In 2008, Shine On Sierra Leone was given the opportunity to receive a $50,000 donation from All for Africa.  However, there was one catch – we had to raise $50,000 first and then All for Africa would match that. At the time, fundraising that amount seemed almost impossible but with relentless efforts, we succeeded. The impossible quickly became possible and we had $100,000 to execute our goal of partaking in rehabilitating Sierra Leone by increasing access to all levels of education.

We partnered with Salone Microfinance Trust, a small and solid Sierra Leonean MFI, and invested $50,000 of the donation into microcredits for 125 women who were also the mothers of Shine On Sierra Leone supported students.  This investment brought microcredits to an area that previously had none.  Each woman received a $250.00 loan which enabled them to start or expand  businesses such as selling fish, produce, being a tailor, or owning a restaurant. We were surprised at the variety of businesses we supported but we were truly astounded by the 97% repayment rate that we maintained. This incredible repayment rate made it viable for us to continue to loan out more microcredits to local women. Today, because of that initial donation, we have been able to raise additional funding for the now formidable Salone Microfinance Trust to fund microcredits for over 7,000 Sierra Leonean women and men!

 With the remaining $50,000, we continued our passion for and commitment to sustainable development – one of the cornerstones of Shine On’s groundbreaking work. We used $25,000 of our fund to build the first sustainable building in Sierra Leone specifically using the earthbag building technique created by late architect Nader Khalili.  We created a 3-classroom earthbag building made with 90% earth that cost a fraction of what traditional cement laden building would have.  This building, affectionately referred to as the “Unity Building” by its builders as it united the local tribes in an unprecedented way, was just the beginning.  Since it’s opening, we have been able to provide 500 students with adequate learning space and a solid environment to receive their education.

As a result of the success of this building, we were able to garner funds from NBA basketball star Cuttino Mobley to build a recreation center and basketball court on the school premises.  As a result of the recreation center, Adama, a Sierra Leonean woman now living in Connecticut, began to dream of building a school in her small village just 6 hours away from our first eco project.  Adama shared her dream with her church and one friend took action and saw that investing in an earthbag building at a fraction of the cost of regular building would make this dream truly possible. At the same time, the original builders of the 3-classroom building and recreation center decided to start their own earthbag building business and launched Shine On Construction.  With the support of her friends and church, Adama’s dream came true.  She was able to hire the newly formed Shine On Construction to build the first school in 125 years in her tiny hometown village of Kamatuduku, Sierra Leone.  Today, Shine On Construction is working on building the first eco village in Sierra Leone with the unique Tribewanted (www.tribewanted.com) project, an SOSL partnership, on the pristine John Obey beach along the country’s coveted coastline.

This is the story of one donation, unfolding over time, to affect thousands.  Each year, the value of that initial donation expands to new heights and just like that, the impossible becomes reality and Shine on Sierra Leone’s story continues.

Just one of many storylines to recount as we continue to Shine On…

Happy 2012! Throughout this year, AFA will be highlighting how our POP trust beneficiaries are doing. Every month we will focus on one beneficiary and relay a bit about the progress that they are seeing on the ground in Africa. Look for our first report in the next week right here!

“I traveled to the Congo with All For Africa grantee Noella Coursaris Musunka and Khaliah Ali, daughter of Muhammad, to attend the ceremony where the first stone for the Georges Malaika Foundation school was to be laid. Our trip also happened to coincide with the 35th Anniversary of Khaliah’s father’s fight versus George Foreman (The Rumble in the Jungle). I knew that the moment would be extremely significant for Noella and the GMF team after all of their hard work publicizing and raising funds for the school.  I didn’t realize, however, how significant the moment would be for the rest of those present.

“We arrived at the grounds quite early that Tuesday morning after a journey through villages and small townships. I was wholly expecting to be the first person there, but as our jeep pulled up, I mistook the school site for something else – a construction zone or a circus! There were cement workers making final preparations for the laying of the stone. There were village school children lining up and rehearsing their performances. There were local musicians in traditional costume singing as loudly as humanly possible. And in the middle of it all were Noella and Alexander, both running around like mad!

“Anyhow, the ceremony was a resounding success. Hundreds of people were in attendance including Governor Moise Katumbi. The ceremony was filled with joy and one could clearly feel the tremendous gratitude that the village of Kalebuka has for Noella and the entire GMF team. To see their faces of love was to feel the heart of the Congo.  Khaliah, the Governor and the other special guests were overwhelmed by GMF’s spirit of self-giving. I, myself, am extremely grateful to the GMF team for making this personal experience possible for me. And of course, none of this would have been possible without All for Africa!”

Sanjay Rawal

Message from All For Africa beneficiary Youth Action International.

” We are proud to announce that this year’s cohort of women have completed their program.  Each of the women has been trained in a skill of their choice.  They have now been placed in cooperatives and granted small business grants to start and run their businesses.   The impact will continue to be felt as they join the work force.  Thank you for making this possible! “

Youth Action international  was awarded one oil palm trust in 2008.  This trust will provide, beginning in 2012, approximately $30, 000 for operational funding per year for 30 years.  YAI also received a $50,000 grant which supported the Center for Women empowerment for the course of one year. Look for our next round of grants to be available in 2010.

]]> http://www.allforafrica.org/youth-action-internationals-womens-empowerment-center/feed/ 0 http://www.allforafrica.org/trust-of-the-month-winner-face-africa/ http://www.allforafrica.org/trust-of-the-month-winner-face-africa/#comments Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:11:33 +0000 admin http://www.allforafrica.org/trust-of-the-month-winner-face-africa/

A heartful thanks all of our friends and supporters who voted for FACE Africa during the All for Africa Trust of the Month competition. I am so humbled by the outpouring of love and support.

When I first found out FACE Africa was nominated for the All for Africa Trust of the month, I was beyond excited and honored to be nominated with organizations like BATONGA Foundation and Shine on Sierra Leone, both of which are doing amazing work in Africa. But I knew we needed to do everything we could to win. $30,000 per year for operational expenses for the next 30 years is a tremendous sum! It will not only allow us to strengthen our capacity – human resources, systems, and infrastructure both here and in Liberia, but will also put us in a better position to carry out our mission and focus our other donor funds on core activities.

The trust from All for Africa will cover almost 100% of our operational expenses including wages for 17 staff members, rent, transportation, phone charges etc. This cost saving of $30,000 a year will allow FACE Africa to install two more water purification systems a year.

FACE Africa’s current focus is Water and Sanitation. According to UNICEF, consuming contaminated water or not having access to clean water causes over 80% of all illnesses in developing countries. Unpurified water causes diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, and typhoid fever among other diseases leading to mortality among children, the elderly and infirm. Nearly 90% of deaths from diarrhea-related diseases in children below 5 years old are due to unsafe water and sanitation. More than 1.5 million children under the age of 5 die from diarrhea annually because they either consumed unsafe drinking water or do not have adequate availability of water for hygiene purposes. In Liberia, years of civil war left the country’s infrastructure in ruins and for the majority of Liberians, ground water fetched from wells, streams, or rivers remain the primary source of drinking water.

To address this problem, we are installing water purification systems in Liberia based on a solar-powered nanoporous membrane.  The system is intended to be used in areas with poor quality feed waters such as surface water or ground and no conventional water purification technologies. The membrane known as Skyhydrant  can produce up to 20,000 liters of drinking water per day.  The system is sustainable: it can last up to seven years, requires minimal maintenance, and no additional power or conditioning chemicals.  Installing one Skyhydrant costs between $15,000 to $19,000 and our goal is to install three to five Skyhydrants per year in communities in Liberia, with a focus on schools, slums and orphanages. FACE Africa has began the installation of a Skyhydrant in small community in Bardnersville, Liberia with a population of 400-650. The system will fulfill the clean water needs of this community for more than five years.

I encourage all of our friends and supporters to bring the same excitement and vigor they brought during the voting process and purchase trees for the FACE Africa trust. Purchasing one tree is only $20, which automatically translates into $600! A great return on your investment.

Saran Kaba Jones

Executive Director, Face Africa

Shine On Sierra Leone, a human service foundation that provides education, mentoring and nutritional support to schools in Sierra Leone constructed a school building using earth bags.  It was constructed using materials easily accessible to all -flour or rice bags and earth (cement, clay and sand) and a thin layer of top cement. Construction of the earthbag building was transformational for all involved. The building was made without power tools, but instead hand made tools. It is extremely strong, aesthetically beautiful, has permanent furniture (desks) and will be here for 1000 years. The idea was to use materials that are easily accessible to locals.

At first, the workers laughed at the idea of "building with bags" and very quickly, they became excited and took ownership in a way that brought the village together in an unprecedented way. They asked us if they could name the building "Unity Building" because all of the tribes felt united and that they were essential. The roof is traditional, as the intended dome shape took some getting used to in the village. However, due the huge success of this building, they now want build the first eco-dome village in Sierra leone. The dome will make the buildings very, very affordable, as the roof is usually the most expensive part. We are now looking to make the village a purely sustainable environment by installing permaculture. Photos of the new building were shown to the Vice President’s wife and she called meetings with everyone at the statehouse to see this slideshow. The statehouse (government), Unicef and Ministry of Education are thrilled with the design and have been taking back to back meetings to discuss using it as a template to rebuild Sierra Leone and its schools.
Thank you for All For Africa your support ~ financially and otherwise to make this possible, this is truly amazing!
The hole left by the removal of earth will be converted in to fish pond for the school by the Ministry of Agriculture!

Author Shine On, Tiffany

Christian Solidarity International (CSI), along with Talkers Magazine and its political editor Ellen Ratner, took a trip to Southern Sudan and the border of southern Darfur in March 2008. Six broadcasters came on the trip and helped to deliver survival kits (“Sacks of Hope”) to freed slaves and villagers in the area. CSI also took the broadcasters to meet with President Salva Kiir of Southern Sudan, who has been supportive of CSI’s mission in the area. During the trip broadcasters viewed a school in the area built with international assistance that was basically unused. From this stemmed the idea of building basketball courts with accompanying showers and a gathering facility so that villagers could build community spirit, learn and develop proper hygiene, and learn reading skills and simple mathematics. What is clear is the importance of going to school, given the grip of possible starvation, lack of jobs, lack of electricity, and lack of any infrastructure means that a much more creative approach must be taken.

MISSION
CSI is a Christian human rights organization for religious liberty, helping victims of religious repression, victimized children, and victims of disaster. CSI was founded in 1977 in Switzerland by Rev. Hans Stückelberger, following peaceful demonstrations in support of persecuted Christians. CSI’s primary objective is worldwide respect for the God-given right of every human being to choose his or her faith and to practice it, as stipulated in Art. 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As a non-profit, independent organization, CSI cooperates with Christians of all denominations as well as with churches, human rights organizations and the public.

ORIGINS OF CSI’S EFFORTS IN SUDAN
In 1992 CSI took a fact-finding trip to Southern Sudan. For years CSI has been distributing Sacks of Hope survival kits to internally-displaced people. CSI has a full-time field physician in the area, Dr. Luka Deng, and has provided medication and medical supplies as well. Dr. Deng also provides education and prevention services in the area. Despite the current pronouncements of the President of Sudan, CSI has the full support of President Kiir and will not be asked to leave Southern Sudan. CSI is supported by Christians and other people of goodwill, it has a United States affiliate with a Board of Directors. The US affiliate has raised in recent years between $750,000 and $1.5 million per year. CSI-USA is organized as 501(c)(3) not-for-profit.

SCOPE OF PROJECT
The initial scope of this project is four basketball facilities. The first facility will be built in Wanejok, Northern Ba?r al Ghazal Province, Southern Sudan. The second basketball facility will be located in Akon, Northern Ba?r al Ghazal Province, Southern Sudan, near the Senator Samuel Brownback Clinic (which is in current disrepair, and repair of the clinic is part of the project). The other two sites will be determined within the same geographical area.

COSTS
The current costs to build one court and facilities are:
• Bore a hole, including tanks and showers: $15,000
• Latrine: $1,500
• Basketball court with cement and steel rod base: $15,000
• Thatched meeting hall with brick and cement base: $10,000
• Permanent tukul for volunteers: $20,000

Funding for the first court is guaranteed, with other funds being raised in the United States with a challenge grant.

ONGOING COSTS
Ongoing yearly costs will include meals and transportation for volunteers, maintenance, hats, t-shirts, and clothing for participants, literacy materials, health education materials, as well as medicine and program materials. Depending on the size of the program and number of participants, which can have unlimited expansion given the profound need, costs will be starting at $25,000 per year and can be expanded to $100,000 per year.. We expect to raise some of this money through the Palm Oil Trust project of All for Africa.

PROGRAM TEAM
Currently the project team is Dr. Luka Deng, Gunnar Wiebalck, and Dr. John Eibner, all of Christian Solidarity International, Ellen Ratner of Talk Radio News Service, volunteer talk show hosts, and church volunteers from around the USA. Ellen Ratner will also be working with media outlets within the United States to publicize the project as well as to document the project.

TIMELINE
The first facilities will be built by the end of 2009, with an expectation that the three remaining courts will be completed within the following 18 months.

CONSTRUCTION
CSI has a history of constructing facilities using all-local crews, providing a great boost to the local economy. CSI has a record in Southern Sudan for 15 years and has many cooperating agreements with local village leaders as well as appointed and elected officials in Southern Sudan.

Authors : Dr. John Eibner, CSI-USA & Ellen Ratner,Talk Radio News Service

When we founded Ubuntu Education Fund in 1999, we did so with the mission to ensure that the young people of Port Elizabeth townships had access to higher education and employment. For the past 10 years, we have reported the ways in which we serve children and families, but now we can also report on the long-term change we have always sought.

Higher-education and sustainable employment have remained our goals, but our way of ensuring the success of our children has evolved into what we call the Ubuntu Model. This Model is:

The Ubuntu Model is working. We have developed our programmes to suit the needs and challenges of the Port Elizabeth townships. Expertise comes from our communities; it is our job as an NGO to draw on that expertise to make positive change. Our communities are preparing themselves for a brighter future. We are proud to be a part of it.

Rebecca Andruszka
Director, Grants & Communications
Ubuntu Education Fund
rebecca@ubuntufund.org