Minister for Overseas Development Mr. Peter Power (2nd from left) officiated at the formal Irish launch of 'Self Help Africa', at the Irish Aid Information Centre in Dublin, recently.
The formal launch is the result of a recent merger that has taken place between Irish NGO Self Help Development International, and the UK agency Harvest Help. Both organisations have a track record of close to 25 years implementing long term programmes in Africa.
Self Help Africa's new harvest pack 'The Hands of Hope', is a free resource for churches and religious congregations across the UK.
The pack is crammed full of ideas and activities, and is ideal for family services, house-groups, youth groups and children's groups who are interested in supporting our work.
'Hands of Hope' also presents stories and accounts of some of those who have found hope again through our work. To receive a pack by post, please e-mail or call us. Download the pack by clicking on the image (left), or on the churches page.
A motorbiking marathon
More than 20 months and nearly 50,000 kilometres later and motorcyclist Hugh Bergin has arrived back in Ireland, at the conclusion of his fund-raising 'Lap of Africa'.
What began for the former Kilkenny restauranteur as a solo motorcycle trip back to his birthplace on Africa's southern tip took on a whole new dimension, when he decided to continue his overland motorbike ride up through the country's of the continent's east coast, and back home to Ireland.
The newly integrated 'Self Help Africa', bringing together the operations of Self Help Development International and of UK agency Harvest Help, had a formal launch at the House of Lords in London, last month. The event was hosted by the
Ringing endorsement
BBC celebrity gardener Monty Don has given 'Self Help Africa' a ringing endorsement.
Welcoming the integration of Self Help Development International and Harvest Help, the broadcaster and writer said that the organisation would build on foundations already laid, to provide the means for a long-term sustainable lifestyle for the poorest people on this planet.
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New development programmes
Preparations are at an advanced stage for new programmes to be started by Self Help Africa in Malawi, Uganda and Ethiopia. The organisation has also started work in Burkina Faso in recent months.
Self Help Africa is proud to be the festival’s nominated charity for another year. It is a great opportunity to learn about African food - and also get a chance to have a taste! So if you are in the area please come along and support us!
Would you like to help us at the event? We need volunteers to help out on any of the days. Please contact us for more information.
Thumbs up from top blog web-site
Self Help Africa has received the thumbs up of one of the world's top web-blogs - The Huffington Post, which in a recent article on Malawi, made a favourable comparison between the organisation's work in the country, and the approach being espoused by celebrities such as pop star Madonna.
'The Big Idea'
Above is a short clip from the RTE documentary 'The Big Idea', which followed the journey of second-level student Tara McGrath, as she travelled with Self Help Africa to Ethiopia at Easter. Tara was a winner at the BT Young Scientists Exhibition - and travelled with Self Help on it's annual schools visit to Ethiopia, where she had the opportunity to field test her winning invention - a fuel efficient stove.
Seed multiplication success
A group of farmers in Self Help Africa's area based programmes in Hurutu, Ethiopia, have scored a major success, with the distribution of improved quality cereal seed which they have produced, being made available this Spring to more than 500 farmers in the locality.
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Alphabet Ball
Self Help has received nearly €10,000 from the annual charitable Alphabet Ball towards the cost of a school construction project, in Eritrea. The benefit ball, which is held annually to raise funds for educational projects in Africa and Asia, has awarded €9,913 towards the cost of a planned school construction in Gogne, Eritrea.
Minister praises merger
Gillian Merron, Labour MP and Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department for International Development, has praised Self Help Africa’s recent merge. Speaking at the recent formal launch in London of the organisation she said :
"The joining together of the UK and Ireland is a natural partnership. We're all here to work for the way out of poverty for millions across Africa, and to support individuals and countries, to be in control of their way out of poverty. I congratulate you on your merger and wish you every success as you support people in Africa".
Bupa 10,000
Fancy runnung the Bupa 10,000 for Self Help africa in May 2009? To find out how you can sign up contact us for more details.
Family to visit Eritrea school
The parents of an Irish teacher who died tragically more than a year ago, are to visit Eritrea to visit the school which they have built in her memory.
Margaret and William Gill set up the 'Barbara Gill Memorial Fund', after their daughter's death in a road traffic accident, in 2007. Barbara had earlier visited Self Help's programmes in Eritrea, and had been planning to support the construction of a new school in the country. Her family and friends have raised more than €100,000 for the cause.
