AfriKids
Our current global charity partner, voted for by staff around the world, is AfriKids. Our partnership formally launched in May 2012.
AfriKids work with vulnerable young people in Northern Ghana. In particular, we support the AfriKids Next Generation Home, a remarkable centre that helps get young people off the streets by offering them a safe refuge and by providing basic services, counseling, and access to education.
Northern Ghana is one of the poorest places on earth, with poverty levels over 70% and little major economic activity to speak of. Over the past 10 years, AfriKids has made itself an institution that people can rely upon to provide a network of support and services for vulnerable children, and one that can also drive enterprise and opportunity.
Importantly, AfriKids brings about change for the long-term. For a child resettled from the Next Generation Home, this can mean providing their mother with financial and business support through microfinance, as well as education scholarships and long-term counseling for the children and families. For the wider local community it means setting up sustainable businesses, such as the 'Next Generation Farm', that can fund this support for as long as it is needed into the future.
Click here to find out more about Afrikids.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (Red Cross)
Prior to working with AfriKids we had a very successful three year global partnership with the Red Cross in which we created a new Model Law on disaster relief, created an educational resource to help teach school children about international humanitarian law and the concepts of fairness and justice, and raised and donated over £600,000 for the Red Cross's work around the world, particularly in war-torn Sierra Leone.
Read more about A&O's relationship with the Red Cross.
Microfinance and social investment group
We draw together the expertise of our different offices to support the microfinance, sector, social entrepreneurs and those innovating in bringing finance into the not-for-profit sector. Through our global Microfinance and Social Investment group we combine our technical expertise, our knowledge of the finance and commercial sectors and our strong track record in supporting development initiatives. We also enable our people to engage in supporting their communities from financial exclusion to financial inclusion.
Rwanda
Similarly we bring our collective legal and commercial skills to our partnership in Rwanda. This multi-year initiative looks to support Rwanda in its changes to the legal system and in securing increased foreign investment on pro development terms.