All For Africa beneficiary, our Reading Spaces. Our Reading Spaces is a US-based charitable organization whose mission is to empower Africa through reading. They aim to achieve this by creating libraries for children in rural villages in Kenya.

We had a great year in 2009!  With your support, we established a computer lab at Thika Primary School for the Blind. The School has a total of 278 students and 34 teachers (14 teachers are blind). We successfully trained 39 students and 20 teachers who worked diligently to earn certificates in basic computer skills. These individuals were honored for their efforts in November. The library has opened a world of resources for these students.  Although the school does not own a single dictionary, the students are able to access www.dictionary.com  and other online resources.

• We currently have 30 computers donated by Individual sponsors and Coca Cola Sabco.
• Access Kenya is providing free internet service for the program.
• We currently have 2 computer instructor but we need to hire 2 more so that we can give personalized service to the disabled students.
• Only One out of ten blind children of school going age is enrolled in school.  Most of them are hidden away in villages across Africa.

A QUOTE FROM A BLIND TEACHER

Christine Kayathi is a teacher at Thika Primary School for the Blind and has been blind her entire life, but today she can email and freely access online resources and states:

 “A dream has finally come true; I can now read a newspaper of my choice comfortably without being a bother to someone, thanks to Our Reading Spaces.

Below is an illustration of the dire situation in Kenya

1. Books are bulky (makes it difficult to transport all the Braille volumes).
2. Expensive ( a regular math book is about Kes.500 while the same book in Braille is approximately Kes.7,500)
3. Scarce (two or three blind students at Thika School for the Visually Impaired are forced to share one book)
4. Books are a luxury (for most children in rural Africa).

 OUR IMPACT

• The students and teachers are able to use MS Office software with emphasis on Word and Excel. This will ultimately help the school save on costs, since Braille paper is a luxury.
• Infinite resources are available online for the students and teachers. Courtesy of Bookshare, the students and teachers have access to more than 9,000 books available online. 

Obstacles

• Lack of funding
• Absence of basic educational resources for the blind, visually impaired and rural populations
• Absence of technology for the visually impaired and rural populations
• Absence of opportunities to break the poverty cycle

 Some Additional Facts about Thika School for the Visually Impaired

First and oldest school for the blind in Africa founded in 1946 as a hospital for disabled World War II veterans. It is currently the largest school for the blind on the African Continent

• 278 Students =198 Totally Blind + 80 Low Vision

Most diverse population of students from blind institutions on the African Continent

• HIV/Aids
• Autistic
• Albino
• Hearing impaired
• Developmental disabilities
• Physically handicapped

Irene Mbari-Kirika
Founder & Executive Director
Our Reading Spaces Foundation

HEALTH

Glaxo offers free malaria research, vaccine nears

GlaxoSmithKline PLC hopes to seek approval by 2012 for its experimental malaria vaccine and said on Wednesday it would seek only a small profit and ensure it is widely available in hard-hit countries.

AFRICA: AIDS vaccine programme comes home

In what is being hailed as a boost for African involvement in AIDS research, Uganda has been selected to host the African AIDS Vaccine Programme (AAVP), formerly based in Geneva, Switzerland. Read more

ENVIRONMENT

Southern Africa Moves to Safeguard Groundwater

Southern African countries are taking steps to protect a precious resource — drinkable groundwater. Read more

French, African Leaders Promote Fight Against Deforestation

French and African leaders are calling for international aid to fight deforestation in the Congo Basin area – which is a key contributor to global warming. Read more

DEVELOPMENT

USAID gives US $14 million to farmers, agri-businesses

THE United States Agency for International Development has awarded approximately US $14 million to support more than 52 000 farmers and agri-businesses in Zimbabwe. Read more

India pledges investment, assistance to Zambia

Visiting Indian business delegation said on Thursday that the Asian country would like to invest in the key sectors of Zambia, with a commitment of assistance to the Zambian business sector. Read more

African Women Gain Improved Access to Tap Water

A new project is bringing water to 4,000 homes in the southern district of Mwanza. Read more

MICROFINANCE

African Development Bank (AfDB) Approves $660k Grant to Access Bank Tanzania (ABT), a Microfinance Bank in Tanzania

The African Development Bank (AfDB), a regional development organization in Africa, has approved a USD 660,000 grant to Access Bank Tanzania (ABT), a newly established commercial bank in Tanzania focusing on microfinance. Read more

Africa Information and Communications Technology Exhibition & Conference (AITEC) Banking & Mobile Money – West Africa, Lagos, Nigeria; May 11 – May 12, 2010

Event Name: AITEC Banking & Mobile Money West Africa, 2010

Event Description: The theme of this two-day conference is “Innovating to Survive and Thrive in Hard Times.”  Read more

HEALTH

HIV infections and deaths fall as drugs have impact

Greater access to anti-retroviral drugs has helped cut the death toll from HIV by more than 10% over the past five years, latest figures show.  READ MORE

LESOTHO: Mountain clinics bring HIV services to remote villages

Isolated mountain communities hard hit by HIV and AIDS in Lesotho have begun to reap benefits from the overhaul of nine healthcare clinics over the past four years. READ MORE

Researchers, Aid Groups Optimistic About Malaria Fight

With a promising new anti-malaria vaccine in its final stage of testing, researchers around the world are optimistic they are finally making progress toward ending the deadly disease. READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT

Senegalese NGO plants 34 million mangroves

A Senegalese environmental NGO announced on Friday that it had planted 34 million mangrove trees in three months in a project largely financed by French dairy giant Danone to offset its carbon footprint READ MORE

African climate policy centre receives $8.5 million from Sweden

Sweden has signed an agreement with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), committing 60 million Swedish Kronor (about $8.5 million) in support of ECA’s African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC), established in the framework of the Climate Information for Development in Africa (ClimDev-Africa Programme). READ MORE

DEVELOPMENT

All For Africa Executive Director & founder awarded  Africa investor Investment & Business Leaders Award

Africa investor, a leading international investment research and communications group, last night announced the 2009 Investment & Business Leader Awards winners to the global investment community at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, South Africa. READ MORE

All For Africa founding partner, Seacom, receives best Pan African Initiative award.

Seacom, a privately funded submarine fibre optic cable system, has been named Best Pan African Initiative at the AfricaCom Awards 2009 ceremony held in South Africa. READ MORE

Irrigation Helps Zambian Farmers Boost Food Production

There’s strength in numbers, at least for 150 of Chanyanya’s farmers who’ve formed a cooperative. The group has leased part of their land to InfraCo, a company specializing in agricultural infrastructure like trenches and electric pumps to draw water from the nearby Kafue River for irrigation.   READ MORE

MICROFINANCE

Mali’s rural poor boosted with $25.04 million for microfinance

Mali has received a US$25.04 million loan from IFAD to fund an innovative programme to build on the strengths and successes of existing rural microfinance networks to help them expand their reach and ensure their sustainability over time. READ MORE

AGRA partners launch $25m financing programme for smallholder farmers in Uganda

Stanbic Bank Uganda (SBU), the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and Kilimo Trust have announced a partnership that will provide US $25 million in financing for smallholder farmers and various businesses supporting the sector READ MORE

All for Africa was founded by the principals of Seacom. Seacom is the first fiber optic cable to bring high-speed internet to East Africa. The 17,000 km fiber optic cable went live on Thursday July 23, 2009 connecting South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia,  Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda to India and Asia as well as Europe and the rest of the world.

“Today, is a historic day for Africa, and marks the dawn of a new era for communications between the continent and the rest of the world. Our tireless efforts of the past 24 months have come to fruition, and we are proud to be the first to provide affordable, high quality broadband capacity and experience to East African economies,” said Seacom CEO and All for Africa Board member Brian Herlihy.

The commissioning was marked with a live telecast by Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete in Dar es Salaam with the media in Kampala, Maputo, Johannesburg, London and Marseille. President Kikwete explained that, until now, East Africa was the largest stretch of unconnected coast. “No more satellites,” he enthused, referring to the expensive way in which Tanzania connected internationally, prior to the launch of Seacom.

The cable will increase Africa’s bandwidth by 1000%.  Seacom is discounting the cost of bandwidth by 85% from current satellite rates making the internet affordable to many Africans.  In addition, Seacom is providing nearly free capacity to universities, schools and research centers making distance learning practical and affordable.

Seacom, All for Africa and its additional founding partners Sithe Global and Global Alumina, develop and implement successful projects that fit the goal of  fostering a growth of the middle class across the continent.  These projects are unprecedented in scale, creating infrastructure, developing capacity and providing for long-term sustainable growth in both for profit and not for profit sectors.

We want to hear what you have to say! Please share your answers in our new Blog section created by and for our supporters! (Keep postings to 800 words or less).  We look forward to hearing from you!

What do you think is the most successful strategy for creating sustainable growth and development in Africa?
]]> http://www.allforafrica.org/your-voice-july-2009/feed/ 1 http://www.allforafrica.org/vote-for-all-for-africa%e2%80%99s-trust-of-the-month/ http://www.allforafrica.org/vote-for-all-for-africa%e2%80%99s-trust-of-the-month/#comments Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:35:44 +0000 admin http://www.allforafrica.org/?p=905

All For Africa’s Trust of the Month – July/August

All For Africa is inviting and encouraging you to vote for the “Trust of the Month.”

Download POP Trust Info PDF –

Photos by Misengabo E. Kapuadi

Steve Wasira and Busie Matsiko of All for Africa introducing the film ‘Youssou N’Dour: I bring what I Love’ before the screening at the premiere on June 12, 2009 at the Paris Theater in New York.

All For Africa works with communities in Africa secure long-term sustainable revenues for community level initiatives in health, education, clean water, micro-financing, community development and skills training.

Here’s Busie speaking before the screening began.

The film is about Senegalese superstar Youssou N’Dour and the making of his Grammy Award-winning album “Egypt” and its divisive aftermath back home as the forces of conservative and moderate Islam contend to interpret it.

Film’s Director Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Grammy Award winning artist and the star of the film Youssou N’Dour

Youssou N’Dour and the Director Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi during the post-screening Q&A session

Youssou N’Dour answering a question from the audience during the post-screening Q&A session

Questions were taken from the audience during the film’s post-screening Q&A session

Youssou N’Dour and the Director Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi received much applause from the audience

Busie and Youssou N’Dour after the Q&A session

After the screening, the group headed over to the Club AfroPop experience at the Pierre Hotel Lounge on 2 East 61st Street. This event was hosted by All for Africa’s community partner AfroPop Worldwide

Special thanks to everyone who made the film’s premiere a great success.

‘I bring What I love’  continues showing in theaters in New York City at the Paris theater, Village East Cinema and BAM Rose Cinema. For more information and other cities release date visit the film’s official site at www.ibringwhatilove.com

On Thursday, April 30, 2009, All for Africa held its first fundraiser of the year at Cipriani’s private club in downtown Manhattan. The event was a combination of high-end fashion and art. The venue was perfect. It was a small intimate setting that was great for showcasing both the artwork and fashion pieces.

The event was well attended, and many new faces showed up to support All For Africa’s cause. High end fashion pieces such as dresses and jewelry generously provided by African and American designers were displayed and auctioned at the event. nAscent art, a company that represents emerging artists, provided a beautiful display art exhibit showcasing fantastic art works with an African focus. We are very excited about the painting, Niger, by Ntel Tahou that sold at auction. More beautiful art work by artists such as John Breiner, Peter Dressel, Gregory Kirschenbaum, Ezra Mabengeza and many more are still available for purchase for the benefit of All For Africa – please watch out for these pieces on both the All for Africa and nAscent Art websites.  All For Africa was able to display and sell its new line of merchandise, which included items such as pendants, tote bags, and key rings that were designed to match the All For Africa logo and hand-crafted in South Africa. Guests also had the opportunity to purchase oil palm trusts, and received a certificate of authenticity to acknowledge their contribution.

The event was a lot of fun and a big success, and it would not have been a success without the generous support of BarterHouse, who generously sponsored the event and Cipriani’s, that provided the wonderful venue and food for the event.

To continue your support and to help us plant trees please BUY A TREE!

We would also like to thank Arthur and Brian Adelman of Flip Dresses, who provided beautiful dresses for the event, and Yana Fleming of African Fashion Index. African Fashion Index provided the African designers for the event and is also responsible for the All For Africa Fair trade Market place www.allforafrica.org/shop/. Please check it out. African designers, whose items were featured at the event, included: Chloe Townsend and Des Richards of Missibaba studio, South Africa, Bong Gray of Bongiz in South Africa, Nkwo Onwuka of the Nkwo fashion label of Nigeria and the United Kingdom, Khutala Mayosi of Khuts Exclusive Designs, South Africa, who also designed the beautiful Messenger tote available at the All For Africa Fair trade Market place, and Tapiwa Matsinde of the Nakai label of Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom. We also appreciate the generous support of Roxana Pintili of Warren Tricoma Hair care, Angela DeInnocentiis for makeup and Steve Leff, who was the Fashion Coordinator for the event.

A special thanks goes out to our great staff, Busie Matsiko, Paula Naggaga, Juliano Innocenti and all of the volunteers who support all for Africa.

In 2008 All for Africa planted the first oil palm seeds in Ghana, West Africa. These seeds represented the first crops in All for Africa’s campaign to plant one million oil palm trees on approximately 17,000 acres of land in Africa. These germinated seeds or seedlings were planted in Nkwanta district in the Volta region.

After land preparation was complete, the seedlings were planted in small black polybags. The polybags were kept well watered prior to the commencement of planting.

This stage is known as the pre-nursery stage. These polybags were put under a shelter as seen on the photo below.

This protects the young seedlings from diseases. The young seedlings were held at this stage for the first 3 months.

The preparation for the main nursery continues. The 3 month old seedlings are moved from the pre-nursery area and replanted into larger polybags.
The seedlings will remain in large polybags for an additional 9 months. At that point, the small plants will be ready to be moved the field. The first production of palm oil is scheduled for the 4th quarter of 2012.