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At Aidlink we work with some of the world’s poorest communities. We strive to empower these communities and help them take responsibility for their own development by working with local organisations on the ground to improve access to resources such as education, clean water and food.

Here’s a brief look at our 2017 Annual Report:

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2017 Quick Facts

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Our Work

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In 2017, Aidlink worked closely with the nomadic pastoralist communities: the Masai, the Turkana and the Karamojong.

We worked to empower these communities, focusing on women and girls who are particularly marginalised, often facing child marriage and gender-based violence. Our work included improving access to clean water, improving school infrastructure and training students, parents and teachers in child rights. Improved WASH facilities such as girl-friendly and disability-friendly latrine blocks have lead to safer, healthier and more inclusive school environments, have reduced disease in these communities and have given individuals the opportunity to live healthy and fulfilling lives.

Our work with the Masai, the Turkana and the Karamajong is leading to immediate and long-term change such as more boys and girls performing well in schools.

Naanyu’s story:

Naanyu is an 8-year-old with cerebral palsy. From Endoinyo Wuas in Kajiado County, she is one of 7 children living at home with her father and step mother following the death of her own mother. Last year, after training from Aidlink and our partner in Kenya, Girld Child Network, local community leaders launched a campaign to ensure every child was enrolled and attending school. Going door to door, they found Naanyu at her home during the day, missing out on an education. Hearing her father’s complaints that there was no point in sending her to school as she would only fail, Ole Samperu, one of the community leaders, came forward to sponsor Naanyu’s education, taking her down to Endoinyo Wuas Primary. As Naanyu has never been to school before, she was enrolled in the kindergarten class, and although she is a lot older than her classmates, she isn’t put off. She can’t speak as fluently as the other children, nor write as well but the teachers are giving her the extra support she needs. ‘I’m so happy to go to school and learn like the other children in my village. I will work hard to make sure I go to secondary school!’ she says.

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Immersion Programme

Here at Aidlink we are very proud of our Immersion Programme. We believe in connecting the Global North and South, promoting an understanding of the causes of global poverty and building support among young people for social justice. The Immersion Programme creates links between schools in Ireland and in Kenya, Uganda and Ghana. The students on the programme are given the opportunity to immerse themselves in the local school experience. In 2017, we had two hugely successful programmes with students travelling from Ireland to Kenya and from Ghana to Ireland.

Fundraising

In 2017 we saw our monthly event Women On Wednesday flourish. This event, taking place in Whelan’s, celebrates female creativity and raises funds for Aidlink Girls’ Education Programme in Kenya.

Aidlink for Turkana was another incredible evening of music in the National Concert Hall, which brought together choirs and some of Ireland most beloved musicians such as Cathy Davey and Paddy Casey. Both events evidence Aidlink’s commitment to raising voices and empowering women.

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Governance

In 2017, Aidlink proudly won two awards which recognised the organisation’s commitment to the highest standards of good governance, accountability and transparency.

Aidlink continues to work towards our ultimate goal of helping people, especially women and girls who are living in the poorest communities in Africa, to achieve healthy and fulfilling lives.

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A huge thank you to everyone who supported us by donating in 2017!

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The full text of the Aidlink Annual Report 2017 is available: Aidlink Annual Report 2017

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