Programs and Events

Donation of Civic Education to the Government of Togo

Lome, August 02 2005

On August 2^nd 2005, Ambassador Charles Twining, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the U.S. Embassy in Togo donated two thousand copies of a booklet entitled “Civic Education,”  published by Jessica Newby, a U.S.-based curriculum designer in collaboration with participants at Civic Education workshops held in Togo, Guinea, Benin, Nigeria and Sierra Leone from February to May 2004. 

The booklets are intended for a general audience including both Togolese High School students and adults.  In his remarks, Ambassador Twining recalled the efforts of the U.S. government since 1994 in promoting Civic Education in Togo and encouraging citizens’ participation in the decision-making process.  The Minister of Communication and Civic Education, Kokou Tozoun, received the booklets on behalf of the government of Togo.  He  expressed his profound gratitude to the U.S. government and assured Ambassador Twining of the importance of Civic Education in the program of the new government of Togo.  He insisted on the need for Togolese to adopt civic attitudes and behaviors necessary for a peaceful democratic change in Togo. 

Through this donation, several Togolese High School students as well as the general public will be educated on the fundamentals of the rule of law, multiparty democracy and individual and collective rights.  The government of Togo, through the Ministry of Communication has put in place an inter-ministerial committee to assess the content of the booklets and will propose strategies and means that can enhance its usage in schools and in the local media.  Post will monitor the impact of the booklet and will report any significant progress the government of Togo will accomplish in this area.   Press coverage of the event was excellent in the public and private media.