ICA:UK’s intention for its work in Africa is to contribute towards creating a sustainable development “eco-system”, shaped by communities, supported by sovereign local organisations and local consultants.
In this update we can report on four initiatives which are contributing towards that aim.
- After receiving a grant from our Village Volunteers sponsorship scheme, ICA Service Ventures in Zambia has successfully completed a project to develop a strategic plan for themselves and to install solar panels and equipment for their office – read more in their case story.
- In collaboration with Fourmis du Changement in France, Village Volunteers contributed towards a ToP training for facilitators and trainers from Cote d’Ivoire and Benin, taking place in Cote d’Ivoire now! We will report on this in our next update.
- We are very grateful to ICA:UK Lead ToP Trainer Megan Evans who generously offered free places to seven African facilitators (from Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya and Burkina Faso) on her recent online ToP training courses. We are now following up with those trainees to understand the impact that the training has had and how we can continue to support them as they build up their expertise and experience as facilitators and trainers.
- Although separate from ICA:UK and the International Programme, ICA:UK Lead ToP Trainer John Cornwell co-hosts the Embrace Everyone website and newsletter which ‘is all about promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, and giving space to everyone… It involves asking who is in, who is out and why, and then how we can make sure that everyone is “in” for a Fresh Start.’ It goes well beyond ICA but provides a wider perspective on social inclusion and the people and practices involved.
Since its inception, our Village Volunteers sponsorship scheme has relied on the generosity of people who recognised the importance of this work, largely through their connection with ICA and, in many cases, experience of working in Africa. We begin to explore the implications of this in our recent blog post the Challenge of Fundraising.
People acknowledge the continuing relevance of the Village Volunteers’ approach and so one of our immediate priorities is to expand the number of supporters, enabling us to expand our grant scheme and so deepen and broaden our impact.
Will you support us? Village Volunteers is run entirely by volunteers, and our ability to claim Gift Aid means that often more than 100% of your donation can go to African organisations.
Please visit Village Volunteers to learn more and to make a one-off donation or become a regular sponsor. Every donation, however small, can help!