Our approach
Adult learning programmes
Adult learning programmes, using an empowerment model called REFLECT constitute the core approach of each of our country programmes. We recently extended our support to include nine local African organisations who work with a total of over 4500 learners in over 250 communities. 70% of the learners are women, and a recruitment and advocacy promotion was held which raised the number of women facilitators and managers across the programmes.
Economic Empowerment through Micro Finance
Every country programme now uses local micro-credit schemes to support its learning circles. This approach is becoming increasingly important as we have been able to measure the impact that credit can have on the lives of people in great need. £116,000 was in circulation during the year, with funds supplied through Village Aid.
Access to Justice / Rights Based Advocacy work
Partner organisations in Cameroon, Northern Ghana and Sierra Leone all received support to run para-legal and advocacy programmes. This work aims to strengthen the capacity of civil society organisations to lobby government agencies and other duty-bearers to fulfil their constitutional obligations, to fight corruption and promote transparency.
Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry
A major programme in Northern Ghana came to final fruition in 2006. Promoting the use of organic techniques, composting, and the establishment of community forest resources have developed skills and experiences we hope to transfer to other country programmes. More than 7000 compost pits were dug and more than 4 million tree seedlings planted.
UK Advocacy programme
Village Aid has developed its UK based primary education programme into a fresh project focussing on East Midlands secondary schools, through the medium of Social Drama as used in West Africa. This new initiative, “World Class Act”, is linking Citizenship teaching and Drama in a range of schools, both rural and urban, and will develop more skills and resources through drawing UK and African young people together to discuss issues of global sustainability, poverty reduction and human rights. To achieve this we have appointed a Drama Education Officer to manage and deliver this programme, with guest social drama facilitators from our African partners.
Develop our learning, research, and knowledge
In 2006 Village Aid began a three year internship scheme, to encourage links with UK academic institutions and build our best practice into publishable material to share with other agencies. A series of volunteer post-grad students, drawn from the development studies departments of Manchester and Derby Universities have also helped this process, and we are pleased to offer such training opportunities for those who are trying to begin a career in international development.