Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

24 January 2018

Post No. 23

 

The 23rd Post of this Blog Page will cover our Light Projects which kick off with the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) Appeal, the return of our All-Year Round Projects (i.e. Play, Run and Vote) and   our last reminder about the Gifts of Peace.

Summaries of the Contents for Post No.23

♦ ONLY SEVEN DAYS TO GO…

BEFORE THE GIFTS OF PEACE CAMPAIGN ENDS!

We are again appealing to you/potential donors to donate or support our Gifts of Peace. 

Sometimes, we take peace as granted but for those living in poverty it isn’t! You can donate to make peace become a reality in their life this January 2018.

To donate and or for further details about Gifts of Peace, go to http://cenfacs.org.uk/supporting-us/

 

♦ ALL-YEAR ROUND PROJECTS –

CENFACS POVERTY RELIEF LEAGUE (CPRL)

Play the CPRL for the Passion of the Poverty Relief Game!

CENFACS’ first tier poverty relief competition is still on.

Matches Started Since the 1^st of January 2018: 16 teams and 32 matches

You can join the game at any time this Winter 2018.

Which of your team country will reach the Finals Last Four Next Autumn?

To know that you need Playing or Gaming for Poverty Relief and Development.

Please don’t forget to tell your game story including fixtures, scores and results.

 

♦ LIGHT PROJECTS: DRC Appeal

As said above, our Light Projects 2018 are kicking off this week by Lighting a Blaze of Hope for Conflict and Flood Victims in the Central Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

This is a continuation of last year appeal on the same DRC.  Last year, we appealed to you and to the international development community to light a blaze of hope for the local people of DRC for their unfinished democratic transition to be resolved in peace. 

Many of you responded to our appeal and we thank you for your response.

This year, since there is a repeat of potential fights between the conflicting sides together with the flooding situation which occurred recently, we would like to appeal to you again to do something new to the complex humanitarian and democratically disputed circumstances of the DRC. 

Because of the nature of CENFACS ‘Light Project (addressing the two problems faced by the victims of armed conflicts and destructive natural disasters), we will conduct two appeals for DRC this year. 

We are first re-launching our appeal to support Conflict Victims this week, and then the following week we will focus on Flood Victims.

To support DRC Appeal, contact CENFACS.

 

To get a better understanding of the contents/summaries presented above, please continue to read below.

 

DRC APPEAL

This first wave of Winter 2018 Light Appeal projects is about Bringing and Lighting a Blaze of Hope for the Hardest Hit People in the DRC by Continuing Armed Conflicts and Unfinished Business of Peaceful Transition to Political Democratisation Processes. 

Since the DRC embarked in the mid-1990s on the process of political democratisation, their new experience has never ended.  Instead, it resulted in continuing armed conflicts and political instability, particularly in the eastern side of the country without excluding the Capital Kinshasa. 

As a charitable organisation, we understand the level of complexity of the issues there and the arguments/reasons from different conflicting sides.  What we are interested in are the innocent local people of the DRC who have been hardest hit for almost two decades and half of neglect and suffering from this controversial process. 

Our appeal is apolitical and impartial.  It is about supporting the ordinary local poor Congolese people who have been caught in a political process they do not control and that made their lives miserable since it began. 

We are Lighting a Blaze of Hope for Poverty Relief and Development so that the local Congolese people in DRC could turn their two decades and half of suffering into a future of hope, peaceful and sustainable development. 

We are advocating and hoping that the wisdom will prevail from the mindsets of all involved parties so that the lives of vulnerable and poor DRC local people are protected while this process is still going through until it finishes peacefully. 

WHO ARE THOSE LOCAL PEOPLE WHO NEED A BLAZE OF HOPE?

These are: the victims of sporadic or organised violence, the dissatisfied with blocked election process, the discontented of two decades and half of unsuccessful transition to political democratization, the continuously poor unpaid  workers and civil servants, poor farmers victims of weak international commodity prices and declining terms of trade, internally displaced persons especially in the Kasai and Kivu, innocent victims of local rebel factions and armed ethnic militias that control some parts of the Congolese territory and destabilized the territory, the poor local people paying the price of high levels of corruption at the high-level of the country’s governance, those who have been denied of free expression and voice, in brief the angry for the lack of freedom from the Unfinished Business of Transition Process to Political Democratisation.  These are the poor local sufferers from civil unrest, economic insecurity and armed conflicts.

HOW TO SUPPORT THEM AND COMMUNICATE WITH CENFACS?

To support this Winter 2018 Appeal and communicate with CENFACS, please use the following:

w: www.cenfacs.org.uk  t: 07950515191 e:facs@cenfacs.org.uk  r:1092432

ALL-YEAR ROUND PROJECTS ARE BACK!

Our three All-year Round Projects – which are Play, Run and Vote – are back this January 2018 for another year running.

• CENFACS’ 2018 RUN TO REDUCE POVERTY IN AFRICA (2018 RRPA)

There are many ways you can support CENFACS’ 2018 RUN TO REDUCE POVERTY IN AFRICA (2018 RRPA).

You can choose what you intend to do to support as follows: 

• Research & report to CENFACS your AGGRAPR (African Global Games Runners, Agents of Poverty Relief)

•  Organise a run or race event

• Include CENFACS’ 2018 RRPA into your event days

• Support this project generally or miscellaneously

• Straightway donate to CENFACS.  

If you are Running for Poverty Relief and Development, you can do it alone or as a group. 

For more details about CENFACS’ 2018 Run To Reduce Poverty in Africa, please contact CENFACS.

 

• CENFACS POVERTY RELIEF LEAGUE,

The World’s Development League without Relegation!

• Those who make progress on poverty reduction get rewarded by moving up on top their economic grouping/band.
• Those who fall behind poverty reduction get the support they need, not a punishment.

RALLY BEHIND YOUR TEAM-COUNTRY AND SUPPORT THEM TO WIN OVER POVERTY AND HARDSHIPS AS WELL ESCAPE FROM POVERTY FOR EVER!

The 2018 championship of CENFACS Poverty Relief League (CPRL) started since the beginning of the year. You can play or support projects for poverty relief in Africa.

If you are Playing the CENFACS Poverty Relief League and its sub-project Le Dernier Carrẻ, there are 16 team countries in this Poverty Relief and Development League playing each 32 matches/games each against the other. 

If you have not yet registered and or started to play for poverty relief and development, you can still register to play and or support.

 Register NOW!

• VOTE YOUR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND POVERTY RELIEF MANAGER OF 2018

Relieving poverty is not an exclusive business or a matter of specific organisations or individuals who have that task, skills, capacity, mission or vision. Poverty can be relieved by everybody as long as they have the willingness, ability and wisdom to do so. However, to continue to relieve it requires more than the above qualities; perhaps it could demand passion, hard-working enterprise and above all tireless work.

Having considered a number of experiences, works and evidence-based stories about people’s contribution to poverty relief, CENFACS set up in 2014 an all-year round scheme aiming at finding the Poverty Relief Manager (PRM) of the year. This is a Vote project – a yearly project of selecting, voting and rewarding in CENFACS’ way and terms people’s contribution to poverty relief in Africa. This project is run together with the projects RUN TO REDUCE POVERTY IN AFRICA and CENFACS POVERTY RELIEF LEAGUE, which are also all-year round ones.

For basic details for those who want to vote this year’s PRM, please contact CENFACS.

 

Whether you are Gaming or Running or even Voting for Poverty Relief and Development, please keep a track record (including the facts, data, videos, reviews and images) of your all-year round activities to make and share your story with us and others.    

To do that, you do not need sophisticated technologies or a third party.  With your mobile phone only – if you have one – you can text, record voices, make a video, take pictures, phone etc to capture and communicate the impacts of any event or activity you are doing or taking part in this year.  As we are in CENFACS’ Year of Local People or the Locals’ Year, don’t forget to involve Local People in your event/project.

 

ANNOUCEMENT OF 2017 RUN, PLAY AND VOTE ACTION-RESULTS: Still Pending!

The Action-Results of 2017 are still pending for many of our players, runners and voters of poverty relief. 

We would like to hear from you about the Best African Countries of 2017 which best reduced poverty, the Best African Global Games Runners of 2017, and the Best African Development Managers of 2017. 

If you have not yet told us, have your say now!

 

Thank you for visiting CENFACS website and reading this post.

We look forward to receiving your regular visits and continuing support in 2018.

With many thanks!

 

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

18 January 2018

Post No. 22

FACS ISSUE NO. 58  ♦   GIFTS OF PEACE  ♦  CONSUME TO REDUCE POVERTY

This week’s post will cover three main areas of our work: the Issue no. 58 of our bilingual newsletter FACS, our fundraising campaign regarding Gifts of Peace and the 6^th Issue of Consume to Reduce Poverty.

The lead content or question of this week’s post is how can we continue to help in reducing poverty when free market-based economies go in transition, with a particular case of the UK exiting the European Union?

The answer to this question can be found in the 58^th Issue of FACS which is out now.  We have provided below the key summaries about the issue.

Besides the above lead story of the week, we would like to remind you that our Gifts of Peace Campaign continues and will end on the 31^st of January 2018.

To donate or enquiry go to the page “Support Us” of this website at http://cenfacs.org.uk/supporting-us/

 

The January month of Responsible Consumption together with our advocacy against consumption-based poverty continues as well. Likewise, our Consume to Reduce Poverty (CRP) project is still available to support poor children, young people and families who are poor by consumption (i.e. whose consumption is below the defined threshold).

The resource relating to this CRP is also available.  As we said it last week, the focus of this year’s CRP issue is on Online Shopping and Buying – Tips and Hints. 

As part of the engagement to this focused theme, we encourage participants to the CRP to exchange their shopping and buying experience through social media networks in order to help reduce consumption-based poverty.

For support on consumption-based model of poverty and to access CRP contact CENFACS.

 

FACS ISSUE NO. 58    >    KEY SUMMARIES

We have already provided the abstract of this issue two weeks ago.

Below are the key summaries making the contents of this issue.

• DOING THEORY THINKING ABOUT TRANSITIONAL ECONOMY IN THE CONTEXT OF MARKET-BASED REGIONAL ECONOMIC INTEGRATION (page 2 of FACS)

Transitional economy or transition economy was applied to the Eastern and Central European economies in the late 1990s when they moved from centralised or planning economy to a market-oriented economy.  It was when the Soviet Union communist bloc collapsed in 1991 and was then seen as a transition from planned economy or state controlled economy to a market-based one.  The concept of economic transition can be extended today to include various types of economies. 

Before extending it, we are going to define it.  We will then establish its links with both exited and regional economies, democracy, market orientation and third sector players. 

What is economic transition?

We are going to borrow the definition of economic transition from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary (1) which defines it as:

“an economy that is changing from being one under government control to being a market economy (= one in which companies are not controlled by the government)”

By doing some theory thinking, we can extend this definition to other types of economy.  To do that we can make the following working hypothesis.

If an economy changes its ties regarding its international economic relations or de-link itself from its international mode of functioning after being engaged in a particular economic area for a long period (for example 20 years or more of trend), this economy may need undergoing some forms of transition in order to keep its equilibrium and avoid major functional upsets.  Depending on the influence of this economy on the bloc or area, the latter may or may not need a transition or some adjustments as well.

From the above perspective and assumption, a transition economy or transitional economy is also an economy which is changing from an integrated economy within a regional economic bloc to an economy that is exiting (exited) from the bloc.

An implication of economic exit: A transitional period

Transiting from a regional economic bloc to an exited economy can be soft or smooth or even hard landing depending on what countries involved want.

The exited economy may require legal and institutional reforms, a new social safety net, new trade relations, macroeconomic stabilization, monetary support and economic restructuring and reforms at various levels (micro, miso and macro levels).  This is why a transitional period for an exited economy may be needed. 

Economic transition, exited and regional economies

As said above, there could be transition for both the leavers and the rest of the bloc.  In which case, we can speak about transition of the economy of the bloc and of the leaving country.  It means that both economies may need a preparatory period to minimise or nullify adverse effects and impacts of the exit from the bloc. 

This transition may apply to their governing institutions as both sides may need to adjust not only their economies but also their institutions (like in a theoretical case for the economic transition of the UK and the European Union)   

Economic transition and social change

Economic transition can open up a process of social transformation and a new wave of change.  There are various models of social transformation which include: a revolutionary model (like in the case of the Eastern and Central European model of the 1990s), an evolutionary model (such as a Chinese model), a gradualist model etc. 

Because society is never static as said Scott and Marshall (2), economic transitions or shifts can lead to social change (i.e. the outcome of a struggle for advantage between different competing groups as defined by Conflict theories).  Economic transition can produce a structured process leading itself to a specific direction or tendency in society (pp. 72 &73).

Transition within a market-based economy and democracy

If this exited economy comes from a regional economy with market-based institutions, it may still be a market-based one.  But, as it will no longer be part of a regional economic bloc, regional institutions may no longer apply to the exited economy. 

Although we spoke about the Soviet bloc, there is no comparison with other economic blocs (e.g. the European Union) which are mostly based on democratic principles and the free will of each country to join or stay in or even leave the bloc.  The Soviet bloc was based on force. 

Every things remaining equal, the EU is a successful story in the theory of regional economic integration in terms of poverty reduction and free movement of people and markets.  The exiting UK remains a special case of exit in the history of regional economic integration.

Economic transition and third sector

The business of poverty reduction may be reshaped by those involved in it as economies are in a transitional phase.  In those involved in poverty reduction; there are voluntary, non-governmental, third sector and community organisations.  They may find it useful to have transitional plans, programmes and strategies or put it simply a plan A, B or C to deal with the effects of economic transition.

CENFACS and economic transition

In order to take into account this new economic landscape, CENFACS is integrating transitional economy and the Post-REI (Regional Economic Integration) into its revised version of the Twenty-tens Programme.

This integration will apply as we move along with economic transition.  In other words, most of the projects designed for the Twenty-tens will be dotted with transitional economy. 

To sum up, we can do some theory thinking regarding economic transition and extend it to the reality of exited and regional economies.  Likewise, we can look at how this theory and its practice relate to the life of third sector and define the new frontiers of poverty reduction.  Its application on CENFACS pushes us to redefine, rethink and adjust the way we do poverty relief and development work both in the UK and Africa.

(1 ) https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/transition-economy (accessed 06/01/2018)

(2) Scott J. & Marshall G., Oxford Dictionary of Sociology, Oxford University Press Inc., New York, 2009

 

• CENFACS PLAYING WELL THE GAME OF ECONOMIC TRANSITION (page 3 of FACS)

When a country decides to withdraw its membership from a particular organisation such a regional economic bloc, it is always expected from the two sides, the leavers and those remaining in the organisation, to clarify their terms and conditions of separation.    This expectation comes from all the economic actors (i.e. the public, the private, public and the voluntary sectors).  Sometimes, it may require setting up transitional institutions to deal with transition.  For example, in the case of the economic transition of Eastern and Central European Countries a European Bank for Reconstruction and Development was set up.  We would not recommend a new bank for every case of economic transition.

The voluntary and charitable sector them too expect clarification in the local and international development strategies.  This clarification is required so that they know HOW THEY CAN DO POVERTY RELIEF WORK WHEN ECONOMIES ARE IN TRANSITION like in the case of the exit of the UK from the European Union.  Beyond these expectations, the responsibility of making transition work for the voluntary sector lies not only on the enabling institutions of the economic transition; but also on what each organisation can do to make transition works for them.

Regarding CENFACS, some elements of our strategy and thinking can be found in the previous work we did on this issue.  As a UK-based charity, economic transition, if any, may or may not affect us as it may do for others in the voluntary and charitable sector.  However, the effects of economic transition should not be conceived as one size fits all. 

To well play our part of the game of economic transition, we will consider the following areas of game playing: funding, volunteer recruitment, project beneficiaries, research and development, overseas representation, international financial transaction and travel

Funding: as we are no longer recipient of the European Social Fund, transitional change in the grant making process may not affect us.

Volunteer recruitment: it is now almost ten years that we have not been able to recruit volunteers from continental Europe.

Project beneficiaries: as we work in partnership with local people to develop sustainable initiatives, most of our users (both indirect and end users) are local in the UK and Africa.

Overseas representation agency: we do not possess any overseas office in the continental Europe.  We are UK-based and work with Africa-based organisations.

International financial transaction: because of our size, we do not manage a large amount of foreign exchange currency or international money transfer through the EU.

Research and development: we do our own independent research with a very limited budget.

Travel: we are local and if it happens that we need to visit overseas projects, our supporters can do it for us.

To continue to do our poverty relief work in transitional economies, we need take into account the above factors as well as integrate transitional economy into our strategy, programmes and projects.  Having a very little reliance on others puts us in a position to make economic transition to work for us. 

Briefly, to well play the game of economic transition the rules of game have to be fair and transparent and communicated to all players.  We hope that economic transition will come with new opportunities so that we can continue our work on poverty reduction.

• EFFECTS OF ECONOMIC TRANSITION OF REGIONAL ECONOMIC INTEGRATION ON CENFACS (page 3 of FACS)

We can only fully speak about the effects of economic transition when it has occurred and completed.  However, during the transitional period, there could be some effects although we may be in the assumption of the rules of REI (Regional Economic Transition) would continue to apply until the end of economic transition.  Also, to speak about transition, we need to identify what the REI (e.g. European Union) has been providing to the voluntary and charity organisations both directly and indirectly.  

Briefly speaking, there is a number of benefits such as funding opportunity (through the European Social Funds, ERAMUS programme and other funding programmes), labour (volunteers, workers and other supporters), the economic scale of the big European Union (EU) market etc.  These benefits can be added with the general attributes of any regional economic integration such as the general free movements of labour, capital, goods and services.   

It has to be emphasised that the virtue of big market of the REI has a good feeling factor.  This can add an effect on the way we do development and poverty relief works.  Until a country effectively leaves a given REI (like the EU), these benefits may still exist unless there is an alternative arrangement.   The feel good factor may increase or decrease depending on the assurance from the decision making bodies of economic transition. 

Although it is premature to speak about the effects of economic transition of REI, there is no doubt CENFACS may benefit from the good feeling factor and the enabling institutions gearing to support the voluntary and charity organisations during the economic transition of REI.  At the end of economic transition, we will then do impact analysis of economic transition in terms of its effectiveness and outcomes on us.

 

• SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE TRANSITIONAL PHASE OF POST-REGIONAL ECONOMIC INTEGRATION (page 4 of FACS)

Some of you may be aware that CENFACS work in partnership with local people to develop sustainable initiatives.  Most of the initiatives we try to develop both in the UK and Africa are to do with sustainable development and poverty reduction.

Some of you know as well, the Regional Economic bloc like the European Union (EU) has got good policies on the environment.  Also, most of the EU member States adhere to the principles of the International Climate Treaty on Climate Change (the Paris Climate Treaty).  Likewise, the majority of the EU countries including the UK agree on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2030.  At the level of EU and African Union cooperation, there are areas of sustainable development that are covered. 

Sustainable development will continue to be an ever growing area of interest and a driver in international development.  Organisations involved in the work about sustainable development will continue their work.  CENFACS’ work on sustainable development will still continue in the transitional period and beyond. 

 

• L’ASSOCIATIF DANS LA TRANSITION ECONOMIQUE (page 5 & 6 of FACS)

Quand un pays membre d’un ensemble économique régional décide de quitter l’ensemble ou le bloc économique, il peut y avoir plusieurs scénarios pour exécuter cette sortie.  La manière la plus prudente de s’y engager est de concevoir une période de transition entre l’économie sortante et l’économie régionale restante.  Elles peuvent s’entendre d’avoir une transition économique. 

La transition économique peut avoir des formes ou modèles variés (transition soit totale, soit partielle, soit encore sélective).  Quelque soit le modèle choisi par les parties en présence, il serait mieux que ce modèle soit aussi compatible avec les besoins et demandes des operateurs et acteurs économiques, particulièrement et non exclusivement avec ceux du secteur associatif.  Ceci est important pour éviter des crises de gestion de transition sans parler d’autres types de crise. 

L’importance de l’associatif dans la mécanique de transition économique

Le secteur associatif est un des secteurs qui s’occupent des activités de réduction de pauvreté et de développement international.  C’est aussi celui qui travaille avec les pays en développement, parmi eux ceux d’Afrique.  Ce secteur œuvre avec ces derniers sur les questions africaines de réduction et de fin de pauvreté.

L’inscription de la tâche « réduction de la pauvreté » dans le modèle de transition économique

L’intérêt d’avoir l’associatif dans le modèle de transition économique va de soi.  Si l’on veut continuer à réduire la pauvreté à l’intérieur comme à l’extérieur du bloc économique, alors cette tâche de réduction de la pauvreté doit être aussi inscrite parmi les priorités du nouveau modèle de transition économique.  Ceci concerne aussi bien le modèle au niveau du bloc qu’à celui de l’économie sortante, de même qu’à celui des organisations associatives. 

La présence du modèle de transition dans le fonctionnement de CENFACS

S’agissant du modèle de transition s’appliquant à l’économie associative, la transition doit être présente dans le modèle de fonctionnement des économies associatives.   C’est pourquoi, au niveau de CENFACS, nous nous sommes engagés à réfléchir sur les effets de la transition économique entre l’Union Européenne et le Royaume Uni sur nous.   Nous le faisons malgré le fait que de part et d’autre, ils évitent de parler de la transition économique alors qu’en réalité ce qui se passe entre les deux camps c’est la transition économique.

Que conclure?

Pour des raisons évoquées ci-haut, l’inclusion de l’associatif dans le modèle de transition économique paraît nécessaire sinon indispensable si l’on veut préserver les acquis et rechercher des solutions nouvelles en matière de réduction et de fin de pauvreté.

 

• HOW AFRICA-BASED SISTER ORGANISATIONS PERCEIVE TRANSITIONAL ECONOMY (page 7 of FACS)

A number of Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) do not think that the transition of the economies of regional economic bloc such the European Union and the exiting UK will have a significant impact on them.  They also trust that CENFACS will continue to work with them on poverty relief even if there are some changes.   They strongly believe that the EU and UK will be still attached to the value of international development and work on poverty and humanitarian relief during and after the transition. 

The above are just the preliminary findings of how ASOs perceive transitional economies of the EU and UK.  A full survey on the opinions of ASOs may be required to provide a more or less rational argument based on qualitative and quantitative data and research on their real perception about the transition of the economies of EU and UK if it happens.

• SURVEY ON THE EFFECTS OF ECONOMIC TRANSITION ON THE ECONOMIES OF AFRICA-BASED SISTER ORGANISATIONS (page 7 of FACS)

As part of an investigation on the effects that economic transition of Regional Economic Integration (expressed by the UK leaving the European Union) could have on the work of Africa-based Sister Organisations, CENFACS would like to collect your views. 

The aim of the survey is to assess or appraise the extent to which economic transition of both the REI (here EU) and the leaving country (e.g. UK) can affect the performance and the economy of the non-governmental, charitable, voluntary and community Africa-based organisations. 

If there is an effect, what are the size, magnitude and direction of this effect?

To take part in this survey, please contact CENFACS.

If you have already conducted your own survey, please let us know your results.

Thank you!

 

• VOLUNTEERING IN THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD OF POST-REGIONAL ECONOMIC INTEGRATION (page 8 of FACS)

Already in the Issue of FACS no. 55, we spoke about the skills needed in Post-REI (Post-Regional Economic Integration) times.  We also touched on the issue of transitional volunteering.   We promised to come on the issue of P-REI volunteering in Winter 2017/18 which we did. 

Our Winter e-discussion on Volunteering in the Post-REI (Regional Economic Integration) Era showed the need to rethink the role and the skills we need for our current and future volunteers.    The discussion was an opportunity to exchange ideas on skills auditing and reappraisal, adapting capacities and the areas of training that our All in Development Volunteers may need in order to deal with our work during the transitional economy.  

If you have anything to add to our work or need further details about it, contact CENFACS.

 

• A FINANCIAL COMPANION FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ORGANISATIONS DURING THE TRANSITIONAL ECONOMY (page 9 of FACS)

When exiting a regional economic bloc, there could be mixed reactions and effects in all areas and directions of life, including in the life of small and medium-sized organisations from both sides of exit.  Some organisations may have the capacity to rapidly adjust to the new transitional situation.  Others may find it difficult to cope with the new life.  Already small and medium-sized organisations are stretched out from the financial point of view.  

A financial companion to smooth financial pain for those organisations in financial need may be required as it can help reduce uncertainty and create the climate of confidence.   A financial companion may also be needed for Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) if transitional economy may affect them.  They may need financial support to continue to achieve their mission and objectives.

Put it simply, a financial companion may help to answer two basic questions: what and why?

What?

The financial companion could be a financial transitional programme to accompany small and medium-sized organisations (SMOs) and ASOs throughout the period of economic transition.  The programme can include a mixed funding package of financial products and services such as grants, concessionary loans, income generation schemes, online fundraising, bonds and shares, financial advice and advocacy etc.

Why?

There is a number of other reasons they need financial support which include:

• Some of the funding schemes may not be accessible to SMOs and ASOs

• Like any other organisations, SMOs and ASOs always need funding to carry out their charitable mission

• To keep their work of poverty reduction going

• To help achieve their organisational goals, sustainable development goals and climate/carbon free goals

• They are the organisations working closely with poor people on the ground etc.

Both the type of financial accompany they need and the reasons for their need make sense to think of a financial support or companion to be on the side of SMOs and ASOs in order to reduce any adverse impacts of the economic transition that may occur when a country is exiting any given regional economic bloc.    

• PROJECT OF INTEGRATION OF ECONOMIC TRANSITION INTO CENFACS’ PROGRAMMES OF WORK (page 10 of FACS)

As it is titled this project is about integrating economic transition into CENFACS’ Programmes which may be affected by the economic transition.

It is a project designed to help reduce the adverse impact of economic transition, if there will be any, on CENFACS and CENFACS project and programmes beneficiaries.

Through this project we will develop way of working that takes into account the contents of the economic transition and also take actions to correct any potential harmful effects that may result from the transition while using any good opportunities that may arise from economic transition to strengthen our work on poverty reduction.

The length of this integration will be determined by the nature, length and influence of the economic transition on CENFACS and its project and programme beneficiaries. 

To support and or find out more, please contact CENFACS.

For a full copy of the 58th Issue, please contact CENFACS.  

 

Thank you for visiting CENFACS website and reading this post.

We look forward to receiving your regular visits and continuing support in 2018.

With many thanks!

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

10 January 2018

WHAT IS ON AT CENFACS THIS SEASON OF LIGHT

Our Season of Light continues with the Light Projects, as indicated on the above projects and programmes planner scheduled for January, February and March 2018.

To put our Season of Light into practice, there will be two waves of advocacy work to support the victims of armed conflicts and destructive natural disasters in Africa. 

The first wave of action will be on the past, the legacies of the very latest events in the Central and West Africa (Central-West Africa Post-War and Post-Disaster Appeal).

The second wave of action will be on advocating for support for the victims of the current and emerging armed conflicts and destructive natural disasters in Africa.  

As nolvelty to this year’s Season of Light, we have introduced three new projects: Digital and Social Media Campaign, Generation Global Goals and this Year’s Dedication as the Locals’ Year.

The Digital and Social Media Campaign will kick off by the end of January with “The Role of Mobile Phone as a Tool for Poverty Relief for Children” as an opener.

Generation Global Goals project is an online discussion regarding the impacts of the global goals on children.  It will be conducted under CENFACS be-Africa forum.

Each year, we try to find the best way to meet the needs of our project beneficiaries while remembering some of the work we did with them and exploring innovative ways to re-engage with stake holders.  We do it by dedicating the year to a particular memorable theme.  As result, 2018 has been declared as the Locals’ Year at CENFACS.

Our January month theme of Responsible Consumption under Consume to Reduce Poverty (CRP) and Climate Change project continues as well.   This year’s 6^th issue of CRP will focus on Online Shopping and Buying Tips and Hints.

Another feature of the current Season of Light is the inclusion of new elements into the revised version of the Twenty-tens Programme.  This inclusion will help to update it in line with the development contexts in which we operate.  In particular, these development landscapes are of global goals and agendas, of digital and social media technologies, and of UK exiting the European Union.

• Light Projects

This Winter 2018, our Lights projects will focus on two parts or two waves of action as said above:  1/ post-war and post-natural disaster developments 2/ current and emerging armed conflicts and environmental catastrophes

A Blaze of Hope for post-life following armed conflicts and natural disasters

When there are environmental disasters and armed conflicts, there are pledges and commitments to end the effects of wars and disasters.  For various reasons, some of these pledges do not materialise.  The post-war and post-disaster developments are sometimes left without support sometimes until the conflicts and disasters return and or strike again.  

As we cannot wait the return or repeat of the same wars and disasters, our first Blaze of Hope will go this Winter to the unfinished business of previous destructive wars and natural disasters (Central-West Africa Post-War and Post-Disaster Appeal).

A Blaze of Hope for the eruption of any armed conflicts and natural disasters

We always advocate for preventive development and we do not seek for destructive events to happen.  However, our preparedness and readiness make us to assemble as quickly as possible advocacy tools should any effects and impacts erupt from wars and natural disasters in Africa. 

So, our second wave of intervention or Blaze of Hope will go this Winter to erupted effects of armed conflicts and natural disasters in the areas of our interest in Africa (Details of this second appeal will be released in due course). 

With these two waves of action over this Wintry Season, we hope to enlighten the lives of those in need.

CENFACS look forward to your support to deliver this Wintry Appeal

• Year 2018 as CENFACS’ Local Year

Our motto says “Working in partnership with local people to develop sustainable initiatives”.  What this means for us and our stakeholders? 

From our point of view and of digital marketing, Local People are CENFACS’ personas.   They are the raison d’être of CENFACS. 

The Locals’ Year is one year project of celebration of 16 years of CENFACS working in partnership with local people to develop sustainable initiatives since its registration. 

Details of this celebration will follow in due course. 

To support and or find out more, please contact CENFACS.

• Digital and Social Media Campaign

The Role of Mobile Phone in Helping Women and Children to Reduce Poverty

This campaign is part of our Digital and New Media Programmes.  The campaign will be opened by looking at the Role of Mobile Phone in Reducing Poverty and Hardships amongst Women and Children.

Indeed, it is now not anymore a secrecy that many people are using their mobile phones (with internet enabling features) to check and read news, check sports results, access and search for local information (e.g. finding a local plumber), manage their finances, play games, download and upload documents etc.    This is true for those who are house bound but as well for those on the move, at work and in any part of the world. 

At the moment, it is also an educational and social habit that kids are using the mobile phones of their parents, especially their mothers’ ones, to access school home works or just to do search for home works on regular basis.  The digital and mobile worlds have gradually penetrated our kids’ educational and learning habits and working patterns.

As part of the first track of our Digital and Social Media Campaign, we will look at how women and children can use the mobile phones in effective way to reduce poverty and hardships.  This first track of the campaign will deal with the following matters.

• Whether or not mobile phones got features and functions for women and children to reduce poverty (for example educational and learning functionalities)

• The impact of mobile phones in poor families and the digital dependency culture they bring along with them

• Using mobile phones cannot be done without protection and security.  Therefore, how much mobile phones are secure and protective for vulnerable and exposed-to-threat users.  Do mobile phone designers and manufacturers introduce safety and protection into design of their products, especially for those who use them for educational and learning purposes?

• In terms of social responsibility, what can the mobile phone industry (including software designers and developers) do to protect vulnerable and exposed-to-threat users so that they can make their devices even more user-friendly and free from threats?   

For further details and to support this Digital and Social Media Campaign, contact CENFACS.

• Consume To Reduce Poverty and Climate Change

Issue 2018: Buying and Shopping Online

Key highlights, Tips & Hints

Online Buying 

Buying online can be cheaper as some product retailers can manage to save on costs of having and maintaining their physical presence on the streets.  It means that their products could be accessible for less money online compared to the shopping carried out by travelling to their trading premises. 

By doing so, this helps to levy less their prices over customers.

Online Shopping

Using the internet, e-mail, social networks and other communication technologies to look at or buy products (i.e. goods and services) has now become common for everybody who can have access to them.  These technologies can help us to search and find the products we need to wisely consume in order to reduce poverty and hardships. 

There are risks and benefits associated with them.  One of them is related to intrusion to financial transactions (such as banking, paying bills, security issues about account details etc.) by malicious software, ransom ware, spyware and unscrupulous people.

Online products verification, identity and authenticity

Although there is a possibility to see on scream the product features and other specifications and read other people’s testimonies, reviews or comments about it, it is still difficult to get the true feeling of it physically speaking. 

So, one may need to be careful about the true physical features and qualities of the presentation of the product on line if they cannot touch it and physically feel it.  They have to be sure that the message advertised and marketing match products results and tests, and customer’s satisfaction. 

Online Security 

When buying online, you still have to check, compare and contrast products, terms and conditions of business, buying terms, prices etc.  Before you sign up, add to your shopping basket and purchase an item, you need to read, discuss and check what you are agreeing on.  You may even take more precautions when selecting items, filling up buying forms to enter your personal, financial information and sensitive details. 

You should also be aware of scams and illegal and malicious practices as the online technology did not only improve and facilitate lives but has also increased the risks of fraudulent and criminal activities.  For own online security, use the e-safety tools and advice.

To support Responsible Consumption and get the full issue 2018 of Consume to Reduce Poverty and Climate Change, please contact CENFACS.

Thank you for visiting CENFACS website and reading this post.

We look forward to receiving your regular visits and continuing support in 2018.

With many thanks!

 

Happy New and Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

03 January 2018

This week’s contents

• REVIEW 2017

• CONSUME TO REDUCE POVERTY IN 2018

• THE NEXT ISSUE OF FACS: The 58^th Issue

• EIGHT CHALLENGES TO CHANGE AFRICA IN 2018

 

New Year, New Hope & New Relief

Again, Happy New Year and welcome back to Poverty Relief in 2018 and the Years ahead!

At the start of the year, the question one can ask themselves is what is the best way to start the year?  There is no a classic answer to this question.

Perhaps, the best way to start the year with CENFACS is look at what happened in 2017.  Possibly, we may or may not learn something about it.  But, it is still worth recalling 2017.  This is our Review 2017.

As we are already in January, this month is our month for Responsible Consumption following CENFACS development calendar.  It means that the theme for January is Sustainable Consumption and the monthly project carrying this theme is Consume to Reduce Poverty.  It is the month we act against consumption-based poverty and we deal with measures of poverty through consumption.  It is also an opportunity to act to preserve a good relationship between the way and products we consume and the reduction of climate change.

Much of what we do depends on the health of the UK economy and its direction.  This year, if we are allowed to say it, the UK economy may enter the transitional phase of Post-European Economic Integration; what we call Post-Regional Economic Integration Era.   As a result, we have provided an abstract of the next issue of CENFACS’ bilingual newsletter FACS; issue no. 58 to be entitled “Poverty Reduction in the Era of Transitional Economy of Post-Regional Economic Integration”.

A great deal of our work is as well linked to what is happening and may happen in Africa.  As such we need to look at beyond our lenses and sometimes to speculate about the future or simply the months or years ahead.  This is why we have identified some challenging trends for a better change in Africa in 2018, the EIGHT CHALLENGES THAT AFRICA FACES IN 2018 TO CHANGE.

This review shines a light into CENFACS’ work over the last twelve months from the 1st of January to the 31^st of December 2017.  The current Review is presented to you as an informal summary of eleven voted projects and one programme that made 2017.  The selected projects and programme are the ones that had the most votes in terms of their influence on work and activities.  

XI Projects and One Programme that Made 2017 at CENFACS 

There are in no particular order as follows.

Consume to Reduce Poverty (CRP) and Climate Change

This project was influential in raising awareness and developing solutions in the form of poverty relief that focuses on buying and consumption issues – whenever the time makes it possible and for every step of life.  

CRP is designed for children, young people and families who are poor buyers and consumers to work with them and find out improved and cost-effective ways of extending freedom by spending wisely their little income and getting the most benefit of it in improving their lives. 

ACSDGs (African Children Climate and Sustainable Development Goals) or Generation 3 (3G) project

3G project is the impact level in CENFACS’ process of advocating that global goals work for children but not way around.  It is indeed the testing of the gains that global goals claim to achieve and of their impact on the welfare and well-being of children.

Women and Children projects (3W & PPS Reflection Day)

This is a protection project.  Our 2017 Reflection Day helped us to find ways of Reducing Information and Communication Poverty for Women and Children to Fully Participate in the Information Society

All in Development Stories (AiDS)

AiDS is a life story developing, telling, sharing and learning project set up by CENFACS in 2009 in order to give opportunities to volunteers, interns and other development supporters to inspire others and spread the good news and will of better change to the community.  The 2017 story telling was about Communications and Digital Stories, with some highlights on Elephant Stories.

7 Days of Development in July Festival (7DDJF)

The 9^th edition of CENFACS’ Annual Event 7DDJF was held in 2017.  The theme for 2017 was on Science and Engineer Education for Poverty Relief and Sustainable Development.  It was about discussing cases for  educational systems that take science and engineering seriously in the process of ending poverty and enhancing sustainable development   The 9^th event enabled us to think ways of raising levels of living for the poor through science and engineer education.

August Trends

Our integration theme of Track, Trip and Trending had its second year running.  Track focused on running, Trip on projects visiting and Trending on following the direction of poverty relief (we followed the direction of fake economy in 2017).  The three of them were popular in subjects within the CENFACSPHERE and the CENFACS Community. 

Halving Poverty

Set up in February 2012 as the 2015-2030 Campaign, Halving Poverty is a CENFACS’ child protection and safeguarding advocacy work.  It is indeed a linking and coordinating mobilization project of action that helps empower beneficiaries against multi-dimensional poverty and hardship.  The 2017 advocacy was on Halving the Number of Children Vulnerable to Air Pollution.

A la Une (Autumn Leaves of Action to Upkeep the Nature in Existence) Campaign

A la Une is an environmental advocacy project aiming at reducing poverty while protecting the physical world and everything in it.  It is about exploring ways of using less natural resources to reduce poverty while caring for the plants, animals, mountains, oceans and rivers, stars, seas etc.  In doing so, we can help meet poor people’s own poverty-relieving and development goals while working to achieve the global goals and targets for sustainable development and carbon free world. 

Our Autumn 2017 work on nature was a fivefold leaves of action of protection of Animals, Waters (e.g. oceans, lakes, rivers and seas), Air, Plants and Climate (weather)

Making Memorable Difference (MMD)

MMD is a two-day event of Awareness, Thought and Recognition set up by CENFACS in 2009 to celebrate the Black History Month in our own way and feeling while preserving the tradition linked to this remembrance and standing on the shoulders of similar celebrations.  The 2017 dedicated two days (27 and 28 October) were of search on the Communicators of the African History.  We investigate on their contribution to Africa’s transformative development since the colonial era.

Climate Protection and Stake for African Children (CPSAC) – Phase 2

CPSAC – P.2 is our rebranded international child protection project helping to further up CENFACS’ process of advocating better climate deals for children.  CPSAC is the Phase 2 of CENFACS’ Climate Talks Follow-up project.  The 2017 follow-up activity was WHAT BONN SAY, that is we followed the climate talks in Bonn.

Women & Children FIRST Development Day (WCFDD)

Since its inception in 2010, the WCFDD provides an opportunity and scope to communicate CENFACS’ anti-poverty work/message and the need to develop new ideas and proposals, and improve practices to enable us to enhance the quality of life of multi-dimensionally-deprived women and children.  Our 2017 Development Day did not miss this opportunity by putting our thoughts on ways of Ending Poverty in all its forms for Women and Children everywhere

Communicating for Better Change Programme (CBCP)

This programme was originally set up in 2007 by CENFACS to respond to the need of developing and maintaining effective communication between CENFACS, her Africa-based Sister Organisations and UK stakeholders so that we can together share skills, best practice and experience in the process of delivering better change and ensuring a better quality of life for all.  Through this programme a better exchange and flow of information on poverty and development matters was meant to be established. 

As 2017 was dedicated as the Year of Communications, this programme was influential in most the activities and projects we undertook.

For further details about this Review or any of the above mentioned projects and programme, please contact CENFACS.

We cannot end this review without thanking all those who helped us to achieve what we managed to achieve. 

To all our supporters, we simply say thank you very much and wish you a Happy New Year!

 

Consume to Reduce Poverty (CRP) is our users’ New Year supporting information and accompanying booster that focuses on Buying and Consumption elements conducive to the reduction of poverty and hardship.  It is indeed a complimentary support to our Autumn Festive Income Boost resource.  The Festive Income Boost is an income-generating resource while CRP brings in a consumption-led look in our fight against poverty.  The next issue (issue no. 6) of CRP which will be Online Shopping ad Buying will expand on this.

For further details about CRP project, go to http://cenfacs.org.uk/services-activities/

 

Abstract of the 58th Issue of FACS:

REDUCING POVERTY IN THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD OF POST-REGIONAL ECONOMIC INTEGRATION

Reducing poverty in the transitional period of post-regional economic integration is a compliment and continuation of our work on post-regional economic development.  It is an additional to the Issue no.55 of FACS of Spring 2017 which was on “African Organisations in the Post-Regional Economic Development Times”.

The Issue no.55 dealt with potential challenges that African Organisations may or may not encounter when the post-regional economic integration is fully functioning.  Additionally, the Issue no. 58 is concerned with transitional economics; in other words how poverty could still be reduced by African Organisations during the transitional period before the full implementation of post-regional economic integration policy or strategy.

Indeed, when countries which were in a particular REI (Regional Economic Integration) scheme and leave for any particular reason, there could be a transitional period between leaving and remaining countries.  Their economies may go to a transitional phase to adjust to the new reality.  Transition may or may not apply to voluntary organisations having to deal with either the leavers or staying countries or even both of them.

During this transitional period, the business of poverty reduction will continue, perhaps in a different shape and content which may depend on many factors such as

• The terms of separation between leavers and remaining countries

• The financial settlement, if any, between leavers and remaining countries

• The level of influence of REI on voluntary organisations

• The environment in which voluntary organisations operate

• The degree of protection that voluntary organisations have

• The effects of transitional economics on voluntary organisations etc

Focusing on the effects of transitional economics, the key or central theme that the Issue no. 58 is dealing with is how transition affects CENFACS as an organisation and its stakeholders (like Africa-based Sister Organisations) on the first part.  On the second part, what CENFACS can do in order to play its game well and make the most of its life from the transition into the full period of the REI?

To find out or reserve a copy of FACS  Issue no. 58, contact CENFACS.

 

EIGHT CHALLENGES FOR A CHANGE IN AFRICA IN 2018

Eight Areas to watch in 2018 for Poverty Relief and Development in Africa

At the beginning of the year, the byzantine question which comes every year is how to start better and do better during the New Year from what we have been doing/taking as a course of actions to deal with a particular problem (for example poverty). 

How to start and do better means that there may some challenges that we need to find.  There are many challenges that Africa faces which each institution and or person can identify. 

We have selected eight areas in which we think that, if properly dealt with, there could a better change for those in need.   These are areas to watch for poverty relief and development in Africa. 

We do not assume these selected challenges are the most important.  They include the following.

1. Poverty Reduction Movements

The need and demand of poverty reduction movements (or what others call freedom movements) are far from being met by the governance currently in charge.  The struggle against poverty has better expressed the fight for freedom as happened in Zimbabwe in Autumn 2017.  In others words, the fight for freedom from poverty will continue to be the preoccupation of these movements.

Challenge 1: The struggle for freedom means today in Africa a fight against poverty

2. Social development

The focus on the need to put people first in development processes is still a major challenge in Africa.  The capacity of African states to deal with exclusion, unaccountable institutions, vulnerability etc. is still under challenge.  Committing to development processes that benefit poor people (through fair income distribution, social security networks, job creation, fair elections  etc.) so that they contribute in a positive way to their family, community and country; has still a long way to go.

Challenge 2: Putting people first in development processes

3. African Regional Economic Communities (ARECs)

The ARECs have managed to create a rapprochement between African economies in terms of free movements of people, labour and capital.  They have also increase cross border trades.  However, they still lack resources, capacity and solidarity to significantly affect poverty and deliver on their agendas.

Challenge 3: Lack of capacity for African Regional Economic Communities to significantly reduce poverty and hardships

4. Work and pay recognition

Often people speak about full employment and job creation in Africa as development goals.   What people tend to forget or not to argue about is that there are millions of people in Africa who work but do not get pay.  People work but for various reasons, they get lowly paid or the pay is delayed for months or they do not get paid at all or simply their work (like domestic and domiciliary works) is not recognised as rewarding occupation as such.  This is let alone the insurance and pension schemes without forgetting the informal and voluntary sectors as well. 

Challenge 4: What do people call in their minds work and pay?

5. Renewal of Poverty Relief Approaches and Ideologies

Most of approaches to poverty reduction are based on what a clan, a tribe, a religion and an ethnic group can do for people.  There is overreliance of people on clans, tribes, ethnic groups and religions to deal with their poverty problems.  The Post-independence Nation-states have never been forged as such to create a melting pot society with a true referential national identity with a national perception of poverty and its potential remedies. 

The formation and life of any political party is based on an ideology and the perception they have on the society as a whole.  On the contrary, in Africa political parties are based on clans, ethnicity, tribes, religions etc.  As such they fail to cross the boundaries of clans, tribes, religions etc. to the extent that they become blocking forces to truly Post-independence African Nation-States.  This lack of pure political ideology and practice that focus on the State and or market forces and solutions to reduce poverty fail to make big strides on the road to poverty reduction.

Challenge 5: How to fix African Nation-states, promote a pure political ideology and make the State accountable for national poverty

6. Integrating and mainstreaming child and women protections

The protection of vulnerable and poor children and women at all levels of society continues to be one of the most unsolved problems of our time.  There has been some progress on child protection policies and gender development matters and policies.  However, the experience of everyday life shows in Africa that more need to be done in terms of training and educating people on this area of protection and safeguarding.

Challenge 6: How to integrate the protection of children and women into all areas of life and work; and possibly to create a ministry of protections

7. Climate finance and insurance

The weather continues to be a challenge especially for agriculture and rural areas.  Long periods of drought have caused the displacement of people, loss of livelihoods and reduction of food reserves. To meet the climate goal targets and the cost of reducing the adverse impacts of climate change, it requires finances and insurances for the poor.  Poor people, especially those from developing countries of Africa, need financial help to transit to low-carbon economy and way of life.  Likewise, they need insurance against the impacts and effects of adverse climate change. 

Challenge 7: How to make global climate finance and insurance work for the poor 

8. Energy policy to protect the vulnerable and poor

The cost of accessing sustainable and clean energy is beyond reach for the poor.  The cost of energy consumption takes most of poor people’s household budgets to the extent it often leads to energy poverty and precariousness.   Yet, like anybody poor and vulnerable people have been asked to use clean energy and to reduce indoor and outdoor air pollution from the kinds of energy they use by doing something about the nitrogen dioxide per cubic meter of air (µg/m³) imposed to protect public health.

Challenge 8: Reduce energy poverty in Africa

One can think that if the above challenges are properly dealt with there could a push for better change for poor people, especially those living in Africa. 

We know that most of the above challenges require more years than just 2018.  However, if progress can be made on them, there could be a better change in Africa.

We would like ask to our readers-supporters to watch and monitor those selected areas in this 2018 and beyond. 

As far as CENFACS is concerned, we will do what we can and it takes us in our capacity and limitations to continue to work with those who are interested in and willing to reduce and end poverty so that 2018 can be a year of improved outcomes of poverty reduction both in quality and quantity of intervention.

Thank you for visiting CENFACS website and reading this post.

We look forward to receiving your regular visits and continuing support in 2018.

With many thanks!

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ online diary!

27 December 2017

PEACE + HOPE + CHARITY e-STORE

We hope that you are having peaceful and hopeful festive moments at this time of the year.  As far as we are concerned, we can only continue to wish you well in your Peace and Hope of the Season’s Reliefs.

As we informed you last week, we have scaled down our services and activities to take into account the Season’s needs and demands of break.  

For children, young people and families in need on whose behalf we relentlessly advocate, we can expect that they have managed to generate some little extras incomes they need to cover the extra expenses of the Season’s financial pressures.  More importantly than anything else, they are managing to exercise their right to decent and deserving festive celebrations.

 

Remember, CENFACS’ Charity e-Store is opened like any online shop during the festive period for either to shop or donate goods.

Every time you shop or donate goods at CENFACS’ Charity e-Store, you make a helpful difference to people in need over this festive time and beyond it.  

 

The celebratory theme for the Season’s Reliefs is PEACE while the theme for the Season of Light is HOPE.   

As our all year-round projects (i.e. Play, Run and Vote for poverty relief and development) come to a close, we would like to take this opportunity to thank those who responded to our call for Action-Results 2017.

We would like as well to express our gratitude to those who replied to the Community Value Chains, the CENFACS Community, by adding their talents and skills to our register.

Finally, wherever you are in any part of the world to celebrate the end of the year 2017, we would like to reiterate our thank you for your support for 2017.

To you and all our web visitors, blog readers and commentators, users, supporters and other stakeholders; we wish you a Peaceful and Hopeful Season.

With best wishes!

Welcome to CENFACS’ online diary!

23 December 2017

 

FESTIVE ARRANGEMENTS

During the Festive holidays, we will only handle online queries and enquiries until the 4th of January 2018.  However, our Winter e-discussion on Volunteering in the Post-Regional Economic Integration Era is still on until the 5th of January 2018 as planned.  

Those who want to donate to our fundraising campaigns and projects (such as Gifts of Peace and Communications Gift) are welcome to do so. 

CENFACS’ Charity e-Store is opened during the Festive holidays for those who want to donate goods and or purchase donated goods.

Remember! We can only help reduce and possibly end poverty if you help us to do so.  And this time of the year is a unique opportunity for you once a year to change lives through your invaluable support however small it may be.  Please, don’t miss this opportunity!  

Our Season of Light continues as planned.  However, some of our services and activities (such as advice-giving, advocacy etc.) as well as development campaigns are scaled down around this period until the above mentioned return date. 

For those who want to get a further picture of what has been happening during this December at CENFACS, we recommend them to read our three last posts on the Blog page of this site. 

People should expect delay from us in returning to their calls/e-mails.  We heavily rely on volunteers for most of our services, who are sharing the Winter e-discussion with us during this Festive time.  Most of them are already on holidays. 

In case of emergency or exceptional circumstances, please do not hesitate to text/phone; we will respond to your text/phone as soon as we can. 

We apologize for any inconvenience or upset this may cause. 

We thank you all for your invaluable support during 2017 and look forward to your continued and further support in the New Year.

We wish you a Very Happy and Peaceful Festive break!

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ online diary!

20 December 2017

DECEMBER AND END OF AUTUMN 2017 UPDATES

The following updates cover three initiatives: All in Development Winter e-Discussion, Gifts of Peace and Community Value Chains.

All in Development Winter e-Discussion is currently trending well amongst CENFACS’ December products and services.  This e-Discussion is entering its third week.   So far, the items e-discussed are the definitions of volunteers’ role and tasks during transition of post-regional economic integration. 

To e-discuss volunteers’ matters related to the post-regional economic integration, contact CENFACS.

Gifts of Peace are also trending over this Season’s Reliefs.  If you are looking for appeals or projects to fund as festive gifts over this festive time, Gifts of Peace are something you can consider.

To enquiry about and or fund Gifts of Peace, just contact CENFACS.

Community Value Chains, The CENFACS Community, is being prepared and trended.  We are doing an inventory and registering the talents and skills of the CENFACS Community.  We are setting up a talents register or database for our Talented Community.

To register or add your talents to the CENFACS Community’s talents register or database, just contact CENFACS.    

THIS FESTIVE WEEK’S CONTENTS

Today, the 20th of December 2017, is the last day of Autumn season.  The momentum we built from the beginning of Autumn Fresh Start season continues to galvanise our poverty relief action and is taking our relief journey into the Season of Light which starts tomorrow.

This week is thus the end of Autumn Fresh Start projects and programmes, and the beginning of the Season  of Light; season during which we light up a Blaze of Hope for people and communities suffering from the effects and impacts of destructive wars and natural disasters in Africa. 

At CENFACS the theme for the Season of Light is Hope which we try to bring through a Blaze, while the theme for the Festive Season’s Reliefs is Peace.

The Lights Appeal is the project that features the Season of Light while the Gifts of Peace make the Festive Season.

The week is as well of the last act or last legacy of the Year 2017, our dedicated Year of Communications.  The last act of our Year of Communications is an appeal for support in the form of gift of communications. 

With the Communications Gift plus Lights Appeal plus the Gifts of Peace; all these initiatives represent some great ways of helping to reduce poverty at this special time of the year.  They give indeed more opportunities to supporters to do something for those in need. 

The week is finally an occasion to remind the need to report on all year round projects which are:  Play, Run and Vote projects for poverty relief and development.   

 

THE LIGHTS SEASON

The Lights Season at CENFACS kicks off with the theme of Hope as said above.  We are going to deliver this Hope with sustainable lights and sustainable energy.  Sustainable lights and energy are part of our work in developing sustainable initiatives to help reduce poverty, particularly in developing those initiatives helping to reduce deforestation and forest degradation as well as to reduce poverty induced by deforestation. 

While the theme of Peace will be dominant over the festive celebrations period, the theme of Hope is the overall theme of the Season of Lights.  The theme of Hope is made of notes or pieces of sustainable lights and energy.   In this sense that we can bring a glimmer of hope through sustainable lights and energy over this Wintry season.    

The Gifts of Peace are included in the Season of Light.  Peace is the festive theme we choose to spread the joy of Season’s Reliefs to those in need. 

We try to help their wishes of poverty relief become true through the Gits of Peace that put a smile on their face with relief notes. 

KEEPING ON GIVING THIS WINTER WITH THE GIFT OF LIGHT

A gift of light for every person in need everywhere!

The Lights season is the season we try to bring light or shine light to impoverished lives. We try to bring clarity, brightness to people who need to see clearly and accurately about their life.  It is about helping them see the light of relief so that they can see the world in a new relieved light.

A gift of light that ignites and sparks the life of those in need! 

This is why we have the Lights project at CENFACS; projects which enable us to bring lights to those in need.  This Winter 2017-2018, our Lights projects will focus on two parts or two waves of action:  1/ post-war and post-natural disaster developments 2/ current and emerging armed conflicts and environmental catastrophes

A Blaze of Hope for post-life following armed conflicts and natural disasters

When there are environmental disasters and armed conflicts, there are pledges and commitments to end the effects of wars and disasters.  For various reasons, some of these pledges do not materialise.  The post-war and post-disaster developments are sometimes left without support sometimes until the conflicts and disasters return and or strike again. 

As we cannot wait the return or repeat of the same wars and disasters, our first Blaze of Hope will go this Winter to the unfinished business of previous destructive wars and natural disasters.

A Blaze of Hope for the eruption of any armed conflicts and natural disasters

We always advocate for preventive development and we do not seek for destructive events to happen.  However, our preparedness and readiness made us to assemble as quickly as possible advocacy tools should any effects and impacts erupt from wars and natural disasters in Africa. 

So, our second wave of intervention or Blaze of Hope will go this Wintry to erupted effects of armed conflicts and natural disasters in the areas of our interest in Africa. 

With these two waves of action over this Wintry Season, we hope to enlighten the lives of those in need.

 

Run, Play & Vote projects 

As we are reaching the end of year 2017, it is now time to report on our three All-year Round Projects – which are Play, Run and Vote. 

We would like our users and supporters to share with us and others their experiences, stories and reports regarding these projects.

The Action-Results of 2017: Tell it!

You can feedback the outcomes or Action-Results of your…

… Run if you ran for poverty relief over the year 2017 (or organised a Run activity)

… Play if you played the CENFACS League for Poverty Relief

… Vote if you have already voted your 2017 African Poverty Relief Manager.

Remember!

If you are Playing the CENFACS Poverty Relief League and its sub-project Le Dernier Carrẻ, there are 16 team countries in this Poverty Relief and Development League playing each 32 matches/games each against the other. 

If you are Running for Poverty Relief and Development, you can do it alone or as a group. 

If you are casting your Vote for an International Development and Poverty Relief Manager of 2017, there are few days remaining until the end of the year 2017. 

Whether you are Gaming or Running or even Voting for Poverty Relief and Development, please keep a track record (including the facts, data, videos, reviews and images) of your activities to make and share your story with us and others.    

To do that, you do not need sophisticated technologies or a third party.  With your mobile phone only – if you have one – you can text, record voices, make a video, take pictures, phone etc to capture and communicate the impacts of any event or activity you did, are doing or taking part by the end of this year. 

 We would be more than happier to hear your Action and Results to feature CENFACS 2017 Year of Communications.  Tell it!

What we want to hear

We would like to hear from you about

• The Best African Countries of 2017 which best reduced poverty

• The Best African Global Games Runners of 2017

• The Best African Development Managers of 2017 

If you have not yet told us, have your say by 23 December 2017!

 

As CENFACS’ 2017 dedicated Year of Communications is coming to an end, we would like to ask you to donate as a legacy towards our ten years’ efforts to help reduce poverty and harness better change through communications.

You can donate to support CENFACS’ anti-poverty message and to help reduce two types of poverty: Communications and Digital poverty. 

Your support can make helpful differences to communications and digitally poor lives. 

Your donation will help…

• Poor people against misinformation and or lack of information on poverty

• To empower poor people’s informational and communications capacity to move out of ignorance and illiteracy

• To train people to reduce poverty through the development of digital as well as Information and Communications Technology skills

• Poor people take informed decisions about their lives and well communicate their needs

• Unaware, ignorant and misinformed poor people against exploitation because their poor communications skills

Your donation can go further in helping to build and develop empowering capacity to acquire life-saving information and communicate this information for the security and defense of the vulnerable and multi-dimensional poor children, young people and families.  In doing so, they can be free from dangers, threats and harms from an insecure and threatening world for a safe, peaceful and sustainable future.

DONATE NOW!

♦ Make a One-time Donation…
today to help poor people lacking life-saving communications, and support CENFACS’ work on Communications.

You can also support CENFACS New Media and Digital Programmes if you wish.

 Choose an amount
You can give £5    £10    £15    £    per month

♦ Make a Monthly Donation… 
as a legacy for CENFACS’ Year of Communications

Make a monthly donation today to poor people lacking life-saving communications, and support CENFACS’ work on Communications.

Choose an amount 
You can give £5    £10    £15    £    per month

 

Thank you for supporting us and reading this post.

We look forward to receiving your regular visits to CENFACS website and continuing support.

With many thanks!

 

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ online diary!

14 December 2017

Newly opened CENFACS Charity e-Store!

We would like first of all to inform and remind you that CENFACS Charity e-Store is now opened for you to donate goods and or to shop for donated goods which are on our online window display store on the page “Charity e-Shop” of this website.

CENFACS would be more than happier if you could be one of its goods donor or donated goods shopper at its newly opened Charity e-Store.

We would like to make the following request.  The festive time is a particular time when we can try something new or a new experience in our shopping habits.  In particular, when shopping at business stores for gifts one can try as well to promote good causes by shopping at charity stores.

We would be pleased if you could consider CENFACS Charity e-Store as a new shopping experience over this festive season.

Thank you for your support.

 

Contents of the week beginning 11 December 2017

The hit/pick of this week’s advocacy is the pursuit of Climate Protection and Stake for African Children – Phase 2 through the follow up of the Paris Summit on Climate Mobilisation.

The week is also the start of our preparation for the end of the year 2017 through our December celebratory project the Community Value Chains, the CENFACS Community.

Our All in Development Winter e-discussion, which normally takes us to the New Year, has already kicked off since 05 December 2017.  This time our discussion is about doing voluntary work during a transitional period after a country (like the UK) is the process of exiting a regional economic bloc (such as European Union).  It is what we call Volunteering in the Post-Regional Economic Integration Era.

• CPSAC – P.2: The Paris Summit on Climate Mobilisation (PSCM)

The overarching goal of the PSCM was to mobilise public and private finance for projects to implement the Paris International Agreement on Climate Change.

The CENFACS demand to the global climate talks is to give climate protection and stake for African children.  This demand is undertaking through the follow up of global climate talks like the PSCM.

Our climate follow up of this week’s round discussions held in Paris would be on

• Making clean technology fund (CTF) work for poor children from poor nations

• The equity resulting from converted CTF debt to benefit children from poor nations as well

• The new pledges, if any, for adaptation fund and Least Developed Countries Fund to be mobilised to give a stake to poor children’s needs

• Mobilisation of the climate finance system and architecture to be designed so as to support poor children of poor countries 

We all know that the Paris Summit was held on last 12 December 2017.  We are still discussing the outcomes of this Summit.

The findings from these outcomes will be included in our next communication regarding the CPSAC – P.2. 

In meantime, if you would like to talk about this Summit  with CENFACS, just forward your comments.  

To tell what you think and or support CPSAC – P.2, contact CENFACS

 

• All in Development Winter e-discussion: Volunteering in the Post-Regional Economic Era

Volunteering in the Post-Regional Economic Integration Era is CENFACS’ 7th Winter volunteering e-discussion since we launched in 2010 our discussion on Volunteering for Poverty Reduction in the 2010s.  These 2017 wintry thoughts will focus on the effects of the process of a country (like UK) leaving a given regional economic integration scheme (such as European Union); effects on voluntary organisations for example CENFACS and its Africa-based Sister Organisations.

Over the last years, All in Development Winter e-discussion has become one of the CENFACS’ bridging projects, a bridge between the ending year (2017) and the starting year (2018).  

Since 2012, our Winter e-discussion has been influenced by what has been happening at the global level with development goals settings; so reflecting our desire to keep a link between both local and global developments as the two are intertwined.  The 2016-2017 Winter e-discussion expressed the same spirit and degree of interest when planning and formulating its content. 

With a slight difference and noticed exception, the 2017-2018 Winter e-discussion has been influenced by the exit of the UK from the European Economic Integration model.   

Supporting All in Development Volunteer Scheme (AiDVS) 

It is possible to support CENFACS and its AiDVS from wherever you are (at home, work, away, online, on the go and move etc.). 

Supporting us does not need to be magical and majestic. 

You can still enjoy a great festive season while you are supporting us. 

There are many simple helpful and useful ways of adding value to our voluntary work. 

Here are some suggestions on ways of supporting with wintry and festive news, information and products:

• Gift ideas for the best ways of monitoring, evaluating and reviewing projects and programmes in the new year and development era

• Savings and scrimping for AiDVs

• Festive deals, packages, coupons & vouchers for AiDVs

• Technologies for volunteering to make the world a better place for a low-carbon and sustainable future we all want

• Low carbon economic products to protect the environment

• Digital and media support to better volunteer for a climate-friendly   and sustainable world

• Festive gifts for sustaining for voluntary work in the Post-regional    Economic Integration era

• Wintry & festive giveaways for volunteering for a better world etc.

Recalling CENFACS’ Winter Volunteering E-Discussion Since Its Inception In 2010

2010-2011: Volunteering for Poverty Reduction in the 2010s which was the first e-discussion was based on how All in Development Volunteers (AiDVs) could play their role in CENFACS’ 2010s Poverty Reduction Advocacy programme of work

2011-2012: Green Volunteering helped us to e-discuss ways of supporting Green Economy  through Voluntary Green initiatives

2012-2013: With Sustainable Volunteering, we looked at the new currents and waves of sustainable development on volunteering and voluntary work

2013-2014: The focus was on Sustainable Development Goals and the Post-2015 Development Agenda Process

2014-2015: Our e-discussion theme was Volunteering for the Post-2015 Development Agenda Process & Climate Treaty

2015-2016: Our e-conversion was devoted to The Implementation & Delivery of New Agendas, Goals & Agreements 

2016-2017: Our e-talks dealt with Projects and Programmes of Monitoring, Evaluation and Review within the Context of 2020-2030 Follow up Programme 

To e-discuss Volunteering in the Post-Regional Economic Integration Era, please contact CENFACS or just forward your comments, views and experiences to us.

 

• Community Value Chains (CVC): The CENFACS Community 

 

What is CENFACS’ Community Value Chains (CVC)?

It is a community value control, inspirational and motivational project of end-of- year celebration introduced by CENFACS in 2009.  The project is based on a basic idea of development which is as follows.  

What one of our community members best does which well works for them can have an underlying good value.  If there is a good value, it is desirable to share such value so that other community members could be aware of it and build a sort of chains of beliefs and community spirit/principles within our support network.

It is all about improving lives and outcomes of community members and enlivening capacities by sharing good practices, values and achievements. 

In doing so, we can pull together as one community, strengthen our links and bonds, learn our differences and harness  transformative changes we all want amongst us and beyond our self-interests. 

CENFACS’ CVC or the CENFACS Community is our voluntary local and non-profit making arm inside which all our projects and activities carried out in the UK are grouped and delivered; the other two domains being CENFACS International and CENFACS Fund for Poverty Relief and Development.

What are those Shared Values?

Good practices and good values do not need to be big or exceptional or even spectacular.  They are the simple good things we do every day, which may have worked for us and could work for others as well.  

They could be life and work learning experiences, lifestyles, helpful differences, social responsibilities and principles that underpin them.

In focus for CVC 2017 Celebration: CENFACS AS A TALENTED COMMUNITY

The Celebratory Theme for CVC’s 9^th Celebration is CENFACS as a Talented Community

We are a community of talents because our children like us got talents.   Because we and our children got talents, we can make a basic mathematical assumption as follows.    

If we sum up or totalise our individual talents, the total of our talents will make us a community of talented people.

The 2017 CVC celebration is of the display of our known talents, but also of unknown or hidden ones.  The hidden talents are those we were not aware of or simply we did not have the opportunity to put them into practice.

So, the CVC’s 9^th celebration is about bringing together our talents (both revealed and hidden) to celebrate them as what makes us a Talented Community.

Share, spread, Tweet & Facebook the message

To enable us to build chains with you and others and to keep our support network alive, please spread the message to/pass it on around you.

If you feel that you need first to talk to us before responding to this invitation of en-of-year celebration, please let us know. 

If you prefer to respond via e-mail, you are free to do so at facs@cenfacs.org.uk. 

Whatever way/means you choose to enter this project, please reply by the 23rd of December 2017 to ease the end-of-year 2017 celebration and the start-of-year 2018 preparatory activities, projects and programmes.

Community Value Chains TIMELINE

The following highlights the different yearly themes that so far made the CVC. 

2009: Inception of Community Value Chains as a Community Value Control, Inspirational and Motivational project of end-of- year celebration

2010: Community Value Chains as a Preparatory and Celebratory project to smooth our move to the next year

2011: Our Richness in Community Cohesion:  celebrating the greatness of, and extent to which we are linked to, our community of values and owning our shared values by sticking together as one world.

2012: Great for My Community: What is great value for me could be a great value for the community I am part of and for the organisation I am involved with.

2013: Upgrading Together: Moving together between different stages of the Community Value Chains to gain higher and better returns to participation in high value chains

2014: It is about poverty relief.  Is it?: Bringing under one umbrella all forms of poverty and engineering relevant customised reliefs.

2015: We as a Thriving Community of Capacities: We have the capacity to reduce certain forms of poverty amongst our members and around and outside ourselves

2016: CENFACS as a Social Media Community for Poverty Relief and Development: CENFACS is a social unit having common values, identity and beliefs

CONTACTING CENFACS for the CVC project

To celebrate our shared values and bonds of culture, to take part in our CVC project and develop the CENFACS Community, to tell us about your good value or valued practice or learning experience or even helpful difference and to add your talents (both revealed or hidden) to our Community of Talents; please get in touch.

http://twitter.com/cenfacs               http://facebook.com/cenfacs

 

Thank you for supporting us and reading this post.

We look forward to receiving your regular visits to CENFACS website and continuing support.

With many thanks!

 

                         

Welcome to CENFACS’ online diary!

06 December 2017

• BRIEF REVIEWS ABOUT A la Une & WHAT BONN SAY

Before talking about WHAT IS ON (SEASON’S RELIEFS) during this month of December inside CENFACS, we would like to start this week’s post with A la Une (Autumn Leaves of Action to Upkeep Nature in Existence) which finished last week, and with Climate Protection and State for African Children – Phase 2 which we recently ran under the banner of What Bonn Say.  

This year’s A la Une has been different compared to last year’s one as the advocacy sub-themes were extended and varied. We hope you found it interesting, engaging and practical in putting into action our Autumn environmental agenda.  We would like to thank all those who supported the campaign.

As What Bonn Say was not enough to meet our demand of Climate Protection and Stake for African Children, we are taking our advocacy awareness and action to the Paris Summit on Climate Mobilisation scheduled for this December 2017. 

If you have any comments or reviews to make about A la Une and What Bonn Say, please do not hesitate to do it.

• WHAT’S ON IN DECEMBER 2017 AT CENFACS

December is the Income Generation month of CENFACS‘ monthly development calendar and planner.  It is the month during which we advocate and provide tips, hints and other types of advisory support on how to generate additional income to cover shortage in regular income, by using other avenues within the boundaries of the law in order to enable multi-dimensional income poor children, young people and families (C, YP & Fs) to exercise their basic human right to celebrate the end of the year in their own way.  

Indeed, income poverty is one of the dominant features that characterize and number some of the world’s C, YP and Fs as poor or not.  One can imagine what life looks like when you are below the poverty line (that is an income below a minimal standard).  It is even a painful and unbelievable situation that at the time of Festive Celebrations to mark the end of the year, tons of food and kiloliters of drink will be wasted and ended in bins in some of the most affluent places and households of the world while millions of C, YP & Fs in some of the deprived parts of the world will go hungry to bed in Festive nights, let alone without any celebrations once in a year life time. 

So, supporting multi-dimensional poor C, YP & Fs to explore ways of generating, building and boosting their incomes to exercise their human right to a decent end-of-year celebration is not only a one-off or seasonal business to make ends meet; but can also become an additional way of building and developing income capacity to reduce and end income poverty.  They are poor not only because of lack of income but also due to their failing capacities to generate enough income to cover their needs.  

As part of festive support, our Edition 2017 Festive Extra Income Builder, Booster and Calculator is available for those who need it.  This year, this resource focuses on Online Income Generation as other vehicle to raise some basic income for those who managed to overcome digital poverty.

December is also the time of record tracking on our all year round projects, particularly

• CENFACS POVERTY RELIEF LEAGUE

• Run to Reduce Poverty in Africa in 2017

• Vote your African Poverty Relief Manager of the Year 2017

We expect those who took part and or organised activities on our behalf about these projects to come forward, report and share with us their actions, results and experiences. 

December is finally the month we start CENFACS Winter Lights Season, the first season of our development seasonal calendar.  The Season of Light, which kicks off around Mid-December, includes the Gifts of Peace.  Peace is the festive note we choose at CENFACS to spread the joy of Season’s Reliefs to those in need.  We try to help their wishes of relief become true with the Gifts of Peace, by putting a smile on their face with reliefs notes. 

To support the Edition 2017/2018 of Gifts of Peace, please go the page Support Us of this website at www.cenfacs.org.uk/support-us/.  

Details of projects and programmes making the first part of this first season have been announced below.  Some of them intertwine between our monthly and seasonal development calendars.  All will depend whether one is reading our development calendar on a monthly or seasonal basis.

The CENFACS Community Value Chains, which generally concludes our yearly development calendar and planner, marks the end of civil year at CENFACS.  This is an end-of-year eventful project enabling us to look upon us again as a community of shared vision, values and beliefs which connect us as human chains with a purpose of reducing and ending poverty amongst us.  This year we shall focus on ourselves as a Talented Community.

To carry the CENFACS Community into the New Year, our discussion on Sustainable Volunteering is scheduled to take place from 05 December 2017 to 05 January 2018.  The discussion theme for this year is Volunteering in the Post-Regional Economic Integration Era. 

To get details about WHAT’S ON IN DECEMBER 2017, contact CENFACS 

• SEASON’S RELIEFS

The above initiatives including those listed below make December 2017  SEASON’S RELIEFS at CENFACS.  These are seasonally blended projects and programmes aiming at providing helpful and smart reliefs during the Festive time.   A stunning selection of poverty-relieving projects and contents to help not only reduce poverty but to help create new life in the new year.

A list of selected December 2017 initiatives – SEASON’S RELIEFS – is given below. 

• Festive Income Builder, Booster & Calculator: Online Income Generation

• Community Value Chains: Celebrating Hidden Talents of My Community

• Volunteering in the Post-Regional Economic Integration Era

• Thanking 2017 Year Makers & Enablers

• Climate Protection and Stake for African Children – Phase 2: Paris Summit on Climate Mobilisation

• Gifts of Peace (Edition 2017/2018)

• Run, Vote & Play for Poverty Relief and Development (Action-Results 2017)

To support and or enquiry about Season’s Reliefs, please contact CENFACS.

Thank you for supporting us and reading this post.

We look forward to receiving your regular visits to CENFACS website and continuing support.

With many thanks!

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ online diary!

29 November 2017

 

Our November-December 2017 fundraising campaign concerning three of our new projects – which are TRIACONTADI project (Project 32), project MISATU (Project M) and Post-REI (Regional Economic Integration) Transitional Capacity Building and Development programme – is still on course.  This is the last fundraising campaign of Autumn 2017 before we start the Lights Season. 

CENFACS welcome any amount of donations to be pledged and given towards these projects.

The week beginning 27 November 2017 is the continuation of the last episode of A la Une (Autumn Leaves of Action to Upkeep the Nature in Existence) campaign; episode devoted to Climate Finance and Insurance for the Poor and Vulnerable Children, the Victims of the Adverse Effects and Impacts of Climate Change. 

CENFACS would like to thank all those who stay engaged, resilient with and continue to support us since this campaign started.

The week also marks the end of Skills Development month.  The theme for this Year’s November Skills Development has been Digital and Online Skills and Capability.  This November has been as well the month during which we started to implement our New Media and Digital Programmes (NMDPs), programmes which took over and extended the Communications for Better Change Programme.

The coming month of December is the Income Generation month according to CENFACS Development calendar/planner.   Our Individual Capacity Development Programme (ICDP) booklet entitled “Festive Income Builder and Booster” is indeed designed to consolidate the Income Generation month and prepares us for the New Year’s income relief.  This year’s focus of this seasonal ICDP booklet, the Festive Income Relief Guide, will be on Online Income Generation. 

The theme of Online Income Generation builds the bridge between our November Skills Development and December Income Generation themed reliefs, between the acquisition and development of digital skills on the one hand and the capacity to apply these online/digital skills on the other hand to generate a little extra income over December, between our ICDP and NMDPs, between our digital capacity and communication.

Festive Income Builder and Booster Edition 2017: The Festive Income Relief Guide

As a key highlight, the resource states that while core sources of income could the most secure and sustainable as they could be a long term solution to the income poverty issue, there are however ways of improving one’s income scope and scale in the short term.  This requires one being enterprising and ambitious so that they can make the most of their potentials to capture those incomes that they were losing by lack of awareness and or earn an extra one through their own imagination and courage.

As example of Little Extras that can be added up to Build and Boost Income, the Festive Income Relief Guide mentions the following areas:

• Money savings on price comparisons, price hunting, checks and verification on purchase, payments savings, reducing waste (through recycling, reuse and retaining), store coupons and vouchers, store offers and gifts, family packages, credit renegotiations and repairs etc

• Expenses reduction, control and reprioritisation

• Apps from smart phones, online ads, download of free software

• Income from fundraising ideas and small projects

• Temporary festive time work

• Income from previously unclaimed credits

• Refunds/payments for unsolicited damages and liabilities incurred

• Reimbursements for overcharges etc

As this year’s focus is on online income generation, there is as well some Little Extra Income that can come from initiatives such as

• filling online surveys or questionnaires

• entering online competitions/draws

• providing online reviews about shopping experiences

• getting paid for online fundraising campaigns

• online proof reading documents

• online ads and shopping at discounted prices etc.

Remember! The resource is primarily and mostly intended to support Multi-dimensionally Income Poor Children, Young People and Families who may also be digitally deprived or not.  However, if they are digitally skilled and have overcome digital poverty, they can try to explore the window of opportunities of the online and digital worlds and technologies to build and boost their festive income.    

Attention! The resource is not designed for those who are looking for big money business or simply big money.  For those ones, they can tap into other sources of income available on the market. There are other organisations out there on the market that can assist them.

As far as CENFACS is concerned, our mission as a charity is to relieve and possibly end poverty in all its forms and everywhere, particularly but not exclusively in our areas of operation.  In doing so, we try to support those living in poverty in the UK and Africa.  As a result of our poverty relief work, over the festive period CENFACS try to PROMOTE THE RIGHT TO CELEBRATE FOR MULTI-DIMENSIONAL INCOME POOR CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES.   

This is why the Festive Income Relief Guide exists. The resource is free but a donation of £5 may be asked to cover the cost of producing, updating and posting it.

To enquire and or order the ICDP Autumn 2017 Festive Income Builder and Booster – the Festive Income Relief Guide – please contact CENFACS.

Thank you for supporting us and reading this post.

We look forward to receiving your regular visits to CENFACS website and continuing support.

With many thanks!