On 25 May, every year, people celebrate Africa Day. Also known as Liberation Day, Africa Day was founded in 1963 marking the establishment of the African Union. African people are steadily striving towards the African Union’s ultimate vision; an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.

2016 theme: Celebrating African Unity

True African unity can be summarised by the ‘ubuntu’ philosophy. Derived from Southern African dialect and from the Zulu phrase ‘ubuntu ngumuntu ngabantu’. Ubuntu means that we realise and affirm our humanity when we acknowledge that of others.

Creating Better Futures celebrates African unity by recognising the value of every child’s right to have access to education and have their welfare needs met.

Over 43 million children in Africa are prevented from going to school due to disease, poverty and lack of infrastructure. We believe education is the most powerful weapon with which we can change the world. We work directly with schools and communities providing orphans and vulnerable children with school fees, uniforms and stationery.

Water scarcity impacts the lives of over 300 million Africans. School days are lost each year due to water-related diseases. Through partnerships, Creating Better Futures provides funding for the drilling of boreholes in Zimbabwean communities, providing clean and safe drinking water.

90% of all cases of malaria occur in Africa, accounting for 24% of child deaths. We prove basic medical care and support in communities as well as making referrals for treatment.

65% of HIV/AIDS related deaths in the world happen in Africa. The deaths of thousands of adults leave orphans with relatives living in poverty to care for them. We continue supporting the children at home with their relatives instead of placing them in orphanages.

Poverty remains a challenge. In Zimbabwe, some communities survive on just $1.25 a day. We run sustainable community projects equipping communities with valuable skills such as farming.

Over 240 million Africans suffer from chronic malnourishment. We run a Feeding programme providing school children with nourishing meals which ensures their participation during lessons.

More than half of the primary schools in Africa don’t have access to sanitation including access to a toilet for staff and pupils. This often makes young girls vulnerable to sexual assault by going to the toilet in the open. We provide sanitation and protect children through the construction of toilet blocks in schools.

Fancy celebrating Africa in the UK?

Our annual Out of Africa Charity Ball takes place on Saturday 26 November. It’s an iconic event, one of its kind in Berkshire. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the joy and hope that comes out of Africa. There will be live African entertainment, African arts and crafts on sale and auction, lots of exciting experiences and holidays to win, plus a lively disco to end the night. Come along and help raise much needed funds to change children’s lives in Africa.

Want to experience a taste of Africa for yourself?

Come along on our Mission Trip this August and see for yourself the work we’re doing in local schools and communities. Guaranteed to be an unforgettable and rewarding two weeks, the trip also includes a 3 days to the mighty Victoria Falls with a safari tour!

 

 

 

To find out more, visit https://www.creatingbetterfutures.org.uk/mission-trip

Register your interest before it’s too late by emailing volunteer@creatingbetterfutures.org.uk

If you’d like to make a difference to children we support, you can;

  • Volunteer in the UK and Zimbabwe
  • Help us provide clean water for families to cook, clean, drink and wash with
  • Help with admin, digital marketing and fundraising in our Reading office
  • Help teach children, construct boreholes, classrooms and toilets in Zimbabwe
  • Promote us at your church, club, school and work
  • Organise activities and events using our fundraising ideas
  • Fundraise  for us, donate at JustGiving or text CBFZ10 £10 to 70070
  • Ask people who support your fundraising event to sign a Gift Aid form; the government gives 25p extra for every £1 you raise so we get £1.25
  • Sponsor a child for £15 a month to give them skills, vision and motivation
  • Have fun choosing items to fill a shoebox and the joy of opening one lasts forever
  • Purchase from retailers at easyfundraising; we get a percentage of what you spend
  • Take advantage of retailer discounts at Savoo and we get a donation from every purchase you make
  • Use easysearch to search the Internet, instead of Google, so we benefit
  • Promote us by liking and sharing our blogs, Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter posts
  • We’ve partnered with Rotary International, with funds being provided by Rotary Clubs in the Thames Valley, and our joint projects are overseen by Rotary Club of Harare