SCHOOL’S OUT...But the AfriKids Academy is full of studentsAs school children enjoy their summer holidays, adults and school leavers are eager to take on IT lessons to increase their job prospects.This newsletter has been solely created via the use of a computer. It has been distributed to our donor base, all of whom can read it on the screen of a computer. In our technology driven world, IT is a vastly important tool for employability. In Ghana, IT is part of the school curriculum.

However, schools in the Upper East Region of Ghana are mainly without electricity, let alone computers or IT trained teachers. Without the

AfriKids Academy, these would be merely unchangeable facts.

The AfriKids Academy provides required IT lessons to all schools in the local area. The demand for lessons far exceeds the Academy’s capacity. However, by training teachers who can pass the skills onto their students, the Academy uses innovative methods to allow the technology to reach as many beneficiaries as possible. With this effect, the numbers benefiting from the project are in fact far greater than just the number of visitors and direct users of the Academy.

Even during the school holidays, the AfriKids Academy is bursting at the seams with adults and school leavers wanting to pay for IT lessons to increase their employability.

Money made from these students goes towards the running costs of the Academy. Throughout July, 57 adult students regularly attended lessons, many of whom have now graduated. We congratulate them and hope that they enjoy putting their new skills to use throughout their working lives!

“People who pass through here and use these computers are given a certificate. This certificate is so valuable as it is almost a key to employment.”Sebastian AyaabaAfriKids Academy Manager

AfriKids is a Child Rights Organisation working to improve life for Ghana’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged children in a holistic, inclusive and sustainable manner

August 2011

PROJECT FOCUSCase Study of Mary AkutaThis month, we admire the two-way relationship that Mary Akuta has with the AfriKids Academy. Mary has both given and received support by the Academy, which has ultimately changed her life.The success of the AfriKids Academy can be greatly attributed to the Head of IT, Sebastian Ayaaba. Sebastian’s hard work and dedication has enabled the Academy to benefit vast numbers of children and adults alike.

Sebastian has passed on his wisdom to other teachers and staff, like Mary. Five years ago, Mary left her home in Bolgatanga and travelled south to Kumasi in the hope of finding work. Unfortunately, when Mary arrived in Kumasi all she found was poverty and hardship, without the network of family and friends she had at home.

Under AfriKids’ Operation Fresh Start, Mary returned to Bolgatanga and began vocational training at the Academy. Mary now handles the

AfriKids AcademyAfriKids Eco VillageAfriKids Ethical TradeAfriKids Medical CentreBolga Area ProgrammeEducational fundKassena Nankana Area ProgrammeMedical fundOperation BolgaOperation Mango TreeOperation SINGhOperation SmilesOperation ZuarunguStreet Mothers AssociationTalensi Nabdam Area ProgrammeYoung Entrepreneurs

Project backgroundIn 2005, AfriKids Ghana were offered a container full of computers intended to help a equip a school. Rather than give it all to one school, AfriKids Ghana decided to set up their own Academy which could offer free education to all local schools.

Most schools lack the resources to sustain IT education so with Sebastian Ayaaba’s extraordinary teaching skills, the Academy turned into a long standing and successful project. It has now broadened to educate all middle school leavers and to train teachers for free.

secretarial work that the Academy provides, such as the printing and designing of cards, invitations and more. The profits of this work contribute to the running costs of the Academy.

Since the AfriKids Ghana Head Office moved to a different location, two more rooms have become available for use by the Academy. These rooms will allow the Academy to come closer to meeting the demand for lessons by both local schools and adults and school leavers. AfriKids UK are currently fundraising to fill these rooms with the necessary equipment to run more lessons.

A huge thank you to Tim Shoesmith, an incredibly talented magician you may know from our events, who has made numberous donations through his work. The donations we receive from the generosity he brings out in people has proven enough to pay Mary’s salary for the year.

“The AfriKids Academy is, to me, both a training centre, and a job that has totally changed my life.”Mary AkutaAfrikids Academy Staff Member

Mary and Sebastian

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01: A school class sharing computers

02: Without computers, schools have to teach IT lessons on the blackboard

03: A local teacher teaching IT without any equipment

04: Mary takes pride in her work, even bringing her child with her!

05: Boys concentrating hard on their IT skills

06: The Academy use a projector and written notes to aid IT lessons

Show your support with a PicBadge!

We have created an AfriKids ‘PicBadge’ that you can add to your Facebook profile picture to show your support for us and get our brand recognised.

You can add it to your profile picture by clicking on the PicBadge below or by clicking on the PicBadge post on our facebook page. Thanks in advance for your support!

AFRIKIDSONLINE

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www.facebook.com/afrikids Let’s tweet @AfriKids

AfriKidsGREAT NEWS: AfriKids has been awarded funding from DFID’s Civil Society Challenge Fund of £460,509 over four years! Yipee!

AfriKids Great stuff Rudi! @Roodboy RT: I am fundraising for @Afrikids & could use your support. Every bit helps! #justgiving justgiving.com/rudi-in-ghana #in

29 Jul

Afrikids Ambassador, Dave Brown, otherwise known as ‘Bollo the monkey’ from the Mighty Boosh promotes AfriKids during an interview about his life in ShellsuitZombie Magazine.

So I hear you’re involved in some charity work. Fancy talking about that for a bit?

Yes, I love talking about it! I have just become an ambassador for afrikids.org, a freaking ambassador!

They’ve been an absolute joy to work with, I’ve done some fundraising for them as Bollo, I’ve rebranded them, not as Bollo, and I even got the opportunity to spend some time in Ghana last year seeing their projects first hand ... it was an incredible experience ... I need to go back

www.shellsuitzombie.co.uk

AfriKidsCongratulations to our partner project, Operation SINGh, for securing the Philips’ SimplyHealthy@Schools community programme for Ghana’s Upper East Region – the second location for this initiative in the whole of Africa!

Genevieve Easton Poole Amazing news!!! ilovealcopop

Spent the afternoon hanging with @AfriKids ... Hot champs and very strong charity, well worthy of your love and folding money...

28 Jul

JimmylazersHey all u footballers, get involved in an @AfriKids @_greenhouse_ football tourno, get a team together www.tinyurl.com/AfriKidsGreenhouse

20 Jul 2 people like this

Myfund Givers EventUK staff members, Katie and Ama, attended the myfund Givers Event and Charity Fair on 22nd May. Myfund is a project developed by the United Jewish Israel Appeal (UJIA)’s Social Responsibility Team and introduces the concept of philanthropy to teenagers in an informal, social environment.

The Givers Event saw numerous young people attend to meet different charities, including AfriKids, and hear about their work.

After speaking with AfriKids on the day, eight individuals made very generous donations, raising £431.98 for AfriKids!

FUNDRAISEFORAFRIKIDSTHE EXTREME 5 CHALLENGEOn Sunday 10th July Nick Fienberg, Jon Fienberg, Emily Cowan and Dave Martin took part in the eXtreme 5 Challenge, an exciting quadrathlon comprising a 1.5k swim, 10km kayak, 40km cycle and 10km run, all in aid of AfriKids. They all put in a huge amount of effort and raised money for AfriKids in the process!

THE BRITISH 10K RAISES OVER £3,000 FOR AFRIKIDSA huge thank you to MaameYaa Boayke, Kwame Atteen, Sally and David Miller, Emily Hartwell and Kirsty Lees. These 6 runners represented AfriKids and raised over £3,000 by completing the run! www.afrikids.org

YOUR LAST CHANCE TO SIGN

UP FOR THE AfriKids and Greenhouse Football Tournament!It is shaping up to be a great night full of football, beer and burgers. Sign your team up quick!

Wednesday 24th August6.30 - 9.30pm£25 per player (includes bbq & beer)St Paul’s Girls’ SchoolBute Gardens, Hammersmith, London, W6 7BS

Register onlineor contact Jo if you have any queries:joannastewart@afrikids.org