SMALL CHANGE FORBIG SMILESThis week (commencing 5th December) AfriKids are holding a Text Appeal to raise vital funds to provide families with National Health Insurance for 2012 that could save many lives. The Ghana National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) provides financial support to families regarding general health complaints by covering their medical bills. The scheme costs just £8 per family per year, so on average (with lots of large families about), it works out at just £1 per person.

December 2011

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

In Ghana, healthcare really is the first step to sustainability. For example, without the security of medical insurance, AfriKids would struggle to provide a microfinance loan for a family business as the money could easily be used up on medical bills if a family member were to fall ill. This would set the family back further, as they would have a loan to repay, no business, and still no security for any further medical bills. Therefore, NHIS really does run across all of our work.

We hope to fund 500 families in need of health insurance through this week’s text appeal. Any donations we receive beyond that will go to the AfriKids Medical Centre where the families could be treated.

Text donations were set up by JustGiving and Vodafone, donating 100% of the amount to the charities. Text donations can be £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10, allowing you to fund just one family member, or a whole family if you wish. You can also text as many times as you want, so don’t be put off if you’d like to give more! Text donations are automatically added to your phone bill, so it really couldn’t be simpler.

Please, if you can spare some small change for big smiles, text ‘AKCA11 £10’ to 70070 (please change the amount according to what you wish to donate). We will be posting constant feedback on our website, so keep an eye out for your thank you’s and updates!

PROJECT FOCUSDOUBLE TROUBLEHere’s a heart-warming case study of one family who could really benefit from National Health Insurance.Sally Eastcott, one of AfriKids’ Directors, got a shock on her 28th birthday when she and some of the AfriKids Ghana team were confronted with three lives hanging onto a thread. Sitting quietly on the steps of the Angus Child Rights Centre in Sirigu was a woman with two new born babies, who were full term, though Sally claims she had never even seen premature babies so small.

Born at the end of the dry season, Anaba and Atule, along with many other babies born at this time of year, were prone to malnutrition as food is highly limited. At seven months pregnant, the mother, Akekeyu, had run out of food and by the final week of pregnancy, was only consuming a cup of hot water a

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

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day. The situation was deteriorating to the point where the babies may have been declared ‘spirits’, having brought such bad luck to the family.

Just in time, AfriKids were suggested to Akekeyu, which then led her to the Angus Centre on that day. However, purely providing food would have been too unhygienic in the family’s mud compound. This would have made diarrhoea inevitable, something Akekeyu, who was paricularly weak, could not cope with. So, the next day, the family were driven to Sister Jane, who could care for the family with her medical expertise.

Just two days later, Sally visited the family and was blown away by the dramatic improvement. A further two months later, they returned home to their family in Sirigu, fit, healthy and able to take care of themselves. Providing families like this with National Health Insurance can help to keep them this way.

For a recent clip of Anaba and Atule with their mother, click here

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01: Sister Jane with one of the twins when they first arrived for help

02: The now healthy twins, Anaba and Atule, with their mother, Akekeyu

03: A mother and son being treated at the AfriKids Medical Centre

04: A boy very proud of his NHIS

05: Sister Jane with Mama Laadi

06: A mother and child at the AfriKids Medical Centre

07: Another healthy baby thanks to Sister Jane

08: Mama Laadi with Prince - all the children at Mama Laadi’s foster home are provided with NHIS

AFRIKIDSONLINE

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

AfriKidsIt’s nearly QUIZMAS! Come along and join is for the AfriKids festive fun! 7th December x

payneandgunterCongrats on a fantastic article @AfriKids! Everyone should read yesterday’s telegraph!! We were all moved, so glad we work with you!! xx29 Nov

AfriKidsThe AfriKids Christmas Catalogue is out now and full of unique, ethically sourced, awesome gifts! From cards to confectionery, gardening to cosmetics; there’s something for everyone!

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AfriKidsThank you @louiseminchin > “@AfriKids lovely piece about Georgie in the #telegraph and well deserved too.”

28 Nov

AfriKidsOur 1000th tweet! 140,000 characters, 24 photos, 517 new friends & countless RTs! On to the next 1000! #Twitterversary

22 Nov

Katie Arnold Can’t wait to buy loads of ethical goods!

alexandrawyldeINCREDIBLE African drumming lesson last night at Allen&Overy in aid of @AfriKids. Great cause, very sore hands.

11 Nov

Sam Witney PhotographyAn AfriKids Ambassador and fantastic photographer, Sam Witney, has recently blogged about his experience of the projects in Ghana.Operation Sunlight is a key project, focussed on removing children from mining work and placing them back in education. We spent a day with the charismatic Project Manager Raymond Ayinne as he took us first to the shallow mines and then to two deeper mines (“galamsey”), where we spoke with miners and encountered evidence of ongoing child labour. In a lighter moment at a later visit to a school, after we have been introduced to the class, the classroom of children were lead into a uplifting call and response affirming the virtues of education over child labour. However the first call from the teacher is muddled...”No to Education!” Yes to child labour!” they call, at which point the classroom of children eye each other, bemused, before half mumbling a response. As the teacher realises the mistake the class break out into laughter before recomposing themselves for three more shouts, this time of “Yes to education! No to child labour!”

You can read more about his experiences here

AfriKidsWant some good news? We’re one of the Telegraph’s charities for their 2011 Christmas Appeal!

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FUNDRAISEFORAFRIKIDSBrighton MarathonAfriKids will be participating in the Brighton Marathon again this year. Over the last two years, 12 fantastic supporters have run the Brighton Marathon in support of AfriKids and raised over £15,000.

If you would like to undertake a new challenge or feel a New Year’s resolution coming on, then why not run Brighton Marathon for AfriKids and help us to raise those all important funds for our projects?

The marathon will take place on Sunday 15th April, 2012. If you would like to sign up, please contact amaatteen@afrikids.org by Friday 27th January 2012, 5pm to secure your place. www.afrikids.org

An extra special Ghanaian challengeOne of AfriKids’ first beneficiaries and AfriKids resident artist, Paul Apowida, is now embarking on another challenge to fundraise for AfriKids, and mark a significant phase in the eradication of the ‘spirit child’ phenomenon.

Just before Christmas, Paul will be running from the AfriKids Ghana Head Office to the Angus Child Rights Centre (35km or 22 miles in 36°c heat) wearing his army backpack and army clothing. He will also set himself a specific time to beat in order to raise the bar of the challenge.

On arrival at the Angus Centre, once he’s caught his breath (!), he’ll deliver a speech to children from local Child Rights Clubs, their families and other individuals from the local community at a Grand Durbar. Then, Paul will complete a new piece of artwork to represent his challenge and the durbar as a significant phase in the eradication of the spirit child phenomenon. The artwork will then be auctioned to raise even more funds.

Please support Paul by sponsoring him here.

Paul joined the British Army in 2008.He got back to the UK in November and a Telegraph journalist attended the medal ceremony in Chepstow to capture the occasion and write the following article about Paul’s story:www.thetelegraph.co.uk

One of Paul’s designs which feature in our Christmas card range this year. See more in our online shop.