In Warren Wagstaff’s own words, “Togo is a remarkable place.”We might describe Togo differently. Warren reported that the average daily income in the rural areas is near $1.25 a day while the income in the more populated areas is near $3.25 daily. While fruits and vegetables are plentiful and inexpensive by our standards, most local residents can not afford to buy them. The main city in Togo is called Lome and it is choked with people. Many are trying to create small businesses to make a meager income. On a small table, Warren observed old whiskey bottles full of diesel, gas or motor oil. This was a crude Togolese gas station!!
Warren recently visited Togo on behalf of a Canadian Charity called Sleeping Children Around the World. This exemplary Charity travels to third world countries to distribute bedkits to needy children. Volunteers cover all of their own travel expenses so donors can be guaranteed that every penny of their donation will go to the child’s bedkit. While in Togo, Warren participated in the distribution of 3000 bedkits each made possible through a $30.00 donation. He experienced the joy of placing the bedkit in the hands of a child. He directly touched the lives of these families and sensed the hope that ensued! It is little wonder that he described Togo as “a remarkable place.”
SLEEPING CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD was registered as a Canadian Charity in 1970 by Mr. Murray Dryden and his wife Margaret, parents of legendary hockey stars Dave and Ken Dryden. To date, this unique Charity has raised in excess of 20 million dollars and distributed bedkits to 888,350 children in 32 different third world countries.
The bedkit distributed in Togo contained 19 items intended to fulfill the Charity’s mission of providing needy children with a safe and peaceful night’s sleep. The bedkit contained such things as:
- covered foam mattress
- blanket
- pillow
- pillow cover
- mosquito net
- shorts
- sandals
- towel
- school supplies
SLEEPING CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD works with reliable overseas partners who arrange for all items to be made locally and assist in the selection of the neediest children. Our overseas partner in Togo is “Action Enfance et Developement Togo”.
For more information please contact Tamara Kaftalovich, Consultant, Maverick Public Relations Inc. @ 416-640-5525 ext/ 234.
Also available for as a PDF file via download.
