Monthly E-newsletter- January 2013
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Valentines Flowers
USDC Update
Introducing Amber
Vodafone World of Difference
London Marathon 2013

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Happy New Year!

Welcome to your monthly e-news update from AbleChildAfrica. This month we bring you updates from our partner USDC in Uganda, introduce you to our newest member of staff and give you news on the London 2013 Marathon and Vodafone World of Difference.  We also tell you about some great ideas to impress your loved ones on Valentine's day, whilst supporting our work at the same time! 
Wishing you all a very happy 2013.

Thank you for your continued support,

The AbleChildAfrica Team.  
Sponsor us with Valentines Flowers!


   

  

Valentine's Day Gifts

Sending flowers to a loved one this Valentine's day? Check out the beautiful selection at Charity Flowers.

We are featured as their charity of the month, so when you order from them, AbleChildAfrica receives 15% of the price of your gift!!

USDC- Bringing health services to disabled children in the West Nile


 

In 2012 USDC launched a new project in the West Nile region of Uganda supported by AbleChildAfrica. The project provides essential medical interventions, including providing materials and equipment to local hospitals to ensure they can respond to the needs of disabled children in their communities. USDC have also been working with local health professionals and parents of disabled children to carrying out outreach clinics and surgical camps.

 

USDC, in line with the social model of disability, have also incorporated sensitisation activities amongst local government and health professionals and on the needs of children with disabilities so that they can lobby for additional funding by the government to ensure sustainability of on-going health services for disabled children in the region.

 

USDC have also been working to educate communities and begin to 'de-mystify' the taboos, fear and deep cultural beliefs surrounding disability through a community sensitisation programme, radio talk shows and spot messages.

 

The project is being kindly funded by Jersey Overseas Aid Committee and the Medicor Foundation. 

 

       
Introducing our newest member of staff

 

 

Hi Everyone!

 

I'm Amber - I am really happy to introduce myself as the newest member of staff here at AbleChildAfrica and am excited to be joining this great team at a really important period in the organisation's development.

 

I have just returned from a very busy year working in Rwanda as a Disability Advisor with VSO.  My work entailed training the local government and international/national NGO's in mainstreaming disability rights across local services and programmes as well as strengthening the capacity of local disability organisations and community groups to advocate for their rights.  My project also involved establishing co-operatives and income generating activities for people with disabilities, training teachers on Special Education Needs and setting up sports teams for youth with disabilities.  As I said... it was a busy year!

 

Prior to that, I completed a Masters in African development with a focus on Microfinance and Gender empowerment in Tanzania and worked in a campaigns role for large NGO's.  Coming back to the UK, I knew that I had to continue working in African Development and Disability and it has been fantastic luck that I found AbleChildAfrica who do exactly that.  It is great to be working for a small, dynamic charity that combines my two great passions - East Africa and Disability Rights and I hope that I will be able to support the charity grow and develop into the leading organisation for disabled children's rights in Africa.

       
Vodafone World of Difference Grants

AbleChildAfrica is delighted to announce that we have been selected to receive not one, but two Vodafone World of Difference grants this year!  This is a fantastic opportunity for us to benefit from the skills and expertise of the two individuals that will be joining the team.  We look forward to welcoming on board Anas Darkaoui and Anthony Ford-Shubrook who will be working with us from March 1st.

 

 Anas will be using his extensive experience in international development to develop a mainstreaming toolkit which will allow AbleChildAfrica to continue our vital work to ensure the rights of disabled children are at the forefront of the development agenda.

 

 Anthony completed a successful internship with AbleChildAfrica in 2012, delivering the first ever Extraordinary Mile event.  We are delighted that he is returning to help us expand our presence and visibility across the UK, by developing our schools outreach program.

 

To find out more visit Vodafone world of difference and watch this space for updates on how Anas and Anthony are getting on. 

 
London Marathon 2013 Update
 
We now have a full team of 29 confirmed runners, ready to take on the world's most iconic marathon!

 

Some of the staff here at AbleChildAfrica have been brave enough to tackle the marathon in previous years - so we know what a huge challenge it is and this is why we are so happy to have such an incredible and dedicated team this year!

 

Each runner is aiming to fundraise over £1500 for AbleChildAfrica, which will make an enormous difference to our partners across East Africa, supporting disabled children to achieve their full potential.

 

To support our runners on their fundraising journey, each month we are featuring a different runner in the lead up to the marathon on the 21st April.  This month the spotlight is on Katie Brown who has chosen to run for us, having spent the last 14 years dreaming about taking part in the London Marathon!

 

 

''While the rest of the world was worrying about the Y2K bug, I was planning my London Marathon debut. The first London Marathon of the new millennium. 

 

There were a few challenges

 

1.       The furthest I had ever run was 400m - my 100m and 200m sprint times         were if I do say so myself pretty impressive but not going to carry me 26.2 miles

2.       I was too young, and

3.       I'd missed the entry date

 

14 years later I cannot describe the excitement at finally having secured a place to run London. After 8 (non-consecutive) failed attempts both via ballot and charity entries, my focus to run in 2013 -my 30th year - couldn't have been greater.

 

I didn't have a charity in mind, all I knew was that it had to be small, sustainable and something I could get passionate about. Attending the Paralympics opened my eyes up to some of the ignorance that still exists around disability in the UK. Reading about AbleChildAfrica's work made me realise just how disadvantaged disabled children in developing countries are, especially in terms of education, opportunities and quality of life.

 

You can sponsor me online here or for more information on how to win an iPad and Emelie Sande tickets, or just keep up with my progress please follow my blog.

 

Thanks!  Katie

     

   
Thank you for taking the time to read about our work in this month's issue. Your contributions are essential and if you would like to donate to AbleChildAfrica please set up a standing order or make a one-off donation or Text 'ABLE11 £2/ £5 /£10' to 70070.  
 
We would also love to hear from you.  Feedback on our newsletters and comments/questions about our work are always welcome. Finally, don't forget to follow us on  Facebook Like us on Facebook and Twitter Follow us on Twitter for real time updates. 

Sincerely,

 

Jane Anthony   Executive Director    AbleChildAfrica