Within the context of our mission and values, ICA:UK has been providing important support to partner organisations in Africa for the past 40 years, strengthening them in their role of enabling the communities they work with to address the major issues they face in a sustainable way.
We believe that local organisations have a key role to play in community development in Africa, a role often overlooked or even undermined by current funding practices.
Our approach is one of partnership, building mutually beneficial relationships (based on trust and respect) with organisations in Africa and providing small grants (usually around £2,000) to finance partner initiatives aimed at strengthening themselves and/or enable them to test and embed new elements in their work with communities.
Village Volunteers in action
The scheme has been running with its current focus since 2007. Since then, 13 local organisations in Africa, all aligned with ICA values, have benefited from over £30,000 in grants, all raised from the regular donations of individual sponsors in the UK. A recent (2024) survey with grant recipients clearly highlighted how the funding had not only benefited their organisations (through strengthened systems and governance, mobilization of resources) but also their programmes, leading to greater ownership by the communities they are working with.
Below are some examples of what a difference a small amount of money well directed and managed can make:
- Training staff and partners of Support for Community Response (SCR) based in Mariakani in the Coastal Region of Kenya in ToP Facilitation Methods
- Training community members as Climate Change Educators in Makueni County, Kenya
- Developing a participatory strategic plan for Safe Neighbourhood Foundation (SNF) in Uganda
- Supporting impact assessments in Kenya (Tujiendeleze Youth Organisation), ICA Benin and ICA Uganda
- Financing a training in Technology of Participation methods in Benin
- Researching the longer term impact of ICA work in Kenya. This work resulted in a longer report from which a series of case studies are being taken, documenting the changes in individuals and communities brought about by ICA’s work. See case studies from Kamweleni and Vwevwesi.
Tujiendeleze Youth Organisation (TYO)
TYO has supported more than 170 young people to study Community Development and Vocational courses in Kenya since it started in 2008 as Tujiendeleze Youth Trust Fund (TYTF). They also offer Mentorship, Lifeskills Training and other support to students. Learn more about their work from their website here.
ICA:UK has partnered with TYO for over 15 years, acting as a conduit for UK sponsors to support students’ education, and providing funding for their Strategic Planning process and Impact Assessment.
Become a Sponsor
Currently we offer two opportunities for you to support our work in Africa:
- As a Village Volunteers sponsor your money will contribute to different partner initiatives across Africa. Partners submit proposals for discussion and refinement before the ICA:UK Board decides where to allocate available funding
Go here to make a one-off donation or set up a Standing Order for Village Volunteers
- As a sponsor of Tujiendeleze Youth Organisation in Kenya, your money will be used to sponsor young men and women from informal settlements, who are committed to developing their own communities, to gain higher educational and vocational qualifications through local colleges and training institutions.
Go here make a one-off donation or set up a Standing Order for TYO
Our scheme is entirely volunteer-led and managed, so as a contributor to the Village Volunteers Fund or to Tujiendeleze Youth Organisation you will have the assurance that 100% of your donation will go towards the strengthening and development of local organisations in Africa who share the ICA philosophy and who are working with some of the most vulnerable communities. You will receive regular communications on how your money is being spent as well as news from other ICAs in Africa and how they are supporting development by communities.
If you are a UK taxpayer you can also increase the value of your donation by allowing us to claim Gift Aid.