Internship in environment linked to organic waste or agriculture

Internship description

The projects on offer can be part of an approved or unapproved internship as part of a course of study, or as a volunteer assignment. The duration of the missions is adapted to the intern/volunteer’s personal and professional project, and generally varies from 2 to 6 months. Last but not least, joining our association means taking part in a unique experience. On site, interns are given real responsibilities, and the permanent members who supervise them encourage them to develop their autonomy in project management. In addition, Togo’s exotic setting encourages trainees to move away from a traditional, theoretical approach: they need to adapt to the field and understand its specific features (cultural, geographical, technical, social, political and economic).

Project 1: Raising awareness in schools:

The project aims to reduce poverty, combat climate change and promote access to renewable energy. To this end, the organization envie d’agir proposes to assist the Togolese government in achieving a number of objectives:

  • Involving secondary school students in the fight against climate change through training and awareness-raising campaigns.
  • Help other project leaders to use techniques that are less harmful to the environment.
  • Equip middle and high schools with the right materials and tools to preserve the environment.
  • Propose innovative projects to the government.

 

Project 2: Creation and management of a waste management system:

  • Conducting a waste inventory study
  • Development of a waste management system associated with livestock farming/implementation of composting units

 

Project 3: Analysis of the waste management system and waste characterization with the aim of developing recycling channels for organic and plastic waste.

  • Analyze the waste management system from a regulatory, sociological, economic and technical point of view.
  • Characterize waste with a view to setting up recycling channels for organic and plastic waste.
  • Promote composting trials using the most appropriate process based on the analysis carried out.

 

Project 4: Supporting local communities in the use of agro-ecological techniques in the Plateaux region

  • Carry out a study to identify and evaluate agroecological practices and methods (agrobiology and agroforestry) in the region, and define proposals for practices and methods to be adopted as part of an ecological agriculture development policy.
  • Determine and develop, in the context of climate change, a strategy for adapting agroecology to the local agricultural sector, for better agricultural production.

 

Project 5: Living without plastic waste (water bags)

The management of household waste, especially plastic waste, is one of the problems facing developing countries. In Togo, the problem is all the more acute as even the capital, Lomé, is not spared. Despite the efforts of the municipality to provide each district with an intermediate dump and the pre-collection associations to convey waste to the intermediate dumps, the state of insalubrity of our cities is truly remarkable: plastic objects circulating in the street, waste piled up in every corner, etc. It is to educate our populations to change their behavior that the ENVIE D’AGIR association is initiating this “Living without plastic waste” project.

Project summary: This project consists of an awareness campaign against the proliferation of household waste in general and plastic waste in particular.

Overall objective: This project aims to bring about a change in people’s behavior towards the environment.

Specific objectives: Raise awareness among our populations about household waste management, Prepare the direct beneficiaries of the sub-project to raise awareness among their relatives and friends about waste management, Develop individual environmental protection actions among the beneficiaries.

Tasks performed:

  • Produce awareness-raising material
  • Meet with organized groups and set up appointments
  • Sensitize and mobilize organized groups in the spirit of environmental protection.

Strategy: Our strategy will be essentially based on training and information. The preferred approach will be flexible in order to adapt quickly to the target groups called upon to participate actively in the protection of their environment.

Resources: Volunteers, brooms, rakes, baskets. Volunteers from abroad should bring self-adhesive environmental posters, rubbish bags, gloves, mufflers, etc.

 

Project 5: Development of compost

In May, June and July 2022, ENVIE D’AGIR organized a training course to build the capacity of farmers in Agotimé-Copé to produce organic fertilizer from biodegradable waste. The mission was attended by farmers and the entire population. They followed the demonstration of the composting technique with great interest. After Audrey’s departure, the office followed up on the project. The aim is to see the process through to the end (control of humidity and decomposition of materials, recovery and storage of fertilizer, use of fertilizer on samples, etc.). At each follow-up session, the farmers were present. They were curious to see the finished product, happy to see their yields increase and the cost of chemical fertilizers decrease.
We intend to carry out the same action in other villages, as we believe it meets a real need among farmers.

Mission of the internship

  • Diagnosis of organic waste management in the area of intervention
  • Educate the population
  • Proposal and example of a technique for the population on the management of daily waste (Technique with faecal matter and organic waste).

Program

  • Meeting with the Technical Services Department (DST)
  • Visit to dump sites and areas where waste is dumped (household waste and faecal matter):
    – Authorized intermediate dumps
    – Wild dumps
    – Final landfill
    – Pre-collection NGOs: how they work
  • Meeting with gardeners/farmers to discuss their techniques and propose the composting technique.
  • Proposal and demonstration of the technique in a village. The beneficiaries will be the village farmers.

Work to be carried out

  • Set up an effective, low-cost treatment system to sanitize and stabilize organic waste.
  • Define the problems associated with the mismanagement of faecal matter and organic waste.
  • Propose solutions (composting technique)

 

Project 6: Ecology and Responsibility Program:

The Ecology and Responsibility Program (PER) is an environmental education project. This section explains the strategic approach that led ENVIE D’AGIR to set up the PER, its aim and objectives.

Strategic approach

The analysis of our environment in all its scope has revealed that our behaviors and habits are taking a heavy toll on our environment. However, this state of affairs can be modified, or even stopped, with the right information and an approach that calls for reflection and commitment from all levels of society. The best way to do this is to give young people a sense of responsibility. Partly made up of schoolchildren, they will be invaluable in implementing action plans for the future, and in shaping future societies with a concern for the environment.

Mission

The Ecology and Responsibility Program aims to implement “Behavior Change Communication” among young people, to make them aware as early as possible of the need and interest in safeguarding our environment.

General objectives

  • To inform, instruct and educate young people to recognize the value of the environment and to feel that they are agents of change;
  • To bring about a change in behavior that will become sustainable, healthy habits.
  • Form green teams in schools;
  • Encourage volunteering for the environment and the spirit of knowledge sharing;
  • Raise awareness of the usefulness of the natural environment;
  • Explain the dangers that threaten our environment and the best ways to avoid them;
  • To persuade schools of the urgent need for action on behalf of the earth;
  • To reach out to all sections of the population through the students’ families and friends;
  • Open students’ minds to the world and the new challenges it presents;
  • Make a career in the environment a possibility to be explored;

Our awareness of the problem must mobilize each and every one of us to think harder and do our bit to build a healthy, viable environment. We therefore appeal to everyone’s dynamism, determination and, above all, common sense, to support this project so that, from afar, the call can ring out: “Save our endangered environment!”

 

Project 7: Setting up nurseries:

This project will be used to prepare nurseries for fertilizing and forestry species with village farmers in preparation for the coming reforestation seasons.

The aim of all these actions is to promote environmental awareness among the population in terms of nature protection and reforestation.

Work to be carried out :

  • Plot layout
  • Installation of baits
  • Search for manure
  • Filling bags
  • Bagging seeds
  • Watering the bagged plants

Other comments: The association is open to discussion on possible project proposals.

Qualifications and skills required

Engineering students in environment with, if possible, the following personal qualities:

  • autonomy,
  • creativity,
  • organizational skills,
  • dynamism,
  • flexibility
  • open mind
  • Pack Office

Duration of internship: 2 to 6 months
Location: Kpalimé or Agotimé Copé or Kouma Canton – Togo
Accommodation: No. The association undertakes to help the intern to find an accommodation.
Catering: No. Members of the association will help the intern to find places to eat.

Sections concerned: SIE, Energy

Description of the organization

ENVIE D’AGIR is an apolitical, non-profit association that undertakes actions aimed at improving community development in Togo. It aims to improve the living conditions of the population, especially in rural areas. ENVIE D’AGIR welcomes students, recent graduates, professionals and unqualified individuals looking for a humanitarian mission or study placement. Interships last from 2 to 6 months.

ENVIE D’AGIR offers a unique experience: the intern or volunteer is given real responsibilities under the supervision of permanent members of the host organization. They are encouraged to work autonomously in project management. What’s more, the exotic setting of Togo encourages trainees to move away from a traditional, theoretical approach to their skills: they need to adapt to the field and understand its specificities.

 

Organization name : Envie d’agir
Contact person : Mme Vanessa +33 616083613
Email : [email protected]  or (+228) 90  26 19 66. If interested, please send your CV and motivation letter.
Organization website : assoenviedagir.wixsite.com