What We Do
Current Projects
- Income Generating Cooperatives
- Most Vulnerable Children Committees (MVCC)
- Education
- Health
- Environment
- The New Enterprise Fund
Income Generating Cooperatives
Adults who agree to care for vulnerable children often lack the income to provide for their increased family. Africa Bridge organizes these families into income generating cooperatives, providing seed capital, technical training and at least two years of follow up support. Within two years, family incomes increase 3 to 10 times, leading to improved care of the children, access to education and health care. The investments and costs are as follows:
- Pig cooperative: $6,000
- Maize cooperative: $10,000
- Cow and potato cooperatives: $12,000
Most Vulnerable Children Committees
Orphaned and most vulnerable children need psychological, social and legal support. We form volunteer villagers into Most Vulnerable Children's Committees (MVCC) and give them extensive training on identifying vulnerable children, defining their needs and providing support on an individual basis. This amazing community-based program monitors the health and welfare of every vulnerable child monthly. Providing counseling, material support, and early intervention where needed. The committees also form children's clubs, which provide peer counseling and support.
- Two years of support of the Most Vulnerable Children's Committee of a single village to deliver psychosocial, paralegal and material support to vulnerable children: $6,000
Education
Children in villages want to go to school more than anything else. It is an easy dream for us to fulfill:
- Support for one primary school children for a year, including a school uniform, writing materials and shoes: $25
- School desk (a hardwood bench desk used by three children): $50
- New classroom (building materials, foundation, etc.): $10,000
Health
Providing low cost basics has a dramatic impact on the health of children and the community. The availability of health care and the prevention of HIV/AIDS are critical to changing the lives of these children. Emergencies during child delivery are the greatest cause of death among young women.
- Bicycle to allow healthcare providers to travel between villages: $200
- Raingear to protect health workers in the field: $100
- One motorcycle ambulance for a clinic, allowing a mother in labor to be taken to a hospital: $10,000
- Completing health clinics and caregiver housing. Villages in Masoko and Mpombo Wards currently have no medical facilities: varies with location, $20,000-$50,000
- Training one youth as HIV/AIDS peer educator: $200
Environment
In collaboration with ReTree International, we educate children on the long term value of trees to the sustainability of their environment. Each year, primary school children plant local indigenous (80%) and quick growing trees (20%) to provide firewood.
The New Enterprise Fund
This fund, conceived by David Brown, co-founder of Obsidian Finance, encourages business initiatives by giving capital loans to new ventures, such as a new milling machine project in Idweli village, and small business cooperatives. As these loans are repaid, half the interest is donated to the village's Most Vulnerable Children Committee.
- Viable loans for collaborative new ventures or forming small business co-ops range in size from $500 to $4,000
