Jennie Bryson raised money for Village Africa by running a fabulous cake tombola at Milford Village Fete.

   

School bags made by Newcastle College students distributed to pupils in Yamba Primary School.

Morehall Primary School in Folkestone has nominated Village Africa as its charity of the year. The school started raising money at last year's Christmas concert, and fundraising is continuing. Kelly, a former Village Africa teaching volunteer and current teacher at Morehall Primary, has started a knitting club with her class. Yamba also has a knitting club started by Village Africa. The children at Morehall are extremely excited to be knitting squares for a blanket that they will send to Yamba. Yamba is very high up in the mountains and therefore very cold so blankets are much needed. Some parents and grandparents are also contributing squares that they have knitted. Keep up the good work children!

Special thanks to Beacon Nursery and Infant School in Bodmin, Cornwall for donating money from a book sale to Village Africa.

Gifts gratefully received from Switzerland, Ireland and the UK - clothing, suitcases, mosquito nets, medical dressings, knitting needles and materials.

Special thanks to Swiss Air and Skynet Worldwide.

Special thanks to Charlotte Sullivan from Devon, who raised money for Village Africa by holding a party selling her beautiful handmade cards.

Gifts gratefully received from Tanzania and the UK - pillows, clothing, toys and biscuits.

Special thanks to Peponi Beach Resort, Pangani.

Special thanks to Joan, Lynda and Jean from Central Methodist Church for their donation to Village Africa.

Special thanks to Coseley Secondary School raised money for Village Africa by holding a "mufti day".

Budding entrepreneurs from Hartlebury C of E School did a fantastic job raising money for Village Africa by setting up a business enterprise which involved buying and selling small items. The children also collected clothes that are being sent over to Village Africa.  Special thanks to Christina who held an assembly about Village Africa and helped encourage the children to get excited about fundraising.

Gifts gratefully received from the Netherlands, Ireland and the UK - spectacles, wind up torches, calculators, calendars, school bags, teaching aids, sports equipment, school stationery and clothing.

Special thanks to Newcastle College students for making the school bags and to Shipping Trading Company for the calendars.

Special thanks to the relatives of Moe and Doug (Auntie Ann, John & Pat, Malcolm & Marg, Kathryn & Chris and Loiuse & Greg) who donated a large amount of money instead of purchasing Christmas presents.  

Special thanks to Alex Holden for organising a Football Lottery to raise funds for Village Africa.  Thanks also to the staff of Coseley School for supporting the lottery.

Wendy Lowis Bates held a fantastic fundraising evening in Exmouth, Devon to raise money for Village Africa.  Wendy sold the winter collection of her own handcrafted jewellery. Charlotte Sullivan sold her beautiful handcrafted cards. Their friend Megan also sold her "off the rail" vintage clothing to raise funds.

 

Mark and Allison Shaw raised funds for Village Africa in the run up to their wedding day. Mark raised money on the Saddleworth Beer Walk which he did for his stag and Allison raised money by running 130 miles in the 130 day run up to the wedding. She looked stunning in her wedding dress on the day.

  

Helen O'Grady Drama Academy (Portsmouth Branch) raised funds for Village Africa. Oscar, the academy's new mascot, made his debut appearance collecting loose change for the charity at Oaklands School Christmas Craft Fayre on 22 November in Waterlooville, Hampshire.

Gift received in the UK - printer

Christmas Shopping Online? Remember Village Africa. No extra cost to you!

There's now a new and easy way for you to help us raise funds for Village Africa - simply by shopping online!
Easyfundraising is a shopping directory that features many of your favourite online stores, including Amazon, NEXT, Debenhams, John Lewis, ToysRUs, HMV and over 500 others. All you have to do is use the links on the easyfundraising site whenever you shop online and, at no extra cost to you, we'll receive a free donation of up to 15% from every purchase you make. It really is that simple!
It's completely FREE to register and use and you still shop with each retailer in exactly the same way. Many retailers even offer additional discounts and money-saving e-Vouchers when you shop using easyfundraising.
If you shop online anyway then why not raise valuable extra funds for us by using this fantastic scheme.  All you need to do is visit http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/villageafrica and when you register, select Village Africa as the charity you wish to support.

Nether Green Junior School, Sheffield has chosen Village Africa as its charity. Proceeds from the Autumn Fair held in October will be split between school funds and Village Africa. The children made up their own games for the grown ups to play at 10p-20p a turn. Miss Hurt (past Village Africa teaching volunteer in Milingano) was given a teacher's discount at 5p! Further fundraising events are planned for the year.

The school first supported Village Africa by collecting supermarket tokens for schoolground toys and sports equipment. The gifts were shipped to Tanzania and have just arrived. The Milingano pupils are thrilled with their new toys and say to the Sheffield pupils 'Asanteni sana' (thank you very much).

Past volunteer Joanna recently organised a very successful pub quiz fundraiser at the Joiners Arms pub. Special thanks to Mike and Chuckie who were the fantastic quiz masters.

Special thanks to Central Methodist Church, Dudley Ladies Group and to C.E. Young for their generous donations following a presentation about Village Africa presented by Doug and Moe.

Gifts received in October from the UK: computer and clothing.

Special thanks to Denmead Community Centre in Hampshire.

Gifts gratefully received in September from USA, Tanzania and the UK: medical supplies, clothing, towels, bags, computer equipment, office and school stationery, teaching aids, toys and jewellery.

Special thanks to Kids Helping Kids in Seattle and Kipepeo Beach Resort, Dar es Salaam.

Gifts gratefully received in August from Tanzania and the UK: clothing, shoes and toys.

Special thanks to Peponi Beach Resort, Pangani and Skynetworldwide.

Laura is currently volunteering as a teacher in Tanzania. Prior to her departure she bravely cycled the windy roads of Suffolk to raise money for Village Africa. Thank you to all who sponsored her.

 

Special thanks to Stacey Faulkner for sending a large quantity of medical supplies including bandages, wound dressings and neck braces.

Special thanks to Skynet for helping to transport the above items.

Special thanks to Mrs M Elms and David Elms for their kind donations to Village Africa.

Gifts gratefully received in July from the UK: football kits, sports equipment, books, teaching aids, school stationery, knitting and sewing materials, toiletries, jewellery and clothing.

Special thanks to Royal Russell School, City of London Freemen's School and the University of Exeter.

Gifts gratefully received in June from the UK: umbrellas, schoolbags, clothing, water bottles, blankets, stationery, torches, sports equipment, toys and cameras.

Special thanks to Mayer Brown International LLP and Polam School.

Lynda Smith organised a "Name the Panda" competition to raise money for Village Africa. Funds were raised by the patrons and friends of Warwick Gates Community Church in Leamington Spa earlier this year. The Panda is to be sent to the children in Yamba, Tanzania.

	Shopping online There's now a new and easy way for you to help us raise funds for Village Africa - simply by shopping online! Easyfundraising is a shopping directory that features many of your favourite online stores, including Amazon, NEXT, Debenhams, John Lewis, ToysRUs, HMV and over 500 others. All you have to do is use the links on the easyfundraising site whenever you shop online and, at no extra cost to you, we'll receive a free donation of up to 15% from every purchase you make. It really is that simple! It's completely FREE to register and use and you still shop with each retailer in exactly the same way. Many retailers even offer additional discounts and money-saving e-Vouchers when you shop using easyfundraising. If you shop online anyway then why not raise valuable extra funds for us by using this fantastic scheme.  All you need to do is visit http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/villageafrica and when you register, select Village Africa as the charity you wish to support.
	Change your search engine to easysearch.org.uk now... You can now raise funds for Village Africa when you search the web! Use easysearch every time you search online and they'll give 50% of the fees paid by their advertising sponsors to your chosen cause. Easysearch is powered by Yahoo, the world's 2nd largest search engine. It works just like any other search engine, bringing you fast, accurate results every time, but easysearch also gives something back! When you search the web with easysearch you'll generate around a penny for Village Africa with every search you make. It doesn't sound like much, but the pennies soon mount up and each penny goes much further in Tanzania. Make it your homepage now and select Village Africa as the charity you would like to support!  http://www.easysearch.org.uk

Gifts gratefully received from Tanzania and the UK - medical equipment, medical books and posters, children's books, school stationery, teaching aids, sports equipment and clothing. A special thank you to Skynet Worldwide.

St Thomas's Church, Salisbury held an extremely successful coffee morning to raise funds. It included the sale of cakes to take home and a raffle. It was organised by one of Village Africa's current volunteers, Miranda Naish.

The children of Cherry Tree Hill Infant School in Chaddesden, Derby have participated in a sponsored walk to raise money for the kindergarten classrooms at Yamba Primary School, Tanzania.  The children walked a lap around the playground carrying a bucket of water - to represent children in Africa who walk to the rivers to fetch water.  Special thanks to St Barnabus Friendship group for collecting loose change. Special thanks to Beki Warwick for running the London Half marathon. Special thanks to everyone who has donated generously to help raise money for the kindergarten classroom.

Following presentations on Village Africa kindly given by Doug and Moe Brazenall, Village Africa would like to give special thanks to:

Dudley Men's Fellowship who meet at Central Methodist Church in Dudley, West Midlands,

Dr.David and Ann Gallimore,

Five Ways Methodist Church, Lower Gornal.

Gifts gratefully received in the UK: hand knitted baby clothes and blankets, children’s and babies toys and blankets, the use of a photocopier.

Special thanks to David and Jeanette Robinson.

Special thanks to Claire Probert and Alex Holden

Special thanks to The Coseley School and Sports College for the photocopying of information packs for the Village Africa pilot child sponsorship scheme.

Gifts gratefully received from Tanzania, Australia and the UK - safety goggles, footballs, toys, clothing, shoes, toiletries, stationery and wool, magnifying glasses, puppets, posters and other teaching aids.

Special thanks to the staff and customers of Kipepeo Beach Resort in Dar es Salaam

Allison Yearsley has decided to give herself the challenge of running an average of one mile per day running up to her wedding to raise money for Village Africa. There will be 130 days, so 130 miles, or the equivalent of almost 5 marathons!

Gifts gratefully received from Tanzania and the UK - building gloves, clothing, school stationery, toys, crochet hooks, wool, washing lines and pegs.

Special thanks to Skynet Worldwide.

Village Africa is pleased to report that Swingfield class of Selsted Primary School have exchanged letters with Standard 7 at Yamba School.

Gifts gratefully received from the USA, Ireland and the UK - medical equipment, medical book, tent, camp beds, blankets, bags, digital camera, garden sprinklers, wool, sewing needles and toiletries.

Special thanks to Kids Helping Kids.

Gifts gratefully received from the Netherlands and the UK - spectacles, medical book, DVD player, CD player, mobile phones, wind up torches, sports kits and equipment, clothing, shoes, jewellery, wool, school posters and other teaching aids, school stationery and toys.

Special thanks to Thare Machi Education (a UK based charity) for a portable DVD player and a collection of health education DVDs in Kiswahili and English.

Teachers at Nelmes Primary School, Hornchurch kindly raised money for Village Africa by not sending Christmas cards.

Gifts gratefully received from the Netherlands and the UK - wind-up torches, knitting needles, clothing, shoes, noticeboards, calendars, spectacles, children's books and videos, toys, bags, staple guns, a mobile phone and knitting patterns.

British Airways kindly gave extra baggage allowance to Village Africa.

Thank you to Folkestone Rugby Club who donated money, clothes and sports equipment to Village Africa.

Thank you very much to 9 year old Charlee who used her birthday money to buy pencils, rulers, rubbers and pencil sharpeners for the children of Yamba.

Florence Gauvin raised money for Village Africa by having a swear box in her office, collecting small change left in colleagues drawers and kindly donating the extra money she is paid to be a safety warden.

Special thanks to Florence and the bankers of Merrill Lynch International.

Thanks to Helen O'Grady Drama Academy for use of a computer and printer in the UK.  www.helenogrady.co.uk

Instead of sending Christmas cards, money was donated to Village Africa by a friend of Allison Yearsley (who has twice volunteered for Village Africa).

University of Exeter students raised money for Village Africa whilst dressed as reindeers in Guildford shopping area.  The University Rag Week International Committee is sending a 12 strong expedition to Yamba in August 2008.  The students have a range of fundraising activities lined up.

Gifts gratefully received from the UK - jewellery, clothing and school posters.

The Rotary Club of Tanga kindly donated 50 mosquito nets.  These special nets which do not need treating for five years were distributed at a Village Africa seminar on malaria.  They were given to Village Africa staff and local volunteers who have been improving the access road to Yamba. 

Tina Freeman, a valued Village Africa volunteer, organised a fantastic African night to raise money for Village Africa.  The night included African drumming and African food and was a huge success.

Special thanks to Hinkey Island Hotel for donating the venue free of charge and donating the raffle prize of a meal for two.

Special thanks to the Tanzanian Embassy for donating 2 beautiful khangas.