About Us

The CIFA Trust truly has its roots in Africa, as our registration in the UK at the end of 2006 follows 8 successful years of CIFA's work as a local non-governmental organisation in Africa.

Another special feature of The CIFA Trust is that all donations are sent directly overseas - the overheads are covered by the trustees themselves, who work as unpaid volunteers. The project work is also personally monitored by the trustees, who between them have over 30 years' professional experience in Africa.

It is these strengths which have helped us make such solid progress in our first year. Initially, we are focusing our support on CIFA Ethiopia, led by the remarkable Hussein Kotola. As well as practical support, such as the provision of computer equipment, we are providing institutional support to CIFA Kenya and CIFA Ethiopia. This has, for example, included developing a Child Protection Policy, and forging links with other development organisations.

Under Hussein's leadership, local communities in Ethiopia have worked together to build two primary schools from scratch during the first half of 2008. None of this could have happened without your support and generosity. Trustee Chris Sharp visited one of these schools, Tille Mado, in March 2008. You can read about his visit, and interviews with some of the local people, on this website.

Our role here in the UK extends way beyond raising funds for CIFA's work overseas. In a small, yet significant and personal way, The CIFA Trust and its supporters can build bridges between cultures as well as giving a helping hand to those willing to work hard to break out of poverty. Over the next few years, our aim is to raise the profile of the people and environment of northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia.

This section of our website gives further information about CIFA UK - the organisation.

• background
• our trustees
• Latest news