Togo

Training

Learn more about the Peace Corps' approach to training.

For each PC Togo project and cross-sectoral initiative, Trainees have the opportunity to learn the technical, cross-cultural, community development, and language skills needed to successfully contribute to their community. Many Volunteers come to Togo without extensive education or experience in their assigned project areas. Some will come with more technical knowledge or experience and act as informal mentors to their fellow Volunteers. Training is rigorous, with successful Trainees taking responsibility for their own learning. PC Togo’s excellent training staff is available to educate and to provide guidance, but it is the individual learners who put in the time, effort and problem solving skills needed to develop into strong Volunteers.

Peace Corps uses a Volunteer Competency Model (VCM) throughout the 27 months Volunteer cycle, affording you the opportunity to continue to learn and develop from arrival in-country to your departure.

Pre-service training in-country is conducted by experienced Peace Corps Togo staff. Training covers technical, linguistic, intercultural competency, diversity and inclusion, health, and safety and security topics.

To foster greater cross-cultural understanding and effective integration, trainees typically live with host families during portions of their pre-service training. During the COVID pandemic, additional community interactions and learning time will be added to the training schedule for periods which do not allow for host-family living.
Technical training enables Volunteers to undertake work within a Peace Corps sector or project, as well as Cross-sectoral initiatives. Technical training involves structured sessions and practical, hands-on assignments.
Much of your work will take place in French PC Togo Volunteers learn or improve their French language skills until they are able to communicate at the PC-defined level of Intermediate High. Each Volunteer also learns the rudiments of one of Togo’s many local languages. The goal for pre-service training in local languages is to learn basic survival communication skills while intentionally building intercultural competence. Language training includes classroom lesson and self-directed activities in small groups or individually. In addition to classroom lessons, you will undertake practical assignments with host family members or others in the community. Your language proficiency will be tested during pre-service training as part of assessing your readiness to serve, as well as at other points during your service. After pre-service training, you will continue to study language independently or with a language tutor throughout service.
Intercultural and community development training will help you explore cultural values, of your host community and yourself, and your role as a Volunteer. This aspect of training will guide you in considering concepts of time, power and hierarchy, gender roles, communication styles, relationships, and resiliency. You will also participate in cultural events and learn about local history and way of life during Pre-service Training.
Volunteers live and work at a distance from PC Medical and Security staff. You will receive training on how to manage and maintain your own health including illness and accident prevention, basic first aid, and treatment of medical problems commonly experienced in Togo. During safety and security training sessions, you will learn how to reduce risk of crime and of accident at home, at work, and during your travels. You will explore various strategies for coping with unwanted attention, how to identify certain safety risks in-country, and about Peace Corps’ emergency response and support systems.

In addition to Pre-service Training, training sessions during Volunteer service include in-service training after you’ve had time to experience life in your community, mid-service training, and close-of-service conference. You will be with your Volunteer cohort for these trainings and attention will be paid to helping you explore and honor the diversity of US Americans within your group throughout service, as well as the diversity of your Togolese counterparts and communities.

Pre-Service Training

Peace Corps Training is based on adult learning methods that emphasize individual responsibility for developing the competencies needed to function independently as a Volunteer. You will take care of your own needs, and work either independently or in small groups to accomplish tasks that build your skill levels, in addition to classroom sessions. Togolese facilitators will help you learn the necessary language and intercultural communication skills to accomplish your living and work tasks. You cannot be sworn-in to Peace Corps service until you have clearly demonstrated the attributes and skills necessary to meet the needs of your assignment. You can monitor and demonstrate your own progress through self-evaluation, feedback from staff and facilitators, and active participation in daily activities. Your success in this learning period requires full participation and, for some, a measure of sacrifice in terms of time and personal comfort. Investment of effort during training will be well worth the rewards of satisfaction and well-being you will experience as a Volunteer.

Peace Corps Togo employs a village-based training (VBT) model during pre-service training. This model may not be possible during the COVID pandemic for health and safety reasons. Peace Corps Togo has the good fortune of having use of a large and well established rural training center, which serves as the center for Village Based Training during Pre-service Training and as the training site for most other PC Togo training events. If needed, Trainees will be housed at this center during PST.

The ten to twelve week Pre-service Training is divided into two phases. Phase I is very intensive in French language and cultural training. Additionally, there are sessions on safety and security, medical/health, and some technical training. This first phase will help you develop basic language and cultural adaptation skills. Phase II is also very intensive and centers on technical training. Language classes will continue, and technical material will increasingly be presented and practiced in French. Some trainees will begin local language classes during this phase, depending on their level of French. Safety and security training and medical/health training also continue.

You will spend time at your future site during the pre-service training period. This will be your first contact with your community and will provide an idea of what real Volunteer life is like, what work options exist, and an opportunity to know more of Togo. It also gives you a break from the intense, structured regime of the pre-service training schedule.

The Community-based training model may not be possible during the COVID pandemic for health and safety reasons. Peace Corps Togo has the good fortune of having use of a large and well established rural training center, which serves as the center for most PC Togo training events. As needed, Trainees will be housed at this center during PST.

Technical Training

Technical training will prepare you to work in your assigned sector in Togo by building on the skills you already have and helping you develop new skills in a manner appropriate to the needs of the country. This training places great emphasis on learning how to transfer the skills you have to the community in which you will serve as a Volunteer. The Peace Corps staff and guest trainers will facilitate the training program, supported by experienced current Volunteers as possible. You will be responsible for your own learning through self-directed activities, self-study, and more.

Technical training includes sessions on the general economic, health, agricultural, educational and political environment in Togo and strategies for working within such a framework. You will review your technical sector’s objectives and will meet with representatives of the Togo agencies and organizations that invited the Peace Corps to assist them. You will be supported and evaluated throughout the training to build the confidence and skills you need to undertake your project activities and be a productive member of your community.

Language Training

You need not be fluent in French or any language to serve in Togo, but you do need to be dedicated to learning language! Language proficiency is a great asset to successful Peace Corps service and effective language skills are essential to your personal and professional satisfaction. French language proficiency is critical to your job performance, and local language is key to helping you integrate into your community. It will ease your personal adaptation to the new surroundings, and supports your personal safety. As a result, language training is central to Peace Corps’ training program and closely tied to intercultural competence, diversity, equity and inclusion training. Language training includes classroom lessons and self-directed activities in small groups or individually. It also includes a lot of self-study and practice! In addition to classroom lessons, you will undertake practical assignments with host family members or others in the community. Your language proficiency will be tested at the end of pre-service training as part of assessing your readiness to serve, and at other points in service.

As a new Trainee, you will be placed in a French class based on your current French level, from novice to advanced. Toward the end of pre-service training, after you have reached the Intermediate High benchmark in French, you will have the opportunity to learn some basics of a local language. Once at your site, you will continue your language learning on your own, with the support of community members and local Peace Corps trained tutors.

You need not be fluent in French or any language to serve in Togo, but you do need to be dedicated to learning language! French language proficiency is critical to your work, and local language is key to your integrating into your community. It will ease your personal adaptation to the new surroundings, and supports your personal safety. It also includes a lot of self-study and practice! In addition to classroom lessons, you will undertake practical assignments with host family members or others in the community. Your language proficiency will be tested at the end of pre-service training as part of assessing your readiness to serve, and at other points in service.

Cross-cultural Training

Cross-cultural and community development training will help you improve your communication skills and understand your role as a facilitator of development. You will be exposed to topics such as community mobilization, conflict resolution, gender and development, non-formal and adult education strategies, and political structures. As part of your pre-service training, you may live with a Togolese host family. This experience is designed to ease your transition to life at your site. Host families go through an orientation conducted by Peace Corps staff to explain the purpose of pre-service training and to assist them in helping you adapt to living in Togo. Many Volunteers form strong and lasting friendships with their host families.

Health Training

Peace Corps takes Volunteer health very seriously, and expects Volunteers to, as well. PC Togo has excellent medical staff who provide care, referral and advice. Volunteers however live and work far from these professionals and must take responsibility for much of their own health care. During pre-service training, you will have the opportunity to learn how to take care of your health needs during service, including when to seek medical care from a professional. You will be expected to practice preventive health care and to adhere to all PC medical policies. The topics include preventive health measures and minor and major medical issues that you might encounter while in Togo. Nutrition, mental health, setting up a safe living compound, and how to avoid HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are also covered. Medical Officers are available for specific concerns and questions during pre-service training and throughout service.

Safety and Security Training

While not all security incidents can be avoided, it is possible to reduce the risk of having them. Similar to Volunteer health care, Volunteers are the primary agents in preventing and mitigating many threats. Staff will be available to provide support should a security incident occur or should a Volunteer suffer an accident. During safety and security training sessions, you will learn how to reduce your risks at home, at work, and during your travels by building your awareness and practicing culturally competent communications skills. You will also learn appropriate, effective strategies for coping with unwanted attention and about your individual responsibility for promoting safety throughout your service.