This project was inspired by a personal experience of the founder, Mr. Kodjo Drofenou. During the 1995-1996 school year, as a child at Kpélé Govié Elementary School in Govié, Togo, he witnessed a historic event. A group of university students from the local community, including Mr. Komi Kpatcha and Mr. Marcel Modjinou, donated school supplies to the top students in each class.
In rural, disadvantaged communities like his, it’s difficult to convey the importance of education to children. The surrounding environment, the people, and nature all send the message that survival skills are more essential than academic learning. At that time, Mr. Kodjo and his friends didn’t compete in academics—they competed to climb the tallest fruit trees (mango, orange, coconut), with the fruits as their rewards.
Although they weren’t among the first to receive the awards, Mr. Kodjo and his friends created their own internal competition to be the first in their group to earn the honor. This drive for success helped them achieve outstanding academic results year after year, marking a turning point in their education and shaping their future aspirations.
Two decades later, Mr. Kodjo Drofenou founded this project to promote education and environmental preservation in rural communities. He saw the potential of channeling children’s natural competitiveness into education as a powerful tool for long-term community development.
Since its launch in July 2015, the program has expanded to 21 schools, benefiting 20-30 students per school annually. In addition to providing school supplies, we plant trees at these schools to combat climate change and provide fruit trees to help fight hunger. The economic benefits of this tree planting initiative are intended to support vital infrastructure projects, such as school buildings or public sanitation facilities. We also organize sports activities to promote child health and foster community inclusion.
