Practical Information

It's a cross-cultural exchange and solidarity experience. You join our team in Togo to contribute to concrete development projects: education, health, construction, IT, socio-educational activities. You live immersed in the Togolese community, share daily life with the locals and develop unique personal and professional skills.

No experience is required for most of our missions and work camps. We welcome all profiles: students, professionals, retirees, families. Your motivation and open-mindedness are your best assets. Only health missions (nursing, medical) require professional qualifications. On-site training prepares you for each mission upon arrival.

We offer two formats: • Staff support (longer missions): health missions, nursing internship at a medical centre (CMS Cacaveli), IT courses for children, orphanage support, socio-educational activities. • Work camps (2–3 weeks): school renovation, latrine construction, children's activities, reforestation, health awareness. Check our upcoming work camps on the Registration page.

The minimum is 2 weeks. For staff support missions, you can stay from 2 weeks to 3 months (or longer on request). Work camps usually last 2–3 weeks with fixed dates. The longer you stay, the deeper your impact and richer your experience.

Absolutely! We welcome couples, families and groups of friends. It's a wonderful experience to share. We adapt missions and accommodation to your group. School groups and associations are also welcome.

Minimum age is 18 (16 with a parent or legal guardian). There's no maximum age — we've hosted volunteers from 18 to 72. What matters is your motivation and physical fitness for the planned activities.

French is Togo's official language and is used daily. Ewe and Mina are spoken locally. Our missions run mainly in French, but we also welcome English and German-speaking volunteers with adapted support.

Yes. A mission attestation is issued on request, stating the mission you carried out and its length. It can support a CV, an internship report or an application.

Simple: fill out the form on our Registration page, or contact us directly via WhatsApp (+49 176 47681930) or email (contact@midezon-togo.org). We'll get back to you within 48 hours for a free introductory video call. Then we plan your mission together!

Yes, absolutely! You can start with a work camp and follow up with a staff support mission, or take part in two consecutive camps. Contact us to build a customised programme.

The participation fees consist of: • Registration fee: €50 (one-time, non-refundable) • Staff support mission: €75 per week • Work camp: €80 per week Example: a 4-week mission = €50 + (4 × €75) = €350. This covers accommodation, 3 daily meals, airport transfer, supervision, the discovery day and welcome/farewell celebrations.

The fees include: ✓ Preparation of your mission, and an accommodation certificate for your visa application ✓ Pick-up at Lomé airport and transfer to your accommodation, on arrival and departure ✓ Accommodation in the Midezon House (shared rooms) ✓ Three meals a day at the mission site, and bottled water ✓ Support from a mission coordinator and the local team ✓ Lomé discovery day, welcome and farewell parties ✓ Someone to take you to hospital if you fall ill ✓ Mission attestation, issued on request

At your own expense: ✗ Flights, visa and passport ✗ Vaccinations and malaria prevention ✗ Travel and repatriation insurance ✗ Any medical or hospital costs ✗ Daily trips (motorbike taxi) and personal transport ✗ SIM card and data plan ✗ Excursions and outings (including the volunteer guide’s costs) ✗ Meals away from the mission site, personal spending and souvenirs

For donations and sponsorships, yes, if you pay tax in France: Midezon-Togo is a public-interest association in France and each donation gives you a tax receipt for a 66% reduction of your French income tax, up to 20% of taxable income (any excess carries over for 5 years). Mission participation fees do not currently give a tax receipt: the association is awaiting its accountant's advice. In Germany, no tax deduction is available yet.

Several options to fund your mission: • Mobility grants: check with your city hall, county council, regional council or university. Some local authorities offer international solidarity grants. • Online fundraising: create a fundraiser on GoFundMe, JustGiving or similar and share it with your network. • Corporate sponsorship: ask your employer for sponsorship (tax-deductible for the company). • Personal savings: the cost of living in Togo is very affordable. • Charity sales: organise a meal, garage sale or raffle for your mission.

A return flight to Lomé typically costs between €400 and €700 depending on the season and booking time. Recommended airlines: Air France, Ethiopian Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Turkish Airlines. Tips: book 2–3 months in advance, compare on Skyscanner or Google Flights, and prefer flights with a single stopover.

Since accommodation and meals are included, your personal budget is limited. Allow €20–€40 per week for: extra drinks, snacks, SIM cards/internet (about €5/month for a data plan), souvenirs, weekend excursions. The currency is the CFA franc (€1 ≈ 656 FCFA). Bring euros in cash to exchange on site.

Participation fees are paid before departure, by bank transfer. Bank details, the payment schedule and, depending on the programme, any other accepted payment methods are sent to you once your registration has been approved. Payment confirms your registration.

Yes, a visa is required for most nationalities (France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, UK, Germany, USA, etc.). • Apply online (e-visa) on the Togolese government’s official website, voyage.gouv.tg, at least 5 days before departure — ideally 3 to 4 weeks before. • The fee depends on the length of stay and number of entries: check the current fee on that official website. Intermediary sites add their own charges. • Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date. Midezon-Togo provides an accommodation certificate and an invitation letter to support your application.

Essential documents: • Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your return date • Visa (printed e-visa or confirmation) • International vaccination card (yellow fever mandatory) • Travel and repatriation insurance • Accommodation certificate (provided by Midezon-Togo) • Return flight tickets • 2 passport photos (just in case) • Copies of all documents (digital copies too) Keep both paper AND digital copies of all important documents.

MANDATORY vaccine: • Yellow fever — required for entry to Togo. Done at an approved vaccination centre. Valid for life. Cost: approximately €40–€60. RECOMMENDED vaccines: • Hepatitis A (2 doses) • Hepatitis B (3 doses) • Typhoid • Meningitis A+C+W+Y • Rabies (for extended stays in rural areas) • Updated DTP (diphtheria-tetanus-polio) Antimalarial treatment: ESSENTIAL. Togo is a Zone 3 malaria country. Consult your doctor for a prescription of Doxycycline or Malarone. Also bring DEET 50% insect repellent and a treated mosquito net. Consult a travel health clinic at least 2 months before departure.

Travel insurance with medical repatriation is MANDATORY. It must cover: • Medical expenses abroad (minimum €150,000) • Medical repatriation • Civil liability abroad • Lost or stolen luggage Recommended providers: World Nomads, Allianz Travel, AXA, or check your credit card coverage. Average cost: €30–€50 per month of stay.

Clothing (tropical climate, 25–35°C): • Light cotton clothes, long trousers for evenings (mosquitoes) • T-shirts, shorts, long skirts • Closed shoes for work + sandals • Hat or cap, sunglasses • Light jumper (air conditioning in transport) • Rain jacket if rainy season (April–October) Health: • Antimalarial treatment, SPF50 sunscreen, DEET mosquito repellent • Basic first aid kit: plasters, paracetamol, antidiarrhoeal, antiseptic, saline solution Practical: • Torch or headlamp (power cuts possible) • Power adaptor (Type C/E plugs, 220V — same as mainland Europe) • Reusable water bottle, day backpack • Notebook and pens (for activities with children) • Camera Don't forget: • Paper + digital copies of all documents • Euros in cash (to exchange on site for CFA francs) • A small gift for the host family or children

The arrival airport is Lomé-Tokoin (LFW), also called Gnassingbé Eyadéma International Airport. Main airlines serving Lomé: Air France (direct from Paris-CDG), Ethiopian Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Turkish Airlines, Brussels Airlines. Tips: book 2–3 months ahead, compare on Skyscanner, Google Flights or Kayak. Plan for a sturdy checked bag (23 kg usually included). Send us your flight times as soon as you book so we can arrange your airport pickup.

Strongly recommended. In case of unforeseen events (illness, family emergency, visa refusal), cancellation insurance refunds your flight and expenses. Check if your credit card includes this cover. If not, take it out when purchasing your ticket.

Togo has a tropical climate with two main seasons: • Dry season (November–March): dry heat, 28–35°C, ideal for construction work and excursions. This is peak tourist season. • Rainy season (April–October): tropical showers (often late afternoon), lush vegetation, pleasant temperatures (25–30°C). Ideal for education and health missions. Our missions are available year-round. Work camps have fixed dates — check our calendar.

Tips for a smooth preparation: • Learn about Togo: culture, history, local customs • Join our WhatsApp volunteer group to ask questions • Schedule a free video call with our team to address any concerns • Share your project with those around you • Keep an open mind: you'll experience powerful and sometimes surprising moments • Be flexible and patient: the pace of life in Togo is different from Europe

Yes, always! A team member will be waiting for you at Lomé airport with a MIDEZON-TOGO sign, whatever your arrival time (even at night). You're driven directly to the accommodation. The first day is dedicated to your welcome, a neighbourhood tour, meeting the team and a mission briefing.

From the airport, our team drives you directly to Sanguera (about 30 minutes from Lomé). For projects in other areas (Begbé, Kégué...), transport is organised by the association. Daily trips to the mission site are on foot or by motorcycle taxi (zémidjan), depending on distance.

Accommodation: you stay at the Midezon House in Sanguera. Shared rooms (2–4 people) with mattress, mosquito net, fan. Shared bathrooms and showers. Friendly communal area. Meals: 3 meals per day prepared by our cook with fresh local produce. Breakfast (bread, eggs, fruit, coffee/tea), lunch and dinner (Togolese dishes: fufu, corn paste, rice, chicken, fish, vegetables, sauces). Vegetarian options available — let us know when registering. Drinking water: mineral water provided. Never drink tap water.

Typical day: • 7:00 am — Wake up and group breakfast • 8:00–12:00 — Field mission (construction, teaching, activities...) • 12:30 pm — Lunch • 2:00–4:00 pm — Afternoon mission or side activities • 4:00–7:00 pm — Free time: sports, walks, chatting with locals, reading • 7:30 pm — Group dinner • Evening free: gatherings, games, discussions, music Weekends are free for tourist excursions, the beach, markets or simply resting.

Yes, Togo is a welcoming and generally safe country. Sanguera is a peaceful community where locals know and appreciate our volunteers. You'll be accompanied by our mission coordinator who knows the area perfectly. Safety tips: • Avoid walking alone at night in large cities • Don't wear flashy jewellery or valuables • Keep important documents secure • Follow your coordinator's recommendations • In case of any issue, our team is reachable 24/7

Communication: • Wi-Fi: available at the accommodation (variable connection) • Local SIM card: buy a Yas (formerly Togocom) or Moov Africa chip on arrival (about €1). Top up with data plans (2 GB ≈ €3) • WhatsApp: works very well with Togolese 4G, ideal for calls and messages • International calls: use WhatsApp, Messenger or Skype Important: turn off mobile data roaming from your home provider BEFORE arrival to avoid huge charges. 4G covers Lomé and major towns. In rural areas, connection may be intermittent.

The currency is the CFA Franc (XOF). Fixed rate: €1 = 655.957 FCFA. Tips: • Bring euros in cash (clean, recent notes) to exchange at bureaux de change or banks on site • Visa debit/credit cards work at ATMs in major cities (Ecobank, UTB, BTCI) — expect fees • Mastercard is NOT widely accepted in Togo • Always keep some cash on you for small purchases • Mobile Money (Flooz, Mixx by Yas): widely used in Togo for local payments

In case of health issues: • Our coordinator takes you immediately to the nearest health centre or hospital • Lomé has well-equipped clinics and hospitals (CHU Sylvanus Olympio, private clinics) • Basic medications are available at affordable prices in pharmacies • Your travel insurance covers medical expenses — keep all receipts • Prevention: take your antimalarial treatment rigorously, use repellent, sleep under a mosquito net, drink only bottled water, wash your hands frequently

Yes! Weekends are free and Togo has plenty to discover: • Lomé: Grand Marché, artisan village, beach, cathedral, national museum • Lake Togo & Togoville: pirogue crossing, voodoo temples, crafts • Kpalimé: waterfalls, tropical forest, Danyi plateau, hiking • Koutammakou (UNESCO): the famous fortress houses of the Batammariba people • Aneho: former capital, Benin border Our team can organise guided excursions at preferential rates.

Togo is a warm and tolerant country. A few tips: • Greetings are very important: shake hands, take time to ask how people are • Ask permission before photographing someone • Dress modestly in villages (shoulders and knees covered preferred) • Respect for elders is fundamental • Join in social moments: sharing meals, dancing, playing with children • Be patient and flexible: the pace is different — that's part of the adventure! • Avoid giving money or gifts directly to children (go through the association)