Bonjour! That’s how you say “hello” in French, the official language in Togo. This country in West Africa is known for its palm-fringed beaches and lush, forested hills. Learn more interesting facts about Togo here.
Five Facts About Togo
Here are five fun facts about Togo:
- Togo is one of the smallest countries in Africa and is located on the western coast of the continent.
- Togo’s artisans are skilled in creating beautiful woven textiles, wood carvings, pottery and metalwork, showcasing the artistic heritage of the nation.
- Togo has diverse and delicious cuisine. For example, if you visited Togo, you might have fufu for dinner, which is a yam, cassava or plantain paste served with soup.
- Togo is home to Lake Togo (which is technically a lagoon), the country’s largest lake.
- Togo is a multilingual country, with French being the official language. Other languages include Ewé and Kabiyé.
Where is Togo?
Togo is in West Africa. Togo shares borders with Ghana, Benin and Burkina Faso. Currently, over 8 million people call the country of Togo home.
Key Challenges in Togo
While Togo is known for its rich culture and beautiful, coconut tree-filled beaches, it’s also a place many impoverished families call home. And children in these communities suffer through the damaging consequences of poverty.
Lack of Education
Education is not prioritized throughout Togo. While many children attend primary school, only about 41% of children are enrolled in secondary school. Only 60% of teens are literate, and recently, 59% of students failed the government final exam for their grade level.
Education is powerful. With educations, children can obtain stable jobs as adults, allowing them to provide for their families and break the cycle of poverty. But without education, the cycle of poverty continues.