GRADH – Togo
Groupe de Réflexion des Amis pour le Développement de l’Humain
Established in 2004, the Reflection Group of Friends for Human Development (translated from French), or GRADH, seeks, through drama performances, to educate and raise public awareness of the need to have good hygiene practices to avoid the dissemination of communicable diseases and improve the health of local communities.
National campaign to bring defecation in the open air to an end. 20 theater groups visited 40 cities in Togo to promote the campaign
Among other activities, the GRADH organizes a yearly theater festival for health education (FESTHES) that addresses various topics, such as the prevention of HIV/AIDS, malaria, Ebola virus disease, etc. In addition, the association implements campaigns to raise awareness of other hygiene issues and natural disasters.
Programmes and Activities 2018
- Compassion International children’s capacity building project on HIV/AIDS awareness through theatre, stories and songs
- Participation in several national workshops and meetings on culture and health
- Conceptualization of festival projects on health education
The GRADH in 2018
2004
Opening year
245+ 6
Volunteers and employees
138 people served
By the education and awareness-raising programmes implemented by GRADH in 2018 (3,150 indirect beneficiaries)
Projects
Project to raise public awareness about corruption and its consequences through theatrical performances. Read project (French)
Impact on the Sustainable Development Goals
3.1 By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births
3.3 By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases
6.2 By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations
6.b Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management
Related Activities
GRADH focuses on the African tradition of oral transmission to bring people to change their behaviour through theatrical performances. Since such course of action implies a transfer of information and knowledge, it is therefore based on SDG 4 (Quality education), however its objectives support directly SDG 3 (Good health and well-being), and in particular targets 1 and 3, and SDG 6 (Clean water and sanitation) targets 2 and B.
Affiliations and Partnerships
- Associate member of Dianova International
- Special Consultative Status to the Social and Economic Council of the UN (ECOSOC) since 2016
- Member of the UN Global Compact since 2015
- Fonds pour l’Aide à la Culture (Fund for Assistance to Culture – FAC)
- Togolese Red Cross Togo, Danish Red Crescent Denmark, German Red Cross
- Plan International Togo
- Peace Corps
- US Embassy
- Population Service International
- European Union
- Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC)
Some of the projects or activities currently running in GRADH – Togo
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GRADH in Action in Togo
Best practices: promoting behavioural changes in Togolese communities through theatre performances, stories, and songs The Reflection Group of Friends for...
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