help, too. You will find a possibility to donate here. Thank you very much for your support!

P.S.: Trees bring rain: When it rained very heavily in the SALEM forest for the very first time during my visit in Bassar Gbati returned from town and said that there no single drop had fallen from the sky …

There is a lot of good news in SALEM-Togo. Here is just one example:

The fruitful work in SALEM-Togo has wide repercussions – like a stone being thrown into the water, forming a circle around. One of several smaller projects in the vicinity is the planting of trees on the school site in a high school north of Kara. Moreover, the pupils learn to build “Tippy Taps”, a simple construction to wash their hands which does with just a little water. This is very important to improve the hygienic situation in the schools.  

Gbati as a German teacher has good contacts to the teaching staff; he gives them advice in educational questions and organizes trainings for pupils and teachers how to grow and use Artemisia annua, a plant which protects from Malaria as this disease is still widely spread throughout the whole country. 

Agnes Ziegelmayer, responsible for SALEM-Togo