Village By Village News

The Village by VIllage eBay shop, set up just before Christmas to offer ethical Christmas presents to volunteers who have been out to Ghana gets it’s fifth positive feedback today. Each item comes with a tag that is signed by the lady who made it. These purchases bring economic independence to the women of Africa.

Most of the bags are recycled, improving the lives of people living in poverty and clean up the environment at the same time.

Need that last minute present?

Steve Docherty a self employed builder from Leeds has very kindly offered to drive down to Ghana from the UK in Jan 2010 and donate his Land Rover to Village by Village again ……!  Steve did the same trip last year and donated his green landy but this year he is not only donating the vehicle but a much needed trailer too. Without the trailer we can only transport small amounts of cement so the trailer means we can really get to work in those off the beaten track, hard to reach villages.

People donate to charity for various different reasons: a willingness to make a difference, the kudos of being associated with a charity or just a strong belief in right and wrong. Steve is one of our most generous benefactors, he is not a rich man and each of these trips costs him dearly but he gives without any expectation of reward or acknowledgement. We would just like to publicly thank him and those others who give so generously. Below are the team who are all travelling down across the Sahara in Jan 2010 (Steve is far left) and donating their vehicles across Africa.

Steve is looking for a co-driver to share the experience of a lifetime and running costs…. You could go for a week or a month! Interested email me neil@villagebyvillage.org.uk

Neil & Anna headed to the bright lights of London to attend the FSI’s grant and trusts training day. Held in Central London it was a free event which taught small charities how to successfully apply to larger grant making bodies for more funds.

Over the pass month we have been emailing Apple in the US and the UK to see if they would help us out with some free computers and thereby using our donated funds directly in Africa. We even made a video clip playing on the idea of Apple’s first iPod adverts… see below. They said “No”.

We asked Apple if we could have discount and to sell us computers at cost and not make a profit out of a charity. They said “No”……  Shame  ”I’m an Apple and I say No”. We asked Microsoft and they gave us a massive discount off their software. Thanks Microsoft.

To help develop our communications we have signed up with the Opensource Charity in New York. Melissa and AJ take us through the setting up of Twitter, Facebook and Blogs.

Trustee Paul Broom & Head of Communications Anna Kerfoot braved the downpours of Preston and with the help of Jo Shimwell of Skeleton Productions competed the video interview commissioned by The Big Give. In which Village by Village is showcased as good example of how to find a valued supporter We are looking forward to the finished product in due course……

After 3 years in operation and countless successful trips out to Ghana with fresh faced volunteers in tow we have at last been approved by the D of E. We went through a very difficult due diligence process which looked at all our policies, H&S and general volunteer management and we came out with flying colours….. Thanks DofE

On Friday the 9th October 2009 we held our AGM in the home of Neil & Anna Kerfoot. The Chairman… Dr Nick Swift and Trustee Mr Paul Broom layed the foundation for another successful year ahead.

We are now working in our 13th village in Ghana and have developed several excellent partnerships in the process both in Ghana, UK and Ireland.

We have done so much in the 3 short years we have been in operation.