Reflecting on Our First Full Year in Togo

Looking back on 2025 as we step into 2026

As we step into a new year, we want to take a moment to reflect on what 2025 meant for Sustainable Classrooms. This past year marked our first complete year of work on the ground in Togo, and it has been filled with growth, resilience, learning, and deep gratitude.

From the very beginning, this work has been about more than building physical classrooms. It has been about showing up consistently, listening deeply, and building trust alongside the communities we serve.

Group photo after a lunch distribution of students from GADA COPE-ADEKPE joined by David, our Togo Director.

A Year of Firsts and Forward Momentum

One of the most meaningful milestones of 2025 was the distribution of our first school lunches in the community of Gada Copé–Adekpé.

Before launching this initiative, the school had 160 students enrolled. On the day lunches were distributed, 365 students, teachers, and volunteers were present, and all were fed. In total, 380 meals were shared.

More recently, we received exciting news that 400 students came to take their semester exams and are looking to attend school with us next semester. This growth has been a powerful reminder that when basic needs are met, students show up, stay engaged, and believe in their futures.

As David, our Director of Operations in Togo, handed out rice, pasta, and eggs wrapped in banana leaves, a traditional and nutritious meal, many students approached him to share their gratitude. Several explained that meals like this are rare and sometimes only eaten at Christmas. Others shared that receiving a meal at school encouraged them to continue attending classes and pursuing their education.

Building Through Challenges

Alongside the school lunch program, we continued progress toward our first classroom built from recycled plastic bricks. While the year brought unforeseen obstacles, frequent power outages, and logistical challenges, we are now halfway to completing the classroom (expected to be completed by Q2), one brick at a time.

Just as importantly, we have built strong and meaningful relationships with the local community. These relationships, grounded in trust, collaboration, and shared commitment, are the foundation of everything we do.

Although the majority of our days were filled with smiles, laughter, and togetherness, we did not expect to finish the year without our first classroom fully built. Still, we remain steadfast in our mission to build futures, brick by brick. Our team continues producing bricks daily despite ongoing power outages, pushing forward through every barrier with determination.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As we move into early 2026, we are encouraged by the generosity of supporters who have helped us see light at the end of the tunnel. With this support, we will be investing in solar panels to increase production levels and reduce ongoing challenges, allowing us to move closer to completing our first classroom and strengthening long-term sustainability.

At the same time, we are continuing to expand the ways we support students beyond classroom infrastructure. One of our priorities for the year ahead is sustaining the school lunch program that has already made a meaningful difference. With enrollment continuing to grow, we are planning for up to 400 students to receive a nutritious school meal once per month throughout 2026.

To make this possible, we are seeking 12 families, businesses, or individuals to contribute $500, allowing us to sponsor one school lunch distribution per month. This support helps ensure that every student who shows up to learn also receives a meal, removing one more barrier to education.

If you are interested in learning more about sponsoring a school lunch distribution or supporting this work in other ways, we would love to connect and share how these programs continue to impact students, families, and the broader school community.

Thank You for Being Part of This Story

As we enter 2026, we invite you to continue following along as this work grows. In the coming months, we will be sharing our Annual Report, offering a deeper look into our progress, lessons learned, and the impact made during our first full year in Togo.

To stay connected throughout the year, we encourage you to subscribe to our email list for regular updates from the field, project milestones, and stories from the communities we serve.

Thank you for being part of our first full year in Togo. Whether you have supported us by sharing our story, cheering us on, volunteering your time, or walking alongside this mission in other ways, we are deeply grateful. We look forward to entering this new year together and continuing to build an even deeper and more meaningful impact in the days ahead.

Building futures, brick by brick.