ECO VILLAGEProject plans are signed off!The AfriKids Eco Village (AKEV) design report and business case has been approved by the UK Trustee Sub Committee.The construction of the AfriKids Eco Village, formerly known as the AfriKids Eco Lodge, is now on course to start at the end of this year, having been officially signed off by our UK Trustees. With the concept drawings complete, project plans developing and numerous professional volunteers on board, the AKEV is set to be our most innovative sustainability project yet.

AKEV will be an environmentally and socially conscious hotel complex, boasting international hotel standards and eco credentials.

April 2010

AfriKids is a Child Rights Organisation working to improve life for Ghana’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged children in a holistic, inclusive and sustainable manner

It will cater to local custom and business travellers as well as capitalising on the growing demand for good quality accommodation by tourists in northern Ghana. AKEV will also provide training opportunities for young people and engage with locally run eco-tourism projects.

The profits of AKEV will be reinvested into surrounding communities for genuine economic and social development. It will support the charitable activities of AfriKids Ghana, enabling them to achieve their goal of leading and managing development themselves, free from dependence on western aid.

If you, or any of your contacts, have skills relating to hospitality or tourism and are interested in supporting this project’s

“As an architect, it’s really refreshing to work on a project that is both in my home region and has an engaged and innovative client.”George GbinniyaConsultant Architecht, Ghana

development by joinng our Hospitality Advisory Board, please contact Charlie Hay for more information: charlottehay@afrikids.org

PROJECT FOCUSG.A.S. Partnership - Volunteer SummaryAfriKids is proud to be a member of the G.A.S. Partnership; a tri-partite initiative between Ghana Health Services (GHS), AfriKids and Southampton University Hospitals Trust (SUHT), launched in 2010. The focus of the partnership is to improve healthcare and ultimately contribute to the Millenium Development Goals through workforce strengthening throughout the whole Upper East Region (UER) of Ghana. There are five speciality areas of focus; Diagnostics, Child Health, Theatres and Anaesthetics, Maternal Health and Estate Planning. Last year alone, over 20 professionals travelled from Southampton to offer needs assessment and training to 326 AfriKids and GHS medical staff to improve the health outcome in the UER.

The first quarter of 2011 has seen five volunteers from SUHT visiting Ghana as part of this partnership, with many positive results.

Among other things, Dr Ollie Ross (Consultant Anaesthetist) and Gary Crow (Senior Operating Theatre Practitioner) delivered Pulse Oximeters to the hospitals in the UER, kindly donated by the WHO Global Oximetry Initiative. This equipment had been previously identified as being urgently needed, therefore delivery and training on how to use it had a large impact, which can be seen in this report by the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.

“With the updates in training and equipment (ie pulse oximeters in place), anaesthetic practices will improve tremendously”WHO Oximeter workshop participant

Consultant Radiologists Dr Mary Briley and Dr Catherine Grierson also had an extremely productive trip, leading practical workshops with local staff in many hospitals. In addition, they monitored an assessment of departments to improve the delivery of diagnostic services by clinicians.

“Mary and Cath’s was such a wonderful trip. The feedback from the field is great”Nich KumahAfriKids Ghana Director

Keith Dowell (Director of Estates and Capital Development) was the final volunteer to go to Ghana this quarter. He had a very busy trip with meetings in Accra, Kumasi and Bolgatanga, giving advice and guidance to GHS on how to develop their teaching hospital in the UER. He also carried out workshops on the importance of an estate strategy, site and infrastructure development and operational guidance.

They all did a fantastic job in ensuring that skills were shared and the capacity of the Medical Professionals in the UER was built. We are looking forward to the next group of volunteers going out in April.

AfriKids AcademyAfriKids Eco VillageAfriKids Ethical TradeAfriKids Medical CentreBolga Area ProgrammeEducational fundKassena Nankana Area ProgrammeMedical fundOperation BolgaOperation Mango TreeOperation SINGhOperation SmilesOperation ZuarunguStreet Mothers AssociationTalensi Nabdam Area ProgrammeYoung Entrepreneurs

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01: Mary Briley carrying out a workshop

02: Gary Crow in theatre with AfriKids Medical Centre staff

03: Ollie Ross presents the AfriKids Medical Centre with Pulse Oximetres

04: Sheila takes on apprentices as part of AfriKids Ethical Trade

05: Sunset at the AfriKids Eco Village site

06: A new ward at the AfriKids Medical Centre with beds donated from UK

07: A lady makes shea butter as part of AfriKids Ethical Trade

08: The AfriKids Eco Village site

09: A happy child receiving medical care in the AfriKids Medical Centre09

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OUT OFThe AfriKids family grows by one

Thank you to The Venture Partnership Foundation

AfriKids Annual Report is here

On 29th March, 2011 Georgie Fienberg, AfriKids’ International Director, gave birth to Zachary Fienberg. Zachary is Georgie and Nick’s second boy and we send our warmest congratulations to the whole family.

We hear from Georgie that Josh, Zac’s older brother, is very excited to have a brother and cannot wait for him to grow up a little, Yesterday he started getting slightly frustrated that he can’t play football although has figured out that balls rebound nicely off his head.

The children at the Next Generation Home in Bolga, Ghana have a message for the Fienberg family; We boys of Angus Dormitory whole heartedly negotiate to call him ‘Atinbire Asongbome’ meaning, a magnificent heir of philanthropism. A fantastic name! We can’t wait to meet Zac, especially now we’ve seen the adorable photos. Congratulations again to Georgie and Nick.

Our latest Annual Report, funded by the Venture Partnership Foundation, has arrived and we are extremely pleased with how it looks. We have already had lots of positive feedback after a mail out and look forward to hearing more thoughts.

It is available to read online in case you have not received a hard copy: AfriKids Annual Report 2011

With our partnership with Deutsche Bank last year there was a lot to fit in but hopefully you’ll agree that we’ve cherry picked the best stories from 2010 to make it an entertaining review. Please let us know if you haven’t already received one and would like a hard copy - joannastewart@afrikids.org

The Venture Partnership Foundation (VPF) is a charitable foundation formed in November 2005 by a group of social entrepreneurs, corporate advisers, financiers and senior industry figures dedicated to supporting social entre-preneurs and the dynamic organisations that they run. It is one of the only charities in the UK with the specific aim of targeting and helping to grow so-cial entrepreneurship using a package of support and flexible financial help.

In December 2010, VPF awarded AfriKids a grant of £25,000 for four years and introduced us to our charity contact point, Stephen Duckett, one of VPF’s trustees and MD of Hellman & Friedman, one of the world’s largest private investment firms.

Stephen has been working closely with us on a pro-bono, advisory basis over the past four months and has already been incredibly helpful and a wonder-ful mentor, supporting us with the development of AfriKids (UK)’s Business Plan and the AfriKids Squared strategy. We’re really excited to continue building on the relationship with Stephen over the coming months and would like to thank him for all his support so far.

AFRIKIDSONLINE

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www.facebook.com/afrikids Let’s tweet @AfriKids

AfriKidsNich Kumah and the Ghana staff are off to visit Sister Jane and Operation Smiles today, taking a new generator with them!

The Otesha Project UKIt’s only 2 weeks till the epic Brake the Cycle’s End to End Challenge! kicks off. If you’ve got a bit of change jangling in your pocket and want to support Otesha and AfriKids, you can donate to the cause here

Virgin Money Giving Fundraising Brake the Cycle’s Land’s End to John O’Groats AfriKids

Happy Red Nose Day :o) #RND

AfriKidsRT @gaspartnership: GAS really growing in strength. Planning first big event on 17th June at The Royal Thames Yacht Club

wwwalmtorgRounding off #CT @WhizzKidz @AfriKids @aslongasittakes @craigburrows Smashing work!

JimmylazersGet in! Ghana fans are genius! They deserve that! Brilliant! I bet @AfriKids Ghana are seriously downloading some Star this eve!

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AfriKids features in an online article - Sally Mumford is interviewed about her skincare range, all of which are based on fairtrade shea butter from Ghana.Why Shea Butter?When I read about [shea butter’s] properties I decided to make it the theme of my creams. Shea butter is fantastically good for the skin and has been used for centuries in Africa as a natural skin moisturiser. It helps heal scars, offers natural sun protection, soothes eczema and a whole range of dry skin conditions and is also used as a hair conditioner.

How do you source your shea butter? What led you to Ghana?We get our fairtrade, unrefined shea butter via a child rights organisation in Ghana called AfriKids and it is made in a women’s fairtrade cooperative. Ghana is the main place for shea butter and as a friend of mine had some Ghanaian contacts it seemed the natural place to head for.

www.ameliasmagazine.com

Don’t forget to sign up to the

AfriKids Summer Pub Quiz! We want as many of you there as possible competing for the shield.

Thursday 26th May7pm- drinks8pm - quiz startsAuberge Restaurant56 Mark LaneEC3R 7NL

Max 8 people per team£12 per person - to include food(The platters will be subsidised by Goldman Sachs in order to make them more substantial)

FUNDRAISEFORAFRIKIDSeXtreme 5 Challenge

• 10th July• the ultimate relay race• set your own fundraising target!

Fundraise for AfriKids in a team of four, choosing your favourite activity and taking on the relay challenge that is eXtreme 5! Swim, kayak, cycle or run and then fundraise - how does that sound?

This new and exciting quadrathlon takes place at Willen Lake in Milton Keynes. Whether you’re super fit or in a team of four, this promises to be a fun day for all.

To find out more about the challenge itself, go to www.extreme5challenge.co.uk or to register your interest with AfriKids please contact Ama Atteen at amaatteen@afrikids.org www.afrikids.org

This is like nothing you have ever done before.Prepare to be physically, emotionally and mentally challenged.This is Africa for real.

What are the dates?The dates for the Experience Challenge 2011 are Sunday 9th to Sunday 16th October. You will spend three days and three nights living and working alongside some of Africa’s most isolated communities. For the remainder of the trip, you will be able to visit some of AfriKids Ghana’s groundbreaking child rights and community development projects, learning about the organisation’s work and the impact it has on the very communities you’ll be living in.

What are the costs?The cost per person, based on 40 people taking part, is £1,322.15. This includes all international flights, domestic travel, meals, accommodation and a small fund for your host family to cover additional costs incurred. We are continuously seeking ways to keep these costs as low as possible. To see a detailed breakdown please get in touch.

How much will I need to fundraise?We ask that all participants raise a minimum amount of £1,000 which will go toward the projects you visit and benefit the communities you live in. This is all part of the challenge and AfriKids will support you throughout your fundraising. In 2010, all participants successfully met this target, with many even doubling it!

What impact will I have?Through fundraising, integrating with local families, taking part in brainstorming sessions with AfriKids Gha-na staff and your host families and through a specially planned team activity, you will have the opportunity to make a significant contribution to the enhancement of the villagers’ lives in the Upper East Region of Ghana.

Registration deadline date:Monday 16th MayFor the full brochure with more information please follow this link: Experience Challenge 2011

To receive a registration form or for further information please contact: katiearnold@afrikids.org

Experience life as either a teacher, farmer or local business person in rural northern Ghana and witness the innovative and inspirational ways villagers living a hand-to-mouth existence work to overcome the every day challenges they face as individuals, as families and as communities.