Africa Rising 2009 updated_annual_report

AFRICA RISING

2009 ANNUAL REPORTJANUARY-DECEMBER 2009

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

www.africarising.org

Dear Friends of Africa Rising,

2009 was a pivotal year in the growth of Africa Rising. We expanded to

partner with a total of 14 grassroots African organizations and added the

first US staff person, which greatly increased our capacity. Our focus

continued to be on learning about the dreams and capabilities our

partners currently possess as well as the challenges they face through

visits, email communications, and building long-term relationships.

Africa Rising exists because we believe in the globally transformative power of the grassroots

African organizations we serve. This work includes bringing hope to women living with HIV/AIDS,

reducing the number of children living on the streets, assisting caregivers of orphaned and

vulnerable children, transforming a war-affected community, resettling internally displaced people,

and the list goes on. The work our partners do every day has life changing results for individuals

and communities including winning legal battles for women’s property rights, generating income

for HIV positive parents, placing street children in permanent homes, publishing new African

writers, providing excellent education to orphans, and again the list goes on.

We also believe in the power of connecting people. We can do more together than we could ever

do alone. One result of better connections is solving problems smarter, faster, and better on the

individual, organizational, and community level. To this end Africa Rising is starting with our 14

unconnected partners and weaving a network that continually creates new possibilities and

connections.

Amber Dunn

I hope you will read on to find out more about how Africa Rising is weaving a network to

promote African Answers and Global Partnerships.

Sincerely,

Amber DunnExecutive Director

Starting Point: Fragmented Network End Goal: Interwoven, Expanding Network

OUR APPROACH

Africa Rising works for:

African Answers: Solutions developed by Africans for challenges facing their communities

Global Partnerships:

A global community of change makers who work alongside Africans to see them thrive on their own terms


We do this by:

Building Relationships

Extending Networks

Facilitating Exchanges

Enabling Growth

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS- 2009 AFRICA

RISING PARTNERS


# Name # Name

1 Childreach Africa 8 Amani Children’s Home

2 Concerned Parents Assoc.

9

Center for Research, Education Enhancement, and Development

in Africa

3 Millenium School

10

Women’s Emancipation and Development Agency

4 Shalom City 11 Kwani Trust

5 Beacon of Hope 12 National Community of Women Living with AIDS

6 Tumani Women’s Integration

Program

13 African Leadership and Reconcilliation Ministires

7 African Economic Foundation 14 The Family Alliance for Development and Cooperation

Tanzania

Uganda

Kenya

1 12

9

2

3

10

8

4

7

511

613

14

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

In 2009 Mary and Amber stayed in phone and email contact with ourpartners. They were available for consultation to staff, Board members,and founders of the different organizations.

In East Africa, Mary was able to spend time hands-on learning about theday to day work of our partners by participating in their activities. Shelent capacity and needed skills through documentation for both Beaconof Hope and Kwani. She helped start a catalogued reference library forKwani. She also worked on profile photos and stories TULIP girls to helpin education for sponsorships. She made many other visits throughoutthe year.

Mary also took trips to WOMEDA, FADECO, and CREED to vet them beforerecommending them for partnership to the Africa Rising board. Sherecorded stories of beneficiaries who have received legal advice fromWOMEDA and attended broadcasts about social issues by Radio FADECO.

Amber spent significant time with Catherine Piwang, the director ofChildreach Africa on a US visit and with the founder of the AfricanEconomic Foundation, Dr. Philip Mwalali, who lives in North Carolina.


Mary Muhara,

African Rising

East Africa

Liaison

Africa Rising maintains a close and dynamic relationship

with each of our partners enabling us to stay connected to

their needs and assets. These relationships are the

foundation of everything we do with and for our partners.

Mary in Kilisa Village with African Economic Foundation

observing the biogas production plant

Mary at a community event hosted by Radio FADECO

EXTENDING NETWORKS

Africa Rising creates new possibilities and opens doors for mutually

beneficial relationships for our partners. Our partners benefit from:

Exposure through Africa Rising’s website

Articles in national magazines about Africa Rising

Contacts through Africa Rising’s website that lead to introductions

Presentations to local groups, colleges, and churches in the US

Networking Meetings in East Africa


The first annual Africa Rising

Networking meeting was held in

Nairobi, Kenya in July 2009. It was

the first time our partner

organizations met face to face.

(Africa Rising Networking Meeting, left and below)

Leaders from the African

organizations learned from

one another and shared

their knowledge through

interactions at the

networking meeting. They

shared valuable insights

with one another and with

Africa Rising about the

benefits they were seeking

from Africa Rising.

FACILITATING EXCHANGES

Africa Rising helps by building trust between individuals or organizations in the network that want to connect.

Misconceptions of Africans and their needs have led to frustrations in the past when our partners have interacted with Westerners. Africa Rising helps prevent these negative interactions.

To promote mutually beneficial relationships, Africa Rising has developed guidelines on cross-cultural visits, photography ethics, and exchanging money.

Africa Rising also facilitates learning exchanges among our partners to share successful strategies and to benefit others in overcoming challenges.


A healing retreat organized by two Africa

Rising partners

Africa Rising

promotes positive

interactions for

people connecting

with African

organizations.

ENABLING GROWTH

Growth and areas for development are defined by our partners and their dreams. Each Africa Rising partner is introducing unique solutions to the challenges facing their communities. Through continued growth, they can serve more people through HIV advocacy, education, economic empowerment, legal advice, and many other serviced provided each day.

Here are just a few examples of some of the dreams for growth held by Africa Rising partners:


When people are better connected, they dream with greater

courage, they share their assets with greater generosity, and

they innovate with greater resourcefulness. –Jack Ricchiuto,

Author and Network Weaver

The main way Africa Rising enables growth is through connecting people. We

are working to connect AEF Kilisa, Millennium School and other partners to

people who will help them grow. We do this because we believe:

A young boy in Kilisa collects mangoes from an

abundant harvest. Villagers in Kilisa are

dreaming of starting a fruit processing plant to

generate income from their fruit trees.

Students at Millennium School receive an

excellent education, despite the challenges of

cramped quarters. The staff of Millennium

School is dreaming of expanding their

classrooms and boarding facilities to enable

more orphans to attend school.

FINANCIAL REPORT


Statement of Financial Position 12/31/2009

Assets

Cash and Cash Equivalents $ 35,555

Total Assets $ 35,555

Liabilities

Grants Payable to African Organizations $ 9,588

Accured Payroll $ 1,113

Total Liabilities $ 10,700

Net Assets $ 24,855

Statement of Activities for Year Ending 12/31/2009

Revenue

Contributions, gifts, grants, and similar amounts received $ 31,620

Gross Profit from sales of inventory $ 215

Total Support and Revenue $ 31,841

Expenses

Personnel Expenses $ 19,538

Grants Paid to African Organizations $ 12,801

Operating Expenses $ 1,423

Program Expenses- Annual Gathering and Vetting $ 2,596

Fundraising Expenses $ 44

Software $ 558

Conferences and Prof. Development $ 765

Total Expenses $ 37,725

Change in Net Assets $ (5,884)

2009 SPECIAL THANKS

Staff

Mary Muhara (East African Liaison)

Amber Dunn (Executive Director, US)

Board of Directors

Jim Dobbins

Amber Dunn

Mamie Harris

Christopher Kimono

Elsa Mugyenzi

Jenny Nicholson (Secretary)

Bill Stevenson

Gayle Thomas (Treasurer)

Jim Thomas (Founder and President)

Special Thanks:

East Africa:

Thank you to all the African leaders for your inspired service and for allowing us the privilege of working alongside you:

Jane Wathome, Rosemary Njonjo & Judy Ilere - Beacon of Hope

Mr & Mrs. Mureithi & Lorna Mpaayei , Mercy Mahianini- Tulip

Pastor Faith Mugera - Nairobi Chapel IDP Program

Phillip Mwalali,Tom Nzibe & Francis Koti - AEF/KVDC

Valerie Todd & Rogasian Massue - Amani Children’s Home

Sylvia Opinia & Antony Kerwegi - CPA

Agnes Apea, Ivan Kintu, Patrick Oloya & Emmanuel Ametto - NACWOLA

Margaret Musoke - Millennium School

Catherine Piwang' – Childreach

Jane and Clement Otai- CREED Africa

Angela Wachuka & Wambui Thuku - Kwani Trust

Ivan Kintu & Patrick Oloya- NACWOLA

Peter Kariuki- Shalom City

Juma Masisi- WOMEDA

Sekiku Joseph- FADECO

US:

James Dillard & Nourish International

iContact

New Fangled Web Development

And Thank You to our financial supporters who make our work possible!


Business

Africa Rising 2009 updated_annual_report