I am sending you some photos of the ceremony of the second edition of the International Women’s Rights Day organized by the DRVR-TOGO Association with the Young Women’s Leaders Group (G.J.F.L) here in Vogan-Awlamé in Togo. The theme this year is “For an Inclusive Digital World: Innovation and Technologies for Gender Equality”.
Many events and demonstrations are organized around March 8 to promote women’s rights and equality between women and men. The event is marked first by a women’s caravan with a fanfare group carrying the banner they held in front of the crowd on which you will see the name and logo of Pedals for Progress and an American flag. On the opposite side is the flag of Togo and the name of the Young Women’s Leaders Group, which is one of the groups supervised by the association Challenge and Revolution in Rural Life (DRVR-TOGO). The caravan passes through the surrounding villages, and is followed by a women’s bicycle race with a key message: with bicycles, we have a means of transport that is fast, safe, ecological, and above all economic and adapted to our means for the reinforcement of our small commercial activities.
All our thanks go to P4P, its partners, and to all near and far who supported us for the smooth running of this activity.
Simon Yawo Galé AKOUETE, coordinateur de l’association DRVR-TOGO
DRVR-TOGO runs a sewing apprenticeship program. Click here for some background. In June 2022, the 13 graduates of our first class were awarded the tools of the trade: sewing machines, scissors, iron holders, charcoal irons, hair dryers, rechargeable clippers, plastic barrels, mirrors, … These young graduates have become bosses with their destinies in their hands. They are ready to open their own shops offering men’s sewing, women’s sewing, women’s hairdressing, and men’s hairdressing. We are eager to receive future containers to support this extensive program we have started. Your donations of bicycles and sewing machines improve living conditions here in Togo and elsewhere in the world. We want to tell you here and now that there is a waiting list for days, months, years to come.
Here are some success stories from our first group of graduates.
Akoélévi Antoinette ASSAGBAVI
My name is Akoélévi Antoinette ASSAGBAVI. I am 21 years old, and I have been one of the beneficiaries of the program of the DRVR-TOGO association for 3 years. I was born into a family of 7 children. We lost our mother very early and few girls in my community have the right to go to school like boys. We are made to accompany our mothers in the kitchen and various domestic activities. After the death of my mother, I was adopted by my aunt and brought to Nigeria at the age of 6 for a long period without education and also without learning a trade. Back in the village for my father’s funeral ceremonies, I finally decided not to go back to my aunt’s house to live this life of mistreatment and unhappy domestic life.
One day I heard a radio program about the possibility of free support for young people wishing to learn any trade of their choice. I quickly contacted their service and was admitted to the program. After 3 years of perseverance and courage, here I am, the holder of my end-of-training diploma in men’s and women’s sewing. At the beginning, I thought of a dream which finally became a reality: 12 other people and I who can now open our own workshops and save money to take care of ourselves and feed our families. Sincere thanks to DRVR-TOGO, P4P/SP, and all their staff and donors.
Grace Yawa AGBOZO
My name is Grace Yawa AGBOZO. I was born in 2000 in a polygamous family where my mother has 5 other co-wives with several brothers and sisters at the family home in Agbozo-kpédji/VO. My story is a little sad to listen to, but I ask you to understand me. I am my mother’s eldest; my parents never had the courage to enroll me in elementary school like all the other children of my age. When I was 10 years old, after a short illness, I was forced by my father to be admitted to a convent after a few ceremonies under the pretext of paying a family debt from our ancestors to the voodoo priest. The days and the months pass. It turns out that I have to marry the voodoo priest. I have just turned 12, but discussions about this contract started when I was born. I am at the end of my tether — how can a 12-year-old girl become a housewife? A few months later I had my first boy and then my second at less than 14 years old and then life goes on.
One evening, during a ceremony in a village not far from our home, my so-called husband had a stroke and he fell. We found a way to bring him to the hospital, but he didn’t survive. We women have been subjected to weeks of widowhood ceremonies. One day, I decided to escape this prison life with my two boys and return to my parents. The chief of my village called DRVR-TOGO to help us. I was sent directly to the evening school for adults organized by the DRVR team. After I learned to read and write French, I was sent to the apprenticeship program for a period of 3 years.
Today here I am among the stars. On my return to my village I will go with my beautiful sewing machines to the chief by whom all this good news began. My life and that of my two children have changed and I will sing the glory forever. All my family and I give thanks from the bottom of our hearts to all near or far who have contributed to making me a winner forever: to DRVR-TOGO and to P4P/SP, whose actions change living conditions on the other side of the world.
Mawuse Fiovi ADANLESSOSSI-AVOUDE
I am 23 years old. Since I was a child I have had problems with my vision. My parents found an excuse or saw fit not to enroll me in school. A child who cannot see well is going to have to learn a trade to have financial means to go to the big hospitals for treatment. One day when I was 17, my father spoke with a nurse passing through our village with a mobile vaccination program against poliomyelitis, a disease that frequently develops in children under 5 years old in our community. My father learned that a humanitarian organization would send me to the city hospital for consultation and treatment. I was taken in and over a period of 2 years my eyesight improved.
So I decided to go and learn the trade of sewing, which had always interested me. Four years later I was ready to take my final apprenticeship exam when to my great surprise I discovered that I did not have a birth certificate — another problem but quickly solved by the dynamism and the determination by the team of the DRVR-TOGO. I had my birth certificate, and I also passed my exam on time. Today I have my sewing machine, which will allow me to open my own workshop to work and achieve all my ambitions. This work is really great. Congratulations for always being there for the well-being of others. Congratulations to you wherever you are. Continue to save other people in difficulties worse than mine. Once again thank you and please do what you can.
DRVR-TOGO is the Association Défi et Révolution de la Vie Rurale (Challenge and Revolution in Rural Life). DRVR-TOGO is a non-profit organization in Togo created in October 2005. DRVR-TOGO aims to contribute in a sustainable way to community development. DRVR-TOGO intervenes in six areas:
social development
health
agriculture
business and finance
education
environment
Despite efforts to guarantee the right to education for all, populations, especially rural populations and children of poor parents, are still affected by poor diet, unsafe water, inadequate health facilities, and lack of adequate sanitary infrastructure. Especially women and girls suffer from lack of education and access to banking and credit.
DRVR-TOGO meets with community leaders, members of women’s and agricultural group, and others in the development community to solve problems and offer technical advice.
DRVR-TOGO works for better access to education and health services, greater empowerment of women, respect for the environment, access to microcredit, and creation of micro-enterprises.
In 2019, DRVR-TOGO contacted Pedals for Progress. A collaboration and partnership document was signed between our two organizations.
I am Catherine. My two colleagues in the photos are Akouwavi and Améyo. We are apprentice seamstresses and we are part of a program that our promoter calls Youth Socioeconomic Empowerment, a program that pays the costs of the training contracts and then, at the end of our apprenticeship, provides us with sewing machines to allow us to open our own workshops. A few weeks ago, we received our machines and are already working. It is a great joy to see these photos of ourselves.
Akouwavi
With these sewing machines, we will work and save money, take care of ourselves, take care of our families and send our children to school. We have finally reached the end of our training and here we are with our sewing machines as promised. These machines are essential tools for our small businesses. All this is possible thanks to the support of the DRVR-TOGO and its partner Pedals for Progress / Sewing Peace. It is because of you, the donors, that our dreams have become realities.
Améyo
We are appealing to all P4P loyal partners and donors: Used sewing machines, bikes, and other tools as far as the eye can see are left in your garages, basements, stores, and offices. Donating them to P4P will help people and save lives in communities thousands of miles away from you on the other side of the world. Many thanks to you, David, and all your tireless P4P team for your dedication to social causes.
Essenam
I am Essenam. I am an apprentice seamstress. I would like through this little note to express my gratitude to DRVR-TOGO, Pedals for Progress, and all their partners and donors who contribute from near and far to help support vulnerable populations all over the world and as well as our communities here in Togo. I have not been to school like many young girls of my age have, so I decided to learn a trade, and the choice fell on sewing, a trade of my dreams since childhood.
Before the DRVR-TOGO bicycle program, I had to leave the house very early in the morning. I would arrive at the workshop late and tired, and then come back late at night, when travel is risky.
With this nice bike in the photo, I now arrive on time at the workshop to continue my learning with a lot of determination. Words fail me and all my family to thank the American donors to the P4P organization. Once again thank you for everything. Through my voice, I appeal to P4P and its partners to continue this program again and again to help other people in different areas of need.
Emefa
My name is Emefa and I am 14 years old. I am a student in the first-year class in high school. For the 2020–2021 school year, officials from DRVR-TOGO came to our establishment with a program to cover tuition fees and supplies and support to promote the education of orphaned and vulnerable children, especially young girls. I was the first in my class for the end-of-year exam. To continue my study in high school, I have to travel impossible kilometers to go to my classes, because there is no college in my village. You have to go to the town next door instead. With this bike from DRVR-TOGO and P4P, I could not hide my joy and that of my entourage. We sincerely thank you. My wish is that this program continues so that other students can benefit from it.
Afiwa
My name is Ania and I am a widow with two children: Afiwa is ten years old and Komlan is six. I sell boiled meat on the side of the road in my neighborhood to feed and take care of my children and especially to send them to school. Every morning I have to leave my activity and bring my children to school and pick them up in the evening at sunset.
Komlan
Some time ago a client told me about a DRVR-TOGO bicycle program and a child who had already benefited. I went to inquire about the program, and to my great surprise my two children got their own bikes. Now they leave the house every morning and came back in the evening after class without difficulty.
My two children and I say thank you to you the donors, to P4P, its president, David, and all his staff. We also offer a big thank-you to DRVR-TOGO here with us in our community.
From: Simon Akouete <simonakouete@gmail.com>
Date: December 12, 2021 at 6:24:12 PM EST
To: David Schweidenback <dschweidenback@gmail.com>
Hello David,
I hope you and all your team are doing well. I would like to confirm that we have finished the procedures for getting the container through port and customs. The bicycles and sewing machines as well as all spare parts have arrived at the headquarters of the DRVR-TOGO association in Vogan. All our thanks to the PEDALS FOR PROGRESS team and especially to you David, without forgetting the multiple partners and donors among the American people who have made this initiative a reality.
We want to confirm to you that your will to act in favor of aid for the development of communities on the other side of the world can only arouse great admiration on the part of the beneficiaries for this noble action that you continue to bring to vulnerable and marginalized populations languishing under the effects of misery and poverty, who need you more than ever for their survival. We cannot write this note without referring to this pandemic of the century which has taken human lives, wiped out our efforts, and brought us to our knees. We are asking ourselves one and only one question: Covid-19, when is the end? …
We are not going to give up, we are going to work, we are going to get up again and again.
A big thank you to you David and especially to your dynamic and tireless team.
Simon Yawo Galé AKOUETE, Coordinateur Association DRVR-TOGO
Our spring 2021 collection season ended on June 19th in Delmar, New York. Because of Covid-19, we collected fewer bikes and sewing machines than in recent years. Still, we managed to ship three containers.
We shipped Togo #3 on 26 October 2020. It arrived in July 2021.
From: Simon Akouete <simonakouete@gmail.com>
Subject: Informations
Date: July 10, 2021 at 3:24:58 PM EDT
To: David Schweidenback <dschweidenback@gmail.com>
Hello David,
You are fine I think. I picked up the container this Thursday 9th of July and yesterday late in the evening the bikes all arrived in Vogan at the headquarters of the NGO DRVR-TOGO. My thanks to you, your entire team and especially your donors and partners who made this project a reality.
On 02 October 2020 we loaded our third shipment to Togo: 513 bikes and 47 sewing machines. We just got mail reporting that it arrived on November 24th.
Simon Akouete at the arrival of Togo #3
From: Simon Akouete <simonakouete@gmail.com>
Subject: Informations
Date: November 25, 2020 at 9:57:29 PM EST
To: David Schweidenback <dschweidenback@gmail.com>
Hello David,
You are fine I hope. Finally the bicycles and sewing machines arrived at the headquarters of the Association Défi et Révolution de la Vie Rurale DRVR-TOGO in Vogan yesterday. The young beneficiaries were eagerly waiting for it.
Togo #3 at Vogan, Togo
All our thanks to you especially and to your entire team for a job well done. I am sending you some photos from the opening of the container at the port and the arrival in front of our headquarters in Vogan.
AKOUETE Yawo Galé Simon
Coordinator of NGO DRVR-TOGO
On 24 December 2020 we got mail from Simon with photos of some of the people who got a bike or a sewing machine from the new container.
[The fall 2019 newsletter had the first part of the story of Robert Musil’s sewing machine, a 1912 Singer treadle machine that he used for several decades in his profession as a tailor. Robert’s family donated the machine to P4P/SP in 2019 and in October we shipped it to Togo. Here is the next part of the story, written by the woman who got Robert’s machine.]
My name is Sandra ANANI. I am a 37-year-old widow with two daughters. The older one is Joséphine, who is in her final year of high school. The second is Marceline, also a pupil in the high school. I lost my husband 11 years ago. I worked part-time as a housekeeper and as an assistant cook in a restaurant to support my family. In addition to this work, I also did laundry for people in need. I do everything that falls into my hand to earn money and take care of my daughters. I pay for food, tuition, and rent with enormous difficulties, despite the fact that I am a seamstress. I am a high-fashion designer and I sew clothes for men and women, but I could not afford to buy a sewing machine.
My husband had promised to open my workshop at the end of my apprenticeship, but unfortunately he died after a short illness just a year before the end of my training. My step-family put me and my two daughters out; since that time our life became really difficult.
Like many women my age in our community, I never had the chance to go to school. One day, I attended a talk organized by the DRVR Association at a literacy center in my village. That’s when I discovered that the DRVR Association runs a program that supplies sewing machines to the needy. I joined their program and now I have my very first sewing machine. With this machine I can open my workshop and practice my sewing trade, earn money and save money to support my family. My daughters’ future depends on their studies and now I have my machine which will allow me to work and pay their school fees.
Words fail me. The photo shows the joy that animates me and my daughters at this moment. We thank the DRVR association, Mr. David of Pedals for Progress, and especially the family of Mr. Robert, who donated this pedal sewing machine. As my family life has just changed and improved, I ask those responsible — DRVR and Pedals for Progress / Sewing Peace — to do the same for other people like me.
Donate bicycles and sewing machines to developing countries
Many events and demonstrations are organized around March 8 to promote women’s rights and equality between women and men. The event is marked first by a women’s caravan with a fanfare group carrying the banner they held in front of the crowd on which you will see the name and logo of Pedals for Progress and an American flag. On the opposite side is the flag of Togo and the name of the Young Women’s Leaders Group, which is one of the groups supervised by the association Challenge and Revolution in Rural Life (DRVR-TOGO). The caravan passes through the surrounding villages, and is followed by a women’s bicycle race with a key message: with bicycles, we have a means of transport that is fast, safe, ecological, and above all economic and adapted to our means for the reinforcement of our small commercial activities.
