Challenger Profile
Name:
Sue Divin
Challenge Date:
1st May 2024
My Challenge:
In May and June I'll be 'virtually' walking the width of the small African nation of Togo!
(I may swim a few kilometres of it too...)
I'm not actually going there in person - all the walking will be done in my wee corner of the world at home.
For me, this is a challenge that really matters because I sponsor a child in Togo.
Togo’s educational resources are limited. Many young people have access to few books and no internet. As a result, they can’t progress onto higher education and miss out on the stable income that a graduate job secures.
Compassion Togo is close to completing a youth resource centre in Togo’s capital Lomé. This will enable 500 young people to continue learning and pursue their dreams.
But it needs funding. That’s why I’m taking on Compassion’s Togo 100km Virtual Challenge.
Over the next three months, I will walk, swim (possibly, vaguely jog) 100km.
I want to raise at least £1 for each kilometre I achieve.
I’m up for the challenge. Will you help me cross the finishing line?
Children
Sponsored Target:0
Online Total: £220.00
Offline Total: £0.00
Gift Aid: £40.00
In 2018 I had the honour of visiting the country to see, first hand, the work of charity Compassion. As well as meeting a teenage boy I sponsor there (and his mother), I was impressed to see the quality of the Community Development work delivered by Compassion Togo.
As someone who works with communities, I'm a firm believer that Community Development starts with local people identifying local needs - whether that's in my neck of the woods or in Togo. That's why I like this fundraiser. As an author of course, I also like that the funds raised in this project will build something that includes a library...
Compassion Togo have identified the need to purpose build a centre with books, resources, computers and WiFi for the young people in their anti-poverty programmes who reach 3rd level education. Having met some young adults (including the first female mechanical engineer in Togo) who had come through Compassion sponsorship programmes to reach University, I was struck by the deep effectiveness of the programme. The work there is truly inspirational, and in doing this walk, I'm doing a small bit to help.
I know money is very tight for many at home too, but if you can spare even a very small donation it will be appreciated. The new building will support young men and women in the Compassion sponsorship programme to more effectively complete their studies, lifting not just them, but their families and communities out of poverty.
Many thanks for your support.
P.S. Rumour has it I have a significant birthday coming up soon. All donations are seen as in lieu of presents because honestly, helping this will make my heart sing more.
PPS. Himself is doing the challenge with me not engaging in any online promotional activity - you can sponsor him through my link too if you want.