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Agapao International
| Published: 26th October 2009 22:28 |
Agapao International is a charity based in Rossendale, which works with young people and communities in the UK and overseas to develop skills through practical methods and experiential learning.
In the UK Agapao works in partnership with the ‘Impact Team' comprising:
- Impact Training & Development - delivering accredited learning programs;
- Impact Events - having fun and raising money;
- Impact Arts & Media - working with communities in a creative way, and
- Impact Holidays - offering low-cost, bespoke overseas trips to Africa and India.
Agapao International in Uganda. Photo © Agapao International This unique partnership ensures that every piece of work delivered by the Impact Team directly benefits Agapao International, so there is always a personal, community and global impact.
Overseas, health care and educational needs are addressed through sustainable projects which are managed by the community. Local people are given the skills to develop those around them through a simple ethos - learn a skill, use a skill, share a skill. Agapao International empowers Community Development Managers through training and personal development, working closely with them to enhance their skills. The CDMs are chosen based on their ability to assess community needs, identify leaders and solutions then implement change through motivation and enthusiasm.
Photo © Agapao InternationalThe CDMs visit villages and communities and train Community Development Volunteers, using the Agapao Impact Training Manual. The CDVs then work with their own community and if they embrace the opportunity, a partnership agreement is discussed and the community is nominated to receive a Community Impact Kit. By providing 'impact' kits, a whole community can be mobilised and empowered to be self-sufficient in a sustainable way.
Agapao provides start-up support for community initiatives to improve and share skills, combat lethargy and ill health and encourage self-sufficiency through income generating projects. Each 'impact' kit can be sponsored by a school, church, company or individual and consists of:
FARM: (4 goats / 60 chickens) providing food, income and opportunity to teach animal care to others
PIT LATRINE: for sanitation and health
STANDPIPE: clean water, reducing illness (water is sold and the profit used to pay for school fees for the local children)
SEWING MACHINE: used by women's groups to repair & make clothes and crafts to sell and make school uniform to enable children to go to school
TOOLS: to enable people to grow vegetables and build houses
OVEN & BAKING SHEETS: enables sharing of skills and income generation
CHARCOAL BURNER: for making chapati, rolex and simple meals which could develop into a cafe
CRAFTS: materials to encourage local skills to be shared and items sold
Photo © Agapao International
Impact Holidays
Not everyone has the opportunity to take a 'gap year'. In fact, money & free time are becoming increasingly precious and holiday allowances shorter. Agapao International is offering people who would like to share their skills, but can only 'escape' for a couple of weeks, the chance to have a holiday and have an impact.
Previous visits have proven to be life changing for both the community projects visited and the visiting volunteers. If you would like to experience a different culture in a developing country and make a difference on a bespoke, low-cost trip, please contact us to discuss your needs. http://www.agapao.co.uk/
All images are copyright Agapao International.
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