Georgie Fienberg is the Founder and International Director of AfriKids. Georgie has pioneered AfriKids’ unique approach to sustainable development through social entrepreneurship and investment partnering. As part of her work for AfriKids, Georgie advises and consults for NGOs and grant-giving foundations, both in the UK and on the ground in Africa. She is a regular speaker at the School of Social Entrepreneurs and at major corporate and third sector events and the winner of the Charity Times Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement.

 

Georgie is involved in every element of AfriKids’ work and guides the strategy for overall organisational development in collaboration with the UK and Ghana Directors. Prior to founding AfriKids as a registered charity Georgie spent five years building contacts and fundraising for projects in northern Ghana, following travel to West Africa in her gap year. When visiting Ghana, Georgie was inspired by the drive of local people to address poverty and the initiatives they run, as well as the misfit between large NGO's and the needs of beneficiaries on the ground. This became the rationale for Georgie's fundraising efforts and later the founding of AfriKids.

 

Georgie is married with two boys, Josh and Zac (known to AfriKids Ghana as Atanga and Abolga)

 

Sally joined AfriKids as a Trust Fundraiser in 2005 and is now a Director. She is responsible for fundraising and programme development and shares responsibility for the AfriKids’ organisational strategy and financial management as part of the senior management team. On average Sally visits Ghana twice a year.

 

Sally joined AfriKids as a full-time member of staff straight after graduating from university, where she studied for her degree in International Relations. Whilst at university, Sally volunteered for AfriKids both in the UK and in Ghana and she has travelled extensively to developing countries.

 

Since joining AfriKids Sally has remained committed to her continuing professional development. She is now a Institute of Fundraising certified Fundraising Manager and has an Msc in Development Management through the Open University. In 2010 she won the Institute of Fundraising Gill Astarita Fundraiser of the Year Award.

 

'Working for AfriKids gives me the unique opportunity of encountering the kindness, the genuine and the inspirational in people everyday. I feel very lucky that I get to both see the incredible ways in which the people involved with our projects put money to good use, and to show donors in the UK the impact their generosity has had.' - Sally

 

 

Andy joined AfriKids in 2006 as Programmes and Strategy Manager and is now Director of Business. Andy is responsible for the development, operation and strategy of AfriKids’ social enterprise businesses from the UK.  He also shares overall responsibility for AfriKids’ organisational strategy and financial management as part of the senior management team.  Andy leads AfriKids Squared, the organisation’s consulting arm, and has experience consulting for global corporations and international NGOs on topics ranging from social enterprise investment to organisational strategy; he also regularly speaks at NGO and social enterprise conferences and forums.
 
Before joining AfriKids Andy worked in the private sector in business process development and EMEA project management oversight.
 
Andy holds a BA in International Studies and Political Science from the University of Birmingham and an MBA from the University of Oxford where he studied as a Skoll Scholar.  

 

Vieve joined AfriKids in October 2010 as Finance and Programmes Manager, a role that involved looking after the UK finances and supporting AfriKids Ghana on all financial aspects of their businesses and projects. In September 2011 she was promoted to the Head of Business and Finance, a role that involves more focus on driving forward the AfriKids Businesses, especially the AfriKids Medical Centre, as well as remaining accountable for all UK and project finance.

 

Previously she worked as an auditor at a big four accountancy firm, where she took her exams and qualified as a Chartered Accountant, and prior to that completed her undergraduate degree in French and Russian. She has had a long-standing interest in International Development and social enterprise which she has pursued since secondary school through volunteering in the UK and abroad.

Paul, our latest recruit at AfriKids (UK), brings a wealth of professional experience from local authorities, business and voluntary and cultural/ arts sectors. Paul was the CEO of UK Centre for Carnival Arts and was responsible for initiating, building, developing and running the centre, raising over 14 million in his 10 year tenure as CEO. Paul was awarded an MBE in 2011 by the Queen in the same year his mother passed away and dedicated his award to her.
 
Paul is passionate about AfriKids' innovative goal of ending AfriKids Ghana's dependence on international aid; he truly believes that we can see Africa become fully independent in our lifetime.
 
Paul's role at AfriKids (UK) is to lead the ambitious fundraising strategy both by maximising existing fundraising initiatives and bringing his wealth of knowledge and ideas to establish new ones.

 

Lissa joined the AfriKids fundraising team at the beginning of August 2008. Together with Joanna Stewart, AfriKids' Communications and Event Coordinator, her work at AfriKids revolves around the organisation of events, which vary from large dinner/ dances to fun, intimate pub quizzes. She's also ultimately responsible for all external communication, which includes designing and updating the website, ensuring the AfriKids brand is portrayed correctly through appropriate marketing materials and all external PR.

 

She's visited Ghana four times over the last few years with her trips focussing on collecting fundraising materials to feedback to donors and ensuring all AfriKids Ghana's external communications adhear to the branding guidelines through staff workshops and one to one meetings.

 

Liam has been with AfriKids since 2008 when he joined as a fundraiser. Now UK Operations Manager, he is responsible for much of the UK-focused activities of the organisation; fundraising, administration and overseeing the day to day operations of the UK office. Liam has over five years of fundraising experience and has firsthand experience of all of AfriKids’ projects having spent time in Ghana with the staff and beneficiaries.

 

His skills also span out into communications - he is one of two Tweeters and loves to keep the world updated with AfriKids' news online.

 

He holds an undergraduate degree in English and a Masters in creative writing, and has previous experience of working overseas. 

 

Charlie joined AfriKids UK in October 2009 after volunteering with AfriKids Ghana under a VSO programme. In 2010 she spent 6 months implementing a development strategy for AfriKids Ethical Trade and went on to work across the Programmes Department, supporting AfriKids’ social enterprises as well project monitoring and evaluation.

 

She now focuses specifically on AfriKids’ sustainability strategy, working closely with AfriKids Ghana to develop businesses that are locally appropriate and will eliminate the need for the UK fundraising office as planned by 2018.

 

Katie joined AfriKids in March 2010 as the Assistant to Georgie, providing a comprehensive support service on a wide range of internal and external affairs. Since then, her role has developed to include managing AfriKids’ consultancy arm, AfriKids Squared, overseeing and managing supporter trips to Ghana as well as managing AfriKids’ innovative fundraising and awareness raising programme, the Experience Challenge (she even took part herself in October 2011!) Katie also supports Georgie in delivering the AfriKids Ambassador programme.

 

Prior to joining AfriKids, Katie worked with families, children and young people on a voluntary basis for two years. She also worked for a social marketing consultancy where she gained experience across a variety of behavioural change campaigns, gaining insight into corporate CSR strategies and helping to bring an organisation's values to life through specific CSR activities.

 

Jo joined AfriKids in April 2010 as the Communications and Events Intern. She became a full time member of the fundraising team in October 2010, working with Lissa Golaszewska in events and communications. She loves organising all events from the friendly pub quizzes to the grand dinners and balls. On the communications side, Jo works with Lissa to update the website, create newsletters, produce annual reports and then tweet about everything AfriKids is doing! She is also in charge of the AfriKids shop, selling ethical products that are linked to our projects in Ghana wherever possible.  

 

Before joining AfriKids Jo worked in several industries but left media to work in the field she graduated in; Social Anthropology with Development Studies.

 

She previously lived and worked in Ghana and some of her happiest memories are from there. 

 

Ama joined AfriKids in February 2010 as the UK Operations Assistant. Her work revolves around ensuring the smooth delivery of fundraising and administrative activities. This involves looking after all of the amazing and generous donors, schools and community organisations who support our work. From individuals to those participating in fantastic challenges to raise the much needed funds for our projects in Ghana.

 

Before joining AfriKids Ama worked in the Arts and Cultural sector for five years after graduating with a degree in Performing Arts and Arts Management. She worked extensively with young people and marginalised communities to use the arts for social change. After a change in career focus she decided to study human rights.

 

Martin joined AfriKids in April 2012 as Finance and Programmes Officer and supports the Finance and Business Manager in relation to all UK Finance. In addition, he will support the Business Manager to look after some of the Projects and Programmes in Ghana. Martin’s focus is to look after UK Finance.

 

Before joining AfriKids, Martin has worked as the Finance Officer for another charity called The Limbless Association.

Martin had his first degree in Ghana, in French and Linguistics before moving to the UK. While working for an Accounting Firm in London, he studied and qualified as a chartered Accountant in 2007. 

 

Martin is inspired by the Social Enterprise concept of AfriKids and would support Programmes finance both in UK and Ghana.

Beata joined AfriKids in May 2012 as the Communications and Events Assistant, after completing her degree in Politics and French.Beata was heavily involved in the organisation of AfriKids 10 Year Ball at the Natural History Musuem. 

In October 2012 Beata was taken on as Communications and Events Coordinator. One part of Beata's role invloves assisting Jo Stewart and Lissa Golaszewska with the organisation of fundraising events, including those in partnership with other organisations and with our corporate partners. The other side of Beata's work is assisting with the organisation's communications; updating the AfriKids website, writing the monthly E-newsletter 'Out of AfriKids' and keeping the wider community up to date on AfriKids’ activities using social media.
 
At university Beata was selected to be a representative for the university’s student-run charitative organisation, and enjoyed organising fundraising events including balls, quizzes and cocktail parties. In 2009 Beata embarked on a sponsored hike of Mount Kilimanjaro, raising over £2,200 for charity, and spent a month volunteering at a school in Tanzania.