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Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without M&SMarks and Spencer's Christmas 3 for 2 is back! This offer includes beauty gifts, toiletries, cards, wrap and decorations; it's a great way to get more for less this festive season.
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| Forward this mail on to help AVIF raise funds. Please forward this mail on if you think that you know people who would like to receive it. Responsible emailingRemember if someone receives this mail from you, then tells you they don't want to receive a similar one again you must not send them future messages. If you are considering forwarding it on you must do so only to people who you consider would like to receive it and to whom the content is relevant. If you have a formally-managed list you must only send it to those who have expressed that they wish to receive such mail from you. Purchases made through www.buy.at/AVIF are made according to the information and terms provided by the company making the sale to you. Further details on using the buy.at shop are provided on the site. |
Friday, December 11, 2009
Christmas by Marks and Spencer and AVIF
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
More results in Nairobi
Yesterday, Ingrids Angels received a 2nd gift. In 2010 the Ingrid Education Centre are moving another class up to Grade 4 and Zoe, visiting at the moment, offered to help with the construction of the new classroom. Within 5 hours they'd all finished.
Zoe leaves for Maseno Thursday morning to visit The Mercy Home.
Funds have also now been cleared from Justgiving to buy the land the centre is sited on so this is now in Kenya, no thanks to Moneygram!? who extortionately charged us an additional GBP65.00 via the use of lower exchange rates. I've appealed to have the money returned to the children of Ingrids and will keep you posted.
We received our first Payroll Giving commitment also, many thanks to the contributor. This will fund the feeding program at Ingrids. Most children attending only get one meal a day, at Ingrids! It may come as a surprise to some that through various agencies (in UK) chosen by the employers, for example: a contribution of £90 per month (which will fund a feeding program for over 100 children in Kenya) will actually only cost you £54 – "an absolute bargain". Your employer can explain more or got to the section on our website.
We're also initiating a project looking into Kenya's "desperate need for alternative energy sources". Wind power and small scale turbines will quite simply enable developing communities to leapfrog the negative effects of the fossil-fuel era and stop the serious degradation of their environment. We'll keep you posted but if there is anyone wishing to get involved please contact us.
Zoe leaves for Maseno Thursday morning to visit The Mercy Home.
Funds have also now been cleared from Justgiving to buy the land the centre is sited on so this is now in Kenya, no thanks to Moneygram!? who extortionately charged us an additional GBP65.00 via the use of lower exchange rates. I've appealed to have the money returned to the children of Ingrids and will keep you posted.
We received our first Payroll Giving commitment also, many thanks to the contributor. This will fund the feeding program at Ingrids. Most children attending only get one meal a day, at Ingrids! It may come as a surprise to some that through various agencies (in UK) chosen by the employers, for example: a contribution of £90 per month (which will fund a feeding program for over 100 children in Kenya) will actually only cost you £54 – "an absolute bargain". Your employer can explain more or got to the section on our website.
We're also initiating a project looking into Kenya's "desperate need for alternative energy sources". Wind power and small scale turbines will quite simply enable developing communities to leapfrog the negative effects of the fossil-fuel era and stop the serious degradation of their environment. We'll keep you posted but if there is anyone wishing to get involved please contact us.
Monday, December 07, 2009
Can Copenhagen alleviate poverty in Africa while protecting it from climate change?
On the dawn of the Copenhagen UN Climate Change Conference, Paula Kahumba has made a video with the simple question:
will Copenhagen face the challenge of how to alleviate poverty in Africa while protecting us from climate change?
Paula lives in Kenya where she manages a blogging platform for wildlife conservation on http://wildlifedirect.org, brainchild of the famed palaeoanthropologists now politician Richard Leaky.
Thursday, December 03, 2009
More gifts from MannaRelief of Advanced Nutrition for malnourished children
My wonderful contact at MannaRelief has just rang to offer another 6 months supply to us, fully funded. With these "glyconutrients" we can add to the "current food programs which are mainly cereal-based and lack many of the nutrients young children need ... filling a child's stomach not only fails to correct the problem, but it serves as only a temporary fix to a much bigger problem." This product ... "provides children with plant-sourced nutrients in standardized and nutritionally effective amounts. ...Nutritional Chews can be eaten directly from the packet and do not require refrigeration or mixing with scarce clean water."
Sunday, November 29, 2009
The spirit of Christmas is alive and here
We all just wanted to express our huge appreciation and .. well .. Douglas and wife Grace who run the Ingrids Education Centre in the Matopeni area of Nairobi are just speechless.
The generosity of "A Friend" is staggering, donating 64% of the target funds needed via our JustGiving site with a simple message Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
We'd like to also thank Nick, Nicola, Jack, Robert, Liz, Sammy, Simon, Charlotte, Sally, Charlotte N, Ralette, Alec, Steve, Mary, Steven, Eleanor, Mike, Leila, Bridgette, Deb and all anonymous donors too for their generosity in securing the future of the 116 children currently being cared for and given the hope of an education under the watch of Douglas and Grace. ASANTE SANA
Since our "friend" was a UK taxpayer, JustGiving automatically provide Gift Aid from the HMRC which means the target has already been met by that Gift Aid supplement alone. I will be sending the funds directly to Kenya via Moneygram.
Merry Christmas to Everyone x
The generosity of "A Friend" is staggering, donating 64% of the target funds needed via our JustGiving site with a simple message Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
We'd like to also thank Nick, Nicola, Jack, Robert, Liz, Sammy, Simon, Charlotte, Sally, Charlotte N, Ralette, Alec, Steve, Mary, Steven, Eleanor, Mike, Leila, Bridgette, Deb and all anonymous donors too for their generosity in securing the future of the 116 children currently being cared for and given the hope of an education under the watch of Douglas and Grace. ASANTE SANA
Since our "friend" was a UK taxpayer, JustGiving automatically provide Gift Aid from the HMRC which means the target has already been met by that Gift Aid supplement alone. I will be sending the funds directly to Kenya via Moneygram.
Merry Christmas to Everyone x
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Kukuhut and progress in Kenya
I'd like to introduce the gorgeous Amanda, pictured here with Diana. (Click the photo gain access to the FB album for more photos).
Amanda is director of the Tumaini Centre and the Vision Centre in Khalaba, a neighboring village community in the Matungu District of Kenya, Western Province. The nearest town is MUMIAS and is only a ten minute drive away.
On a standard day, Amanda may be seen in Kibera, sitting with Raila Odinga, or providing surgery to change the lives of disfigured people, building houses, feeding malnourished children, finding the support needed for shunned disabled children ... and much more .
On a standard day, Amanda may be seen in Kibera, sitting with Raila Odinga, or providing surgery to change the lives of disfigured people, building houses, feeding malnourished children, finding the support needed for shunned disabled children ... and much more .
The Vision Community Vocational Centre has a goal to train troubled and uneducated youth in a new skill. Currently they have two programs; tailoring and a brick-making project. The tailoring (dress making) has been running for 3 years now and last year alone enabled 30 students to pass the national exam with some already finding jobs. The brick making project actually obtained a tender in January to supply 15,000 bricks to government school production putting the project in profit. Amanda says "we would like to train more people in brick making and also find a way to market ourselves to the outside communities ..". They've also started a small class of 25 children, nursery age, as there was a need for it in the community.
TUMAINI Community Development Centre (Tumaini = Hope) primarily deals with orphans and vulnerable children in a village called Eshibanze. Open since 2006 they now have 4 classes, including ‘baby class’, Nursery A and B, and Standard (Grade 1). Standard 2 is starting in January although it will be a tight squeeze due to a lack of funding to build another classroom. The kids all have homes that they live in but in some cases they are not fed and taken care of properly. The school provides some food each day which they would otherwise not get at home and their educational standard is much higher than the government school nearby that charges all students school fees.
Amanda has been responsible for the creation of a new women’s group of about 20 members who have a poultry project as well as a garden through which they provide food and pocket money to some of the poorest families in the area.Through her craft business KukuHut
started in Canada this past year, Amanda ships crafts from Kenya and surrounding East-African countries to help the people in the projects. The women’s group will be trained in craftmaking, sponsored through the profits of Kukuhut e.g. a 2 day tie and dye workshop for 30 ladies was held recently with a professional tailor brought in from Nairobi. In January 2010 they will hold a 3-4 day beading workshop for 60 women (and a few men too!) with $500 's worth of materials provided as well as salaries for the 2 teachers, suppliers who also teach.
Volunteers will be going to spend time with Amanda and the communities in Feb/ March 2010. For more info please contact us or Amanda
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Make this Christmas extra special for Ingrids Angels
The Ingrid Education Centre was visited this Summer by a handful of AVIF's volunteers; Beckee, Sam, Mariam, Stan, Deb, Alec and Charlotte spent time with the Director, Douglas aka Wesley Snipes ;-) and his wife Grace and family, assisting the wonderful work of the centre in the Matopeni slum area of Nairobi. Children here are fed and educated rather than spending a day breaking rocks with thier hands, alongside their parents or guardians in the nearby quarry, day in, day out. The volunteers were lucky enough to help teach some the lessons to the children, they cooked chapatis, they bought a water tank and helped install it too. It was a success for all.
.... but now there's a chance the hopes of all the children there could be lost. Although a deposit secured the plot of land temporarily there are only 41 days remaining!!! to help secure the future of the Centre by raising the £2,440 needed to legally buy the land, or the owner has to sell.
If you can spare just a dollar $1 or just a "quid" £1 we'd hugely appreciate it, you'd be buying a share in the future prospects of many children. Simply go to the JustGiving fundraising site it will only take a minute to help, or if you prefer not to give our details on the internet and have a Paypal account you can send a secure payment via our email Volunteer@AVIF.org.uk
Help us make a difference x
Deadline is 29th December, 2009
I'd like to say ASANTE SANA [thank you very much] to all that have already donated...x
More Photos on the main FB group
Technorati Tags: ingrids angels, christmas, future, kenya, volunteer, poverty, education
.... but now there's a chance the hopes of all the children there could be lost. Although a deposit secured the plot of land temporarily there are only 41 days remaining!!! to help secure the future of the Centre by raising the £2,440 needed to legally buy the land, or the owner has to sell.
If you can spare just a dollar $1 or just a "quid" £1 we'd hugely appreciate it, you'd be buying a share in the future prospects of many children. Simply go to the JustGiving fundraising site it will only take a minute to help, or if you prefer not to give our details on the internet and have a Paypal account you can send a secure payment via our email Volunteer@AVIF.org.uk
Help us make a difference x
Deadline is 29th December, 2009
I'd like to say ASANTE SANA [thank you very much] to all that have already donated...x
More Photos on the main FB group
Technorati Tags: ingrids angels, christmas, future, kenya, volunteer, poverty, education
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Christmas with Sky and AVIF
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Christmas with Sky and AVIF
When new customers subscribe to Sky+ HD via the webshop AVIF will receive £120! If you are thinking of joining Sky please do so via our webshop so we can receive this huge donation. Why join Sky+ HD?Join Sky+ HD with Sky Movies in HD and receive a FREE Sky+ HD box (£30 set-up). New customers will receive £50 to spend at M&S when they join Sky TV too! Don’t forget there is £120 for AVIF for every new customer that subscribes to Sky+ HD via the webshop. The offer unwrapped
*Only available for new customers with their viewing card enabled by 17 January 2009. One voucher per household and only available when you join online. Visit www.buy.at/AVIF for more great offers from over 150 top retailers.           | |||
| Forward this mail on to help AVIF raise funds. Please forward this mail on if you think that you know people who would like to receive it. Responsible emailingRemember if someone receives this mail from you, then tells you they don't want to receive a similar one again you must not send them future messages. If you are considering forwarding it on you must do so only to people who you consider would like to receive it and to whom the content is relevant. If you have a formally-managed list you must only send it to those who have expressed that they wish to receive such mail from you. Purchases made through www.buy.at/AVIF are made according to the information and terms provided by the company making the sale to you. Further details on using the buy.at shop are provided on the site. |
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Please help us to help Ingrids Angels
The Ingrids Education Centre has been leasing the land it stands on for the last 3 years and now the owner has put it up for sale. In this time the Centre, under the guiding hand of Douglas "Wesley Snipes" Onkware has been caring for over 100 children in the Matopeni slum area of Nairobi.
This summer AVIF volunteers assisted greatly, helping the buy and install a permanent water tank as well as teaching and spending time at the Centre. We've all secured the plot with a deposit but the agreement with the owner is that the remaining amount is to be paid by end of December 2009.
Securing this plot also secures the futures of 116 needy children from the slum area, keeping them from working in the neighbouring quarry but instead providing them with at least one meal a day and a chance of an education. The money currently being spent on rent at the Centre will then help towards the purchase of food and materials for the children, as well as saving towards more permanent classrooms.
There is a simple fast way to help, by donating via the JustGiving page,
Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. If you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.
Please help us secure the childrens education now!
This summer AVIF volunteers assisted greatly, helping the buy and install a permanent water tank as well as teaching and spending time at the Centre. We've all secured the plot with a deposit but the agreement with the owner is that the remaining amount is to be paid by end of December 2009.
Securing this plot also secures the futures of 116 needy children from the slum area, keeping them from working in the neighbouring quarry but instead providing them with at least one meal a day and a chance of an education. The money currently being spent on rent at the Centre will then help towards the purchase of food and materials for the children, as well as saving towards more permanent classrooms.
There is a simple fast way to help, by donating via the JustGiving page,
Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. If you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.
Please help us secure the childrens education now!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Mount Kenya with Mary Kariuki
MOUNT KENYA, alt 5,199m (Batian), is the highest mountain in Kenya, and 2nd only to Kilimanjaro for the entire African continent.
My good friend Mary "Mumbi" Kariuki of StandOut Adventures is planning to take us up to one of its 3 peaks, early 2010.
Lenana via the Sirimon Route is a non-technical trail that allows all trekkers to enjoy a magnificent view of east africa without any climbing skills. The other two routes, Naro Moru route and Chogoria Route are more suitable for climbers familiar with rock climbing, belaying and rope techniques.
Day 1 : Sirimon Park Gate to Old Moses Camp - 9km, approx. 3/4 hours hiking through the beautiful rain forest to Old Moses Camp at alt. 3,300m.
Day 2 : Shipton's Camp - 16km, approx. 7/8 hours hike through the Liki Valley via Mackinder's Valley to Shipton's Camp at alt. 4,200m where you enjoy an incredible view of the north faces of Nelion and Batian peaks.
Day 3 : Peak Circuit for Acclimatazation - 4 hours - ascending to a steep ridge through Kami Hut, Hausberg Tarn and Two Tarns Lake through some of the most spectacular sceneries. Return to Shipton's Camp.
Day 4 : Point Lenana at alt. 4,985m and back to Old Moses - 4 hours starting at 2.30am to arrive for sunrise. From here you can admire Kilimanjaro's highest peaks, Kibo and Mawenzi visible from the south, the Indian Ocean from the east and Mt. Elgon from the west. Descent back to Shipton's camp for breakfast. Old Moses for dinner.
Mary and her climbing team are native Kenyans who grew up close to Mt Kenya. All are very knowledgable about protecting the ecosystem. As with Mt Kilimanjaro, the glaciers of Mt Kenya are retreating rapidly due to climate change and low snowfall.
Mt Kenya benefits from equatorial climate. A typical day is a sunny crystal clear morning with temperatures around 25°C in low altitude and around 10°C as you slowly climb. Fog and clouds are commonly generated by mid day but at dawn, the ground surface is cooler and clouds leave the peaks uncovered. Temperature can drop down to -10°C during the night.
The mountain has two rainy seasons from late March till June and from October to December. The best climbing season is December – March and July – September.
Contact Mary for a quote at info@standoutadventures.com or +254 722 562449
Technorati Tags: mt kenya, kenya, mountain, mary kariuki, climbing
My good friend Mary "Mumbi" Kariuki of StandOut Adventures is planning to take us up to one of its 3 peaks, early 2010.
Lenana via the Sirimon Route is a non-technical trail that allows all trekkers to enjoy a magnificent view of east africa without any climbing skills. The other two routes, Naro Moru route and Chogoria Route are more suitable for climbers familiar with rock climbing, belaying and rope techniques.
Day 1 : Sirimon Park Gate to Old Moses Camp - 9km, approx. 3/4 hours hiking through the beautiful rain forest to Old Moses Camp at alt. 3,300m.
Day 2 : Shipton's Camp - 16km, approx. 7/8 hours hike through the Liki Valley via Mackinder's Valley to Shipton's Camp at alt. 4,200m where you enjoy an incredible view of the north faces of Nelion and Batian peaks.
Day 3 : Peak Circuit for Acclimatazation - 4 hours - ascending to a steep ridge through Kami Hut, Hausberg Tarn and Two Tarns Lake through some of the most spectacular sceneries. Return to Shipton's Camp.
Day 4 : Point Lenana at alt. 4,985m and back to Old Moses - 4 hours starting at 2.30am to arrive for sunrise. From here you can admire Kilimanjaro's highest peaks, Kibo and Mawenzi visible from the south, the Indian Ocean from the east and Mt. Elgon from the west. Descent back to Shipton's camp for breakfast. Old Moses for dinner.
Mary and her climbing team are native Kenyans who grew up close to Mt Kenya. All are very knowledgable about protecting the ecosystem. As with Mt Kilimanjaro, the glaciers of Mt Kenya are retreating rapidly due to climate change and low snowfall.
Mt Kenya benefits from equatorial climate. A typical day is a sunny crystal clear morning with temperatures around 25°C in low altitude and around 10°C as you slowly climb. Fog and clouds are commonly generated by mid day but at dawn, the ground surface is cooler and clouds leave the peaks uncovered. Temperature can drop down to -10°C during the night.
The mountain has two rainy seasons from late March till June and from October to December. The best climbing season is December – March and July – September.
Contact Mary for a quote at info@standoutadventures.com or +254 722 562449
Technorati Tags: mt kenya, kenya, mountain, mary kariuki, climbing
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
The Road to Hell by Michael Maren
Shaking up the inertia, as he does so well, I first blogged about Michael a few years ago.
A former food monitor for the United States Agency for International Development, Michael provokes debate about Aid in Afica. One such discussion comes from AVIF volunteer, Alec, recently returned from 5 weeks in Kenya, mainly rural and Mike, a Board Member for AVIF's CIC, KO2.
M: That is a great article. Some of the poorest Asian countries seem to have
been able to pull themselves up by their bootstraps with relatively
little aid - Cambodia is going to be an interesting case in point when
I visit again eight years on. Corruption on a grand scale but people
who were incredibly, remarkably inventive at making the best of what... Read more
A: Good article and well put Mike. My own feeling is that withdrawing all aids
to Africa at this late in the day may not be the solution. Perhaps
everyone from both sides needs to stop seeing just $ signs and change
their perspective on what they regards to as aid, and welcome the idea
of just providing and receiving education as a mean of aid......
The discussion continues on FaceBook here ...
Technorati Tags: michael maren, aid for africa, poverty, greed, corruption, kenya
A former food monitor for the United States Agency for International Development, Michael provokes debate about Aid in Afica. One such discussion comes from AVIF volunteer, Alec, recently returned from 5 weeks in Kenya, mainly rural and Mike, a Board Member for AVIF's CIC, KO2.
M: That is a great article. Some of the poorest Asian countries seem to have
been able to pull themselves up by their bootstraps with relatively
little aid - Cambodia is going to be an interesting case in point when
I visit again eight years on. Corruption on a grand scale but people
who were incredibly, remarkably inventive at making the best of what... Read more
A: Good article and well put Mike. My own feeling is that withdrawing all aids
to Africa at this late in the day may not be the solution. Perhaps
everyone from both sides needs to stop seeing just $ signs and change
their perspective on what they regards to as aid, and welcome the idea
of just providing and receiving education as a mean of aid......
The discussion continues on FaceBook here ...
Technorati Tags: michael maren, aid for africa, poverty, greed, corruption, kenya
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Mercy Home Storyboard from Eleanors volunteering in Kenya
Eleanor has wonderfully uploaded a story board with great explanation, onto Facebook.
You may need to add her to read it, starting here.
That concludes this years volunteering, Asante Sana to all involved.
Technorati Tags: volunteer, kenya, AVIF, mercy home
You may need to add her to read it, starting here.
That concludes this years volunteering, Asante Sana to all involved.
Technorati Tags: volunteer, kenya, AVIF, mercy home
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