water4togo: Campaign Water For Togo West Africa

Rod has just returned from another trip to the village of Agome sevah. All is going well with the next few months being very exciting. The nurses home (phase 1 of the clinic project) is completed and can be used as a temporary clinic whilst we completely refurbish the main building itself which we can now we can start on. We are hoping that the construction work will be done by the end of March so we are planning to have all the equipment there in early April!

Another bit of news is that there is chance that we can stop our village and dozens of others from being flooded every year by the Hydro scheme up river opening the sluice gates as much as they do. The lives of tens of thousands of people would be improved Fingers crossed but if we could it would be amazing and it should cost nothing! Rod is due to have a big meeting in Togo in March to discuss the proposal.

Amazing but true. Willmott Dixon Partnerships part of the Willmott Dixon Group and run by MD Mick Williamson have put their considerable resources in to supporting us. No promises but they are going to try to raise £20000 for us over the next 12 months! If they do we will be well on the way to providing the clinic we are so committed to, such that it will be the best for well over 200 square miles providing medical support for over 15000 people.

They are planning to have at least one event every month and have just completed a sponsored walk in the Lake District. Several thousand pounds have already been raised moving them towards their goal!! In addition to that they have provided hundreds of Christmas boxes for the children.

This caring Group of businesses are showing everyone that you can be philanthropic and profitable!

Clinic update. As above Phase one has now been completed in that the nurses home has now been refurbished.

In total we will need at least £30000 for this project with more required to keep it going for 5 years by which time we are hoping they will be totally self sufficient. Already we have raised over £25000 so we are well on the way.

We recently met two amazing people who run a charity along similar lines to ourselves. They were very generous in giving us lots of advice and help. A big thank you to Sheryl and Az. See www.water4africa.co.,uk

We have made donating even easier. We have just subscribed to www.justgiving.com. You can go on to the website and set up a project such that your supporters can donate in a few seconds on line. The justgiving site also gives lots of tips as to how to raise money and many other related items. A number of people have already taken advantage of this new, easy facility including Dani Riley, Marlon Bouman and Emma Weekes. Thanks to them and all their supporters.

And we are on facebook! Just enter "Asso Dekamile" and you can see the latest photos and get the latest news.

The Nobel school in Stevenage have also comitted to raising some funds for us. Good luck and a big thank you to them. We will post up more information about their efforts as it happens. All this thanks to Keith Weekes

We changed our name. We always loved the old name of our charity as it so described what we are all about - the provision of the basics of life itself. But we are now providing more than just water so we felt we had had to change our name. The name the Trustees have chosen after asking our friends in Togo is "Dekamile". This is the word (in the language of Mina) that the villagers use as a mantra. It literally means "we are one" or "together we are much stronger".

Suffice it to say that thanks to our friends as the school now has a new roof - one that doesn't leak! They have all the text books they wanted, all the educational aids they wanted and lots more besides. They are very, very grateful for everything that has happened. Whilst there we attended the official opening of the three wells we paid for, plus the inauguration of the revitalised school. Local dignataries and politicians attended as well as an official from the Ministry of Education. Photos of the children with their new text books can be seen on this link; : agomessewa school . Further photos are now available on the following link agome

Our friends and supporters never cease to amaze us. Recent contributors include Bruce and Barbara, Patti - again, Caroline - again, Bob, Bruce and Jim, Dani, Marlon -all again and and Jenny Rose from Kuala Lumpur. Then there are all the people who bought tickets for the big bash plus some who bought a ticket but couldn't come along! Amazing. Big thanks to Steven and Helen Long!

It is amazing to see the village have clean water!!! Without going in to a long story, some how the village now have three wells all providing this widely spread village with clean water! Check out the link and see the photos of the wells being constructed with more to follow.

There is a lot more to do before anyone can say that the village have chance of prospering. As Rod Unger said "We are trying to provide them with a platform for a decent standard of living but the platform needs four legs. These "legs" are the provision of clean water, micro finance , the school (all three now completed) and the now the clinic". Three down one to go!

The clinic has no medications or equipment to speak of, the ceiling has fallen in as bats were living in the roof. Obviously neither building has had any water until now and still has no electricity or sanitation.

Having access to some sort of decent health facility is essential for Agome-sevah and the surrounding area to have a chance. We have to do something about it to enable the villagers get on their feet. They are really doing their best and are extremely grateful for what we have done.

One of the new ways we are raising money is to provide a powerpoint presentation re Togo and what we are doing by way of an introduction to this unique lifestyle. If you know anyone who would make a contribution to the fund for such a talk let us know!

Thank you to everyone for all your effort. We will of course keep you updated on the news as it happens. Special thanks again to our trustees Patti and Caroline.