The Origin of Kossivi's HOPE
Kossivi's HOPE grew out of my own life story, out of a deep sense of responsibility.
I was born in Togo in West Africa, under difficult social conditions. Even before my birth, my life was marked by insecurity, violence, and the separation of my parents.
I grew up with instability, poverty, and little security. Early on I realised how much depends on whether a child has a stable environment, reliable structures, and people who truly support them. I know what it means to grow up without those foundations. Many children still do today.
When I later came to Germany, new paths opened up: education, a stable environment, and a growing belief in myself. And that is exactly where a question came from that has stayed with me ever since:
Why should a child have to leave home to get a real chance at a future?
I am convinced that children do not have to leave for that. Support, reliable structures, and my faith helped me find my own way. Those chances should not depend on where a child is born. That is why I want to build exactly that where the children are at home. A place where they can develop prospects, believe in themselves, and shape their lives where their roots are.
What drives this project is my faith in God. For me, it is the foundation. I believe that hope you receive is meant to be passed on. That is what Kossivi's HOPE stands for: for children whose lives are also marked by insecurity, regardless of their origin or faith.
The Foundation of Kossivi's HOPE
“HOPE” stands for hope: as the faith that carries the founder, for the children, and for the project.
“Kossivi” stands for the origin of this vision. The name comes from the Ewe language in Togo and means “the little Sunday boy.” It describes a very small child at birth, a beginning without any particular safeguards.
The founder's personal story is the starting point of the project. It is a reminder that hope can be passed on.
What HOPE stands for shows in three pillars:
Hope as Faith
For the founder, his faith is the basis of this project: a hope he understands as confidence rather than as a mere wish. Inspired by Hebrews 11:1, faith for him means having trust, even where the path is not yet fully visible. What carries the project is the conviction that acting responsibly and in trust can open new doors.
Hope for the Children
Every child carries unique potential within. Kossivi's HOPE aims to create a framework in which this potential can grow despite poverty, trauma, or insecure living conditions. The goal is to provide children with stability, dignity, and prospects so they can lead self-determined and fulfilling lives.
Hope for the Project
Great endeavors do not arise without challenges. The hope of this project lies in the firm conviction that a vision can become concrete reality, step by step, together with people who take responsibility and believe in sustainable development.
Our Vision
A place of stability, dignity, and perspective
Kossivi's HOPE is a values-based development project in Togo, West Africa. It offers children and young people from difficult backgrounds, above all orphans and children living in extreme poverty, exactly such a place. They should gain access to education and basic care, and an environment where they feel safe, put down roots, and discover their potential.
Enabling development where the need is
The project is deliberately rooted in Agou-Akplolo (Greater Kpalimé area), a region where many families are affected by poverty and a lack of provision. Kossivi's HOPE questions the idea that a future can only be built away from home. Children are encouraged to explore their surroundings, shape them creatively, and grow where their roots are. We understand development as a long process, carried by trust, community, and reliable support.
Our Mission
Creating a protected space for long-term support
The mission of Kossivi's HOPE is to build a holistic children's development campus in Agou-Akplolo (Greater Kpalimé area), with a children's home at its heart. Agou-Akplolo is a rural community in the Agou Prefecture in the Plateaux Region of southern Togo. In a region where many children grow up without stable family structures and reliable educational paths, a protected space for security, stability, and development is being created.
Holistic support, today and for the future
The children receive holistic support in school, health, emotional, and social matters, until they are able to lead their lives independently and responsibly. Additionally, structures for education, health, sustainable self-sufficiency, and economic stability are being established in Agou-Akplolo to enable lasting perspectives for children and the surrounding community. The foundation is the founder's faith in God, who has a unique plan for every person.
Our values
Dignity & stability
We want to create a framework in which children can grow up safely despite difficult circumstances and are taken seriously as individuals.
Sustainability
We plan for the long term. What is built in Agou-Akplolo should still hold up many years from now and work without permanent outside help.
Community
The campus is being built together with volunteers from the local community. Decisions are made with the people on site, not over their heads.
Who carries the project
Kossivi's HOPE is run as an association in Germany and implemented on site in Togo. Both are voluntary work.
Germany
The registered association based in Hamburg is responsible for the use of funds, communication, and planning. The board works on a voluntary basis, supported by people who contribute their time and expertise.
Board
Our team
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Kian Momeni
Communications
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Florence Amessi
Communications
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Uwe Mletzko
Communications
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Heinz Schramm
Communications
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Daniel Feix
Information technology
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Leonela Chana
Fundraising & partnerships
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Koffi Aholy
Fundraising & partnerships
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Murat Sarioglu
Association administration
Volunteer support
Translations, public relations, local events in Hamburg: anyone who would like to help will find the right options on the Get Involved page.
Get involvedTogo
In Agou-Akplolo, a project team accompanies the construction of the campus. It maintains contact with the village community, coordinates local helpers, and answers any questions that arise during the building work.
Pictured (l. to r.): Yaovi Dogbera Dake, Essodina Wara, Afi Dzigbodi Aguda, Pawoumodom Kezie, Komi Amekudzi, Koku Amekudzi.