Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!
11 October 2023
Post No. 321
The Week’s Contents
• 2023 “A la une” (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature in Existence) Campaign and Themed Activities via “Niamankeke” Project
• Giving No Direct Cash Donations
• Support Children Impacted by Crisis in Africa
… And much more!
Key Messages
• 2023 “A la une” (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature in Existence) Campaign and Themed Activities via “Niamankeke” Project
Our environmental campaign known as “A la une” has already started and is going to last for six weeks. The main theme of this campaign is still the same, which is Upkeep of the Nature; the sub-theme for this year’s campaign being Protection of Endangered Insect Species. This sub-theme will be delivered or conducted via “Niamankeke” Project.
As said, this year’s campaign is about the upkeep of endangered insect species. It is an action to reduce and stop extinction risk and threat that insect species like
Brenton Blue Butterfly, Chlorocypha aurora, Eriksson acracina, Pheidole spp, African Dung Beetle, Platycypha pinheyi, Serratruma inquilina, Tetrathesmis spp, Uluguru moountain grasshopper (Cyphocerastis uluguruensis), Eupropacris abbreviata (the Kilosa Noble Grasshopper), Adetomyrma venatrix (Dracula ant), Kenya jewel (Platycypha amboniensis), etc.
are subject to.
These insect species are just a few examples of many more that are threatened and at risk of extinction.
Five of the above-mentioned examples of endangered insect species (that is, Brenton Blue Butterfly, African Dungle Beetle, Chlorocypha Aurora, Dracula Ant and Erikssonia Acracina) will make up selected composed notes or themed areas of our work; work that we will carry out together to shape the central topic or theme of “A la une” Campaign this Autumn.
We have provided, under the Main Development section of this post, the time frame and titles of these composed notes or themed areas of work.
The first themed area of work is Saving Brenton Blue Butterfly; themed area which kicked off from the 9th of October 2023.
For further information about this first note, please read under the Main Development section of this post.
• Giving No Direct Cash Donations
How to support CENFACS without directly giving cash
Last month, we highlighted ways of supporting CENFACS and of boosting your support. This week, we are adding ways of backing us without you having to directly give cash to CENFACS and its noble causes. This is all part of improving the way in which you can make an impact on what CENFACS is doing to help reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development.
Indeed, there are many ways that one can use to help CENFACS without directly given cash. One can unlock barriers to no direct cash donations for CENFACS. Those who would like to assist CENFACS by using other means than directly giving cash, they can think of the following.
15-themed ways of donating to consider this Autumn and in the lead up to the end of the year:
1) Giving unwanted goods and items to CENFACS e-charity store at http://cenfacs.org.uk/shop/
2) Sign up for a Gift Aid Declaration from which CENFACS can earn an extra 25p for every £1 you give
3) Nominate CENFACS for a donation at charity fundraising and donation events
4) Select CENFACS as your preferred charity for donation from advertising revenue
5) Raise free funds for CENFACS with your online shopping or choose CENFACS as a donation recipient of some of the profits raised from online shopping
6) Donate your unwanted and unused points and cashback to CENFACS as your chosen charity from your loyalty shopping rewards or good causes’ gift cards
7) Name CENFACS as your favourite deserving cause if it happens that you have the opportunity to click the online option “donate cashback to charities”
8) Donate any unwanted excess points of your loyalty card from apps that may give support to good causes
9) Give away to CENFACS any vouchers received or earned that you do not need or want
10) Hand out to CENFACS any proceeds from unwanted or unneeded prize draw or award you prefer to get rid of
11) If you are a gaming fundraiser, help CENFACS raise money it needs through your gaming fundraising capability
12) Help in online fundraising events (e.g., online or digital tickets selling)
13) If you are gaming as a good causes and fundraising livestream donor, you can also support CENFACS
14) If you are running gaming and livestreaming campaigns, you can remember CENFACS in your campaigns
15) Give cryptocurrency donations or the proceeds of sales of non-fungibles tokens.
The above fifteen-themed ways of not directly donating cash are just the few examples of ways of helping that one can think over or come across with to support CENFACS without having to directly give cash. However, this does not mean one cannot donate cash. Of course, they can and if you choose to donate cash, CENFACS will happily accept your cash donations.
To support CENFACS without directly giving cash and or by directly donating cash, just contact CENFACS.
• Support Children Impacted by Crisis in Africa
At the start of September 2023 and of our Back-to-relief Programme 2023, we indicated that supporting crisis-impacted children in Africa, particularly those living in conflict-stricken areas of Africa, would be part of our working plan for Autumn 2023.
Amongst these children who need support are those who could not return to school at the start of their academic year and those who are struggling to meet their back-to-school necessities because of the legacies of violence and insecurity in conflict-stricken areas of Africa. Yet, every child deserves education.
In places where school infrastructures and buildings have been destroyed or simply occupied as shelter or refuge by internally displaced persons, there is even a huge challenge to maintain the educational levels and opportunities for these poor children. There is a stiff task in African countries stricken by civil insecurity, in particular countries like Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo (in its eastern areas), Burkina Faso, Mali, etc. to keep schools open for children. Because of the consequences of insecurity and violence, many children in areas of the above-mentioned countries are out of school.
For example, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (1) estimates that
“The out-of-school population in Sub-Saharan Africa increased by 12 million over 2015-21” (p. 19)
Likewise, the United Nations Children’s Fund (2) states that
“One of the first day of the new 2023-2024 academic year in Burkina Faso, 1 in 4 schools or 6,149 remain shut due to ongoing violence and insecurity in parts of the country”.
As a way of keeping education alive for these unfortunate children living in those parts of Africa in conflict crisis, many types of initiatives have been taken to support so far by organisations (such as the United Nations Children’s Fund) and people like you to help. Initiatives such as education by radio programme, back-to-school advocacy, delivery of school kits, etc. have been undertaken. However, due to the immense educational challenge posed by the legacies of insecurity and violence, there is still a deep, intense and urgent educational need in many of these areas.
CENFACS is doing its bit by launching an appeal to support the educationally needy children in Africa; children who have been affected by the legacies of insecurity and violence in conflict-stricken areas of Africa. This appeal, which is worded as Every Child in Africa Deserves Education, starts today and will make CENFACS‘ fundraising campaign for Giving Tuesday on 28 November 2023.
We would like people who may be interested in our philanthropic mission to join us in this campaign. We are asking to those who can to support this campaign not to wait the Giving Tuesday on 28 November 2023. They can donate at any time since the needs are urgent and pressing. To donate, please get in touch with CENFACS.
Extra Messages
• Leaves-based Advice with Impact
• Review of the Campaign to End Poverty Induced by Rising Costs of Living
• Shop at CENFACS Zero-Waste e-charity Store for Your Autumn 2023 Goods Donations and Buys
• Leaves-based Advice with Impact
Leaves-based Advice with Impact is a step forward within the framework of the advice service we provide to the community. The leaves element within our local advice package, which marked CENFACS’ 2021 Year of Leaves, will continue to feature the advisory process of helping the community to reduce poverty. We have included impact as advice will be given with an impact strategy to maximise outcomes for the beneficiaries.
There are many circumstances of life that can make the community to ask for advice. For example, after the back-to-school period, there are some members of our community who may still need some form of advisory support relating to other issues of their life. These issues can include the following:
∝ Finding a nursery for children
∝ Children having problems to settle in or adapt to a new school
∝ Problem to strike a balance between working life and family life
∝ Registration to health services
∝ Finding accommodation or relocating
∝ Accessing training opportunity or employment
∝ Looking for a new occupation to deal with the economic effects of the enduring cost-of-living crisis
∝ Finding help to adjust their life after any period of inactivity
∝ Looking for direction to overcome the enduring cost-of-living crisis
Etc.
We can provide advisory support to them. Where our capacity is limited, we can refer and/or signpost them to relevant specialist services and organisations to help them meet their needs.
You can contact CENFACS should you need any of these services:
√ Translation (English to French and vice versa)
√ Interpreting
√ Generalist advice
√ Guidance
√ Signposting
√ Referral
√ Advocacy
Etc.
You can text, phone, email and complete for the contact form to access this service.
• Review of the Campaign to End Poverty Induced by Rising Costs of Living
This week is also of the review of our Campaign to End Poverty Induced by Rising Costs of Living. It is now one year since it was established in October 2022. What is this review about?
• • About the Campaign Review
The review is about what has worked and did not work since this campaign was instituted. It is about ensuring that the scope and deliverables of this campaign are progressing in line with the baseline plan of the campaign.
In our campaign plan, we proposed to have three types of actions: short-, medium- and long-term actions. Because of the length of the long-term actions (2 to 10 years, the current review will focus only on short- and medium-term actions (0 to 6 months and 6 to 24 months).
• • What this Review Will Bring
The review, which will be both data-led and opinion-driven, will enable to identify achievements or results in the form of successes, opportunities, failures and threats. Through this review, we hope to improve help and support stemming from this campaign to our community members.
To enquire about the Review of the Campaign to End Poverty Induced by Rising Costs of Living, please contact CENFACS.
• Shop at CENFACS Zero-Waste e-charity Store for Your Autumn 2023 Goods Donations and Buys
Every season is an opportunity to do something about the environment and poverty. This Autumn too is a good period to save the environment and relieve poverty.
You can recycle or donate your unwanted or unused goods and presents to do something about the environment and or poverty.
You can also buy goods to meet the same ends.
This Autumn you can shop at CENFACS Zero-waste e-charity store to help the environment and poverty relief.
To support the environment and the poor, you can either shop or supply us with products or goods you no longer want or use so that we can sell and raise the money for the noble cause of poverty relief, at http://cenfacs.org.uk/shop/.
Message in French (Message en français)
• Conseils basés sur les feuilles des arbres ayant un impact
Conseils basés sur les feuilles des arbres ayant un impact sont un pas en avant dans le cadre du service de conseil que nous fournissons à la communauté. L’élément des feuilles de notre trousse de conseils locaux, qui a marqué l’Année des feuilles 2021 du CENFACS, continuera d’être présent dans le processus consultatif visant à aider la communauté à réduire la pauvreté. Nous avons inclus l’impact car les conseils seront donnés avec une stratégie d’impact pour maximiser les résultats pour les bénéficiaires.
Il existe de nombreuses circonstances de la vie qui peuvent amener la communauté à demander conseil. Par exemple, après la rentrée scolaire, certains membres de notre communauté peuvent encore avoir besoin d’une forme de soutien consultatif lié à d’autres questions de leur vie. Ces problèmes peuvent inclure les éléments suivants :
∝ Trouver une crèche pour les enfants
∝ Enfants ayant des difficultés à s’adapter à une nouvelle école
∝ Problème pour trouver un juste équilibre entre la vie professionnelle et la vie familiale
∝ Inscription aux services de santé
∝ Trouver un logement ou déménager
∝ Accès à une possibilité de formation ou une opportunité d’emploi
∝ À la recherche d’un nouveau métier pour faire face aux effets économiques persistants de la crise du coût de la vie
∝ Trouver de l’aide pour ajuster sa vie après une période d’inactivité
∝ À la recherche d’une direction pour surmonter la crise du coût de la vie qui s’est installée dans la durée
Etc.
Nous pouvons leur fournir un soutien consultatif. Lorsque nos capacités sont limitées, nous pouvons les orienter vers et/ou les recommander auprès des services et des organisations spécialisés pertinents pour les aider à répondre à leurs besoins.
Vous pouvez contacter le CENFACS si vous avez besoin de l’un de ces services :
√ Traduction (de l’anglais vers le français et vice versa)
√ Interprétation
√ Conseils généralistes
√ Orientation
√ Signalisation ou indication de services similaires
√ Adresse à un spécialiste
√ Plaidoyer
Etc.
Vous pouvez envoyer un SMS, téléphoner, envoyer un e-mail et remplir le formulaire de contact pour accéder à ce service.
Main Development
• 2023 “A la une” (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature in Existence) Campaign and Themed Activities via “Niamankeke” Project
The following covers the points making this Main Development:
∝ What is “A la une” (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature in Existence)?
∝ What is “Niamankeke“?
∝ Insects Crisis
∝ “A la une” Campaign Calendar
∝ Executing our “A la une” Campaign from Week Beginning 09/10/2023 by Focusing on Saving Brenton Blue Butterfly
∝ Add-on Activity of the Week’s Campaign: Workshop on Insects as Food Providers
• • What is “A la une” (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature in Existence)?
“A la une” is CENFACS‘ well-known household campaign for justice towards for nature in the autumnal season.
It is about working together in organised and active way toward the goal of keeping up the nature in (good) existence.
It is about telling those who are in a position to help to fix the overexploitation and end extinction of natural species.
It is about gaining support for species for the benefits and gifts they provide to the nature and in the different areas of human life.
It is CENFACS’ branding or theme that holds to account those who are destroying the nature and its resources as well as it looks forward to positively transforming our relationships with nature while changing the way our society works.
Briefly, “A la une” Campaign, which has to be differentiated from one-time protest, has three attributes, which are:
a) It focuses on a concrete goal of keeping up the nature in (good) existence
b) It has specific outcomes for working with CENFACS‘ users to protect nature or the wilderness/wildlands
c) It helps to add up to similar efforts and work on protecting the nature.
“A la une” Campaign needs sub-themes to be completed. The sub-theme we have selected to deliver “A la une” Campaign for this year is “Niamankeke“.
• • What is “Niamankeke“?
“Niamankeke” stands for Nurture Insects via Adaptive Management for Action on Nature that Keeps the Endangered as Key to our Environment. “Niamankeke” Project as a Focus of Our Campaign to Deal with Insects Crisis is a sequence of tasks with a defined start (09/10/2023) and end date (20/11/2023) to achieve the overall aim of keeping up the nature (here endangered insect species) in (good) existence, particularly from decline and extinction.
Whereas “A la une” Campaign is our overall values or umbrella body of work for justice towards nature, “Niamankeke” Project is one of the groupings of projects making our “A la une” Campaign.
“Niamankeke” is a SMART (that is, Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely) goal within “A la une” Campaign or a result that we are attempting to achieve.
“Niamankeke” as a SMART goal helps…
√ Increase awareness within our community and the rest of the community about endangered insect species
√ Get improved conversions in terms of new sustainable initiatives
√ Attract support to our noble cause of reducing poverty by developing sustainable initiatives.
• • Insect Crisis
As said above, “Niamankeke” deals with insect crisis. Many studies show that there is a global decline in insects. Yet, our destiny depends on the survival of insects as Sheree Bega (3) argues. Likewise John McCann, quoted by Bega, explains that there are twelve factors that contribute the most to the rapid global decline of insects which include 1) climate change disruption 2) pollution 3) urbanisation 4) invasive species 5) agricultural intensification 6) insecticides 7) fire 8) storm intensity 9) disappearing ecosystems 10) droughts 11) deforestation 12) nitrification.
“Niamankeke” tries to address some of these factors through an organised series of actions to gain support for insects regarding the benefits and gifts they provide in the areas of food, health, pollution reduction, ecosystems, disaster relief and other areas of our life. However, any campaign to be serious needs to have some planning, strategy and process.
• • “A la une” Campaign Calendar
• • • Six Weeks of Campaign for the Upkeep of the Nature
As announced earlier, we have started our 6-week campaign work for the Upkeep of the Nature. The campaign will help in promoting healthy relationships between humans and nature by taking actions to reduce the decline of Insect Species. It will also help in the fight against the contributing factors to this decline.
As outlined earlier, the sub-theme of “A la une” for this year is Protection of Endangered Insect Species delivered via “Niamankeke” Project while the “A la une” theme remains the same which is Upkeep of the Nature.
Within these theme and sub-theme, we have composed six notes including monitoring, evaluation and review of the “A la une” Campaign. These notes, which can be found below are in fact actions that can be taken to Protect Endangered Insect Species.
• • • “A la une” Campaign Composed Notes or Themed Areas for Action
There are five insect themed names and five activities to back this campaign. During the following periods within this Autumn and “A la une” season, CENFACS’ advocacy on environment will focus on the following insect themed names and activities from the beginning of every Mondays (starting from 09 October 2023 to 20 November 2023).
In total, there are five insect themed names which make areas of work and action starting from the 09th of October 2023 and thereafter every Mondays until the 20th of November 2023. Form the 13th to the 20th of November 2023, we shall carry out Impact Monitoring, Evaluation and Review of the “A la une” Campaign and Themed Activities conducted.
The above-mentioned insect themed titles and activities will help us to re-communicate our environmental message for the upkeep of the nature in (good) existence as well as triggering better changes the way in which our community/society works.
As you can notice, besides each of these insect themed names, there are activities to be carried out. There are three qualitative activities (i.e., workshop, focus group and e-discussion) and two quantitative ones (i.e., case study and survey) which will be on the gifts that beneficial insects give to the nature and to humans.
The notes are supposed to guide our action since “A la une” Campaign is about actions, not words. During the run and at the end of these notes and actions, we shall pull impact monitoring and evaluation reports. We shall as well review the campaign results to see how it performed overall and if we achieved our goal, that is “Niamankeke“.
To engage with “A la une” Campaign and themed areas as well as to act for a healthy and wealthy nature, please contact CENFACS.
• • Executing our “A la une” Campaign from Week Beginning 09/10/2023 by Focusing on Saving Brenton Blue Butterfly (BBB)
To start with this campaigning note, we are going to understand BBB and highlight ways of saving it. We are as well going to introduce the first insects activity among the activities (that is, activities explaining the gifts that beneficial insects provide to the nature and to humans) designed to accompany “Niamankeke” Project.
• • • What is Brenton Blue Butterfly?
According to ‘earthsendangered.com’ (4),
“Brenton Blue Butterfly – also scientifically known as Orachrusops niobe – is a species of concern belonging in the species group “insects” and found in the following area(s) – South Africa”.
As an insect, BBB shares with other insects a number of characteristics such as six legs, three body sections (head, thorax and abdomen), pair of antennae, exoskeleton, compound eyes, wings, three or four stage life cycle (egg, larva or nymphs, pupa and adult).
The website ‘thecongobasinrainforestsweebly.com’ (5), states that BBB can only be found in Africa and is critically endangered.
If BBB is endangered, there is a need to save it from extinction.
• • • What one can do to save Brenton Blue Butterfly
The Brenton Blue Trust (6) argues that there are important ecological reasons for saving butterflies from extinction. These reasons include ecological stability, conservation biology, scientific investigations, aesthetics and human well-being. These reasons apply to BBB as well.
From the above-mentioned reasons, there are many actions that one can undertake to save Brenton Blue Butterfly. In the context of these notes, we would like highlight these two actions, which come from the ‘brentonbluetrust.com’ (op. cit.):
∧∨ to ensure the long-term survival of genetically viable population of the BBB
∧∨ to conserve or stimulate the ecological processes which are necessary for the survival of the BBB population.
Besides these two actions, there are other initiatives one can take to help save the BBB population. One of these other actions is to support the good causes working on BBB matter.
The above actions will help to reduce extinction risks and threats to BBB, which is endangered bird species in Africa.
• • Add-on Activity of the Week’s Campaign: Workshop on Insects as Food Providers
This is a course of study or work for a group of our members on the gift of food that beneficial insects provide to humans.
Although the workshop is not directly linked to BBB, it will help participants to learn the different contributions that beneficial insects make to the food that humans consume.
Through this course of action, we shall look at the positive contributions of insects rather than their negative contributions to human life. As Sheree Bega (op. cit.) puts it:
“These tiny creatures, often unnoticed, pollinate our fruit, vegetables and flowers, recycle nutrients, control pests and are food for birds, bats, reptiles, amphibians and fish”.
The workshop could also help to explore the extent to which insects can help us to reduce food poverty, especially in those parts of Africa where certain types of insects are consumed.
Those who may be interested in taking part in this workshop, they can contact CENFACS.
Briefly speaking, the above is our first note of the “A la une” Campaign for this year.
To find out more about this first note and/or the entire “A la une” Campaign, please contact CENFACS.
_________
• References
(1) UNESCO (2023), Global Education Monitoring Report Summary 2023: Technology in Education: A tool on whose terms? Paris, UNESCO
(2) https://www.unicef.org/burkinafaso/en/press-releases/burkina-faso-new-academic-year-starts-one-million-children-out-school-due-ongoing# (accessed in October 2023)
(3) Bega, S. (2021), Our destiny depends on the survival of insects in Mail & Guardian at https://mg.co.za/environment/2021-01-28-our-destiny-depends-on-the-survival-of-insects/ (accessed in October 2023)
(4) www.earthsendangered.com/profile=asp?gr=1&view=c&ID=1&sp=4623 (accessed in October 2023)
(5) https://thecongobasinrainforestsweebly.com/insects.html (accessed in October 2023)
(6) www.brentonbluetrust.co.za (accessed in October 2023)
_________
• Help CENFACS Keep the Poverty Relief Work Going this Year
We do our work on a very small budget and on a voluntary basis. Making a donation will show us you value our work and support CENFACS’ work, which is currently offered as a free service.
One could also consider a recurring donation to CENFACS in the future.
Additionally, we would like to inform you that planned gifting is always an option for giving at CENFACS. Likewise, CENFACS accepts matching gifts from companies running a gift-matching programme.
Donate to support CENFACS!
FOR ONLY £1, YOU CAN SUPPORT CENFACS AND CENFACS’ NOBLE CAUSES OF POVERTY REDUCTION.
JUST GO TO: Support Causes – (cenfacs.org.uk)
Thank you for visiting CENFACS website and reading this post.
Thank you as well to those who made or make comments about our weekly posts.
We look forward to receiving your regular visits and continuing support throughout 2023 and beyond.
With many thanks.
