One Year in Togo, Six Years of Impact: The Story of Woé zon loo

For six years, the organization Woé zon loo has been making a difference in Togo. Founded by Emily Wilbrand after her weltwärts volunteer year, the association has raised around €250,000, won several awards—including the Federal Prize from startsocial and the Engagement Prize from the German Academic Scholarship Foundation—and continuously invested in education and women’s projects alongside its partner organization, IVA. And it all started with just one year abroad—an experience Emily describes as challenging, yet profoundly formative.

A challenging year in Togo

In 2016, right after finishing high school, Emily traveled to Togo. She wanted to try something new, improve her French, and steer clear of working with children—but she ended up joining a radio project that suited her perfectly. While many describe their weltwärts year as “the best year of their life,” for Emily, it was a true test: recurring bouts of malaria or bacterial infections, hospital stays, project difficulties, and homesickness marked her time there.

What stayed with her most, however, was the warmth of the host family at the Centre in Kpalimé, a home run by IVA for children and youth in difficult circumstances. “I was struck by the sheer dedication of the organization,” Emily recalls. “Funds were often tight, for things like medicine, but I realized that even a small amount of money can make a huge difference.”

From idea to action – founding the association

Back in Germany, that idea—making tangible impact with limited resources—didn’t leave her. A year and a half later, Emily attended a conference on “Development Perspectives in Europe and Africa,” organized by Eine-Welt-Netz NRW. There, a vague idea became a concrete plan: founding her own association. The first attempt to rally supporters failed, but Emily persisted. By 2019, together with other former weltwärts volunteers and her mother as the formal seventh member, Woé zon loo was born—a long-term development commitment with far more impact than Emily could have imagined at the time.

The name came quickly. “Woé zon loo” means “Welcome”—a phrase you hear upon entering the Centre and a fitting symbol of the openness extended to everyone there.

Projects that make a difference – Centre, tutoring, and Lionne

Today, Woé zon loo runs several projects in Togo. The heart of the work is the Centre, now home to about 20 children who receive housing, emotional support, meals, and schooling. A tutoring program supports 60 children from the Centre and surrounding communities, with eight teachers providing small-group lessons to reinforce school learning.

Another initiative is Lionne, a social startup producing reusable cloth pads from second-hand T-shirts, paired with education on menstruation and sexual health. “We want girls and women to participate fully in life, even during their periods,” Emily explains. Workshops in schools, local sales, and NGO partnerships aim to make the project self-sustaining over time.

The association also engages critically with postcolonial issues, including power dynamics, white saviorism, and intersectionality.

Voluntary, flexible, committed

All members of Woé zon loo work on a voluntary basis. Emily herself has spent multiple periods on site, investing 10–20 hours per week during her psychology studies and now about five hours a week while working. She is the only original member still active, but new volunteers continually join—many with no prior connection to Togo, gaining hands-on experience on the ground. “People who stay for just two or three months are often extremely motivated because they know their time is limited. Long-term stays can sometimes feel less energizing,” she notes. Clear roles, guidance, and realistic expectations are crucial.

Long-term placements remain a key pillar for the partner organization, offering two recognized weltwärts positions at the Centre and Lionne. These allow new volunteers to gain practical experience and see measurable impact.

Keys to success: persistence, communication, and clear structures

The results speak for themselves: around €250,000 in donations, a social startup, and multiple awards—including the Starter Prize, the Engagement Prize, a federal startsocial award, and a Union Investment prize—demonstrate the association’s impact. Emily attributes the success to persistence, flexibility, and strong personal connections to Togo. “There were many periods when little worked and donations came slowly. The key was to keep going and explore new ways forward.”

From the beginning, the projects have not been managed from Germany. Ideas are developed collaboratively, but the final decisions are always made by the local partner organization. Continuous monitoring ensures quality and development.

Get involved, learn, make an impact

Woé zon loo thrives on volunteers who contribute online or on site. Former weltwärts volunteers, in particular, can reflect on their experiences, develop new skills, and directly see how their work changes children’s and youths’ lives. Emily emphasizes: “You stay connected, keep learning, and can make a real difference—that’s what makes it special.”

Those interested can support projects in areas like project management, fundraising, social media, or educational and awareness work—helping Woé zon loo continue creating meaningful, long-term impact.