During the Aguegue series whole families listen to information on how to strengthen family bonds

March 2011: Child trafficking is a problem present in most of the 26 states of West and Central Africa, including Togo. As part of its longstanding efforts to combat trafficking, Plan Togo started in December 2008 an audio-visual project “Aguegue”  which uses radio to deliver educational messages to the community and educate young people and families on the dangers of child trafficking. One of the causes identified for the exodus of children following traffickers were scarce resources at family level, particularly in families with many children.

"The Aguegue series shows how to create a livable environment for everyone in families, especially children. During my prayer on Friday, I use the ideas and examples presented during the series so that everyone can benefit from these educational messages," said Arissou Ousmane, who holds a position of local Imam, a religious leader in Kolina, in the prefecture of Tchaoudjo, in the Central Region of Togo.

Plan’s radio series promotes family values and so far produced and aired 30 episodes of 13 minutes each in each radio station located in Plan Togo intervention area. During the edition, parents and children listen to the speech on the values of tradition, family, culture and education, strengthening the family bonds.

"We follow the radio series as a family. At the time of broadcast everyone is sitting around the receiver to follow the history of the series, take part in discussion or participate in a competition. Together, we discuss problems of that family and especially those of children,” said Djouera, a 40-year-old mother.

Listening clubs

Plan also supported the establishment of listening clubs who support the campaign to fight child trafficking. Each listening club consists of 5 adults with a community leader and 5 students between 13 and 18-year-olds. The representatives are responsible for encouraging people to follow each edition and for organizing meetings during which educational talks are being held and which are held in communities, families, mosques, churches, and during the public events.

100 listening clubs are today in place and equipped with receivers and information book to help raise public awareness amongst their community members.

“I have a friend who wanted to go and “travel”. After listening to Aguégués series she understood that there’s nothing interesting in the adventure and stayed in the village to go to school and learn profession,” said Meba*, a 12-year-old student from Tchaoudjo.

Read “For the price of a bike”- Plan’s report on the extent, causes, forms and consequences of child trafficking in Togo.

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*Name changed for child protection reasons