Togo: Volunteering in Africa

Volunteering Projects and Internships in Africa – Togo

Togo Map

Togo is an exciting, yet unusual place to spend some time on a volunteer project or work experience placement. Our voluntary projects in Togo are available for anyone interested in volunteering in the developing world, including those on a gap year, career break or as summer work experience while studying.

Projects Abroad is based in Lomé, the capital city, just three hours drive from our larger Accra office across the border in Ghana. In Lomé volunteers can take part in a Teaching, Care, Law & Human Rights, Journalism, Medicine & Healthcare and French Language projects.

As a Teaching volunteer you can teach English or French in large primary or secondary schools in Lomé. Care volunteers help vulnerable children in orphanages, nurseries or care centres for disabled children. Law & Human Rights volunteers may focus on women's rights and grievances in the regional office of the pan-African organisation WILDAF - the Women, Law and Development in Africa organisation.

Togolese children

Our Medicine & Healthcare volunteers work closely with experienced doctors in the fields of nursing, paediatrics, midwifery or dentistry. Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy volunteers work with disabled children and adults. Journalism volunteers at a newspaper or radio station can help raise awareness about regional and international issues.

Volunteers stay with local Togolese host families in Lomé, who are famous for their generous hospitality, and pride in their home country.

Volunteering on a placement overseas in Togo

Togo is a narrow slice of land sandwiched between Ghana and Benin in West Africa. At its widest point Togo is just 110 kilometres from east to west. It is a Franco-African melting pot which has beaches, jungles and, by spanning six distinct climatic zones from north to south, a great deal in between.

Although Togo became independent of France in 1960, French influence still exists everywhere with French remaining the first language, although you will hear a host of other tribal dialects spoken across the country. It's not just the language that was influenced - there are boulangeries across the country selling delicious croissants and baguettes!

Travel and Tourism in Togo

Volunteers with children in traditional clothing You can visit Lomé's clubs and restaurants, to sample African food reputed to be the best in West Africa or try some traditional dancing to frenetic drum beats. Visiting the traditional markets or relaxing on the city’s beaches are also popular ways to spend the weekend.

Travel in and around Togo is cheap and easy. You can travel by local bus or in a shared taxi. In the South you will want to visit the tropical lakes and lagoons. In the North you can visit hills, waterfalls and coffee plantations. A sight not to miss is the Forêt de Fazao National Park.

Togo is also an excellent starting point for travel around neighbouring West African countries, whether you are interested in discovering the history of mysterious voodoo in Benin or fancy heading west along the coast to Ghana's sandy beaches and haunting slave forts.