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PASSING THE THREE MILLION MARK

In January 2021 Afrinspire passed the £3,000,000 mark on money raised since the charity first began in 2002.

More than 96% of our money has reached grass roots Africa direct to partners and beneficiaries. As a volunteer based charity with only one third of an employee, who does some book-keeping, we have achieved this incredibly low running cost. which makes us one of the most cost-effective charities in the UK.

We are bringing you three items of news

The women in Isingero, their FAL training and back yard gardens to help combat drought.
The launch of a new Computer and Resource centre in Buyende, Uganda in January.
The story of the Lunga people in Zambia and our efforts to assist them, including a new matched giving opportunity.

Please click on our links to dig deeper into the news we are bringing.

With best wishes from the Afrinspire Team

WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT IN ISINGERO

Thank you to everyone who donated in the BIG Give 2020 in December. Eighty three donors contributed to the total of £24,200 which will fund the extensive FAL programme for the whole of 2021.
Here are the women leaders in Isingero in south east Uganda. Pictured with Rose Ekitwi (on left), the FAL leader who has started more than 100 groups all around Uganda, on the occasion of the next round of training in the FAL material . On a separate occasion, the women were introduced to back yard gardening as a means of getting through droughts to help them living in a water stressed region. 230 women are in the 8 FAL groups.

BACK YARD GARDENS IN A WATER STRESSED AREA

A NEW RESOURCE CENTRE IS LAUNCHED

A new resource centre was opened in January in Nabisiki in Buyende District, an area just south of Lake Kyoga in Uganda. A place that is remote and to which electricity arrived for the first time during 2020. Full story here
Long term Uganda Development Services supporters will appreciate this article.

THE LUNGA PEOPLE

The Lunga swamps are at the edge of Lake Bangweulu in Northern Zambia. A network of rivers and channels like fingers reach the outcrops of islands on which the people live. The swamps are a natural wonderland yet are home to 30,000 people. The remoteness and hard to reach nature of the swamps has meant slow development. For the second year in a row the lake has risen to submerge the homes of many people, displacing thousands. A 'banana boat' was bought by Afrinspire to help the local population in normal times for transport and as an income generator for funding the repair of shallow wells. In the recent floods, the boat became a rescue vessel bringing 120 people to the mainland.

Our partner, Penelope, who manages the boat, gave food and masks to the people as they came ashore.

AFRINSPIRE ZAMBIA FLOOD APPEAL
with MATCHED FUNDING

The people go to find relatives who are already on the mainland or they settle in villages which will have them. Afrinspire has been asked by the local leaders to focus on helping one community at Chibondo where people settled last year and now have new arrivals. The water and sanitation needs are the most critical. We have launched the
AFRINSPIRE ZAMBIA FLOOD APPEAL with MATCHED FUNDING
where you can read more and help us to help the displaced people with immediate needs, water and sanitation and to plant food.
The first £2,000 of donations will be matched.
You can read our most recent Zambia Report here.