News Archive

December 2011

Village Africa video produced by Emma Southey, past Volunteer Liaison Manager.

Village Africa Calendars 2012 now for sale! Only £8. The first calendar, produced last year, was so popular we decided to make another. Please send orders to info@villageafrica.org.uk including the number of calendars you want and your name and address. Payment can be by cheque made payable to ‘Village Africa’ with a donation form or online. You can gift aid using either of these methods if you are a UK taxpayer. Many thanks to everyone who submitted photos for the calendar competition. We hope you like the final product!

Bluefin Resources sponsors a Village Africa nurse for a year in lieu of sending Christmas cards to its clients and candidates. Bluefin Resources is a recruitment company in Sydney, Australia.

Sunbury Manor School held a non school uniform day and raised funds for Village Africa.
Angels made and sold in Sweden to raise funds for the charity. Thanks to Minka and Nurse Mirjam Eriksson.

DoodleJam in Australia holds an online charity auction of art work produced by the villagers in Yamba. Thanks to Karen Nivala (past Yamba teaching volunteer) for organising this.

Clothing and school stationery received from Skynetworldwide.
Francesca Wiltshire (past Summer Camp volunteer) successfully runs the Lisbon Marathon for Village Africa.
Lynncroft Primary School in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire sends giant Christmas cards made by the pupils to Yamba Primary School. This follows a school assembly from their new teacher Joanna Elgar (past Yamba and Milingano teaching volunteer).

Newquay Tretherras School held a book amnesty and a non school uniform day for Village Africa. This is the school where Kathryn Culkin (past secondary school teaching volunteer) works.
Online shoppers raised money for Village Africa as they shopped at Christmas. www.easyfundraising.org.uk
Glaisdale WI donates proceeds from its Christmas raffle. Village Africa is very grateful that this WI has supported the charity once again.

November 2011

Struggling for Christmas gift ideas for family and friends? Buy a Village Africa life changing gift (Trees for planting £8, Health care priorities £10, School essentials £15, Building equipment £20 and Emergency trip to hospital £50). For every gift purchased we will provide a card that you can give to your family member or friend explaining the life changing gift that has been given as an alternative to him/her receiving a gift him/herself. To order Life Changing Gifts you can pay online or by post. This scheme, launched last Christmas, was a big hit! We hope it will do well again this Christmas and throughout the year for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries etc.

Village Africa completes two classrooms for Milingano Primary School, kindly donated by jjFOX (a recruitment company). jjFOX sent out a team of its staff to help with the initial brickwork. jjFOX has now generously funded four classrooms for the school. Village Africa handed over the classrooms to the Chairman of Lushoto District Council.

Baby Andy named after Andy Matfield, Village Africa’s Volunteer Liaison Manager. The baby is the first child of Maiko Paulo, Village Africa’s manager and translator who looks after Simba Club, the child sponsorship scheme. This makes Paulo Mbiu (Village Africa’s builder) a grandfather, Mzee Jango’fua (Village Africa’s watchman) a great grandfather and Hilda Fidelis (Village Africa’s nurse) a great grandmother!

Baby Efi named after current teaching volunteer Efi.

Broadford Primary School (Isle of Skye) received a Village Africa talk from past volunteer Jessica Broughton.

Oxford University students voted Village Africa as one of the five most deserving causes and gave a grant from the Somerville JCR Charities Battels Fund. Thanks to Flo Avery (past Milingano teaching volunteer) for nominating us and for all the students who voted for Village Africa.
Village Africa’s senior managers visit Malindi village in Lushoto District to see development projects. They are accompanied by Milingano Ward Development Committee. Malindi is the home village of the Chairman of Lushoto District Council.
Phil Eastham wins two awards for his work in the UK and Tanzania (Warrington Sports Volunteer of the Year 2011 and Cheshire Sports Volunteer of the Year Award 2011). ‘Philipo’ has volunteered in the UK to promote and develop football for girls and boys and has fundraised for Village Africa and volunteered for the charity in Tanzania by teaching sport and building.
Secondhand clothing received from business contacts in Tanga.
Card making party held by Tina Freeman (past Yamba teaching volunteer – Tina taught English, computing and knitting).
Mzee Jango’fua (Village Africa’s Watchman) married Hilda Shemzigwa (Village Africa’s Nurse).

October 2011

Village Africa launches its ‘Like Challenge’ encouraging supporters and all their friends and family to ‘like’ its new Facebook page www.facebook.com/villageafrica. The Challenge is to reach 1000 Facebook supporters.
Kids Helping Kids in the US provides funding for five school toilets and three water tanks for Kwembalazi Primary School, a brand new school. It is hoped work will commence in late Nov/early Dec. This will be the third project funded by KHK and built by Village Africa.
Dictionaries distributed in Yamba Primary School.

Table Quiz held in Dublin to raise money. Organised by Lydia McCormack and Tim Ryan (past Yamba volunteers).
John Shekuamba (Village Africa’s Assistant Director) married Salome Charles (Village Africa’s former Translator).

Phil Eastham visits Milingano and Yamba for his third time. He has been busy promoting Village Africa through a skydive and has collected large quantities of children’s clothes and football kit for the villagers. Thanks to all the football clubs and the children’s nursery who donated clothing.

September 2011

Village Africa starts a Match a Job Scheme (£20 a month or one off donation). It hopes to continue employing nurses, ambulance drivers, builders, carpenters, managers, watchmen and cooks. Sadly VA has had to reduce its workforce due to the world recession, inflation and a sharp increase in immigration fees.
The charity has revised its volunteer placements and is now offering: Teaching 4, 8 or 12 week plus Building 2 week plus Coaching sports 2 week plus Other short-term roles 2 week plus. http://www.podvolunteer.org/Tanzania/volunteer-tanzania.html

Village Africa teaching volunteers start in the local schools: Kathryn in Mibukwe Secondary School, Emily in Milingano Primary School and Efi and Linsey in Yamba Primary School. They will teach English for three months. Kathryn is also teaching Maths and Emily is also teaching netball.
An appeal is made for mobile phones (new or secondhand) for VA staff.
Mosquito nets are distributed to Form IV students at Mibukwe Secondary School. The nets were kindly donated by Glaisdale WI in the UK. A seminar on malaria was given by Village Africa’s nurse, Hilda, on the same day. The seminar was designed with the help of Mirjam, a nurse from Sweden who visited the project.
Textbooks and dictionaries are given to Milingano Primary School. Thanks to past teaching volunteer Amanda from the US and Vince Mayfield who fundraised as part of Kwanzaa, a celebration of African heritage. The money was presented to Amanda at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit.
Lucinda and Adam join the project as Teaching Sport and Building volunteers. Lucinda is teaching netball; Adam is teaching football at Milingano Primary School and they are building four toilets for Milingano Dispensary.

Pencils and pens are distributed at Kweulasi Primary School.
The small house rented for VA Driver John Samweli and his wife VA nurse Mama Ade is renovated.
Salome passes her primary teacher training exams and is waiting for her first posting. Salome was VA’s translator and then was sponsored for teacher training through VA.
Two past volunteers sell their car and donate the proceeds to Village Africa.
VA driver, Edmundi, gets the all clear from the national hospital following a cancer scare re his face. VA pays medical costs for its permanent staff including drivers.
Jen and Rob completed a 700 mile tandem cycle ride from London to Berlin to raise money for Village Africa. They set off on 15th September.

Gifts received from Italy, Ireland, UK and Tanzania: clothing and school stationery. Special thanks to Skynetworldwide.

August 2011

Paintings sold at auction to raise funds for the charity. Thanks to Jessica Broughton who will be a Summer Camp volunteer in August and then will help with carpentry.
Milingano Ward comes 3rd out of 44 in Lushoto District in the mock national primary school leavers’ exam. Previously the ward was last. The ward includes Yamba and Milingano.
Summer Camp visitors spend time with the community and are given full tours of Village Africa’s work in Yamba and Milingano. The group included VA’s UK Administrator, Andrea. The visitors are staying for between 2 and 6 weeks.

Summer Camp sports day

Jessica works as a carpentry volunteer for four weeks making furniture for the Yamba Community Library.
The Nutty Knitters of Waterlooville in Hampshire donate knitting materials to the Yamba Knitting Group.
Chapel Allerton Primary School, Leeds sends penpal letters to Yamba Primary School.
The charity buys a second laptop with a long battery life to assist its fundraising from Yamba.
Gifts received from the UK and Tanzania: medical equipment, jewellery, knitting materials, school bags and clothing including a wedding dress.

July 2011

Bric-a-brac and cake sale held in Scotland for Village Africa.
Emanuel School from London visit Village Africa as part of a PoD expedition. They spend a week fully immersed in community life. The group was led by Mike from PoD and two of their teachers.

JPP Consulting and Soil Technics donate a large quantity of building materials for VA’s first staff house. They also give time off to Matthew Letts to volunteer.

Cian, Alastair, Matthew and Jack join the project as Teaching Sport and Building volunteers. They are doing the brickwork on the staff house. Football sessions are being held in Yamba Primary School.
Gifts received from Sweden, Australia, UK and Tanzania: clothing, toiletries, school stationery, DVDs, bags, toys and a radio. Special thanks to Kipepeo Beach Resort in Dar es Salaam for pillows, bedding, stationery and toys.

June 2011

‘Lochalsh Dirty 30′, a thirty mile challenge walk, undertaken by Jessica Broughton (booked volunteer) and her friend.
Dimitrios is VA’s first visitor from Greece.
Emma finishes her one year placement as Volunteer Liaison Officer at VA and will be sadly missed. Andy takes over this role.
New knitting machine and secondhand sewing machine presented to Yamba Knitting Group.

Village Africa introduces two of its partner charities to each other by delivering health education DVDs from Thare Machi Education in the UK to MEA (Medicine Education Africa) in Tanzania.
Second school assembly given at Queen’s Inclosure Primary School, Waterlooville, Hampshire by Project Leader, Caroline Johnston.
Gifts received from Greece, Australia, UK and Tanzania: school stationery, clothing, shoes, bedding, bags, toys, spectacles and building safety equipment.

May 2011

Sambaa House kitchen is finished. This is project accommodation.
VA fifth birthday celebration held in Yamba – Attended by over 400 people. Enjoyable mix of modern and traditional singing, dancing and drumming. ‘Happy Birthday’ greetings sent by 81 overseas friends.

Five year review meetings held in Yamba (March) and Milingano (April). Villagers very appreciative of all help given, especially the emergency trips to hospital.
VA starts construction of its first staff house. It will be for John Shekuamba, Assistant Director. John has been with the project since it started.
VA Director, Christina Holden, visits Tanzania from the UK. She has twice before volunteered as a nurse in Yamba and Milingano.
Sarah helps to improve the English of VA staff and advises on environmental issues.
Peponi Beach Resort in Pangani, Tanzania donates secondhand clothing from its customers.
New printer/scanner/photocopier very kindly gifted by a volunteer in Tanzania. Bought in Tanga.
Andrea Ward (UK Administrator), Jane Baker (past volunteer) and friends climb Ben Nevis for the charity. Ben Nevis is the same height as Yamba.
John Shekuamba, Village Africa’s translator, sends more Kiswahili scripts for health education DVDs to Thare Machi Education in the UK.
Queen’s Inclosure Primary School May Fair. VA had a stall selling khanga (cloth), baskets and wooden spoons.
Gifts received from the Netherlands and the UK: torches, clothing and a football strip.

April 2011

VA is pleased to welcome new teaching volunteers: Dani and Steph for Milingano Primary School and Karen for Yamba Primary School. Dani and Karen are from Australia and Steph is from the UK. This is Karen’s second visit as she was on the 2010 Summer Camp in Yamba.
A second Baby Emma is born. Daughter of Estaride, VA’s manager. The baby is named after our Volunteer Liaison Officer.

Alex teaches English to the project’s staff and helps with building work.
Mirjam, a nurse from Sweden, visits the charity in Tanzania.
Andy returns as Volunteer Liaison Officer elect. Andy was a building volunteer in Milingano and Yamba for 5 months.
Phil Eastham skydives at Whitchurch Airport to raise money for Village Africa. Phil has twice been a building volunteer in Milingano.
Niki runs the London Marathon for VA. Niki was on the first Summer Camp which was held in Yamba in 2009.
Andy Matfield gives a talk about VA to his former school, Barrow Hills School, Witley, Surrey.
Gifts received from Australia and the UK – teaching aids, school stationery and clothes.

March 2011

VA completes Maasai House, the second small house for volunteers on the Mzizma plot. It finishes a bathroom and toilet to be shared between Sambaa and Maasai House. Kitchen foundations are being laid.
Magdalena Baruti appointed as new manager for VA.
Sophie teaches English to VA’s team, helps design the first staff house and helps on the building site.
Lonely Planet for Tanzania lists VA as a place to volunteer.
Slideshow put on YouTube by past volunteer, Jaana Hede, from Finland http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wftxW-ygf-k
Manchester Bogle, 55 mile walk. VA’s Director Alli Shaw and past volunteers Caroline Pugh and Malcolm Cammack participate to raise funds for VA.
Martins Wood Primary School in Stevenage collected coins for Village Africa.
Gifts received from Tanzania and the UK – Sewing machine, cloth, blankets, sheets and clothes. Thanks to Hereford Link for sharing its container.

February 2011

VA gets internet connection in Yamba which it uses with a laptop (with long battery life) and a generator.
Kids Helping Kids visits Milingano to see toilets at Milingano Primary School and water tanks and toilets at Kweulasi Primary School. These projects were funded by Kids Helping Kids in the US and built by VA. A warm traditional welcome was given to Ray and Salie Rossen and Father Baruti, all KHK Directors.
Charlie joins to teach English to VA staff and help with building work.
New clothing donated from Seattle,US via Kids Helping Kids.
School stationery and clothes sent from the UK. Thanks to Skynetworldwide for its special rate.

January 2011

Sheshe (Peter Sebastian) promoted to Head builder and Paulo Maiko to Assistant Head builder. Hasani Athumani has left VA for personal reasons.
VA builds a kitchen for the volunteer accommodation called Mama Asia’s House. VA’s team whitewashes the Uncle’s House and returns it to the owner as the rental period was over.
Volunteers join VA’s education programme. Mel and Bee teach in Yamba Primary School and Helen and Sarah in Milingano Primary School. Doug helps with the child sponsorship scheme and Louise helps in the office. Sheena, Stephen, Tom and Jamie build volunteer accommodation. All help with extra curricular activities including football and netball in Yamba Primary School and Milingano Primary School. Mel and Sarah are from the US and the others from the UK.
BinIt generously donates waterproof jackets for Yamba’s youth. BinIt is an organisation against knife and gun crime in the UK. www.binit.org
Charity Photography Exhibition and Auction held at The College of Law, Bloomsbury. Organised by Robert Tam who was on the 2010 VA Summer Camp.
Lawford Junior Football Club kindly sends football kits for Yamba youngsters. www.lawfordjuniorfc.co.uk