News

November 2025

Congratulations to Benard Charles, Peter Laurent and Salum Ramadhani on passing their university degrees. A big thank you to all their Village Africa Simba Club sponsors in the UK.

Benard Charles passed a Bachelor of Arts in Education at St Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT). He went to Mhanko Primary School, Mgwashi Secondary School and Pugu Secondary Centre in Dar es Salaam (Form 5 and 6).

Peter Laurent passed a Bachelor of Arts in Education at St Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT). He went to Yamba Primary School, Mibukwe Secondary School, Mgwashi Secondary School (Form 4 exams) and Coastal High School (Form 5 and 6).

Salum Ramadhani from Kwembalazi passed a Bachelor of Arts (Education) at the Muslim University of Morogoro (MUM). He went to Mkurumuzi Primary School, Ivumwe Secondary School (Forms 1-4) and Matema Beach Secondary School in Kyela District, Mbeya Region (Forms 5-6).

October 2025

Five Yamba farmers attended a 5-day coffee growing course at the Tanzania Coffee Research Institute (TaCRI) in Moshi, Kilimanjaro Region. They will set up demonstration farms to show how viable it is to grow this cash crop in Yamba. This new coffee project is being funded by Village Africa supporters in the UK.

Janet and Paul Sleath from the USA visit Malomboi Primary School. This was the 26th school where Village Africa and Kids Helping Kids have worked together to build school toilets and water tanks. The community welcomed Janet and Paul and presented them with gifts, including bananas and potatoes.

Team from Ramsey Grammar School on the Isle of Man researches Village Africa for the One World Charity Challenge. The initiative gives students the opportunity to speak out for people in the developing world, through creating a presentation examining the work of a charity and the impact it has had on a young person.

Maiko Paulo and children at one of the water sources in Yamba

September 2025

Emma Southcombe (a Village Africa Director), Moe Brazenall (Child Sponsorship Coordinator) and Doug Brazenall (Fundraiser) visit Yamba (at their own cost) to see the latest work.

John Shekuamba fractured his knee. He had a fall when walking to the office in Yamba. He had a splint (due to severe swelling) before the hospital fitted a full plaster cast.

John Shekuamba leads the Vyaadahikana Village Africa Tanzania team based in Yamba. It is funded by Village Africa (We are a UK-registered charity).

Maiko Paulo joins the team in Yamba as a Manager. His English, computing, teaching, volunteering and people skills will be invaluable. Maiko comes from Yamba and is passionate about helping his own village. Maiko is well known to many Village Africa volunteers and visitors.

Sponsorship needed for 4 Yamba boys to go to University

Village Africa is looking for sponsorship for them. They have all passed Form 6 (A levels) and have qualified for university to start in October this year. Two of the boys are already in Simba Club and the others are not in Simba Club yet. It is our policy to look for sponsorship for all students who went to Yamba Primary School and qualify for uni. This is highly motivating for students as they go through the different education levels.

Yamba is a remote village and the students have done so well to reach this point. We hope they will be able to take up this amazing opportunity to study at university and go on to help their family, community and country.

We have been able to support a number of students through university in the last few years thanks to many generous sponsors. It costs £100 a month to sponsor each university student and a few incredibly kind people sponsor at that level. However, for most students we put together a group, each sponsoring at £20 or more a month.

Can you kindly sponsor a student at £20, £25, £50 or £100 per month to enable them to go to university?

Please contact info@villageafrica.org.uk if you are able to help.

Baby Jessica named after Jessica Broughton, Village Africa past volunteer. She was born in Milingano Health Centre after an emergency trip from Yamba in Village Africa’s ambulance. Her mother is Veronika Patrick and her father Jacobo.

Congratulations to David Julius from Kishimai who has passed his 2-year certificate in Nursing and Midwifery. David is a former pupil of Yamba Primary School and studied at Korogwe School of Nursing. Thank you to his UK sponsor who supported him through Simba Club, Village Africa’s student sponsorship scheme.

Congratulations to Mariana Casmiri from Yamba who has passed her 3-year certificate in Livestock. She started at Kiwanda College near Amani but moved to Handeni FDC due to a shortage of teachers in this subject. Many thanks to her sponsor in the USA who supported her through Simba Club.

Congratulations to Simoni Charles from Yamba who has passed his 3-year Secretarial and Computer Application course at VETA (Vocational Education and Training Authority) in Tanga. Thank you to his Simba Club sponsor in the UK for supporting him.

Baby Tom named after Tom Dickin, Village Africa past volunteer. He was born after a Village Africa ambulance emergency trip from Yamba to Milingano Health Centre. His parents are Maiko Paulo and Scola. Congratulations to all the family and of course to Tom Dickin – what an honour to have a baby named after you.

Yamba road reaches Lutheran Church – Using hand tools, local volunteers extend the road by 1km to reach the church.

August 2025

Congratulations to Ombeni Emmanuel who has completed his 3-year certificate course in Domestic and Industrial Electricity at Bigwa College. Many thanks to his sponsor in Australia for supporting him through Simba Club, Village Africa’s student sponsorship scheme.

Fiona Phillips (past Village Africa volunteer) returned to Yamba with her son Ben for a visit. She wrote “It was wonderful to see the village growing and thriving, and to witness the children’s eagerness to learn and blossom.” Ben enjoyed answering questions from pupils at Yamba Primary School about his schooling in the UK.

Fiona and Ben with Melania Edimundi

Congratulations to William Tadei from Yamba who has completed a 3-year Masonry course at Kiwanda College, near Amani, Tanga region. He did this after passing Form 4 (O levels) at secondary school. Many thanks to his Village Africa sponsor in the UK for helping him to attain these skills.

July 2025

Meeting Needs makes a generous grant to help Village Africa’s life-saving ambulance service. Emergency trips are provided day or night to help seriously sick patients and women having complications during labour. Many thanks to those in the Events Industry and their partners.

June 2025

Dianne Ellis visited Yamba for the first time and was warmly welcomed by the community. She wrote

“I was delighted to visit and meet the V V Africa team but I was very surprised at the level of poverty in the village. There is much more needed to give them a just basic standard of living – Village Africa is amazing in working towards this. My thanks to all the team.”