For many years, Kolping has been improving people’s living conditions and strengthening their independence in Togo and Benin. During a project visit, our fundraising employee Stefanie Korndörfer saw for herself how effective the support provided by the two African associations is. She came to the conclusion that even small sparks can trigger big changes.
The air shimmers, engines rattle. Right at the start of our journey, it is striking how much is missing: roads that are in good condition, reliable electricity, and waste disposal that is worthy of the name. And yet there is movement everywhere. This is my first trip to Togo and Benin for Kolping. Together with my colleague Larissa Josowic, regional desk officer for Togo and Benin, I meet Kolping Families to experience firsthand how Kolping works. Everywhere we go, we meet people who show us how change begins: with courage, community, and new ideas.
A well changes the village
In Ahépé, we meet Raissa Nodjo. In her village, KOLPING Togo built a well with the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in 2025. From a depth of 189 meters, it supplies water for hundreds of people. Raissa Nodjo from Togo is overjoyed that her children can now drink clean water and are less prone to illness, thanks to the deep well. “Since the well was built, our children have been sick much less often,” reports the 34-year-old mother of five. The well has also brought about significant economic change. “In the past, we could not produce enough palm oil because of the water shortage,” says the smallholder farmer. “Now we can produce and sell much more oil.” Later in Benin, we really realize the impact that secure access to water can have: in one village, we hear that children used to be swept away by the river when fetching water. Fortunately, that is no longer the case today.
Empowerment for women
While water gives life, education gives self-confidence, especially to women. A few villages further on, in Vogan, we visit one of the newly founded women’s groups. KOLPING Togo supports women in achieving success in agriculture. They learn to generate their own income and thus become more independent and self-confident. “I used to hardly have the courage to speak in front of others,” Afi Doussou tells us. Together with other women, she has learned in Kolping workshops to be active within the association and the community and to take on responsibility. “I have learned to resolve conflicts differently. That has changed my life, in my family and in the village,” she reports. Since then, a lot has changed in her family too. This is how the targeted empowerment of women succeeds, with an impact that extends into society.
More harvest and more participation
On the way, we talk to many farmers. They tell us about the unpredictable rain and poor harvests they are struggling with. Kolping shows them new farming methods. With success: everywhere we meet Kolping members whose harvests have multiplied. Piabalo Mouzou from Landa confirms this. In the past, the 37-year-old often did not know how to feed his children. “There were days when we simply did not have enough to eat.” Now his fields produce enough for everyone. However, one urgent concern remains: the water supply. “In the dry season, we have to drive four kilometers just to get a canister of water. Having our own well would change our lives.” Those who want to take the next step in their development join cooperatives, such as those that exist in some parts of Togo. These are communities in which people work together and learn from each other. The members share their knowledge and become creditworthy for banks. They can also apply for government subsidies or machinery. Kolping supports them in this and helps them to overcome bureaucratic hurdles. For many people, this also marks the beginning of a formal path to participation: we are there to witness Komi Babale proudly showing his new identity card to the whole village. A touching moment! At 47, the smallholder farmer is officially registered for the first time. Now he can join the cooperative. This gives him an unprecedented dignity that is evident to behold.
Small networks that make a difference
What resonates in all encounters: lasting change occurs where people come together and strengthen each other. Kolping Families are such networks: not always perfect, but reliable. They impart knowledge, provide guidance, and give people the strength to take their future into their own hands. Time and again, we have seen that even small sparks can have a big impact. The fact that these initiatives exist is thanks to the many supporters in Germany. Every donation is a contribution that creates a new reality for people.
