September 2021
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Four more Yamba students have qualified for university and wish to pursue this dream. There are two boys and two girls. Village Africa is looking for sponsors at £20, £25, £50 or £100 per month and will put together a number of sponsors where necessary to enable the students to take up university places in October 2021.
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Yamba students have smashed all expectations since Village Africa started working in the village in 2006. Sixteen have now qualified for university (of whom 2 have graduated and 10 are currently studying). We are so proud of them and want them to reach their full potential and go on to help their families, community and country.
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Please email us at info@villageafrica.org.uk if you can help in this way. Times are hard in the world due to the pandemic so all assistance is appreciated more than ever.
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August 2021
Village Africa’s ambulance service – Edimund Petro needed an emergency trip from Yamba to Tumaini Health Centre in Tanga due to malaria. He was seriously ill but, thankfully, has now recovered. Many thanks to all Village Africa donors who made this journey possible. Edimund is a shopkeeper in the village. He is also a subsistence farmer.x
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Six school toilets and three water tanks completed for Sagara Primary School. Built by Village Africa and kindly funded by Kids Helping Kids in the USA. Good school toilets encourage good school attendance and teenage girls are less likely to drop out of school. Primary school pupils in Tanzania are 4 – 14 years old. Two of the tanks harvest water from the roof and the other can be filled by hand from the river if there is no rain. Thank you to Kids Helping Kids for its generosity in helping another school in a remote setting.
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Sad news – Aloisia Joseph has died. Aloisia was a tailor. She did sewing for Village Africa and was also a cook for the charity during the volunteer programme (2006-2012) when there were large groups of visitors. She was a member of the Yamba Knitting Group and taught the women how to use a sewing machine. She was always so cheerful, polite and welcoming. Aloisia moved away from Yamba a few years ago as she was finding the mountainous terrain too difficult but was buried in the village. Many condolences to her son, the rest of her family, her friends and the whole community. She will be greatly missed by us all.
July 2021
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Village Africa’s Chair, Sarah Mayne, ran the ASICS London 10K on 25 July 2021 to raise much needed funds for us. Sarah was a Village Africa teaching volunteer in Milingano Primary School in 2006. She became a Board member and is now our Chair which is a voluntary position. She does hours of important and difficult work for the charity every year and has now run for us as well!
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Congratulations to Roman Peter who is now Head teacher at St Benedict Parochial School.
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Roman was a pupil at Yamba Primary School (so is well known to many of our teaching volunteers) and sponsored at university through our Simba Club.
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St Benedict Parochial School is in Lushoto. It has Pre-unity (Kindergarten), Standard I-VII and Pre-Form One. It is English medium so all classes (except Kiswhaili!) are taught in English.
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Roman has been the Head teacher for one year. He also teaches English and Social Studies to Class 7 and Pre-Form One which prepares pupils for secondary school.
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The school has an excellent reputation and was second out of 169 schools in the District in exams.
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Twins named after Babu Doug and Bibi Moe!
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Doug and Moe Brazenall volunteered in Yamba Primary School and then Village Africa’s office in the village. They now volunteer in the UK. Moe is Village Africa’s Child Sponsorship Coordinator (Simba Club) and her husband Doug regularly fund raises for the charity. He has twice trekked from Tanga to Yamba (110 kms).
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Congratulations to the parents of the twins Winifrida Mathias and Yakobo Malwa. The twins were born in Bombo Hospital Tanga on 19 June 2021 and live in Yamba.
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Farming – Two weeks of seminars and visits to farms to give advice were organised by Village Africa in June/July.
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Charles Emmanuel and Hamza Saidi, who have recently passed the 3-year VETA farming course at Kiwanda College, were pleased to share their knowledge of crops and livestock with locals. Peter Shemweta, who has taught agriculture for many years, guided and assisted them.
The work was extremely well received by the farmers (both men and women) and was kindly funded by Kids Helping Kids. Kwemikame is where Kweulasi Primary School is located, between Milingano and Mashewa.
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Congratulations to Agatha James from Yamba who has passed Form 6 (A levels). What an achievement.
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Agatha went to Yamba Primary School, secondary school in Kilindi (Form 1-4) and did her A level course in Dodoma and then Mkingaleo near Maramba, Tanga Region.
Thank you to her Village Africa Simba Club sponsor in Australia and her own family for supporting her.
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Exam success – Congratulations to Fredy Dominic from Yamba who has passed Form 6 (A levels).
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Fredy studied at Yamba Primary School, Mibukwe Secondary School in Milingano , Eckernforde Secondary School in Tanga (till Form 4) and then Engutoto Secondary School in Manyara Region for Form 5 and 6.
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Thank you to his Village Africa Simba Club sponsors in the UK and to his family for supporting him.
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We are very proud of his achievement.
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Congratulations to Jacqueline Charles who has passed her A levels (Form 6).
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Jacqueline went to Yamba Primary School, Mbelei Secondary School (near Soni, Lushoto) for Form 1-4 and Mlongwema Secondary School (near Mlola) for Form 5 and 6.
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Thank you to her Village Africa Simba Club sponsors in the UK and her family for supporting her.
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Greg Wiley took on the 2021 Dixons Carphone Race to the Stones (100km) on Saturday, 10 July in aid of Village Africa and two other charities. A big thank you to Greg and all who generously sponsored him
. https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/gregwiley
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Congratulations to Epimack Francis from Yamba who has passed his Diploma in Education in Science Subjects, specialising in biology and geography. He is now qualified to teach in secondary schools.
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Epimack took this two year course at Tukuyu college in Mbeya, the southern part of Tanzania. He went to Yamba Primary School, Mibukwe Secondary School in Milingano, Maweni Secondary School in Kange (just outside Tanga) and Usagara Secondary School in Tanga. After passing Form 6 (A levels), Epimack was selected to do three months National Service in the army and successfully completed this work, before starting teacher training.
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Many thanks to his Village Africa Simba Club sponsors in the UK and France for supporting his education.
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Yamba pupils write to their pen pals at Chapel Allerton Primary School in the UK.
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The Tanzanian pupils love communicating with children abroad and learning about another culture. They practise their English, handwriting, letter writing and drawing skills into the bargain!
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June 2021
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Events are back! Covid-secure measures in place.
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Run 10 kilometres on Sunday, 25 July 2021 through central London and raise much needed funds for Village Africa. Take on the ASICS London 10K. If you would like one of our charity places, please let us know. Invite a friend or relative to join in too.
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Congratulations to Epimak Paulo from Milingano who has passed his 2-year Masonry course. After secondary school, he studied for this VETA qualification at RVTSC (Regional Vocational Training and Service Centre) in Tanga.
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As part of the course, Epimak did several months work experience with Village Africa’s building team.
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A big thank you to his Village Africa Simba Club sponsor in the UK and his family for sponsoring him at Mibukwe Secondary School and then on this masonry course.
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Epimak has already picked up some temporary building jobs and is also designing new houses.
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Village Africa’s ambulance – Agnes Satiel took a lift from Yamba to Milingano Dispensary due to back problems. This saved her a two hour walk down the steep mountain to the dispensary (which is like a GP’s surgery). It is a three hour drive to a hospital.
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Many thanks to all Village Africa donors who helped Agnes to get to a health facility to receive treatment and medication to relieve her pain and suffering. The community is so appreciative of your love and kindness.
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Good luck to Jacqueline Charles, Fredy Dominic and Agatha James from Yamba as they start National Service this month.
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All three students have been selected by the Tanzanian government for three month placements at various camps around the country.
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They will gain many new skills and this will enhance their employment prospects, especially for government jobs.
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All three have just finished Form 6 (A levels) and are waiting for their results. Thank you to their Village Africa Simba Club sponsors in Australia and the UK and their families for supporting their education.
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Volunteer Maiko Paulo tutors secondary school students during their school holidays.
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Maiko Paulo is volunteering in Yamba Primary School full-time. He is now a qualified teacher and it is his dream to work at this school in his home village. He is following his dream.
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Maiko hopes his voluntary work (unpaid) for primary and secondary school students will lead to a permanent position at Yamba Primary School.
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Village Africa hopes the Tanzanian government will appoint him as there is a shortage of teachers in the village.
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Amazon has made it easier to collect free donations for Village Africa.
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AmazonSmile is now available in the Amazon Shopping App to all Amazon customers using an iPhone or Android phone. When you have activated AmazonSmile in the app, every eligible purchase will automatically generate a donation for your chosen charity.
How it works:
1. Open the Amazon app on your phone
2. Select the main menu & tap on “AmazonSmile” within Programmes & Features
3. Select Village Africa as your charity
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to activate AmazonSmile in the mobile app.
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A big thank you to the many supporters who are already helping us in this way.
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Village Africa’s child sponsorship scheme prioritises orphans, single parent families and those in greatest need. Primary school pupils receive educational and health gifts every month to help them.
This picture shows some Simba Club members receiving school bags, shoe polish, long bars of soap for washing clothes and dishes and soap for hand washing and bathing. The children look happy!
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Village Africa’s ambulance – Baby girl born in hospital after an emergency trip. The baby, Christa Stivin, is pictured here with her mother Caroline Bernard. The trip from Yamba stopped at Milingano Dispensary but needed to continue to Bombo Hospital in Tanga due to complications. It is a three hour journey on very rough terrain. A big thank you to all who Village Africa donors who made this journey possible. The villagers are very grateful.x
Charles Ludovick was rushed from Yamba to Milingano Dispensary. He was diagnosed with pneumonia. Fortunately, he made a good recovery and is back home. Thank you to all Village Africa donors who made this emergency trip possible. Your kindness is helping so many people.
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Congratulations to Hamza Saidi and Charles Emmanuel who have passed the Animal Husbandry course at Kiwanda College, near Amani. The course took 3 years to complete, after secondary school, leading to the VETA (Vocational Education and Training Authority) qualification.
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Hamza comes from Kwembalazi where villagers keep many animals, especially cows and goats, as well as growing maize. Hamza’s knowledge and skills can assist the whole community to keep the animals as healthy as possible and increase profit (eg milk). Charles is from Yamba which is new to keeping animals. Its main crops are beans and maize.
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The course covers a range of skills preparing young men and women for paid jobs or to be self employed.
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Hamza and Charles were very kindly sponsored by Kids Helping Kids through Village Africa’s Simba Club.
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Photo – left to right – Hamza and Charlesx
Baby girl born in Bombo Hospital in Tanga after an emergency trip in Village Africa’s ambulance. Baby Evelyne Togolai is pictured here with her mother Agnes Marko from Yamba. A big thank you to Village Africa donors who made this journey possible.
April 2021
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Maiko Paulo is volunteering in Yamba Primary School full-time. He is now a qualified teacher and it is his dream to work at this school in his home village. He is following his dream. Maiko hopes this voluntary work (unpaid) will lead to a permanent position at the school. Village Africa hopes the Tanzanian government will appoint him as there is a shortage of teachers in Yamba.
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Maiko was sponsored at secondary school and teacher training college through Simba Club, Village Africa’s student sponsorship scheme.
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Gifts from Village Africa Simba Club sponsors – Basins to wash clothes, including school uniforms. Thank you to all who support students as they pursue their education. The children are happy!
Photo – from left – Martha, Salome, Julita
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Village Africa is building two classrooms for Kishimai Primary School. This is a new school several hours walk down the mountain behind Mzizma, Village Africa’s visitor accommodation. A big thank you to the Zoe Carss Education Trust for the funding.
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Village Africa’s ambulance – Eliwangu Eliasi needed an emergency trip due to a broken arm. He was rushed from Milingano to Tumaini Health Centre in Tanga. Fortunately, he has recovered well from his injury. He is 4 years old. Thank you to all Village Africa donors who made this urgent journey possible.
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CaptainTom100 Challenge
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Take part to raise funds for Village Africa. Charities and fundraisers have been urged to participate by Captain Sir Tom Moore’s family.
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Complete your own 100 Challenge on 30th April – 3rd May 2021 to raise money for Village Africa’s life-saving health and important education work and build on Captain Sir Tom Moore’s legacy.
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Help his love and message of hope spread even further around the world.
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Let us know if you will take part for us.
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One Tap, Big Impact campaign launched
Make Village Africa your favourite charity on Paypal and choose to donate £1 or more to Village Africa whenever you make a purchase using the ‘Give at Checkout’ feature. The digital version of a tin for loose change on the shop counter!x
The One Tap, Big Impact campaign is encouraging supporters of small charities (like Village Africa) to do this. At the end of April 2021, the charities with the most people having set them as favourite during the promotion period will win a grant (1st place £6,000, 2nd place £4,000 and 3rd place £2,000).x
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eBay gives match funding to Village Africa. It donates five times (!) the amount raised by those selling in aid of Village Africa during eBay’s The Big Charity Sell.
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Thank you to eBay for its generosity and to those who sold items for Village Africa in this scheme and throughout the year.
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eBayforCharity is a great way to declutter, recycle, make money for yourself and help Village Africa at the same time! The seller decides what percentage of sales goes to Village Africa.
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February 2021
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Failing crops – Unfortunately some of the maize in Milingano and beans in Yamba are not doing well due to lack of rain. After flooding from Sept 2019 – April 2020, there is now a shortage of rain. This is very difficult for the villagers who are subsistence farmers.x
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Village Africa’s ambulance – Baby born in hospital after an emergency trip. The girl called Baliatu Hemed is pictured here with her mother Madadia Zabura from Kwemikame in Milingano. A big thank you to all Village Africa donors who made this journey possible and helped to save two lives.
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Six school toilets built and 3 water tanks installed at Mashewa Primary School by Village Africa. Thank you to Kids Helping Kids for the funding.x
January 2021
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London Marathon – Sunday 3 October 2021 – Virtual event for 50,000 participants to take place at the same time as the physical event. Charity ballot for VIRTUAL places now open (deadline Thurs 4 Feb 1600 hours).
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If you would like to take part in this virtual event and raise money for Village Africa, please email info@villageafrica.org.uk before the deadline so that we can enter the Charity Ballot. There are 50,000 places in the virtual event and Village Africa can apply for at least 3 (£28 each).
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New sweaters for Village Africa Simba Club pupils made locally on knitting machines. Thank you to the sponsors for their generosity throughout the year.x
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December 2020x
Wickford Church of England School pupils send a giant Christmas card to their friends at Yamba Primary School.
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Sad news – Bishop Anthony Banzi died on 20 Dec 2020 at Muhimbili, the national hospital. He was Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tanga.
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In 2006 the Bishop gave his blessing to Monsignor Baruti (then Father Baruti) and Caroline Johnston (Makihiyo) to start Village Africa. He was very supportive throughout. He was well known to many of our volunteers, visitors and staff. He will be greatly missed by us all.
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Photo – Bishop Anthony Banzi (centre) at his 25 years as Bishop Jubilee celebration in Tanga in Sept 2019.x
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Please contact info@villageafrica.org.uk if you would like to run and fund raise for Village Africa so that we can book you a place.
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Thank you to the Brazenall family members for their very kind donation to Village Africa in lieu of Christmas presents to one another.x
Village Africa partners with eBay for The Big Charity Sell. eBay is donating £5 for every £1 a customer donates to charity through Community Selling between 1-20 December. This will be capped at £500,000 in total and at £25,000 per charity. https://pages.ebay.co.uk/big-charity-sell-faqs/index.html
November 2020
Village Africa wishes good luck to the following students as they start university.
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Petro Dastani joins the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) for the Bachelor of Education course. He studied at Yamba and Milingano Primary Schools, Ilboru Secondary School (Forms 1-4) and Lindi (Form 5-6). Thank you to his Simba Club sponsors in the USA and the UK for their generous support.
Jackline John is studying Accounting and Finance in the Public Sector at Mzumbe University. Jackline attended Amani Kindergarten, Yamba Primary School, Kongei Secondary School (Forms 1-4) and Machame Girls Secondary (Forms 5-6). A big thank you to her Simba Club sponsors in the USA and UK for their kind support.
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Alfred Vicent begins the Bachelor of Education at Mwenge University. Alfred went to Yamba Primary School, Mibukwe Secondary School, Mgwashi Secondary School (Form 4) and Shambalai Secondary School in Lushoto (Forms 5-6). Thank you to the Simba Club sponsors in the USA and the UK who are so kindly and generously assisting him.
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Stanislaus Richard begins the Bachelor of Education course at St Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT). Stanislaus went to Yamba Primary School, Mgwashi Secondary School (Forms 1-4) and Rangwi Secondary School in Lushoto (Forms 5-6). Thanks to Simba Club sponsors in Canada who helped to get him this far. Thank you to new Simba Club sponsors in the USA and Belgium for coming forward to help with university costs.
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Classrooms completed for Yamba Primary School. Many thanks to all who kindly contributed to the Yamba Classrooms Appeal. Special thanks to the Zoe Carss Education Trust for its most generous grant. Put together, this money meant Village Africa was able to build two big classrooms, a new office for the head teacher and install two water tanks.
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Village Africa Christmas e-cards launched. Supporters can send an e-card to family, friends and colleagues, cut back on shopping and donate to Village Africa what they save on cards and stamps. They can choose the Kilimanjaro image (taken by Em Southey who was Village Africa’s Volunteer Liaison Officer) on the link below or one of the traditional designs there.
Alternatively, they can dig out or snap their own image, send to friends and donate on the same link. They can take inspiration from the six images and maybe include their family, pet, Christmas tree or favourite landscape.
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Congratulations to Jackline John, Alfred Vicent, Stanislaus Richard and Petro Dastani who have passed Form 6 (A levels) and will be going to university this month. Thank you to their Village Africa Simba Club sponsors for helping them to get this far and to those who have joined in to assist with university costs.
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Village Africa partners with GivingTuesday.
Village Africa donors are encouraged to make the best of the national lockdown by preparing to help Village Africa on Giving Tuesday (1 Dec 2020).X
Supporters are asked to find creative ways to raise or save money to donate to Village Africa.
Giving Tuesday has been running in the US since 2012 and the UK since 2014. It now runs officially in over 70 countries worldwide and people from over 150 countries take part in the global giving campaign to support good causes.
Giving Tuesday is MASSIVE! It holds the world record for the most money raised online for charity in 24 hours.
To donate, please go to https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ and choose Village Africa.
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Congratulations to Kundael Laurent who has started teacher training at Sahare Teachers’ College in Tanga. He comes from Yamba and passed Form 4 (O levels) at Mgwashi Secondary School. Thank you to his Village Africa Simba Club sponsors in the UK and his family for supporting him.
October 2020
Village Africa is delighted to win a Lloyd’s Market Charity Award 2020.
Village Africa will receive an unrestricted donation of £15,000 (paid across two years). Thanks to a generous donation from Lloyd’s to Lloyd’s Charities Trust the Awards were made even more generous than usual to help charities meet funding challenges caused by the pandemic.
We are very proud to be recognised in this way and the donation will greatly help us to keep our life-saving health and important education work running in remote villages in Tanzania, East Africa. Many thanks to Lloyd’s Charities Trust for choosing us and for this large contribution.
Every year, the Lloyd’s Charities Trust donates to charities on behalf of the extraordinary individuals in the Lloyd’s insurance market who volunteer or fundraise in their spare time or have been helped by a charity themselves. In our case, we are grateful to Sarah Mayne for being our Chairman and for giving so much of her time and expertise to Village Africa.
#LloydsResponsibleBusiness
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Congratulations to Valentina Edmundi on passing her Diploma in Agriculture and Livestock. After passing Form 6 (A levels), she went to Ilonga in Morogoro to study for two years for the Diploma. A big thank you to her Simba Club sponsor in the UK and to her family for supporting her.
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Hilda Richard is back home in Milingano after an emergency trip in Village Africa’s ambulance. She broke her arm after a fall and was rushed to Tumaini Hospital in Tanga. Many thanks to all the donors who made this urgent journey possible.
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Congratulations to Alfred Vicent on completing his National Service. Many students, like Alfred, take up this opportunity after passing Form 6 (A levels). The 3 month placement (July-Sept 2020) was in Kibiti District in Coastal Region. Alfred gained new skills in security and production. Alfred is from Yamba and is in Village Africa’s Simba Club for his studies.
Local tailor Robati Hassan Mswaki measures Thomas Martin and other Simba Club primary school pupils for new school uniforms. Robati lives in Milingano. Thomas is in Yamba. Thank you to all the sponsors for their generosity. It helps the children and their families and creates local employment wherever possible.
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Caroline Johnston, Village Africa’s Director, visits Queen’s Inclosure Primary School in the UK. Year 2 are studying Africa and wanted to ask questions about Yamba. The year group is divided into two bubbles and social distancing measures are in place.
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