News

January 2020

Joseph Titus from Yamba has passed his driving test. He did the VETA driving course in Tanga after passing Form 4 at secondary school. Many thanks to his Simba Club sponsor in the UK.

December 2019

Roman Peter has passed his BA Education degree and has started a teaching job. Roman went to Yamba Primary School where he was taught English by Village Africa volunteers. He went on to study for a degree in Dar es Salaam. A big thank you to his Simba Club sponsor from the UK who contributed towards the costs.

Waterlooville Baptist Church chose Village Africa as one of its two Christmas charities. Many thanks to all who so generously donated. The Coffee Cup Virtual Shoebox Appeal organised by the church members was also a huge success, raising lots of money to buy gifts for the children in Yamba. Many thanks to all who saved up throughout the year and contributed.
Pirton School in the UK raised much needed funds for Village Africa at its Christmas concerts and nativity plays. We hope everyone enjoyed the performances. A big thank you to all who took part and donated.
Queen’s Inclosure Primary School in Waterlooville in the UK raised money for Village Africa at its Christmas performances. Many thanks to all who participated in the shows and those who donated.
The Brazenall family kindly gave a donation in lieu of Christmas presents to one another.
Village Africa was delighted to be awarded a Lloyd’s Market Charity Award.We are very proud to be recognised in this way and the large donation will help us to run our life-saving ambulance service in remote villages in Tanzania. A big thank you to the Lloyd’s Charities Trust for choosing us.Every year, the Lloyd’s Charities Trust donates £4,000 to 30 charities on behalf of the extraordinary individuals in the market who volunteer or fund raise in their spare time or have been helped by a charity themselves.Sarah Mayne (pictured), Village Africa’s Chairman, was presented with the Award in London.

Buy Christmas cards in aid of Village Africa. Choose a card from a wide range, choose a greeting, then importantly choose Village Africa. https://charitycards.co.uk. Your kind support will help our work in the remote villages.

Village Africa has been invited to take part in the ASICS London 10K on 5 July 2020. We are getting lots of interest in this exciting run through central London. If you would like to participate and fund raise for Village Africa, please contact info@villageafrica.org.uk so that we can book a charity place for you.https://uk.virginsport.com/event/london-2020/asics-london-10k

November 2019

Yamba Classrooms Appeal target reached. Many thanks to all who fund raised and donated to this appeal, including a grant from the Zoe Carss Education Trust. There is enough money to replace the two dilapidated classrooms and build a head teacher’s office in the middle.

Village Africa Ambulance Service – Joseph Hiaziti safely back home in Yamba. He was given an emergency trip to Tanga because he was unconscious.

Kingfisher Primary School – Yamba pupils write replies to their penfriends in the UK. Kingfisher is a new school in Yeovil and wanted a link with Village Africa and school children in Tanzania.

Paulina Julius and Minaeli Deogratius from Milingano complete a 5 day farming course in Morogoro Region. The Organic Agriculture Basic course was held by Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania (SAT). Many thanks to Kids Helping Kids in the USA for supporting Paulina and Minaeli’s training.

Joseph Lucas had an emergency trip from Yamba when he fell and broke his arm. He is a student at Mibukwe Secondary School.

Yamba pupils receive leaf rubbing pictures from their friends at Wickford Church of England School.

Village Africa is listed with Action Challenge. Walk, jog or run along a spectacular coastline; through beautiful English countryside with rolling green hills; or following an iconic river and raise money for Village Africa. Sign up for an Ultra Challenge Event.

October 2019

Torrential downpours in Tanga Region greatly affecting our work. The BBC reported that 44 people died in Tanga region. Animals, crops, houses, roads and bridges were also washed away.

Rojas Ismail Ndeha starts a BA in Education at the University of Dar es Salaam. Many thanks to his Simba Club sponsors in Australia. Rojas is from Yamba but went to Milingano Primary School.

William Ng’wanyemi starts a BA in Sociology and Social Work at Mwenge Catholic University in Moshi. Thank you to the sponsors from the UK, Australia and Canada. William went to Yamba Primary School, Mibukwe Secondary School in Milingano and Coastal High School in Tanga.

Epimack Francis starts a Diploma in Education in Science Subjects, specialising in biology and geography. He is at Tukuyu college in Mbeya, the southern part of Tanzania. It is a two year course. Many thanks to his Simba Club sponsors in the UK and France. Epimack is from Yamba and has been in Simba Club (Village Africa’s student sponsorship scheme) since he was in primary school.

Mentoring – University students, Innocent Charles, Francis Marko and Reimond Msumari, came back to the village to guide the younger Simba Club students. They discussed with the parents and guardians how the families can help. They covered many topics, including school attendance, personal hygiene at school, time management, homework study plans, study groups and schoolgirl pregnancies. They did a highly professional job, with a consultation period with local leaders in advance and feedback to Village Africa when they had finished. Maiko Paulo, who qualified as a primary school teacher sponsored by Village Africa, also had an input but could not attend as his child was sick. Here is a picture at the end of the process with Caroline Johnston and Village Africa staff involved with Simba Club.

Left to right (back row) Hilda Shemzigwa, Innocent Charles, Caroline Johnston, Reimond Msumari, Francis Marko (front row) Anjella Edmund, Veronika John (Mama Ade), John Shekuamba and Edmund Senkunde. John Samweli (who is also involved in Simba Club) took the photo.

Laura from Germany and Daniela and Stefanie from Austria visit for the weekend. They kindly gave a large donation from their family and friends in Austria. They also brought school stationery, toys and second hand clothes which were distributed at school, to the five youngest babies in the area and to local volunteers who labour to help their community. A big thank you to everyone who so generously contributed.

Baby Stefanie born after an emergency trip in Village Africa’s ambulance and named after recent visitor Austrian student nurse Stefanie Gruber. The baby is the daughter of Martin Thomas (Village Africa’s watchman) and his wife Philimina.

Thanks to Nora, Verena, Ricarda and Simona for collecting money after their visit to Yamba from their family and friends in Austria to help build a library for the children in Yamba. A very big thank you to all who contributed.

Twins born in hospital in Tanga after an emergency trip in Village Africa’s ambulance. The boy is called Iddi and the girl Amina. Congratulations to their father Nurudini Salimu and mother Subira Yusuphu who live in Milingano.

Malaria – Hasani was desperately ill and needed a lift in Village Africa’s ambulance to reach hospital. It is a 3 hour trip on rough terrain in a 4-wheel drive vehicle. He has now recovered and is safely home in Kwemsiga, Milingano. A very big thank you to Village Africa supporters who made this journey possible and helped to save his life.

September 2019

Village Africa’s ambulance service – Baby girl born in hospital after an emergency trip. The newborn’s name is Aisha Ijumaa. Her mother is Mwajuma Haruna (pictured here) and her father is Ijumaa Ramadhan. They live in Kwemsoso between Yamba and Milingano.

Village Africa’s Director, Caroline Johnston, was guest of honour at Kivilu Primary School Standard VII school leavers’ graduation.

Malaria – Hasani Athumani safely home after an emergency trip to hospital in Village Africa’s ambulance. He was seriously ill. He is 13 months old. Malaria is particularly dangerous to those under 5 years old. He lives in Milingano with his father Athumani Miraji and his mother (pictured) Amina Iddi.

August 2019

Verena, Nora, Ricarda and Simona (left to right), student nurses from Austria, came to Yamba for the weekend to experience village life and to learn about Village Africa’s work. They kindly brought school stationery, toys and clothing from their families and friends back home. These gifts have been distributed to the pupils in Yamba Primary School, the youngest five babies in Yamba and local volunteers. Thank you to all who contributed.

Birthday chickens for Caroline Johnston (Village Africa’s Director) presented by staff representatives.

Left to right – Paulo Mbiu (Assistant Head builder/Site Manager), Charles Bernard (Carpenter), Bernard Kihiyo (Office Watchman), Andrea Anthoni (Garage Watchman), Caroline Johnston (Director), Esta Satiel (Cook), Peter Sebastian/Sheshe (Head builder), John Shekuamba (Assistant Director), Emily Joseph (Carpenter) and Richard Anthoni (Builder).

Six injured when a lorry’s brakes failed. Village Africa’s ambulance rushed them to hospital in Tanga. A big thank you to Village Africa donors who made this emergency trip possible. Three of the patients were from Kwemsiga in Milingano (including Mohamed Salimu and Rashidi Amiri pictured – left to right) and three from Tanga.

Anja and Elisa from Austria visit Village Africa in Yamba. They are student nurses. They love the open-mindedness of the people.

Village Africa has just signed up to recycle cartridges at TheRecyclingFactory.In the UK? Please collect and Recycle printer cartridges. Help the environment and Village Africa at the same time!Simply download a FREEPOST label and post.Village Africa will receive a donation for every suitable cartridge you send.Please recycle your own cartridges and even go one step further and collect cartridges from your family and friends, school, college, work, church or social club and send them off. Some charities have raised hundreds and even thousands of pounds doing this. Village Africa needs to find new sources of funding and this is one way.Thank you for whatever you can do.https://www.therecyclingfactory.com/village-africa

July 2019

Song and video thanking Village Africa composed, designed and posted online by Fidelis Laurent and Maiko Paulo (both from Yamba). Their mother tongue is Kisambaa, their second language is Kiswahili (the song) and their third language is English (the video). https://www.facebook.com/villageafrica/videos/462325100983231/
Epimack Francis passes his A levels and is selected for three months National Service in the army. 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. A big thank you to his Simba Club sponsor in the UK.

Austria and Italy – Six student nurses visit Village Africa in Yamba for the weekend to explore. Here they are at Milingano Viewpoint with John Shekuamba (Village Africa’s Assistant Director) and Yamba children.

Photo (left to right) Magdalena, Nuria, Lisa, Isabel, Laura and Christiane
Maiko Paulo qualifies as a primary school teacher. He studied at Sahare Teacher’s College in Tanga. Maiko was a manager/translator for Village Africa before deciding to become a teacher. A big thank you to his Simba Club sponsors from the UK.

Maria Michael from Yamba passes kindergarten teacher training. Maria went to Yamba Primary School, Mibukwe Secondary School in Milingano and Sahare Teacher’s College in Tanga. It was a 3 year teacher training course leading to a certificate and a diploma. Many thanks to her Simba Club sponsor in the UK and her family for supporting her.

Congratulations to Jenifa Hokelei from Yamba on her job as Village Executive Officer at Mlalo. This is an important government position, responsible for the security of the villagers and their property. Jenifa went to Yamba Primary School, Lushoto Secondary School and then Tengeru Institute of Community Development in Arusha. She worked in Village Africa’s office as a manager for a few months before her community development course.

Moving boulders so that Village Africa’s ambulance can pass day and night in all weather. Thanks to local volunteers who maintain and widen the 7km road on a regular basis.

Thanks to the George Salter Academy, West Bromwich, UK who sent sports jerseys for the children in Yamba.

Tanzania is putting more systems online. Village Africa managers and office staff need to be computer literate and keep abreast of changes. Thank you to the supporter who kindly sent these books.

Photo – John Shekuamba (Assistant Director) and Anjella Edmund (Accounts Clerk)

Austrian student nurses Theresa,Christina and Kathrin visit Yamba to see the amazing scenery and enjoy village life. They kindly brought a large donation for Village Africa from their villages Amras and Schoenberg. To raise the money they held a special mass for Tanzania, made and sold candles after church at Easter and baked cakes and made drinks to sell after the Confirmation service. They were helped by the community, including the young farmers. A big thank you from Village Africa to them and everyone who helped and contributed.

Rehema Edmund received treatment in Tanga after the three hour emergency trip in Village Africa’s ambulance. She is a pupil in Yamba.

HobbyAid in the UK sends knitted hats and sweaters for children in Yamba. Many thanks to those who made and sent them. It is chilly in the village now and likely to get colder until October.

Photos – Bernadeta Richard and Aron Augustino with his mother Jois Augustino.

June 2019

Two new classrooms with water tanks for Kwembalazi Primary School built by Village Africa and kindly funded by the Zoe Carss Education Trust in the UK. The school is at the foot of the Yamba mountain and now has five classrooms. The children (age 4-14) no longer have to walk up 2 hours up the steep mountain to reach a primary school.

Meeting Needs – A huge thank you to Meeting Needs, the events industry charity, for the grant to run Village Africa’s ambulance service for six months. Here is baby Frowin Charles born in hospital recently after one of the emergency trips.

Tom Dickin climbs Mount Kilimanjaro with his friends Kevin Taylor and Maiko Paulo to raise money for Village Africa. Many thanks to them and all who donated. Tom was a Village Africa teaching volunteer and Maiko was a Manager/Translator for the charity.

(left to right) Kevin, Maiko and Tom

Cazza Mantle takes on the Jurassic Coast challenge in aid of Village Africa after visiting Yamba. Many thanks to her and all who kindly contributed.

(front) Cazza

Paulo Mbiu took a lift to the dentist in Village Africa’s ambulance when it was travelling anyway. Paulo is Village Africa’s Site Manager/Assistant Head Builder. He has helped construct many classrooms and school toilets.

May 2019

Village Africa’s ambulance service – Danieli Joseph safely home from hospital. He had an emergency trip from Milingano to Tanga as his body was swollen.

Double vision and dizziness gone! Esta Satiel, Village Africa’s cook, back at work after treatment from an eye specialist in Dar es Salaam. Thank you for all general funds which help us to employ staff and give financial support with medical costs when they are sick.

Baby Doug named after Doug Brazenall. The baby is the son of Mzee Bernard Kihiyo (Village Africa watchman) and his wife Subira. Doug Brazenall was a Village Africa teaching volunteer and has fund raised for the charity many times. He has walked from Tanga to Yamba twice in aid of Village Africa.

Mama Ade, Village Africa’s nurse, back at work. She is finally better after treatment at various hospitals including the national hospital three times. She had severe pain in her back and leg for one and a half years.

April 2019

Village Africa’s ambulance service – Baby boy called Elisha born in Milingano Dispensary after an emergency trip from Yamba. He is pictured here with his mother Krista.

Ambulance driver Edmundi recovered after operations in Tanga. He is able to drive again after several weeks off work due to complications.

Baby Mark named after Mark Wilkes who walked 100km from Tanga to Yamba to raise money for Village Africa. The baby is the son of Charles Pius and Silvia John (pictured here) who live in Yamba.

Dog bite – Robert Satiel safely home from hospital after an emergency trip in Village Africa’s ambulance. He was badly bitten by a dog in Yamba.

March 2019

Village Africa’s ambulance needed a gearbox repair. Thank you to the two mechanics who came all the way from Tanga to fix it. Thank you also to Village Africa supporters whose donations keep the ambulance on the road. Your financial support save lives. The villagers are very appreciative of your love and kindness.

Caroline Pugh held a charity lunch (two sittings) to raise money for the Yamba Classrooms Appeal. A big thank you to her for all the hard work. Caroline was a Yamba teaching volunteer and taught Yamba Catholic Church choir.https://mydonate.bt.com/events/yambaclassroomsappeal

Yamba Primary School pupils write an Easter letter to their pen pals at Wickford Church of England School in the UK.

Goats and chickens – Anthoni Paulo returns from the SAT organic farming course in Morogoro and starts to keep livestock. Thank you to Kids Helping Kids for paying for him to attend the course and for providing a small capital grant to implement some of the ideas.

Baby Alex named after Alex Tarrant of Pod. The baby boy was born after an emergency trip in Village Africa’s ambulance. The baby is pictured here with his mother Bertila. His father, Onesmo Gaudence, went to Yamba Primary School and Mibukwe Secondary School and was in Simba Club (Village Africa’s student sponsorship scheme).Pod recruited volunteers for Village Africa when we ran a volunteer programme (2006-2012). Onesmo remembers Alex being ‘the first Village Africa visitor’.

February 2019

Student nurses from Austria and Italy visit Village Africa in Yamba. They are pictured here with Hilda, Village Africa’s nurse, and some of the local children.

Left to right – Back row Magdalena, Sarah, Lara, Nadja, Christina, Front row Nina and Verena.

HobbyAid sends knitted clothes for newborn babies and children in Yamba. Here is Claud with his new cardigan and hat. He is pictured here with his mother Veronika Abasi. Thank you to everyone at HobbyAid.

Sylvester Ndeha injured his leg when farming in Yamba and needed an emergency trip to Milingano Dispensary in Village Africa’s ambulance. Thank you to all donors who support the ambulance service.

Baby Bryson named after Jennie and Colin Bryson. He is pictured here with his mother Patricia Anthoni. Patricia went to Yamba Primary School and Mibukwe Secondary School and was in Village Africa’s Simba Club. Jennie was a Yamba volunteer.