Welcome to AfricAid’s temporary web site!
Posted by Kristen on 23 Aug 2007 | Tagged as: AfricAid
AfricAid’s Mission
AfricAid is a nonprofit organization that supports girls’ education in Africa in order to provide young women with the opportunity to transform their own lives and the futures of their communities.
The Origins of AfricAid
The vision for AfricAid has its roots in the experiences of its founder, Ashley Shuyler, who journeyed to Tanzania for the first time with her family in 1996 at the age of eleven. Struck by the poverty she saw while there, particularly among children her own age, she
became determined to do something to help. She soon learned that, in contrast to her own educational experiences in the United States, only a small fraction of girls in Tanzania are able to obtain an education beyond the primary school level. Because of her strong belief that education is the most crucial component of any long-term solution to the many challenges facing East Africa, particularly in the areas of health and inequality, she formed AfricAid. Since its inception in 2001, AfricAid has raised close to $500,000 in its mission to support girls’ education in Africa.
The Need
Imagine for a moment that only 1 out of every 20 girls born in the U.S. were able to 
complete a high school education. As hard as that may be to envision, that is the reality facing girls in many African countries such as Tanzania. These young women often overcome extraordinary obstacles in their quest for educational opportunities, created in large part by the generally prohibitive cost of secondary schooling. In the face of limited resources, and with little governmental monetary support available for secondary education, families tend to choose their male children for schooling beyond the primary level, keeping girls at home to help with household chores. Those girls who live in rural areas, or belong to nomadic societies, face even greater challenges, as it is far less likely that they will have access to educational opportunities. Yet, a growing body of research shows that the education of these girls is vital in helping to equip communities with the tools with which they can successfully address economic and health challenges. As UNICEF’s recent “State of the World’s Children” shows, “Girls’ education is inextricably linked to…human development”. We at AfricAid believe that girls’ education in Africa is vital in the long-term fight against poverty, AIDS and inequality. Helping to provide that education is our mission and our passion.
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Ashley’s work with AfricAid was featured in Bazi Kanani’s recent series on Africa that aired on Denver’s KUSA 9News. In this informative and moving piece, entitled “My Africa”, the 9News anchor and reporter explores her family history in Tanzania and deals with several of the issues facing Africa today. One of the segments highlights Tanzania’s educational needs and Ashley’s work there with AfricAid to help provide educational opportunities for Tanzanian youth. 
On Sunday, January 27th, Colorado Academy’s AfricAid Club hosted “Jamaa”: A Celebration of African Art and Culture”. Featuring an ethnographic film of Tanzanian Maasai village life created by AfricAid’s founder, Ashley Shuyler, along with African music, special children’s activities and exciting silent auction items from Africa, the “Jamaa” event (”jamaa” is the Swahili word for “family”) was the Club’s 7th annual benefit evening on behalf of AfricAid. Our thanks to Colorado Academy and to all of those who joined with the CA AfricAid Club to make this a wonderfully successful event!
AfricAid hosted a very successful Art Auction fundraising event — Worlds Apart, United by Art — on September 7th. Bringing together original African art and crafts and exciting works from several local Denver artists, the evening featured a special appearance by Cleo Parker Robinson Dance. Our thanks to all of the wonderful supporters who joined us for this wonderful and inspiring evening!