Postcard from the Valley

Dear beloved CfD followers, We do apologise for the radio silence. Far from idle though, we’ve been busy bees over the last few months. And now we are back with a vengeance to tell you about all the hard work that’s been going on in CfD’s London HQ and out in Bulambuli Valley – and what’s in store for 2017. #BackOurValley Campaign …

Natalia in Bulambuli conducting an impact assessment

Assessing Impact

Women’s empowerment, team building, access to healthcare and higher school enrolment – just some of the many side effects of Communities for Development’s projects, as discovered by Natalia Cabeza Escudier when conducting a 6 week evaluation assessment in Bulambuli Valley this summer. Here are her stark reflections from her time spent with the community: In Bulambuli Valley, where the NGO Communities for Development works, …

Paul Mulemba

Five minutes with an entrepreneur: Paul

Next up in our ‘meet an entrepreneur’ series, Marta sits down with Paul Mulemba, Chairman of Buwebele Villlage and Member of Busabulo saving group. Juggling leadership with developing his own skills and business ideas, Paul is spearheading Bulambuli’s efforts to become Africa’s answer to Silicon Valley… Paul Mulemba, Chairman of Buwebele Village and Member of Busabulo A saving group. Marta: Hello Paul, …

STHLMtechfest

Stockholm Tech Fest + SOLUTIONS

Your Facebook friend that is a goat in Somalia, Tinder for Foodwaste, and Solar investment with impact  – the innovative Stockholm Tech Fest + SOLUTIONS summit brought together the tech and global development geeks of this world in a groundbreaking new alliance with some unexpected results… What can the tech world do to help solve the world’s global development problems? This was the question tech entrepreneur Tyler …

Women entrepreneurs making reusable sanitary pads

Hot in the Valley this month: purses, handbags and reusable sanitary pads…

Old rags, leaves and used newspaper – just some of the crude substitutes women and girls in rural Uganda resort to in lieu of any better options when their menstruation cycle comes round once a month. At best, excruciatingly uncomfortable, and at worst, posing a serious health risk from infection, poor menstrual hygiene is the lesser known issue holding back many …

Writing Africa

Africa Writes

Who writes the narrative on Africa’s development trajectory? From the critical analyses of aid of investigative journalism, to the grassroots perspectives of those impacted in literary and travel memoirs, Africa Writes questions issues of accountability and agency, and the importance of African voices in African storytelling 1st-3rd July celebrated Africa Writes, the African literature festival held at the British Library in …