An evaluation of the Family Livelihoods and Support Programme (FLiSP) has demonstrated the tremendous impact of AfriKids’ loans.

Since January 2012 FLiSP coordinators have been carrying out a detailed evaluation process, assessing the impact of the FliSP loans on beneficiaries’ families, their businesses, and their local communities over the past five years. The FliSP offers low-interest microfinance loans to people in the Upper East Region of Ghana, enabling them to develop sustainable sources of income to support their families.

Recipients of the loans have demonstrated tremendous initiative in finding ways to generate profit to

AUGUST 2012

AfriKids is a Child Rights Organisation working to improve life for Ghana’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged children in a holistic, inclusive and sustainable manner

secure their livelihoods, including buying grains wholesale to sell on at local markets, buying material to weave and selling the cloths on, harvesting shea nuts to sell, and buying millet to brew Pito (a type of beer made from fermented millet).

The impact evaluation study found that as a result of the training and loans provided by FLiSP, beneficiaries now feel more knowledgeable about the National Health Insurance Scheme available to them, are able to afford the schooling costs of their children, and experience increased harmony with their husbands, all as a result of their greater financial independence.

The impact evaluation also found evidence that the programme has empowered individuals, not just financially but by raising their self-esteem and status. The evaluation clearly demonstrates that the programme is having an immensely positive impact on beneficiaries’ lives, and has remarkable potential to expand further.

If you are interested in learning more about how you can support this programme please get in touch with us here at AfriKids. info@afrikids.org

IMPACT EVALUATIONAfriKids’ loans are transforming lives

“I support my husband in providing for the family and for me it’s a way of commanding some kind of respect”Faustina ManiLoan beneficiary

“Being poor doesn’t mean your children have no future”. Dorcas DordaaHead of FLiSP

PROJECT FOCUSLivelihoods Case Study: Atanga

AfriKids AcademyAfriKids Blue Sky LodgeAfriKids Ethical TradeAfriKids Medical CentreBolga Area ProgrammeEducational fundKassena Nankana Area ProgrammeMedical fundOperation BolgaOperation Mango TreeOperation SINGhOperation SmilesOperation ZuarunguStreet Mothers AssociationTalensi Nabdam Area ProgrammeYoung Entrepreneurs

“The loan facility has brought peace and harmony to my home”Atanga AyanesongaBenificiary

Atanga proudly showing off her new pots

Red millet used for brewing Pito

After she has completed her three cycles she will have enough savings to sustain her businesses. Atanga is now not only financially independent, but working towards expanding her business.

The process of brewing Pito

Atanga is currently on the second cycle of the loan. Proceeds from the second loan were used by Atanga to provide for her children’s educational needs and other basic family needs. Atanga also used proceeds to buy a goat, and some vital equipment for her Pito business including pots and other essentials.

During an interview organised by the Dazongo group, Atanga explained that she does not find the repayments of the AfriKids loan a challenge because her work is profitable; she has been helped to drive efficiency and productivity in her business. According to Atanga the loan facility has brought peace and harmony to her home, as she no longer finds herself caught in confrontation with her husband over the provision of their basic family needs. Now that Atanga is earning as well, she is capable of providing for her five children’s basic needs herself.

Not only have the AfriKids loans had a positive impact on Atanga’s family life, but Atanga feels that through working with AfriKids she has developed her business skills too.

Atanga Ayanesonga is a Pito brewer and a member of the Dazongo group in the Kassena Nankana district. Atanga has benefited from two AfriKids loans.The Dazongo group had previously benefited from a loan facility from a different organisation, but found that the high interest rates meant that they struggled to repay the loan. Atanga’s experience with this organisation had a negative impact on her perceptions about accessing loans. After hearing what members from other groups had to say about the AfriKids loan facility, however, Atanga’s perspective changed.

With her first loan from AfriKids, Atanga invested in a cow in order to make money from its calves, and spent the rest of the proceeds on malt for her Pito business. After completing her first cycle of the loan Atanga came to realise that the low interest rates of AfriKids’ loans made repayment more manageable, and she was supported through additional services such as training and regular interaction.

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01: Shea nuts and other produce being sold at the market

02: Harvested red millet

03: A beneficiary painting pots in traditional Sirigu design

04: A young trainee seamstress

05: Women sowing millet

06: Women preparing meals using the produce they’ ve harvested

AfriKidsWe’re all completely behind Team GB and Ghana. Two Ghanaians competing today. GOOD LUCK!

AfriKidsIt’s not just London getting excited for the Olympics. This is Joe in his 2012 t-shirt!

AFRIKIDSONLINE

www.facebook.com/afrikids Let’s tweet @AfriKids

Dave Brown@Jimmylazers I did a little vid for the Ambulance Rally gang http://vimeo.com/47162711 #afrikids

8th Aug

Katharine Taylor...I’m honoured to have seen your work in action and met the children and their families who have so evidently benefited from your work...

4 people like this

AfriKidsCheck out this video of the NGH boys having an azonto dance-off! Just when we thought their moves couldn’t get any better :-) tinyurl.com/youtube-NGH-boys

5 people like this

30th July

AfriKidsRest in peace, John Atta Mills. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18972107

Alison Browning @VarndeanSchool CHOCS2012 have raised over £2000 for @AfriKids. Well done to all and thank you to those who have supported them.

24th July

21 people like this

Social Media Success Story!

The band ‘Test Pressing’ have decided to re-release a very rare edition of their third record, ‘Johnny Foreigner vs Everything’ on double vinyl, and are auctioning the record off with all proceeds going to AfriKids!

Check out the online auction here As we’re finalising this newsletter the auction is about to finish – we’ll be watching for the final total!

If you have anything of value you no longer want or need, selling via ebay and donating the proceeds to AfriKids is a great way to support us!

When AfriKids was short of computer monitors for our latest interns, we thought it would be worth checking via Facebook and Twitter to see if any of our online supporters could help.

We were overwhelmed by the result – within three hours we’d received two donated monitors from people who’d seen our request! The generosity we saw online was fantastic and saved the organisation hundreds of pounds.

Thank you to David Williams and our neighbours, Claranet, who have helped us finish two work stations!

18th July

THANK YOU

FUNDRAISEFORAFRIKIDS

You can now help AfriKids by simply recycling your empty inkjet and toner cartridges and old mobile phones through AfriKids’ own page with the Recycling Factory For ink cartridges donated through our Recycling Factory page AfriKids get up to £2.40 per cartridge, and up to £3.50 per toner cartridge!

Alternatively, if you have any old mobile phones at home, why not recycle them too? (£290 for an iPhone 4!)

This is a great, simple way to raise loads of money for AfriKids’ projects, and it won’t cost you a penny! Call 0800 091 0696 or visit the Recycling Factory Page to request your freepost envelopes!

Turn your waste into wonga now!

For more info contact Andrea www.afrikids.org

Students at Benenden School in Kent raised an amazing £1,114.91 for AfriKids through fundraising initiative at their annual sports day on the 29th June. The money raised is going to the Young Entrepreneurs Programme which provides support to young adults moving on from Mama Laadi’s Foster Home.

Thomas Keble School in Gloucestershire successfully raised £300 by having a non-uniform day at the end of the school term in July.

Thank you to Thomas Keble School

Thank you to Benenden School

AfriKids now has an ink cartridge and mobile phone recycling scheme!

Thank you to Buckhaven High SchoolPupils at Buckhaven High School raised £328 in total! They raised a whopping £278 through a coffee morning and a further £50 from the sale of pens and pencils!