Together4Africa

Oxford meet – your feedback

AnnieO — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 14:14:44 +0000

Our last meet in Oxford was a great success and as before we like to leave it to those who attended to share their thoughts on the day.

“I would like to say a massive thank you to all of you for making yesterday worth getting up at 4am. The input from your various perspectives and experiences added to the great presentations of all our speakers of the day made this meet a very productive and enjoyable day. I noticed a great willingness to share and collaborate further. T4A is our open widow to the world and a great way of showing everyone out there who wants to know, what small charities do to make themselves very effective and therefore worth supporting. Thanks again and hope to see you all again much sooner”. Annie Chair of T4A, representing the kanga project and Friends of Ket Wangi Orphanage.

“It was a very worthwhile and enjoyable day and so great to see many faces (both new and old!). Big thanks go to Annie for organising and Helen for MCing, maybe you should be an official Olympic timer in Rio?! From Ray and I, it was wonderful to share our experiences and we welcome future contact about new projects seeking funding”. Charlotte of Frontiers Foundation

“Thank you all very much for organising and sharing your knowledge with us. I really enjoyed the day and came away provoked into re-examining how we work some of our programmes.” Julian of Livingstone Tanzania Trust

“Big thanks again to T4A for all the arrangements, ideas and enthusiasm …That was the 3^rd T4A event I’ve attended (after Bradford and Coventry) and they are always worthwhile”. Doug of Buriton Village to Village.

“Georgia and I want to send a huge thank you to you for yesterday. It was extremely useful and so reassuring to meet a group of people who have achieved so much and to learn from that experience. We definitely want to become part of the Group”. Mandy of KYGN

Just a quick note to say how much I enjoyed the Oxford meeting, made some good contacts and hopefully new friends. I very much look forward to future meetings and exploring some other opportunities with T4A. Has to be one of the best managed group meetings I have ever been to, completed a full agenda, time to explore subjects and great time management Helen”. Mark of Equip UK

“Thanks so much for a great day. As it was my first meeting, I wasn’t sure what to expect and it was stimulating and involving throughout the day”. Anthony of Mondo Foundation

Just to say a big thank you for organising yesterday. You did a brilliant job again. Rita of Mustard Seeds Project

I just wanted to say a big thank-you for a great day and it was really nice meeting you all. Genevieve of Wawumbi Orphan Care

It was a wonderful, inspiring day. We really enjoyed it. Thank you. Pippa of Kiota

“Everyone agrees that the Together 4 Africa day has been incredibly useful and informative. A number of good contacts had been made and a lot was learnt”. Toby, Dave and Mark of Friends of Ket Wangi Orphanage

April Members Meet Agenda

AnnieO — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 21:48:53 +0000

Our next members meet in Oxford on 13 April will be welcoming 20 charities all looking forward to getting some insights into some areas of work they are all passionate about; from help on how to raise funds to getting tips on how to train and develop teachers programmes. You are welcome to check out the April meet Agenda and send us suggestions and comments. We welcome feed back from you the visitors, many of you are our inspirations.

Welcome to Wellfound our latest member

AnnieO — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 09:42:38 +0000

Our newest member WellFound is operating in West Africa and does, well, wells mostly. Along with providing that most precious of necessities, water, they also build sanitation facilities and conduct hygiene education. Their inclusion means that T4A has another 3 countries on its portfolio of members, Senegal, Guinea Bissau and Burkina Faso with that wonderfully named Capital, Ouagadougou. We look forward to meeting them on April 13th at our Spring meet in Oxford.

Welcome to Equip, our latest member

AnnieO — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 14:16:39 +0000

We are pleased to welcome our new member charity Equip. Based in Eastleigh in Hants, Equip works in Rwanda with the aim to promote educational and health care opportunities which allow people in challenging circumstances to determine their own future. We very much look forward to meeting one of their representatives at our April meet.

Oxford, here we come

AnnieO — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 13:11:03 +0000

Together 4 Africa will be holding his next members’ meet in Oxford on Saturday 13th April. So far 15 member charities have registered and we look forward to seeing some old friends and meeting new ones. Members will get to meet the Frontiers Foundation who have funded 2 projects put forward by T4A and will listen / discuss / argue / learn / laugh / make new connections throughout the day. We are still working on the Agenda as ideas are flying in. Looks like we will need another meet sooner rather than later to satisfy everyone. It is not too late for members to put their name down and for non-members to come and discover what we are about. We are a welcoming bunch. Full program / info will be available mid-Feb.

Thank you Frontiers Foundation

AnnieO — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 23:05:11 +0000

Several moons ago, T4A got to know Oxford based Property Frontiers, one of Europe’s leading firms specialising in the international property investment market. They were interested in setting up a charitable arm to their business because as Ray Withers said, “working in the international property arena, we are acutely aware of the impact that our investments can have at the local level and (of our) corporate social responsibility.”

Unsure of how to go about it and in particular in evaluating possible projects, they approached T4A for advice. A trip to Oxford later by a few T4A founding members and the Frontiers Foundation was born. We were able to put forward some worthy projects and 2 have now been successfully completed on behalf of Frontiers Foundation. Their next project will be in Brazil where they have strong links, but we are confident that they will get a stirring for Africa again because we all know that once bitten! And we’ll be here to help them along. In fact, members of T4A will very soon receive an invitation to come and meet Charlotte Ashton of the Frontiers Foundation as part of our next meet. Will you be there?

A library in a box

AnnieO — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 21:58:54 +0000

The Buriton-based Village-to-Village charity has launched a new initiative to help schoolchildren in the far north of Ghana’s Central Region. Every£2 raised can provide a new book for a new School Library initiative. There are very few supplementary reading books in schools at present – but they can make a huge difference to children’s opportunities to learn English at an early age. This can open the door to all subsequent learning of other subjects – and to a route out of poverty. There is great enthusiasm in all of the local schools to develop a Library facility– even if the library is in a box.

The Water Run – 1000 miles, 60 days, 20L water

AnnieO — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 19:22:23 +0000

It is nearly D Day for Ollie Mason who on 4th July will be walking from John O’Groats to Lands End in 60 Days, carrying 20 litres of water unaided to, in his words, “emulate the struggle faced by millions of people – mostly women & children – who are forced to walk huge distances to collect their daily water needs”. Ollie wants to draw attention to this still massive issue and in the process raise funds for 6 charities; one of them T4A member Breakthrough Foundation. Ollie, who is only 23 is a fantastic role model for young people. He deserves everyone’s support, so please do visit his website, go and find him on the road (to make sure he is carrying that water!), meet him at one of the various events along the way and importantly, please find a bit of change in your pockets to make all the blisters and tired muscles worthwhile.

Welcome to GAGA & LUBWE

AnnieO — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 22:10:17 +0000

Together 4 Africa is very happy to welcome two new member charities; Goodwill and Growth for Africa – GAGA (no, not that one!) and Lubwe Zambia Fund. GAGA is our first member charity working in South Africa. They are putting all their efforts in supporting children and communities affected by HIV/AIDS and poverty. Lubwe Zambia Fund are making a difference with their ongoing support to the Lubwe Mission hospital in particular. Like all our member charities they rely on the good will of donors to bring hope and a hand up, so please check them out; they are looking forward to meeting you.

An alternative to JustGiving that is FREE

AnnieO — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:32:54 +0000

Betterplace.org don’t just want to change the world. They also want to improve how world-changing is done.Through betterplace.org not only do more people engage, but they do it more effectively than ever before.

Anybody can help on betterplace.org – as an individual or as a group. And equally, anybody can receive help not just large well-known charitable organisations, but also small grassroots initiatives round the corner from you, or anywhere in the world. The main thing is: everything is transparent.

You might want to give it a go. Betterplace.org

Link up & Learn 2012

AnnieO — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 20:15:17 +0000

The Small Charities Coalition is organising a Link Up & Learn event in Liverpool (22nd May) and Newcastle in June. They are “bringing our own mix of skills sharing, information and networking to small charities – all for only £20 per person. It’ll be a packed day of practical workshops covering a diverse range of subjects such as fundraising, communications and business planning delivered by the likes of Institute of Fundraising and Media Trust, with a host of other interesting ways for you to gain new skills, new insights and new contacts.” All details here.

Sight & Hearing test in Tanzania – can you help?

AnnieO — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 16:30:15 +0000

Today we are publishing a special request recently received. Perhaps you can help. This is an example of the enquiries we get through our contact page. We endeavour to transfer most of them onto the forum, so please check there from time to time. “Hello, my daughter Michelle, has been out in Moshi, Tanzania for more than 18months working for the Kilimanjaro Young Girls in Need http://www.KYGN.org . They care for and educate up to 75 preschool children, mainly girls, in the very poor village of Mabogini. She is needing someone to check the sight and hearing of the children and I wondered if you had any contacts out there? The KYGN is a registered charity, SO. NO. 14813. Many thanks.” Please use the contact page to get in touch. Thank you

Primary School Classrooms

AnnieO — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 22:36:12 +0000

Mustard Seed Project has a school for 125 poor children in classes of 25 in a rented building that was built as apartments. The current building will be big enough for another year but we desperately need to build our own school. The immediate plan is to build a 3 classroom block as the present building is full. In future we shall add other classrooms to complete a Primary School of 12 classes for children from 3 to 14.

Monday’s wonderful news for the kanga project

AnnieO — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 23:08:54 +0000

Tetra Laval International SA have chosen the kanga project to be their beneficiary charity this Christmas. Expensive Christmas cards have been replaced by a donation to us and an electronic card bearing a message of support for our sponsorship programme. We can’t thank them enough. So thank you, thank you, thank you. We are really chuffed to get this support (can you tell?) and are keeping our fingers crossed that some of the many people who will get to know about us will perhaps become interested in helping a girl get the education she needs to get herself and her community out of poverty.
We believe that the gift of education is the greatest gift of all and the most meaningful at this time of year. “The proper aim of giving is to put the recipients in a state where they no longer need our gifts”. C.S. Lewis (The Four Loves, 1960).

If this little girl gets the chance to go to school, herself and her own children will have a rosier future that what is facing her at this moment and the world will be a better place. Send a gift today. Thank you.

Gifts for Gilead – A little Christmas advertising

AnnieO — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 22:35:02 +0000

Click on the title above for a lovely little Christmas promotional film made by Gilead Health Development. Enjoy the singing and help spreading a little happiness.

A member’s perspective

AnnieO — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 22:59:55 +0000

Essential tips I picked up at the latest T4A event – by Martin Smedley of Act4Africa

This Saturday I went to a T4A training meeting together with other small charities working in Africa to learn, share expertise and network together.

I am a great believer in networking and in the benefits which can derive from charities working together wherever possible, particularly when working internationally. I am sure we all know the anecdotal stories of villages where several charities discover they are duplicating efforts. I know from my own experience of African towns that have twinned with multiple UK donors. Recently in western Uganda I was astonished to find almost 20 local NGOs operating in a small geographical area. They had become the main local industry and employer!

If we are going to do Development effectively we need to work smarter. I believe that T4A is part of working smarter and the benefits of meeting together for events like this are manifold.

I came away from the day with some key tips for researching and drafting more effective trust fund applications. I also learned about how to make money from websites but one of the most valuable benefits was simply being able to talk and share experiences with others.

Coventry meet – a relaxed affair

AnnieO — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 22:53:21 +0000

On 26th November some of our members met for an informal day of training and networking and we want to thank Nobby of Gilead Health Development for sorting out a great venue at a fire station in Coventry. As well as enjoying meeting and chatting to members, we were able to meet a couple of new members and we hope that they enjoyed their first look into our “world”. The day was relaxed and useful with a couple of highlights. In particular we were taught the inside out of applying for grants from a slip of a lass with the experience of a well seasoned professional; thank you Amy King for giving up your Saturday. We also got to meet a new T4A volunteer, Ellie Combey who also gave us her Saturday and who has already earned our appreciation with her introduction to some of Google’s hidden treasures. Thanks also to Helen, Nic and Annie from the Board of T4A too for updates and insights into new possibilities. We all had a truly enjoyable day and look forward to the next one.

Come and meet us in Coventry

AnnieO — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 22:00:37 +0000

Together 4 Africa is holding a meet and training day for its members in Coventry on 26th November 2011. If you are a small charity interested to meet like minded people as well as get some useful training in how to write a grant application, get in touch before 20th November. You are very welcome to come along and find out more about us. Cost is only £10 per person and includes lunch. You can download the agenda and the whereabouts details here.

Students to raise money for Mustard Seed Project

AnnieO — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 22:42:47 +0000

Mustard Seed Project were so excited to learn that the students at Dauntsey’s School in Wiltshire have just voted for MSP to be their charity of the year. During the year the students will devise many fundraising activities and all money will be donated to MSP.

The 750 students at this co-educational school for 11 – 18 year olds vote each year for the charity they would like to support. They chose Mustard Seed Project because they knew that every penny that they raised would count and make a difference. Each of the twelve houses thinks of their own fundraising idea in addition to whole school events.

T4A does what it says on the tin.

AnnieO — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 19:41:58 +0000

In response to a funding tip posted on the charities section of the forum by Rita of Mustard Seed Project, Charles Coleman from African Promise wrote the following.

“Thank you so much for this suggestion. Following reading your post back in May I made a call to someone at the XXX Foundation and subsequently submitted an initial introductory letter. One of the Board Members was then in touch and requested much more detail about our proposal so that he could take up our cause and propose us to his fellow Board Members. I have just this morning received an email from him informing me that the Trustees have decided to award us a grant of £12,500 towards our current school reconstruction project. This would not have happened without you posting your message so a BIG thank you – this just goes to show one of the many benefits of T4A..!”

Two months ago, Roger of Osiligi Charity Projects sent the following email to Annie of the kanga project. “Thanks for the name some time ago of the XXXX foundation. We received a cheque from them for £11,500 for the school. Any other suggestions for donors for education projects?”

These are just two recent examples of the help members of Together 4 Africa are giving and receiving. Much of it is often on a one to one basis and so today we want to urge all our members to contribute on the charities section of the forum so that we can ALL dip into a deeper pool of knowledge. We need lots and lots of tins with our name on them.

Oh and if you want to know what Foundations they are talking about, well you need to be a member.