In celebration of World Teachers' Day, we had the honor of visiting two schools in the villages of Tsavé and Woedeme. This day highlights the invaluable contributions of educators worldwide, and we wanted to spotlight the incredible work of teachers in these rural communities. We conducted interviews with four dedicated teachers, who shared their personal experiences, challenges, and hopes for the future of their students.
As these interviews were conducted across multiple languages and translated into English, some of the answers have been interpreted to best capture their thoughts and intentions.
Interview with Ayenou Koffi – Teacher at Epp Tsavé

Q1: What grade do you teach?
A1: CE1 (Grade 3)
Q2: How many years have you been teaching?
A2: 26 years
Q3: Why did you decide to become a teacher?
A3: Teaching is my vocation; it is what I was meant to do. I love teaching.
Q4: What is your favorite part of teaching students?
A4: I enjoy spending time with the children.
Q5: What is your favorite subject to teach?
A5: Mathematics.
Q6: How many students are in your class?
A6: 53 students.
Q7: What improvements would you like to see in your classroom?
A7: I would like to see the students succeed by the end of the school year.
Q8: What are the biggest barriers for students to get into the classroom?
A8: Some parents do not encourage their daughters to attend school, and some girls don’t want to go. Others are actively prevented from getting an education.
Q9: What is your favorite thing to do outside of work?
A9: I am a farmer.
Interview with Mawoui Gnon Akakpo – Teacher at Epp Tsavé

Q1: What grade do you teach?
A1: CP2 (Grade 2)
Q2: How many years have you been teaching?
A2: 24 years
Q3: Why did you decide to become a teacher?
A3: It is my vocation, something I have always wanted to do.
Q4: What is your favorite part of teaching students?
A4: I enjoy teaching new things to people and feeling useful. Students help me develop my intelligence as I share my knowledge with them.
Q5: What is your favorite subject to teach?
A5: Mathematics.
Q6: How many students are in your class?
A6: 55 students.
Q7: What improvements would you like to see in your classroom?
A7: Things have improved, though they were difficult in the beginning.
Q8: What are the biggest barriers for students to get into the classroom?
A8: Parents lack the means and motivation for education. We also lack proper infrastructure.
Q9: What is your favorite thing to do outside of work?
A9: I enjoy agriculture and animal breeding.
Interview with Iroukoura Abla Akpenè – Teacher and Director at Epp Tsavé

Q1: What grade do you teach?
A1: CI (Kindergarten)
Q2: How many years have you been teaching?
A2: 7 years
Q3: Why did you decide to become a teacher?
A3: I love singing, playing, and dancing with children.
Q4: What is your favorite part of teaching students?
A4: I enjoy spending time with the children.
Q5: What is your favorite subject to teach?
A5: Playing games.
Q6: How many students are in your class?
A6: 42 students.
Q7: What improvements would you like to see in your classroom?
A7: I want the children to work hard and pass their exams at the end of the year.
Q8: What are the biggest barriers for students to get into the classroom?
A8: Poverty. Many children don’t have anything to eat, and the school infrastructure is not suited to learning. We also lack games and activities for the children.
Q9: What is your favorite thing to do outside of work?
A9: I sell goods at the market outside of teaching.
Interview with Amohoun Nouganvona – Teacher and Director at Woedeme

Q1: What grade do you teach?
A1: CE2 (Grade 4)
Q2: How many years have you been teaching?
A2: 29 years
Q3: Why did you decide to become a teacher?
A3: I enjoy connecting with people, discussing with them, and learning from them. No matter our differences, I believe we can enrich each other.
Q4: What is your favorite part of teaching students?
A4: I value the differences between people, as that is how we learn from one another.
Q5: What is your favorite subject to teach?
A5: French.
Q6: How many students are in your class?
A6: 68 students – 25 boys and 40 girls.
Q7: What improvements would you like to see in your classroom?
A7: I want to see girls have the same opportunities as boys in education. It’s important for parents to understand that girls are just as capable as boys.
Q8: What are the biggest barriers for students to get into the classroom?
A8: In my village, girls are often not encouraged to attend school. I work hard to motivate them and show the importance of education. Poverty and the lack of role models also prevent them from pursuing their studies.
Q9: What is your favorite thing to do outside of work?
A9: I enjoy breeding animals.
On this World Teachers' Day, we are reminded of the dedication and resilience of teachers like those in Tsavé and Woedeme. Their passion for education shines through in their efforts to uplift their students, despite the challenges they face. By supporting their work, we can help create better learning environments and provide equal opportunities for all students in these communities.
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