Wednesday, 25 Aug 10 - 13:30Another typical month ...

Chapter 5 of Teams in Africa by Martin Smedley

This has been a typical month for our amazing African teams in Uganda, Tanzania and Malawi.

They have all been battling hard to deliver our workshops and provide HIV counselling and testing to remote villages in conditions which for most of us would prove almost impossible.

One of the most serious challenges they face is reliable transport.

Our Tanzania team have recently suffered a road traffic accident through no fault of their own as another minibus careered out of control with failing brakes down mountain pass and hit them from the rear.

Our minibus is now damaged, as can be seen in this photo.

Our 4 wheel drive in Kasese broke down, our Malawi 4x4 has just had to have a new gear box and the minibus in Jinja is on its last legs and needs replacing urgently.

Despite all these set backs our teams overcome such difficulties day after day.

After all its all in a days work for them and Act4Africa!

Read more chapters from 'Teams in Africa'

Friday, 20 Aug 10 - 10:45On "coming home ... "

Chapter 2 of Kathy and Hills’ African Adventure by Kathy Smedley

As we effortlessly touched down on home ground I was relieved to see the sun struggling to make its way through the tiny windows of the plane.

I was returning from an amazing, sunny and successful 3 weeks in Uganda where I had been working on a number of projects for Act4Africa.

Along with my long time friend Hilary [Hills] we travelled the length of the country, experiencing numerous breakdowns in the process as well as driving through dust storms, the severity of which would bring traffic in UK to a lengthy halt.

We spent precious time with both the Kasese and Jinja Act4Africa teams. Once again I was both touched and in awe of the dedication of these Ugandan people who work tirelessly for Act4Africa, delivering our messages of HIV/AIDS health education to ensure their fellow countrymen have the hope of a future without suffering from the many consequences of HIV/AIDS.

We worked with them in schools, communities and the market place where amid lots of fun and laughter they gave life saving and life changing messages.

I have come back with renewed determination to help these wonderful people reach the Act4Africa goal of changing 5 million lives in 5 years and I am already looking forward to when I will be back amongst them seeing and hearing them weave their messages of hope and change through all walks of life.

Kathy x

Read more chapters from 'Kathy and Hills’ African Adventure '

Saturday, 14 Aug 10 - 14:30.. the journey of a thousand miles ..

Chapter 22 of Crazy Fundraising Ideas! by Chris Grieves

Act4Africa has some wonderful supporters.

Everyone contributes to the work we do in so many varied and self-less ways.

One such friend of Act4Africa is Dee Peat who contacted us with a dilemma;

Her late husband, Richard, who was a Project Engineer for British Gas for many, many years was an avid Air Miles collector and would religiously log his miles when he collected petrol on business.

However, when Richard passed away it was one of the elements that Dee assumed would take care of itself until they were needed. Unfortunately she had a letter that told her they had been permanently removed and the account suspended due to lack of use.

Dee told Act4Africa,

"I was devastated when I thought I had lost the Air Miles. Richard was so particular about recording them over the years and I just assumed they would be secure and continue to be available. He always kept the cards in their correct place in a wallet in his car glove compartment"

Thank fully help was on hand with our new leadership team member Andy Rochford who contacted the Air Miles people on Dee's behalf and also with some co-operation from Esso who agreed to assist in the situation.

Eventually they agreed to re-instate the 10,000 points Richard had accrued over the many years he worked with British Gas

Dee said "I was so pleased and relieved. Although I cannot donate the Air Miles directly - they can be available for Act4Africa to use"

I asked her, "Tell me a little about how you met Richard " ..

"We met in 1950. Richard was on leave from National Service it was very close to Christmas and when we saw each other it was definitely love at first sight. We courted for seven years in total. He was twenty one and I was sixteen and eventually we got married in 1957"

Dee, from all of us at Act4Africa - thank you.

The Air Miles you have donated on Richard's behalf will go a very long way in helping us deliver our programmes and support our hard-working African teams. Every contribution makes a huge difference on the ground.

Read more chapters from 'Crazy Fundraising Ideas!'