Pottery from Togo in the Netherlands

We are proud to announce that since today, pottery from Togo is being sold at the Wereld Winkel in Dronten: http://wereldwinkeldronten.nl/index.php/assortiment_wereldwinkel/nieuwe-producten/aardewerk-uit-togo

Oven used for pottery

 

Work in progress

Ready to be packed for transport

A result to be proud of! 

The pottery is made by Vidja. He became orphan at 15 years but had the chance to start a course on pottery at the Artistic Centre of Kpalimé. He met his wife there, they both became teachers at the centre. This allowed them to send their children to school. Being pensioned, they started a small workshop at home where they teach their children the skill and still earn a bit of money that is being invested in education of other children. Vidja has been working with a lot of patience to produce what is now being sold in the Netherlands. Each piece is unique and made with local materials. We are very proud of him and his family!

Interested in pottery or other products from Togo? Contact us through our @: togotd@yahoo.fr.

New: Togo-Benin try-out tour. Be part of it!

We organise a try-out tour in Togo and Benin from 23rd of December 2012 to 13th of January 2013. Join us to discover the rich history, culture, people and nature of Togo and Benin!

Missed it? Contact us for future journeys that will be organised in August/September and December 2013.

Togo

The journey starts in Togo, one of the smallest countries in Africa and because of its unfamiliarity an ideal destination for the adventurous traveller. We explore the coastline, peppered with voodoo culture, fishing villages and production of palm oil, coconut oil and sodabi. We approach the highest mountain in Togo, Mont Agou, surrounded by green hills with coffee and cocoa fields, colourful butterflies and refreshing waterfalls. While travelling to the north, we pass through traditional weaving villages and see remnants of large iron furnaces. Finally, we visit the Tamberma, one of the most picturesque areas of Togo.

Benin 

In Benin we dive into the rich history of kingdoms, slavery and voodoo. We stroll on foot or by bike through Abomey with fascinating remains of palaces and temples. In Porto Novo we breathe the atmosphere of colonial times through the wide deserted streets. We take a boat trip to characteristic pole villages where people live who fled slavery, and participate in the yearly festival of Allada. On the last day in Benin you can relax at the beach, discover nature by pirogue, on a bike or by foot, visite a turtle conservation project or a pottery village. The journey ends in Lomé where you can relax at a pool, do your final purchases and enjoy a last delicious Togolese meal.

Responsible travel

Togo Tourism & Development is committed to tourism with a focus on people and environment. Our tours contribute to local development and empowerment, and guarantee a unique travel experience.

Practicalities

We travel in a small group by minibus and stay in basic hotels, with local families and in tents. We look forward to welcoming you in Togo and Benin!

For more detailed information or questions, send us an @ 

togotd@yahoo.fr, jdekwaadsteniet@gmail.com

A few words on Responsible Tourism Management

Since September 2010 Josefien is studying at the International Centre for Responsible Tourism Management. 'My aim is to put responsible and community based tourism more up the agenda, especially in Togo, West Africa, the country of origin of my partner. Togo is a very diverse country with varying landscapes and a caleidoscope of cultures. Tourism in Togo used to flourish in the 1980s but was degraded afterwards. Currently Togo is restructuring its tourism sector, focussing amongst others on eco-tourism. Since I see an important link between tourism and development I would like to devote my energy and time to promote
a positive image of Africa in general and Togo in specific'.

Responsible Tourism Management means: creating better places for people to live in and better places for people to visit (Cape Town Declaration). This applies to all forms of tourism be it all-inclusive holidays, backpacking, eco-tourism etcetera and includes all stakeholders involved. For more information on responsible tourism management go to sites referred to under 'Responsible Tourism links'.

Blog update

Dear reader,

As you might have noticed, we are working on improving our site. The main language we use is English in order to allow many people to read our updates and stories while we are working on an official website. If you are more fluent in French, Dutch or any other language, you can use the translation button at the bottom right side of the page.
We will soon post updates about the research carried out by Dutch Community Based Tourism students who visited Ghana and Togo in December 2011 and who wrote their findings this year. Also, pictures will be published of this journey and of Togo and our activities in general. Looking forward to having you as a regular visitor!

Togo Tourism & Development Foundation established

Dear reader,

We are happy to announce the official establishment of Togo Tourism & Development Foundation.

Our mission is to promote the cultural diversity of Togo and to contribute to sustainable development of individuals and communities. We aim to do this through activities in the Netherlands and in Togo:
1. participate in festivals, cultural markets and seminars
2. organise events and exchange projects
3. liaise with educational institutes to set up cross-cultural research projects
4. promote responsible tourism through setting up tours and training actors involved in tourism (ex. local tourguides)
5. support local development projects (education, food security, environment and health)
We mainly focus on the southern part of Togo and the Netherlands and collaborate with various individuals and organisations.

We are happy to invite you to follow us on facebook and through email!