I can’t believe that this year NEEDS Africa will be 5 years old! It was almost 7 years ago that Caron and I first began to talk about the many needs that I was encountering during my mission trips to Zimbabwe, and how we had to do something about it.
It wasn’t too long after that when we met with Naggib Chakhane and Robert Chanson, 2 men who shared a similar concern and desire as ours, to make a positive difference in the lives of the disadvantaged and marginalised in Africa. From then our team was formed.
Since that first meeting in early 2015, we’ve accomplished much:
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Visited over 15 schools, most of which are based in rural areas where poverty is at its most severe, and given them stationery and sports equipment
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Travelled to and met with people from some of the poorest communities in 3 different countries
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Launched and continue to sponsor a football tournament for schools in rural Zimbabwe
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Shipped a container load of bicycles, stationery and mobility equipment to Zimbabwe and distributed them to rural schools and communities as well as old age homes
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Held workshops focussing on personal development, leadership training, football coaching and musicianship
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Managed to sponsor 20 children through school since our inception
Click on the slideshow below for a snapshot of our work over the past 5 years
Not to mention the numerous one-off donations to help meet medical costs, to purchase food hampers, fund Christmas parties at children’s homes etc.
However, in spite of all that we have been able to accomplish, there still remains so much more to do and so many more people in desperate need of a helping hand.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for all your support thus far, because without you we could never have done all that we have or made a difference for the better in so many people’s lives.
At the same time I would also like to encourage you to continue supporting us, and even consider partnering with us to give generously, both in cash and in kind, as there are still so many more people in need of help and care. Although there are countless numbers of people living in desperate situations, I have no doubt that together we can help to turn things around for them and give them a chance at a better life through education and training.
And so, as we start a new year and a new decade, I would like to urge you to consider making a new commitment to give regularly as little as £10 a month. This will be enough to cover the cost of a primary school child’s school fees and stationery for one year.
As Nelson Mandela once said,
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”
So let’s join together and work to change Africa for the better, one life at a time.
Nigel and the NEEDS Africa Team