Danyi’s Children

Some people wouldn’t consider water a gift. But at Danyi’s Children it is just that. The organization has been working to improve the quality of life and education Danyi N’Digbe, Togo since 2003. N’Digbe is a hilltop village above the town of Kpatime in southwestern Togo, a small country in North Africa with only one pump for water. There are approximately 1,000 residents there, all of them living in mud huts or houses without running water or electricity. Danyi’s Children was profiled in the March Glamour Magazine and construction of a nurse’s office was recently completed.

The organization is currently working with The Gift of Water to provide every family in the village with safe drinking water. The Gift helps people from Ethiopia, Bangladesh, India, and Honduras. The agency is part of Water Partners International which is committed to providing clean drinking water to communities in developing countries.

The founders of Danyi’s were traveling through Togo back in 2001 when they stumbled upon the village of Danyi. When CBS television producer Julie Mirlicourtois she said she fell in love with the bright, beautiful kids in the village but was shocked by the lack of educational supplies and the state of their schoolhouse.

“We continued visiting the children and bringing small donations but we knew more had to be done,” said Mirlicourtois. “Most unbelievable about these children is about how happy they are despite how little they have.”

The average monthly salary of each family is less than $20 according to the agency and most work in agriculture. People also travel by bus or foot to village with more amenities like Internet service. “In a forgotten place where dreams do not often come true your efforts to help these children is nothing short of a miracle in their eyes,” states Danyi’s website.

As a small, private non-profit foundation run entirely on volunteer efforts, the agency’s staff said they are able to ensure that every dollar raised benefits the students of Danyi directly. A $15 donation will supply one student with all the essential school supplies for an entire year.

If you go to Togo do not forget the vaccination beforehand. Just consult your local health department about what shots to get first and what medications to take and always drink mineral water and cooked food. Travelers advise taking the Moto-Taxi because it is the best way to move around and it is the cheapest and easiest unless you have big luggage or are afraid of motor scooters

Banks usually close there from 12-3 and on Saturday and Sunday the best way to change money, according to experts, is at Le grand March, a one-minute walk from the Palm Beach Hotel.