| | |  | A window into African village life | A young journalist will provide a window into African village life, when she goes to live with a rural Zambian community for a month, starting in late September.
|  | 24-year-old journalist Ciara Kenny will travel to Eastern Zambia in September, and will provide daily 'blogs' and video reports from her experiences.
She will utilise a range of new media, including blogs, facebook, and twitter to file her reports, which are to be hosted by The Irish Times online edition.
Ciara, who has not been to Sub-Saharan Africa previously has travelled widely, and has filed reports to the Rough Guide travel book series from Asia. Her project is being undertaken in collaboration with Self Help Africa. |
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| Self Help Africa hosts Famine event | Self Help Africa is an "indomitable champion" of the poor in the developed world, according to Irish President Mary McAleese.
The Irish President was speaking at a special conference, 'Hunger in the 21st Century: Ireland and the Fight Against Famine', to commemorate the Irish Famine of 1845-49, which was co-hosted by Self Help Africa and Concern Worldwide. Noting Ireland's long history of leadership in development aid, President McAleese made a call to action for those affected by hunger worldwide.
"Surrounded here as we are by full shops, full stomachs and limitless choice, it is hard to comprehend the other reality that is faced each day by 1 billion people who go hungry, who do not have enough to eat. One in six of the world’s citizens lives that life and their hunger is our responsibility and our call to action."
The event also featured Helen Clark, the former prime minister of New Zealand and current administrator of the United Nations Development Fund, as well as Kalongo Chitengi, Self Help Africa's country director in Zambia, who spoke about the central role of promoting farming as a business in reducing hunger. Kevin Farrell, the Irish government's special envoy on hunger and Angela O'Neill, regional director of Concern also spoke at the event, which was moderated by Roger Thurow, author of "Enough: Why the world's poorest starve in an age of plenty'. |
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| Vital role of smallholder farming in Africa | | Increasing access for smallholder farmers to knowledge and skills, to land and natural resources, and to agricultural research and decision-making is vital if global hunger and poverty are to be eradicated. |  | A new report, launched by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Overseas Development in London this week underlines the key role that smallholder farmers have to play in efforts to feed a growing world population.
Produced by the African Smallholder Farmers' Group, of which Self Help Africa is a member, 'Africa’s Smallholder Farmers: Approaches that Work for Viable Livelihoods' presents nine accounts of successful approaches that have increased access to decision-making, assets, markets, science, knowledge and technology for smallholder farmers.
The report says that following decades of neglect and failure to invest in agriculture, an international consensus had emerged that more and better aid is needed. And it argues that small-scale farming systems must be prioritised, along with smallholder farmers' ability to access local and international markets. It calls on the UK Government to make a commitment to increase the amount of aid on this sector, and to focus agricultural aid on areas with greatest potential to support smallholder farmers. |
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| Award-winning documentary |  | A television documentary that looked at the lives of a community working with Self Help Africa in Ethiopia, has received a prestigious award.
'Africa Rising', produced and directed by Scottish film-maker Jamie Doran for C4, received the annual MDG Award at the annual One World Media Awards in London recently.
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|  | | | Self Help Africa launched in US | Former Irish President and UN High Commissioner Mary Robinson presided at the official United States launch of Self Help Africa in late 2009.
The official launch took place at a reception hosted by the Consul General of Ireland Mr. Niall Burgess (pictured) in New York in early December. More than 100 guests, including business figures, supporters and other invited guests attended.
Self Help Africa CEO Ray Jordan said the launch in New York was an exciting new chapter in the history of the organisation, which marks its 25th anniversary in 2009. 'The US has traditionally been extremely supportive of work in the developing world, and we look forward to making new friends and forging new links in coming years', he said. |
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|  | | | Minister launches climate report | The Climate Frontline report has now been launched in New York, Dublin and Brussels by Self Help Africa.
At a reception in Dublin, Irish Minister for the Environment John Gormley said the publication was a 'valuable attempt to bring the voices of Africa to the table' in the climate change debate.
At a reception in the European Parliament in Brussels, members and staff from the parliament's environment committee, along with other MEPs, received copies of the publication, along with a briefing from Self Help Africa staff. | |
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|  | Farming has 'vital role' | Farming has a vital role to play in enabling millions of Africans to escape the poverty trap, former Irish farming president Padraig Walshe said on a recent fact-finding visit to Kenya.
Mr.Walshe, who is also the President of European Farmers Union COPA, said that the importance of increasing farm productivity had been brought home during his field visit with Self Help Africa to Kenya.
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| $1m loan book for Ethiopia co-ops | Over 26,000 members of Self Help Africa-supported savings and credit co-operatives now manage a loan book of around $1m, a conference heard last week.
Five unions manage 185 individual co-ops across the country, with an average of 142 members in each of these co-ops. Repayment rates average over 98%, and average interest is 12%. Over 70% of co-op members are women, and there are currently 13,000 loans for activities ranging from livestock fattening to petty trading.
Self Help Africa's savings and credit initiative in Ethiopia receives on-going assistance from the Irish League of Credit Unions. |
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|  | | | Living on the Climate Frontline | International concern about climate change is rising, though international action lags behind. While there is a wealth of reports and data demonstrating the effect that climate change will have at global and regional levels, the voices of individuals on the front line are heard less often.
Joining with four other development NGOs, Self Help Africa has produced a report – Climate Frontline Africa – which allows these voices to be heard directly. They describe, in their own words, how climate change is affecting them, and how they are adapting. The report’s publication was timed to coincide with the international conference on climate change in Copenhagen last December.
No binding agreement was reached at Copenhagen, and attention has now begun to shift to the next major international gathering, COP 16, in Mexico in November and December 2010. Self Help Africa continues its work with communities on the front line of climate change, and will continue to press for proper funding for adaptation. | |
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|  | | | UN Secretary receives MDG book | United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon was presented with a copy of 'Twenty Fifteen', the first in a series of books being published by Self Help Africa on the Millennium Development Goals, when he visited Dublin recently.
A compendium of creative writing by students and public figures, it also includes contributions by Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney, Man Booker Prize winner Anne Enright, author Sebastian Barry, and a host of other literary figures.
Work is currently under way on the second book in the series, focusing on the goal of universal access to primary education, and involving schools in Ireland, Britain, Africa and the United States. | |
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| Be a Change Maker for Africa! |  | | | The first-ever Change Maker's Ball, to support Self Help Africa's programs, takes place in Chelsea Piers, New York on November 12th.
Find out more about how you can become involved in this prestigious black tie event.
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|  | Self Help Africa's annual report is now available, giving an overview of our work across nine countries in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2009.
Click here to download a copy.
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|  | New Yorkers turn out for Togo | Thousands of New Yorkers turned out on May 22nd for a day of celebrating in the sunshine - and helping small communities in Africa.
The pubs and restaurants on Stone St (Becketts, The Dubliner, Mad Dog and Beans, Stone St Tavern, Ulysses, Smorgas Chef, Waterstone Grill, Burger Burger and Adrienne's Pizzabar) joined together to throw a street-wide party to raise funds for Self Help Africa's work in Togo. | |
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| Africa can feed itself, Uganda director tells New York & Boston audiences |  | | | Africa can feed itself, by improving agriculture and using micro-finance to start off-farm businesses, Self Help Africa's country director for Uganda told audiences in New York and Boston recently.
"Just $100 can bring a family from hunger to agricultural surplus," said Dr Wajja-Musukwe. "That's less than the cost of a modest hotel room in New York, but that investment can achieve something permanent in Africa."
Dr Wajja said Self Help Africa's vision - of an Africa free from hunger and poverty - was achievable, but the focus must be on developing rural economies from the ground up. "Putting funding into grass-roots organizations works," he said. "Most of what is lacking is good advice - showing farmers how to grow more, and grow better. "
Micro-finance initiatives are also critical for rural Africa's prosperity, he said. "In Africa, you cannot get a loan from a bank, because you have no security. But with a micro-finance co-operative, the incentive to pay back the loan comes from your neighbors, and it works. People get a loan, and they pay it back, and it means they have the capital to start a small business."
Also speaking at the New York event, telecoms executive Tom Bryant - who had visited Self Help Africa's Uganda programs in late 2009 - described the work as "the real deal".
"This really works," he said, "and it's an inspiration to see it. There are so many families we saw who have been freed from a life of hunger because of the work of Dr Wajja and Self Help Africa."
The Boston event was hosted by Ciara Smyth, a publishing executive and board member of Self Help Africa, who has also visited the organization's Uganda projects.
"Having seen the work in Uganda, and the way in which people's lives have been transformed by Self Help, it was great to be able to bring that message to a wider audience in Boston," she said. "The work is very simple, and it really works for long term change in rural communities."
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| US & Ireland to host hunger event | The governments of the United States and Ireland have agreed to co-host a sidelines event at the forthcoming Millennium Development Goals summit in September around the time of the United Nations General Assembly.
The event will highlight global hunger, food security, and nutrition, and takes place in the context of Ireland's commitment to devote 20 percent of its overseas development assistance budget to meet the urgent challenge of global hunger.
Global hunger "is a priority for both of our governments, but it’s a historical passion and cause for Ireland," said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as she announced the sidelines event.
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| Euro backing for major new work |
Two ambitious new development programmes that will seek to improve food security and the livelihoods of more than 1.2 million people are being started by Self Help Africa in Zambia and Ethiopia.
Over $3.7 million has been secured from the European Commission for the projects, both of which will take place over a two-year period (2010-2011).
The Seed Entrepreneurship for Economic Development and Food Security (SEEDFS) project in Zambia will increase food security and incomes of farming community by increasing access and supply of good quality seed, while in Ethiopia we will expand our existing Agricultural Co-Operative Development Programme, which links farmers to markets.
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|  | A John Deere tractor, Toyota Hilux, and Corolla car are amongst the prizes on offer in a 'Monster Raffle', being organised by cereal farmers 'Combines4Charity', in October.
Find out more and buy your tickets here. |
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| | Women & development |
'Women & Development' is the latest in a series of new short informational videos from Self Help Africa.
The film seeks to set out some of the challenges faced by African women, and also some of the measures that can and are being taken to ensure that women can play an active part in the development process in our programmes. | |
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| News from Africa | | The support that we get from the general public and our other donors makes our African programmes possible. Read below a sample of just some of the things that have been happening recently with the people with whom we are working in Africa. | | | | | | | |
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| | | | Self Help Africa - UK
Second Floor, Westgate House,Dickens Court,
Hills Lane, Shrewsbury, SY1 1QU
Tel. +44 (0) 1743 277170 |
| Self Help Africa - Ireland
Annefield House,Dublin Road,
Portlaoise, Co. Laois, Ireland
Tel. +353 (0) 578694034 |
| Self Help Africa Inc.
304 Park Avenue South, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10010, USA
Tel. +1 917 289 0670 |
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| | Self Help Africa is a non-profit 501(c) 3 organisation in the United States.
Self Help Africa is an international charity registered in Ireland and the United Kingdom Registered charity number: 6663 (Ireland), and 298830 (UK) | | | | | | Powered by go2web
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