Digital literacy in the Savanes Region

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Three new computer centers have been inaugurated at the Borgou High School, the Tambonga High School, and the Borgou Catechetical Training Center. These facilities are located in the Savanes region, which, with an average annual per capita income of about USD 350, is the poorest and least developed in the country.

Project origins

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 4, set out in the United Nations 2030 Agenda, aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.” By 2030, the objective is to guarantee free and high-quality primary and secondary education for all children, youth, and adults, with particular attention to the most marginalized and vulnerable.

In recent years, significant progress has been made in access to education for both boys and girls, especially at the primary school level. However, access does not always translate into quality education. Globally, it is estimated that around 130 million young people still lack basic skills, with females accounting for 62% of this number. Moreover, in at least one out of three countries, more than 50% of children fail to achieve basic mathematical competencies by the end of primary school. This problem persists into secondary education, where in at least one out of four countries such competencies are not acquired even at the end of the school cycle.

Disparities in educational opportunities between OECD countries and developing countries remain significant, with over 70% of the 130 million school-aged children without access to education living in low-income nations. These disparities are compounded by gender- and socio-economic-based discrimination, as well as territorial inequalities between urban and rural areas. In this context, access to innovative technologies has become a crucial element—not only for improving the quality of education, but also as a discriminating factor that risks further exacerbating existing inequalities.

These figures highlight the urgent need for coordinated action to ensure that every child and young person has access to quality education—education that is inclusive and capable of preparing new generations to face future challenges.

Project Description

The project “Digital Literacy in the Savanes Region” builds upon the success of the “Kombatè Tangui Tinguidan” program at the Nassablé High School, where resources and services for teaching computer science were first introduced. With the aim of replicating this successful model, the initiative is expanding to three additional educational institutions: Borgou High School, Tambonga High School, and the Borgou Catechetical Training Center.

The specific objective of the project is to provide computer literacy training to at least 1,200 students across the three targeted schools within one year. To achieve this, approximately 40 practical training sessions, each lasting 2 hours, will be organized, with the goal of ensuring that at least 70% of participants come from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds. In addition, the initiative aims to engage at least 300 members of the local community, thereby broadening the educational impact and fostering a culture of lifelong learning.

The delivery of 31 PCs and 4 laptops to Borgou High School, 25 PCs and 5 laptops to Tambonga High School, and 15 PCs and 3 laptops to the Borgou Catechetical Training Center provides a solid foundation for these goals. For the first time, these resources give students access to essential technological tools that support their learning.

Through the organization of training courses, the project embraces the principles of development cooperation by encouraging the active involvement of teachers and community members to ensure the sustainability and local ownership of the initiative. This approach not only enhances students’ technical skills but also promotes a sense of shared responsibility within the community.

Furthermore, the initiative is in line with the national strategic plan “Feuille de route Togo 2025” (FDR 2025), supported by the Ministry of Primary, Secondary, Technical and Craft Education, as well as local partners such as DassiFem and the Humanitarian Association if….

In summary, the project “Digital Literacy in the Savanes Region” represents a strategic and essential investment to promote sustainable development, equipping students and the wider community with the skills necessary to face the challenges of the modern world and contributing to building a better future for the region.

Expected and reached results

Thanks to the involvement and generous support of several donors—particularly Ingrado, Cerdd, CSI, Clinica Moncucco, GFP Mediconsul, Driver Center Agom Bioggio, and Atletico Lugano 1966 FC—between January 27 and January 28, 2025, the official inauguration ceremonies of the new services at Borgou High School, Tambonga High School, and the Borgou Catechetical Training Center were held. The events took place in the presence of various institutional and traditional authorities, national media, students, and teaching staff, along with the active participation of all local and neighboring communities.

The success of these new initiatives, building also on the experience gained through the “Kombatè Tangui Tinguidan” project, confirms the potential for creating a sustainable and replicable model of structural, organizational, managerial, and educational services capable of achieving large-scale impact.

The major current challenge—which will require the cooperation of all stakeholders involved in the projects, along with rigorous monitoring by the Association itself and optimal management by the leadership of the institutions—will be to ensure sustainability and the proper ownership by the beneficiaries at the end of the planned 18-month support period.