Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!
21 October 2026
Post No. 479
The Week’s Contents
• Autumn 2026 Humanitarian Relief and Nature Conservation Appeals
• Aid to Sustainable Wealth Building, Employability and Support Ecosystems – In Focus from Week Beginning Monday 19/10/2026: Progressive Procurement
• “A la une” (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature in Existence) Campaign and Themed Activities – In Focus for Week Beginning 19/10/2026: Conserving African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta Cyclotis)
… And much more!
Key Messages
• Autumn 2026 Humanitarian Relief and Nature Conservation Appeals
Needy People, Flora, Fauna, Funga, Communities and Organisations in Africa are Asking for Your Support!
These combined appeals, which are made of human relief and nature/species conservation, are about supporting needy people, flora, fauna, funga, communities and organisations in Africa.
The humanitarian relief side is a fundraising drive launched by CENFACS to solicit donations for people experiencing the asymmetrical distribution effects of the Ebola virus disease in Africa (particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo), gap/shortage in digital and locally adapted AI skills, young people’s education-to-work transition, and the creation of alternative educational pathways for children who missed many years of education because of wars/armed conflicts and natural disasters.
The nature or species conservation aspect of these appeals is about raising money to protect threatened species – like Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) for fauna, Silene Cobalticola for flora and Lactifluus luteopus for funga) – their habitat, or the broader ecosystem they depend on.
The two aspects of these appeals will work together as there are links between humanitarian needs and long-term conservation goals in Africa. They are integrated approach to crisis response where emergency aid and environmental protection are managed together. Rather than treating disaster recovery and ecosystem management as completely separate issues, these initiatives combine resources to address immediate human suffering while simultaneously protecting or restoring the surrounding environment. Funding will be directed towards the projects making these appeals that simultaneously protect the planet and alleviate human suffering.
The appeals include the following five selected projects:
1) Digital and Locally Adapted AI Skills
2) Symmetry Poverty Reduction Projects (Addressing Asymmetrical Distribution Effects of the Ebola Virus Disease)
3) Youth Education-to-work Transition or Project to Improve the Link between TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) and Employment to Reduce Poverty in Africa
4) Creating Alternative Educational Pathways in Africa
5) Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis), Silene Cobalticola and Lactifluus luteopus.
These combined appeals will help stop the cycle of recurring emergencies that are root cause of displacement and resource conflicts. A brief summary of these projects can be found under the Main Development section of this post. The full project proposals of each project making these appeals are available should any of the potential donors or funders make a request.
Supporting these combined appeals will provide three types of relief:
a) Human relief for project beneficiaries, providing direct economic support or resources to vulnerable or poor individuals
b) Nature/species relief through the protection of these species and biodiversity
c) Shared relief for both humans and nature/species (expressed as human-nature connection) in terms of the contribution of the well-being of both humans and the environment, creating a shared long-term benefit for both.
Donors and funders can seize the opportunity provided by these projects and the giving season to directly and respectively donate or fund these projects.
A message about this appeal can also be passed on to a person who is in a position and willing to support. Many thanks to those who will be passing this message!
We understand that the world is still trying to find ways of coming out of multiple crises (food, energy, climate change, geo-economic crises, etc.). This struggle affects the ability of people to support good and deserving causes.
However, the effects of these crises are even stronger in places where there is a high level of poverty and where humans are busy with their own problems than to worry about nature/species conservation, like in Africa. This is why we have launched these seasonal appeals to help not only to reduce poverty but also to save both human and species lives from these crises.
Therefore, we are inviting those who can, to donate £9 to create 3 reliefs (1 relief for humans, 1 relief for other natural livings and 1 shared relief between humans and nature) or any amount starting from £9 or more as they wish or can.
You can gift aid your donation as well as support these projects in a way that is the most suitable and related to your situation, status, circumstances, budget, capacity, feeling, and willingness.
To donate, gift aid and support otherwise; please contact CENFACS.
• Aid to Sustainable Wealth Building, Employability and Support Ecosystems – In Focus from Week Beginning Monday 19/10/2026: Progressive Procurement
Progressive Procurement is part of Recirculating Wealth. Let first explain it as a concept, then put it in the context of Sustainable Wealth Building, after that explain how we can work with our members and beneficiaries on it.
• • Explaining Progressive Procurement
According to ‘preston.gov.uk’ (1),
“Procurement is the term used for how organisations and businesses acquire goods and services”.
The same ‘preston.gov.uk’ indicates that
“Progressive Procurement is a key part of Community Wealth Building and looks at both how the procurement process can be made simpler for potential suppliers to bid for opportunities and also how the procurement of goods and services can benefit local communities”.
• • Progressive Procurement as Part of Recirculating Wealth
This aspect leverages the significant purchasing power of public and local ‘anchor institutions’ (like local councils, universities, and hospitals) to lock financial resources into the local economy.
This involves
σ Shorter Supply Chains: Prioritizing contacts with local, socially responsible suppliers over massive multinational corporations
σ Social Value Commitments: Mandating that any commercial entity winning public bids must actively deliver measurable economic benefits back to the local community (e.g., funding local apprenticeships or green initiatives).
• • Working with the Community Members and Beneficiaries on Progressive Procurement
Engaging our members and beneficiaries in the process of procurement ensures that procurement strategy directly reflects their lived experiences and economic needs.
This engagement can be at various levels as follows.
σ At the Level of Collaborative Policy Design and Governance
Rather than designing procurement strategies in a boardroom, we can embed our members and beneficiaries into the decision-making framework.
This involves co-designing principles, democratic governance, and demystifying the process.
σ At the Level of Capacity Building and Incubating Beneficiary Businesses
Progressive procurement works best when the charity/CENFACS actively helps its community supply the goods and services it needs.
This includes supplier readiness training, carving up contracts, and micro-incubation.
σ At the Level of Participatory Budgeting and Spend Analysis
It is about involving our membership in analyzing where CENFACS’ money currently goes and deciding where it should be redirected.
This covers democratic spend analysis, participatory budgeting, and local sourcing champions.
σ At the Level of Co-designing Social Value and Impact Metrics
When evaluating bids from suppliers, we need to weight ‘social value’ heavily. Beneficiaries are the best judges of what that value should look like.
This includes defining non-framework metrics, community-led monitoring, and feedback loops.
Those who would like to enquire about Progressive Procurement as it is presented above, they can contact CENFACS.
Those who want further details about “Aid to Sustainable Wealth Building, Employability and Support Ecosystems” and CENFACS’ Campaign to End Poverty Induced by High Costs of Living as well as to campaign with us, they should not hesitate to communicate with CENFACS.
• “A la une” (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature in Existence) Campaign and Themed Activities – In Focus for Week Beginning 19/10/2026: Conserving African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta Cyclotis)
To compose the note relating to the conservation of African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta Cyclotis), let us briefly explain the following:
σ What is the African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta Cyclotis)?
σ The conservation status of the African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta Cyclotis)
σ What can be done to Conserve the African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta Cyclotis).
Besides the above items to explain, we have provided an Add-on Activity of this Week’s Campaign, which will be on Fundraising for Mammal Conservation.
• • What Is the African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta Cyclotis)?
It is stated on the website ‘a-z-animals.com’ (2) that
“The African Forest Elephant is a smaller, forest-adapted African elephant with straighter, downward-pointing tusks and more rounded ears, primarily inhabiting the rainforests of Central and West Africa. It is ecologically important as a major seed disperser and forest engineer”.
• • The Conservation Status of the African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta Cyclotis)
It is noted on that website ‘faunahub.com’ (3) that
“The African Forest Elephant (Loxondonta cyclotis) is assessed as Critically Endangered“.
This conservation status is the result of many threats that the African Forest Elephant faces; threats which are
σ Poaching for ivory
σ Habitat loss and fragmentation
σ Slow reproduction.
• • What Can Be Done to Conserve the African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta Cyclotis)
Conservation efforts for the African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta Cyclotis) focus on protecting their habitat and reducing poaching. Key conservation actions include
σ Community-based Conservation: It is about implementing strategies to reduce human-elephant conflict and providing alternative livelihoods for communities dependent on poaching.
σ GPS (Global Positioning System) Collaring: It involves tracking elephant movements to monitor their populations and ensure their survival.
σ Genetic Studies: It assesses population health through genetic analyses.
σ Eco-tourism Initiatives: They provide economic incentives for conservation by offering eco-tourism opportunities.
σ Public Awareness Campaigns: These campaigns encompass educating consumers in countries with significant trade in African Forest Elephants.
The above-mentioned actions are the few ones that can help ensure the survival of the African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta Cyclotis) and its critical habitat. To stay within the scope of this note, we can limit ourselves to the above-mentioned actions or steps to conserve the African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta Cyclotis).
• • Add-on Activity of the Week’s Campaign: Fundraise for Mammal Conservation
• • • What is fundraising for Mammal Conservation (F4MC)?
F4MC involves collecting money to support projects aimed at protecting and restoring mammal populations and their habitats.
• • • Key aspects of F4MC
They include
σ Support organizations that raise awareness of mammal conservation
σ Research funding
σ Innovative funding (e.g., Crowdfunding)
σ Community engagement
Etc.
In short, F4MC can include a number of activities such as a sponsored run or swim for mammals, a guided wildlife walk, a mammal-themed quiz night, or bake sale, etc.
Those who can take part or undertake any of the above-mentioned activities will drive forward the conservation issues that mammals face and help trigger solutions to those issues.
Briefly speaking, the above is our second note of the “A la une” Campaign for this year.
To find out more about this second note and/or the entire “A la une” Campaign, please contact CENFACS.
Extra Messages
• Online Micro-volunteering Activities with CENFACS
• Pre-festive Season Strategies for Shifting from Hard Economic Truths to a Sustainable Fresh Start – Strategy 1: Building Liquidity, Reducing Debt and Gaining Self-sufficiency
• All-Year-Round Projects with Santa Connection, the Integration of Triple Value Initiatives and Raising Funds while Playing, Running and Voting for Poverty Reduction over the Long Festive Period
• Online Micro-volunteering Activities with CENFACS
As well as supporting CENFACS and its noble and beautiful causes with donations made without directly giving cash, people can add or think of alternative ways of involving with CENFACS. For example, they can micro-volunteer with us either online or offline or both.
To enable our readers and those who may be interested in micro-volunteering with us to understand what we are talking, let us explain the following jargons: micro-volunteering, smart tasks, smart communications tools and smart poverty relief.
• • What Is Micro-volunteering with CENFACS?
It is about undertaking or completing small tasks, that can be online or offline or both, to make up one of our main projects. While we recognise the importance of both online and offline tasks in our volunteering scheme (All in Development Volunteers), our focus on micro-volunteering in the context of this post will be on the online part of it.
• • Online Micro-volunteering Doing Small Smart Tasks
Small tasks are micro-actions. From what Anna Patton said (4), these tasks need to be easy, no-commitment, cost-free, to take less than 30 minutes to complete, little or no formal agreement needed before a volunteer can get started, and no expectation that the volunteer will return, no long-term commitment for the volunteer.
These tasks could be smart, that is specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely; as well as capable of generating and increasing support towards CENFACS’ good and deserving causes, especially at the time of the enduring cost-of-living crisis. These tasks can contribute to a smart poverty relief.
The above table (table no.1) briefly provides a summary of these tasks. For those who would like to dive into online micro-volunteering doing small smart tasks, they can contact CENFACS’ All in Development Volunteers Scheme.
• • Online Micro-volunteering Done via Smart Communication Tools
It is the use of internet connected devices or tools (such as smart phones, tablets, video calling devices, notebooks, laptops, cameras, drones, Artificial Intelligence enabled tools, etc.) to re-engage with CENFACS audience and supporters as well as to recruit new supporters.
Smart communication tools include as well other devices designed to run or complete actions carried out by smart phones, tablets, notebooks, etc. These extra tools could be wireless printers, broad bands, messenger apps and so on.
Additionally, online micro-volunteering by using distance working and online technologies in our campaigns can help us to reach out to our supporters and Africa-based Organisations.
We understand that not every volunteer can afford to have them. This is why we often ask support with smart communication tools so that our volunteers (All in Development Volunteers) could be able to micro-volunteer smarter and deliver smart poverty relief with impact.
• • Online Micro-volunteering to Achieve Smart Poverty Relief
This additional way of working and engaging with our audience and supporters via online micro-volunteering action has brought some opportunities and benefits. Amongst these opportunities or openings is that of creating smart relief, of reducing poverty symptoms for temporary relief which could lead to permanent relief.
Smart poverty relief uses modern data, technology, and targeted tools – such as satellite imagery, machine learning, blockchain tracking, and direct digital cash transfers – to identify, monitor, and lift people out of hardship more efficiently than traditional aid. The core technologies and methods used by smart poverty relief are therefore data and analytics, digital cash transfers, blockchain tracking, and economic inclusion programmes.
In this respect, smart poverty relief is about prioritizing resources and making sure that CENFACS’ poverty reduction system is helping to meet the needs of those in need as we undertake online micro-volunteering activities.
In other words, when volunteers carry out micro-actions, they are not doing them for the sake of entertaining themselves or just passing their time with and for CENFACS.
Through their small online tasks, they are bringing their contribution, however little it can be, to the larger project or programme or picture of CENFACS. By adding up their small pieces of work/relief, one can get the sum of poverty relief, a BIG poverty relief. Online micro-volunteering could be smart when it contributes to the BIG picture of poverty reduction.
To enable us to continue our voluntary work, we are asking to those who can, both individuals and organisations, to support us with smart communication tools to enhance our online micro-volunteering action.
To support CENFACS with Smart Communication Tools to micro-volunteer doing Smart Tasks to deliver Smart Poverty Relief, please contact CENFACS.
• Pre-festive Season Strategies for Shifting from Hard Economic Truths to a Sustainable Fresh Start –
Pre-festive Season Strategy 1: Building Liquidity, Reducing Debt and Gaining Self-sufficiency
To approach this first strategy, let us briefly explain it and its core pillars.
• • Explaining Building Liquidity, Reducing Debt and Gaining Self-sufficiency
Building Liquidity, Reducing Debt and Gaining Self-sufficiency is a proactive financial roadmap designed to protect your wallet before the high-spending winter holidays arrive. Rather than dealing with a financial hangover in January, this strategy focuses on entering the holiday period from a position of absolute strength.
Indeed, it is a strategic personal finance framework designed to break the cycle of seasonal overspending. Instead of relying on short-term holiday high-interest credit and suffering a ‘financial hangover’ in the new year, this approach focuses on creating a sustainable fresh start.
By shifting from hard economic truths (such as inflation, stagnant real wages, or tight household cash flows) to proactive resilience, this strategy prioritizes three core operational pillars.
• • Three Core Operational Pillars
Pillar 1: Building Liquidity (Cash Availability)
Building Liquidity (Cash Availability) means increasing the amount of easily accessible cash you have on hand before the shopping season begins. It also signifies accumulating accessible, unencumbered cash that is strictly separated from your daily operational funds.
Building Liquidity includes the funds below.
σ The Festive Fund
You can build a designated holiday account leading up to October/November rather than counting on a year-end bonus or credit cards.
σ Emergency Isolation
True liquidity ensures that an unexpected cost (like a car repair or utility spike) during December does not force you to dip into your primary living capital.
σ Psychological Safety
Cash on hand acts as a shock absorber, protecting long-term savings or investments from being prematurely liquidated.
Pillar 2: Reducing Debt (Clearing the Slate or Recalibration)
Reducing Debt involves paying down existing balances like credit cards, store cards, or personal loans – right before seasonal temptations hit. It also includes aggressive deleveraging to minimize systemic household liabilities before entering a traditionally high-spend period.
Reducing Debt breaks into these sub-strategies below.
σ Capping Cost Burdens
Lowering debt-to-income ratio actively mitigates financial fragility.
σ The Interest Intercept
Prioritizing high-interest balances (using methods like the debt avalanche or debt snowball, frees up monthly cash flow that would otherwise be wasted on interest fees.
σ Avoiding Bounced Mandates
Clearing existing balances prevents the risk of overdrawn accounts or missed essential bills during December and January preserving your credit score.
Pillar 3: Gaining Self-sufficiency (Financial Independence)
Gaining Self-sufficiency means achieving financial solvency so that your holiday experiences are entirely funded by your own current means. It is the ultimate goal – shifting your lifestyle away from reliance on external credit and commercial consumerism.
Gaining Self-sufficiency is made of the elements below.
σ Credit Autonomy
Setting strict credit limits and funding your entire seasonal landscape exclusively through pre-saved cash.
σ Alternative Value
Embracing home-made gifts, DIY decor, or gifting showed experiences and services rather than relying on high-street retail.
σ Mindset Structural Change
Shifting from crisis panic budgeting to long-term fiscal planning. It aligns festive celebration with a sustainable lifestyle, meaning your holiday choices do not sabotage your next year goals.
• • Working with the Community on Building Liquidity, Reducing Debt and Gaining Self-sufficiency
Building liquidity, reducing debt and gaining self-sufficiency may be not easy for many of our community members since many of them may experience the high costs of living. Despite that, for those who would like to embrace these pre-festive strategies of Building Liquidity, Reducing Debt and Gaining Self-sufficiency; we can work with them.
Those who have any issues to raise about this pre-festive season strategy 1, they are welcome to address them to CENFACS. For any other matters linked to the entire Pre-festive Season Strategies for Shifting from Hard Economic Truths to a Sustainable Fresh Start, they can contact CENFACS as well.
• All-Year-Round Projects with Santa Connection, the Integration of Triple Value Initiatives and Raising Funds while Playing, Running and Voting for Poverty Reduction over the Long Festive Period
• • All-Year-Round Projects with Santa Connection
Before connecting Santa to these projects, let us briefly recap them.
• • • Recap of All-Year-Round Projects
σ Run to Reduce Poverty
This project uses athletic endurance events and treks (in-person or virtual) to build awareness and, where and if possible, raise critical funding for CENFACS’ noble and beautiful poverty reduction cause.
The core objective is to systematically reduce or eliminate economic hardship for individuals who are otherwise left ‘on the wrong side of the tracks’.
σ Play the CENFACS Poverty Reduction League (PRL)
Playing is a dynamic engagement that uses interactive CENFACS PRL and community-based gameplay to connect families and friends while simultaneously introducing development targets, indicators and metrics.
The Play blends entertaining challenges with strategic collaboration, optimizing relationships between programmatic inputs and measurable economic indicators, with the ultimate goal of finding African countries best performers in terms of poverty reduction.
σ Vote for Poverty Reduction (or Select Your International Development and Poverty Reduction Manager)
This all-year-round recruitment initiative focuses on sourcing leadership to manage seasonal and long-term economic relief portfolios.
The role for this manager could be to oversee initiatives that bridge support (e.g., festive holiday support) with baseline poverty alleviation models.
The evaluation framework for this post is candidate selection relies on a strict production function analyzing how effectively the manager’s background can leverage community inputs (labour, support networks) to drive long-term structural impact and poverty reduction.
• • • Connecting Santa to All-Year-Round Projects
To connect Santa to All-Year-Round Poverty Reduction Projects and Campaign, you can reframe him from a once-a-year gift giver into a global symbol for year-round resource distribution and social impact.
You can weave your three pillars – a physical or virtual run, a gaming initiative, and a development manager – into a cohesive, continuous poverty reduction project.
σ Run to Reduce Poverty
Traditional “Santa Runs” happen in December for fun, but you can make it a year-round by changing the context (e.g., as a runner, you can sponsor funds for clean water infrastructure).
σ Play the CENFACS Poverty Reduction League (PRL)
PRL as gaming offers a massive, highly engaged, year-round audience. You can leverage this to create steady streams of micro-donations and awareness.
σ Vote for Poverty Reduction (or Select Your International Development and Poverty Reduction Manager)
To sustain this year-round initiative, you need a specialized International Development and Poverty Reduction Manager who treats Santa like a major non-profit brand. It is better to look for candidates with a background in corporate social responsibility, sports marketing, or gaming industry partnerships. They should have a track record of turning creative concepts into sustainable revenue.
• • Integrating Triple Value Initiatives to Santa-connected All-Year-Round Projects
Integrating Triple Value Initiatives (economic,social, and environmentalbenefits) into year-round, Santa-themed projects creates a sustainable model that keeps the holiday magic alive 365 days a year.
• • • Ways of structuring these initiatives across the three pillars of value to make this integration
Ways of structuring are given below.
σ Environmental value (Planet)
Year-round Santa projects naturally lend themselves to environmental stewardship, shifting the focus from holiday consumerism to nature preservation.
This can involve initiatives such as ‘Santa’s Workshop’ circular economy, the Green Christmas Reforestation, Eco-certified Santa Village, etc.
σ Social Value (People)
Santa Claus is a universal symbol of generosity, making social impact the easiest pillar to integrate deeply into off-season operations.
This can include ‘Letters to Santa’ literacy programme, off-season giving campaigns, inclusive year-round employment, etc.
σ Economic Value (Prosperity)
To keep the project viable all year, you must build sustainable, resilient revenue streams that move away from a single-month sales spike.
This encompasses digital subscriptions, agritourism and off-season events, ethical corporate partnerships, etc.
• • Raising Funds while Playing, Running and Voting for Poverty Reduction over the Long Festive Period
You can help CENFACS raise life-saving funds it needs for its noble and beautiful causes by making participants or interested parties to All-Year-Round Projects to dress like Santa.
Participants and vested parties can then donate or sponsor your All-Year-Round Projects of Playing, Running and Voting for poverty reduction. The following notes briefly explain how you can do it.
• • Raising Funds while Playing for Poverty Reduction over the Long Festive Period
It can be done either by streaming your game online, which allows viewers to donate, or by organising in-person events with entry fees and raffles.
For online gaming fundraising, you can set up a fundraising page, stream your gameplay, engage audience, and collaborate with gaming sponsors. In short, you can live-stream, set a challenge, and host a tournament.
For in-person and event-based fundraising, you can organise a tournament, raffle off prizes, sell concessions and merchandise, set up collection points, and rent out your equipment.
• • Raising Funds while Running for Poverty Reduction over the Long Festive Period
To raise funds while running, you can consider the following strategies:
σ Choose CENFACS as your charity and cause that resonates with you;
σ Set a fundraising goal (e.g., determine how much you want to raise and break it down into achievable milestones);
σ Create a fundraising page;
σ Engage the/your community by sharing your running journey and the cause behind it;
σ Offer incentives/rewards for donations;
σ Be accountable to yourself by tracking your progress and sharing updates.
These strategies can help raise funds while making you to enjoy the health benefits of running.
• • Raising Funds while Voting for Poverty Reduction over the Long Festive Period
There are several methods that one can consider to raise funds while voting. These methods include:
σ Crowdfunding (for instance, by using crowdfunding platforms);
σ Fundraising competitions, that can unite people or groups around the idea of finding the Best African Development and Poverty Relief Managers of 2026, and that can enable participants to compete to see who can generate the most donations;
σ Organising events to engage the the community and present the opportunity to raise funds for your voting campaign;
σ Combining the act of voting with the act of donating by making it an interactive and engaging fundraising approach.
Briefly, you can leverage the power of social media and crowdfunding platforms to create a more engaging and effective fundraising campaign for your Vote Project.
The income to be raised on these occasions of All-Year-Round Projects with Santa can be donated to CENFACS. It will help to support those in most need so that they can navigate their way out of poverty and hardships.
However, to raise funds via All-Year-Round Projects with Santa, one needs to first discuss the matter, their plan/idea with CENFACS. Together with them, we can better plan their/our fundraising drive and help deliver it in a smooth and hassle-free way while following the rules of the game.
To raise funds for All-Year-Round Projects with Santa to help CENFACS and its noble and beautiful causes of poverty reduction and sustainable development, please contact CENFACS.
Just remember, do not forget to record and report your scores, results and fixtures about your All-Year-Round Projects. You can share them with us to feature the 2026 State of Play, Run and Vote with Poeple, Planet and Prosperity.
At the end of the process of All-Year-Round Projects and by the end of the year, one should be ready to announce the 2026 Action-Results for either of the project: Run or Play or Vote.
The final Action-Results will consist of finding out and revealing the following for this year:
√ The Best African Countries of 2026 which would have best reduced poverty
√ The Best African Global Games Runners of 2026
√ The Best African Development and Poverty Relief Managers of 2026.
If you have not yet thought about this finding or revelation, please start thinking right now and have your say about it by the 23rd of December 2026!
Message in English-French (Message en Anglais-Français)
• CENFACS’ be.Africa Forum E-discusses This Question:
Why had historical models of mining extraction shifted job creation and technological expertise outside the African continent?
This e-discussion is part of the preparation process for this October History Month with Making Memorable Positive Difference Project, which will focus on the History of Africa’s Critical Minerals on 27 and 28 October 2026.
Indeed, some theoreticians may argue that the shifting of job creation and technological know-how outside the African continent was not an accidental byproduct of history. It was the deliberate result of Eurocentric colonial and neo-colonial economic models designed to extract wealth rather than build local industrial capacity. Historical models structurally externalized African innovation and employment through several major compounding mechanisms. Other thinkers may provide counterargument.
Our e-discussion is looking at the above-mentioned arguments, counter arguments, and how they can help understand the History of Africa’s Critical Minerals. In particular, the discussion revolves around the following:
σ The colonial extractivist model
σ Direct suppression of indigenous industries
σ Miseducation and the brain drain
σ Modern neocolonialism and digital colonialism.
The above provides materials and space for reflection, expression, discussion and action.
Those who may be interested in reflection, expression, discussion and action on
Why Had Historical Mineral Extraction Models Shifted Job Creation and Technological Know-how Outside the African Continent?
can join our poverty reduction pundits and/or contribute by contacting CENFACS’ be.Africa Forum, which is a forum or space for discussion on poverty reduction and sustainable development issues in Africa and which acts on behalf of its members by making proposals or ideas for actions for a better Africa.
To contact CENFACS about this discussion, please use our usual contact address on this website.
• Le Forum ‘Une Afrique Meilleure’ de CENFACS Débat en Ligne Cette question :
Pourquoi les Modèles Historiques d’Extraction Minière Avaient-ils Déplacé la Création d’Emplois et le Savoir-faire Technologique en Dehors du Continent Africain ?
Cette discussion en ligne s’inscrit dans le processus de préparation du « Mois de l’Histoire » d’octobre, organisé par le CENFACS à travers le projet “Apporter une Contribution Positive et Mémorable”. L’édition de ce projet pour cette année, qui se tiendra les 27 et 28 octobre 2026, sera consacrée à l’Histoire des Minéraux Critiques en Afrique.
Certain(e)s théoricien(ne)s soutiennent, en effet, que le déplacement de la création d’emplois et du savoir-faire technologique hors du continent africain ne relève pas du hasard. Il s’agit du résultat délibéré de modèles économiques coloniaux et néocoloniaux, d’inspiration eurocentrée, conçus pour extraire des richesses plutôt que pour développer des capacités industrielles locales. Ces modèles historiques ont structurellement externalisé l’innovation et l’emploi en Afrique, par le biais de plusieurs mécanismes interdépendants. D’autres penseurs/ses pourraient, quant à eux/elles, proposer des contre-arguments.
Notre discussion en ligne examine ces arguments et contre-arguments, ainsi que leur apport à la compréhension de l’histoire des minéraux critiques en Afrique. Les échanges portent notamment sur les thèmes suivants :
σ Le modèle extractiviste colonial
σ La suppression directe des industries autochtones
σ L’éducation inadaptée et la fuite des cerveaux
σ Le néocolonialisme moderne et le colonialisme numérique.
Ce qui précède constitue la base de notre discussion en ligne de cette semaine, tout en offrant des ressources et un espace propices à la réflexion, à l’expression, au débat et à l’action.
Les personnes intéressées par la réflexion, l’expression, la discussion et l’action au tour de la question
Pourquoi les modèles historiques d’extraction minière avaient-ils conduit au déplacement de la création d’emplois et du savoir-faire technologique hors du continent africain ?
peuvent (re)joindre notre groupe d’experts sur la réduction de la pauvreté et/ou contribuer en contactant le ‘me.Afrique’ du CENFACS (ou le Forum ‘Une Afrique Meilleure’ de CENFACS), qui est un forum ou espace de discussion sur les questions de réduction de la pauvreté et de développement durable en Afrique et qui agit au nom de ses membres en faisant des propositions ou des idées d’actions pour une Afrique meilleure.
Pour contacter le CENFACS au sujet de cette discussion, veuillez utiliser nos coordonnées habituelles sur ce site Web.
Main Development
• Autumn 2026 Humanitarian Relief and Nature Conservation Appeals
Needy People, Flora, Fauna, Funga, Communities and Organisations in Africa are Asking for Your Support!
To approach these appeals, let us briefly define them and summarise their contents.
• • What Are Autumn 2026 Humanitarian Relief and Nature Conservation Appeals?
Autumn 2026 Humanitarian Relief and Nature Conservation Appeals are joint appeals made of two parts: humanitarian relief and nature conservation.
The humanitarian relief aspect of these appeals refers to the efforts to be made to support and resources to be provided to individuals and communities affected by disasters, conflicts, or other emergencies in Africa. It aims to protect life and health, ensure respect for human beings, and alleviate human suffering in Africa.
The nature conservation appeal, on the other hand, is fundraising efforts to support conservation projects, that is projects that protect and restore habitats, wildlife, and natural landscapes. The appeal will help ensure the survival of endangered species (like Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis), Silene Cobalticola and Lactifluus luteopus) and their habitats.
The two aspects of these appeals will work together as there are links between humanitarian needs and long-term nature conservation goals in Africa.
• • Appeals Summaries
The following items summarise the appeals from Needy People, Flora, Fauna, Funga, Communities and Organisations in Africa:
∝ The data that justify the need to help
∝ The projects
∝ The request
∝ The beneficiaries
∝ The asks
∝ What your donation can achieve
∝ How to send your support.
Let us unpack each of these items.
• • • The data that justify the need to help
The data (or information in words and numbers) that tell us there are humanitarian need and nature conservation necessities to support are given in the following examples.
• • • • Examples of data
Example 1
Let us consider foundational digital literacy. The website ‘icdl.org’ (5) notes that
“Only 50% of African countries include computer skills in their school curricula (compared to a global average of 85%), and roughly 90% of children leave school without basic digital skills”.
Similarly, a World Bank survey (6) of 174 African universities found that
“31% offer dedicated AI programmes and 34% offer data science degrees, with AI courses accounting for just 1.5% of enrollments across specialized digital fields”.
Example 2
Let us look at the asymmetry in resource and deployment support about Ebola.
The social and physical distribution of the disease exhibits intense gender skewing both the risk and the requirement for localized support.
When considering the gender divide, the website ‘bmj.com’ (7) states that
“According to data compiled by the International Rescue Committee (IRC), women and girls make up two-thirds (66%) of all suspected Ebola cases in the outbreak”.
If one turns its attention to the caregiving tax, it is worth noting that because Ebola spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids, women – who traditionally serve as primarily caregivers in households and healthcare frontline workers – are disproportionately exposed. Despite this community-level resources and protection frameworks are rarely tailored directly to women, resulting in an asymmetrical impact on female-headed households and localized micro-economies.
The literature surveyed so far indicates that the distribution effects of Ebola are highly asymmetrical. Rather than striking populations uniformity, the virus spreads through distinct structural, demographic, and behavioural ‘fault lines’. Epidemiological models and public health data indicate that this asymmetry is driven primarily by gender roles, age disparities, transmission mechanisms (such as superspreading) and geographic variance.
In brief, the demographic disparities indicate that women bear the brunt.
Example 3
Studies on youth education-to-work transition indicate that approximately 10 to 12 million youth enter the African labour market annually (8). Yet, the formal economy creates only about 3 million jobs. To balance the gap. training must align directly with regional supply chains.
Example 4
Reporting on the shift to alternative learning pathways, UNICEF (9) points that
“As of October 2026, statistics on alternative educational pathways in Africa reflect a critical fast-moving shift towards non-formal, digital and condensed schooling models. Dual climate and conflict crises across Sub-Saharan Africa have left roughly 98 million to 100 million children and youth aged 6 to 18 entirely out of the formal school system”.
Example 5
Writing on African fauna, World Wide Fund for Nature (10) states that
“Black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) numbers in Africa total approximately 6,788 wild individuals, reflecting s steady annual recovery of about 5.2%“.
However, the species faces ongoing pressure from illegal poaching for rhino horn, habitat fragmentation, and rising territorial overpopulation crowding inside fenced reserves.
Referring to flora situation in Africa, ‘inaturalist.ogrg’ (11) explains that
“Silene Cobalticola is officially classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List”.
Silene Cobalticola is strictly endemic to the Katanga region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its threats are habitat destruction and mining activities.
Regarding fungi in Africa, Lactifluus (particularly Lactifluus foetens) is classified by Benin Red List as Critically Endangered.
Lactifluus foetens (the stinking milk-cap mushroom), an endemic species confined to the fragmented gallery forests of Northern Benin and parts of Togo. It is officially designated as Critically Endangered on regional red lists due to its microscopic population distribution and acute habitat vulnerability (12).
What do the above-mentioned examples, pieces of information and facts tell us?
They indicate and help draw the conclusion below.
• • • • Conclusion
Whether it is about digital and locally adapted AI skills or youth education-to-work tranistion or asymmetrical distribution effects of Ebola or alternative educational pathways, the above data just highlight the underlying problem of extreme poverty in Africa.
One part of the above-mentioned figures and facts also points out the continuing extinction threats to wildlife and the lack of skills in some situations to transition out of poverty and hardships.
Furthermore, as the global cost-of-living crisis continues the figures about poverty and threats to the wildlife could be different; meaning that poor people, children, young people, flora, fauna and funga could be in a worse scenario case or situation in Africa. Humanitarian relief, nature relief and shared relief may not be the panacea, but they could be part of the response.
Humanitarian relief will help humans (that is, African children, youth and adults alike) on their journey to recover, as it will provide direct economic support or resources to these vulnerable people.
Nature relief will benefit the living creatures that are part of these appeals (that is, Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis), Silene Cobalticola and Lactifluus luteopus). This can be done through financing of ecosystem conservation, reforestation, or wildlife protection.
Shared relief (or human-nature connection) will happen by supporting the protection and restoration of natural lives for these endangered species while contributing to the well-being of both humans and the natural environment. This will enable the creation of a shared, long-term benefit for both.
Data-based solutions to poverty induced by the cost-of-living crisis can only help this situation, especially in the long term.
These above data from multilateral agencies as well as those from individual researchers finally highlight CENFACS’ findings and the reality on the ground in Africa in the area of operation of CENFACS. They also point out that there is need out there that deservingly requires support that the locals are requesting to address existing humanitarian needs, especially at this time of the difficult global economic situation exacerbated by the effects of geo-economic and insecurity crises. They are as well demanding support to deal with extinction threats of the above-mentioned species.
• • • The projects
Five projects to help reduce poverty and meet the needs of the local people, animals, plants, fungi and organisations this Autumn and beyond
1) Digital and Locally Adapted AI Skills (Learning and Skills Development Project)
This is a project that helps to reduce poverty linked to poor or incomplete digital and locally adapted AI skills, knowledge, information and capacities in Africa. The project is designed to help improve the ability to use digital tools and AI technology to use affordable, locally adapted, low bandwith applications.
Working with the locals so that they can learn how to manage digital tools in areas such agriculture (agri-tech), micro-finance, and public health unlocks immediate micro-initiative expansion and connects those in need to regional value chains.
2) Symmetry Poverty Reduction Projects for Addressing Asymmetrical Distribution Effects of the Ebola Virus Disease (Equality Projects)
Symmetry Poverty Reduction Projects can be of various kinds within CENFACS. The first wave or generation of symmetry projects was to address the unfair distributional effects of the coronavirus. This first wave or generation of Symmetry Poverty Reduction Projects was implemented during the period of the coronavirus (from Autumn 2019 to Autumn 2021).
The second wave or generation of Symmetry Poverty Reduction Projects was about projects of working with local poor people in parts of Africa where there has been uneven impact of the cost-of-living crisis and poverty reduction in order to establish equal right and address the historical roots and causes of this type of asymmetry or inequality in a sustainable way.
The 2024 wave or generation of Symmetry Poverty Reduction Projects aimed at reducing the difference in the distributional effects of conflict and violence that have been asymmetrical or uneven. The disproportional impacts of conflict for women and girls in the cases of Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as somewhere else in Africa are part of Symmetry Projects. In those cases, women and girls continue to be disproportionately impacted by the lack of safe, easily accessible, and affordable water, sanitation, and hygiene as noted by the ‘unwomen.org’ (13).
The 2025 Symmetry Projects were sustainable development initiatives aiming at reducing the difference in the distributional effects of natural disasters. The latter were events that adversely affect communities or societies and resulting in property damage, loss of life, and significant economic repercussions.
Asymmetrical effects of these disasters in Africa were looked at how they disproportionately impacted vulnerable groups, such as women and children who face greater risks to their health, education, and safety.
This Autumn’s Symmetry projects, which are the continuation of the previous Autumn’s Symmetry Projects, deal with the difference in the distributional effects of the Ebola Disease in Africa.
In public health economics, asymmetrical distribution effects refer to how an epidemic – and even the influx of emergency and itself – unequally harms or neglects certain populations.
Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has uneven distributional effects, impacting specific populations, regions, and social groups disproportionately based on occupational roles, geography, gender, and economic status.
In these key dimensions of EVD distributional effects, Autumn 2026 Humanitarian Relief and Nature Conservation Appeals will focus on the gender disparities of these dimensions, particularly in terms of resource and deployment support.
Indeed, women often bear a higher burden of infection because they frequently act as primary family caregivers for sick relatives and perform traditional community care roles. They are also traditionally responsible for ritual and safe or unsafe burial preparation tasks that involve touching bodies.
3) Youth Education-to-work Transition (Employment Project)
It is a Project to Improve the Link between TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) and Employment to Reduce Poverty in Africa. TVET can focus on many areas such as mineral beneficiation, renewable energy, and agricultural processing.
The project can also help equip the youth with entrepreneurial capabilities to turn them from job seekers into creators of value-creating initiatives. Indeed, to reduce poverty and process Africa’s abundant natural resources (like lithium, cobalt, and agrifood) locally, it requires linking education to employment that helps keep the economic wealth inside continental borders rather than constantly exporting raw materials. This project to operate this transition.
4) Save Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis), Silene Cobalticola and Catifluus luteopus (Environmental Projects)
These are wildlife preservation, conservation and protection initiatives which help to advance justice and equity for flora, fauna and funga, and which include three areas of action:
a) Life-saving actions against new forms of exploitation and trafficking of animal, bird and plant species
b) Life-saving action against the cost-of-living crisis on flora and fauna
c) Life-saving actions to reduce the impacts of climate change on fungi.
The first action is an action to protect Black Rhinoceros (also known by its scientific name as Diceros bicornis) in Africa from new forms of wildlife exploitation and trafficking, including kidnapping of animals from their natural sanctuary.
The second action is about making sure that Silene Cobalticola can regain, restore, rebuild and thrive their lives while humans are trying to deal with the cost-of-living crisis. In other words, the action is about to ensure that the cost-of-living crisis does not lead to flora and fauna crises since we depend on them in order to come out of the cost-of-living crisis.
The third action is about lowering the risk of extinction facing Catifluus luteopus since its habitat is under continual threat from small-holder farming, agro-industry plantations, and logging.
5) Creating Alternative Educational Pathways in Africa (Educational Hardship Reduction Project)
It helps fund accelerated learning programmes for older children who missed years of schooling due to wars or displacement or natural disasters.
Indeed, data from international bodies like Education Cannot Wait (14) reveals that over 50% of the world’s 258 million crisis-affected children reside in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The intersection of wars and climate-induced natural disasters has forced the implementation of non-formal learning models. This reality has forced a massive shift towards Alternative Educational Pathways – such as accelerated learning programmes, mobile classrooms, and non-formal vocational tracks.
In conflict zones, the pace of learning is 6 times slower than in areas suffering strictly from recurring natural disasters. This has driven the adoption of the following Core Alternative Educational Pathways:
Accelerated Education Programmes, Community-based and Home-based Schools, Distance and Broadcast Education (Low-tech Solutions), and Technical and Vocational Transition Clubs.
These core pathways help reduce extreme learning poverty.
This project of Creating Alternative Educational Pathways in Africa, which follows this logic, is a mechanism to help increase learning and skill development for out-of-school children and adolescents.
In total, 5 projects to donate £9 to create 3 reliefs as you wish per project
Note: Further details about the above projects are available on request from CENFACS.
• • • The request
The beneficiaries of the above-mentioned projects are
σ Digitally and AI unskilled poor people
σ Sufferers from gender disparities
σ Poor children and young people
σ Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis), Silene Cobalticola and Catifluus luteopus under extinction threats
σ Africa-based Organisations that CENFACS works with.
They all need help to reduce the following types of poverty and hardships:
σ Poor or lack of digital creation skills because financial hardship limits access to devices, reliable internet, and training, while the resulting lack of digital skills hinders opportunities for education, employment, and economic advancement
σ Lack of animal protection and care due to threats to extinction or killings, trafficking and poaching of endangered animals (like the Black Rhinoceros), plant species (such as Silene Cobalticola), and fungi species (e.g., Catifluus luteopus)
σ Poverty linked to wildlife crime or lack of alternative livelihoods that drive people to poaching and trafficking of animals for survival and financial gain
σ Poverty related to the asymmetrical effects of health disasters (like Ebola) because poor people often live in vulnerable areas, have less resilient housing, and lack the resources for recovery and preparedness against these disasters
σ Poverty linked to the lack of social equality for young people as a result of uneven distribution of resources, power, and opportunities for young people in Africa
σ Income poverty or Shortage of income and or enough earnings by poor families to send their children back to school and/or for these children after wars/natural disasters
σ No supply of support in places where school infrastructures and educational premises have been destroyed by wars and natural events.
• • • The beneficiaries
These Autumn 2026 humanitarian relief appeals will help the beneficiaries linked to each project, as described below.
σ Beneficiaries of Digital and Locally Adapted AI Skills
The deployment of these skills will benefit the following categories of poor
~ Small holder farmers
~ Informal and gig workers
~ Out-of-school and underserved youth
~ Rural and under-resourced communities.
σ Symmetry Poverty Reduction Projects
Addressing Asymmetrical Distribution Effects of the Ebola Virus Disease means correcting the stark imbalances where poverty, gender, and geography disproportionately dictate who gets infected, who dies, and who suffers the worst economic fallout.
The primary beneficiaries will be
~ Slum dwellers and urban shantytown residents
~ Impoverished women and caregivers
~ Remote rural and borderline communities
~ Children and youth facing generational deprivation.
σ Youth Education-to-work Transition or Project to Improve the Link between TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) and Employment to Reduce Poverty in Africa
The primary target beneficiaries for this initiative will be
~ Economically disadvantaged young people aged 15 to 29 who face systemic barriers to finding stable, formal employment
~ NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training) youth
~ Vulnerable young women
~ Unemployed school leavers and under-skilled graduates
~ Displaced persons and refugees
~ Youth with disabilities.
σ Creating Alternative Educational Pathways in Africa
These pathways primarily will target economically and socially marginalized populations who are locked out of traditional formal schooling due to costs, distance, or poverty.
Key beneficiaries among these poor people include
~ Out-of-school children and early dropouts
~ Conflict-affected and displaced youth
~ Rural and remote communities
~ Impoverished girls and young mothers
~ Working youth and informal sector labourers
σ Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis), Silene Cobalticola and Catifluus luteopus
Conserving Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis), Silene Cobalticola and Lactifluus luteopus benefits a wide range of stakeholders from local communities and ecotourism operators to scientific researchers and industrial mining sectors.
For Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis), the beneficiaries are Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) population, local communities and tourism operators, savannah ecosystems and co-occurring wildlife.
For Silene Cobalticola, the beneficiaries are Silene Cobalticola plant, the mining sector and environmental engineering, the scientific research community, and soil micro-organisms.
For Lactifluus luteopus (particularly Lactifluus foetens), the beneficiaries are Lactifluus luteopus/foetens, forest ecosystems and indigenous trees, and local harvesters.
• • • The asks
The above needy people, flora, fauna, funga, communities and organisations need your support.
CENFACS is appealing to you to donate £9 to create 3 reliefs:
a) 1 Relief for humans: Human relief will help humans in Africa on their journey to recover from poverty
b) 1 Relief for nature: Nature relief will provide healthier natural environment (in particular for Black Rhinoceros, Silene Cobalticola and Catifluus luteopus) which will benefit all living environments
c) 1 Shared relief for both humans and nature (Human-Nature Connection): By supporting our work on the protection and restoration of natural spaces, you will contribute to the well-being of both humans and the environment as well as build harmony between the two in Africa. In other words, donating for shared relief or benefit will help improve human-nature relationships while avoiding human-wildlife conflicts.
You can donate as you wish to achieve penultimate relief.
• • • What your donation can achieve
If you donate £9 to create 3 reliefs, we can anticipate the following use and relief impacts that these amounts can help
⇒ Implement Digital and Locally Adapted AI Skills by…
√ unlocking tangible, micro-targeted learning opportunities for individuals who otherwise be left behind by the rapid pace of technology
√ better targeting humanitarian responses to the needs of beneficiaries, improving access to information and services, and ensuring aid is delivered responsibly and securely.
For example, a small donation of £9 can fund
~ Printed or offline learning toolkits tailored to local languages and context
~ Bite-sized, 1-to-2 hour localized training sessions
~ Localized prompt-engineering cheat sheets.
⇒ Save Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis), Silene Cobalticola and Catifluus luteopus by…
√ supporting targeted field conservation efforts for an endangered mammal like Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis), a unique plant like Silene Cobalticola, and critical forest fungi like Catifluus luteopus (in particular Catifluus foetens) in Africa.
Concerning Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis), a £9 donation can cover nearly the full cost of a daily field ration pack (£10) for an anti-poaching ranger on patrol. Alternatively, the donation can fund community education programmes and build long-term support against poaching.
Regarding Silene Cobalticola, a £9 donation can help supply local researchers and community members with basic seed collection bags to secure the plant’s genetics before mining excavations arrive. The amount can alternatively fund small-scale grid mapping to help scientists in phytomining and restoring destroyed, toxic mining sites.
With respect to Lactifluus (Milk-cap Fungi), especially Lactifluus foetens which are Critically Endangered due to rapid deforestation and logging, a £9 donation can help our local Africa-based Sister Organisations buy essential citizen-science field guides, grid-mapping tools, or smartphone data for community members to document and report hidden populations in gallery forests.
Micro-donations of this size (£9) can also fund community nurseries that grow the specific Fabaceae tree seedings required to maintain the fungi’s delicate symbolic ecosystems.
⇒ Execute Symmetry Poverty Reduction Projects Addressing Asymmetrical Distribution Effects of Ebola by …
√ running online and virtual equality workshops on the reduction of asymmetrical adverse effects of the Ebola between people and ethnic groups
√ training people to tackle inequalities of poverty reduction or treatment induced by the adverse impacts of Ebola within their communities.
For example, a small micro-donation of £9 can fund community-level hygiene supplies or local surveillance training to immediately push back against the asymmetrical effects of Ebola. This targeted £9 contribution can directly address these imbalances when directed towards local grassroots organisations (like CENFACS Africa-based Sister Organisations) rather than large, top heavy funds.
Alternatively, £9 can buy essential cleaning and hygiene supplies (such as bleach, industrial soap or buckets with taps) for a family living in a high-density, low-income zone.
Similar micro-donations of the same amount can help offset the cost of community-based health tracking by contributing towards stipends for local midwives or community health workers who conduct door-to-door temperature checks and maternal welfare monitoring.
⇒ Deal with Education-to-work for Young People in Africa by…
√ ensuring that young people in Africa have access to quality education, employment, healthcare, and other essential services
√ supporting African voluntary organisations to advocate for further support for youths in terms of investing youth’s human capital and promoting gender equality, as well as help deploy empowerment services and products towards them.
For example, £9 donation may seem modest but it may bridge the gap between finishing school and entering the workforce. It can fund crucial daily essentials, digital access, and skill-building blocks.
Conversely, a micro-donation of £9 can provide the structural tools needed for youth to apply for roles. It can give to young job seekers with internet-connected hot desks, copy center services, and virtual learning repositories.
Alternatively, similar amount can fund nearly two days of practical vocational training in fields like dressmaking, catering or commercial beauty styling for less than £9.
⇒ Create alternative educational pathways in Africa by…
√ supporting the recovery of learning losses, teacher training and extra health service for the children traumatised by the effects of conflicts and natural disasters on their education and well-being
√ purchasing school e-books and e-materials through African voluntary organisations to help educationally needy children to add distance learning opportunities to their education in order to mitigate the adverse effects of the cost-of-living crisis on children’s learning and abilities.
For example, a small micro-donation of £9 can help support our Africa-based Sister Organisations optimize small amounts to lower structural barriers, provide digital inclusion, and deliver targeted training that standard public education networks often miss.
Likewise, a £9 donation can cover the data transmission or server-hosting costs required to deliver offline, open-source educational modules to community digital hubs. it can as well fund several weeks of interactive SMS- or WhatsApp-based text lessons and quizzes for out-of-school youth who only access to basic feature phones.
To realise a total of 5 lasting reliefs, it may require a donation of £10 to £20 or even more.
To smooth the process of supporting the above-mentioned beneficiaries, CENFACS is ready to post to you and or to any other potential supporters the project proposals or an information pack about them for consideration to support. Likewise, CENFACS is ready to talk to you or to potential funders about them if they want us to do so.
To donate, gift aid and or support differently, please contact CENFACS.
• • • How to send you support
You can donate
* over phone
* via email
* through text
* by filling the contact form on this website.
On receipt of your intent to donate or donation, CENFACS will contact you. However, should you wish your support to remain anonymous; we will respect your wish.
We look forward to your support with helpful difference for the Poor People, Organisations and Wildlife Species in Africa.
Thank you in anticipation for your willingness to give and help change the lives of these poor people, organisations and wild species.
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• References
(1) https://preston.gov.uk/article/3481/Progressive-procurement (accessed in October 2026)
(2) https://a-z-animals.com/animals/african-forest-elephant (accessed in October 2026)
(3) https://faunahub.com/endangered-animals/species/african-forest-elephant (accessed in October 2026)
(4) Patton, A., 2021, Micro-volunteering, Making a Difference in Minutes, (Originally published Dec. 2017) at https://www.missionbox.com/article/183/micro-volunteering-making-a-difference-in-minutes (accessed October 2023)
(5) https://icdl.org/africas-digital-leap-why-skills-not-just-access-will-define-the-future/ (accessed in October 2026)
(6) https://odi.org/en/insights/brains-bytes-and-bottlenecks-fixing-africas-ai-talent-gap/ (accessed in October 2026)
(7) https://www.bmj.com/content/393/bmj-2026-727772 (accessed in October 2026)
(8) https://www.afdb.org/en/topics-and-sectors/topics/youth (accessed in October 2026)
(9) https://www.unicef.org/esa/stories/46-million-school-aged-children-out-of-school-across-esa (accessed in October 2026)
(10) https://www.wwf.org.uk/success-stories/new-hope-black-rhinos (accessed in October 2026)
(11) https://www.inaturalist.ogrg/taxa/443705-Silene-cobalticola (accessed in October 2026)
(12) https://fungifornature.com/singleproject/conservation-of-a-rare-endemic-and-critically-endangered-stinking-milk-cap-mashroom-lactifluus-foetens-confined-to-the-gallery-forests-in-northern-benin (accessed in October 2026)
(13) https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/press-release/2024/09/sudan-humanitarian-crisis-has-catastrophic-impact-for-women-and-girls-with-two-fold-increase-of-gender-based-violence (accessed in October 2024)
(14) https://www.educationcannotwait.org/news-stories/press-releases/new-global-estimates-reveal-258-million-children-affected-crises (accessed in October 2026)
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