Children's room decorations

• Technical and Analytical Skills: Diagnostic and Needs Assessment

• Project Management and Coordination: Project Planning, Budgeting, and Implementation

• Team and Leadership Skills: Promote Teamwork, Leadership and Decision-Making

• Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Stakeholder Engagement, Cross-Cultural Competence

• Strategic and Operational Skills: Strategic Planning

• Innovation and Adaptability: Creative Problem-Solving, Adaptability and Resilience

In 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mrs. Dastidar, wife of the U.S. Ambassador to Togo, reached out to discuss the creation of a mural for Espoir Vie-Togo, an NGO supporting orphaned children. The project involved designing and painting murals for two rooms—one for girls and one for boys. After sketching the initial designs on paper, the artwork was transferred directly onto the walls over two weekends, with each session lasting eight hours. The children at the center were so inspired by the project that they enthusiastically joined in, helping to complete the murals.

What stood out most was how quickly the young participants grasped artistic concepts such as color, composition, balance, harmony, and design. Through this experience, their hidden talents were brought to light, sparking meaningful conversations with the center’s staff about their potential. It was decided that once embassy volunteers could visit (post-pandemic), these young artists would take the lead in guiding them, having been actively involved in creating the first room’s mural.

The mural itself tells a story designed to encourage reading among the children, blending creativity with education to inspire and empower the next generation. This project not only beautified the center but also provided a platform for the children to discover and showcase their artistic abilities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bovw2s0cbv4