Our Mission Statement
The Love of Africa Society listens to the needs of African communities, then responds by establishing community partnerships and participates in initiatives that may include personal engagement.
Our Vision Statement
We work together with our African partners on their goals to improve wellbeing in their communities.
Values
We are guided by the following values:
RESPECT – for the leaders and diverse cultures of the people with whom we work
ACCOUNTABILITY – to our partners and donors
BUILDING TRUST – therefore strengthening relationships with our partners
FOSTERING – local sustainability of our African projects
HONOURING – the skills, dedication and contributions of all volunteers
FLEXIBILITY – in adapting to changing needs, conditions and requirements
COLLABORATION – working in partnership across cultures, faiths and languages
About
History
We are a not-for-profit humanitarian network that began in 2004, in Victoria, B.C., Canada. We volunteer our time, expertise and efforts, ensuring that 100% of donations goes directly to the causes we support.
We welcome people from around the world to join us in our work, bringing hope by supporting education and health, by empowering women and girls, and by encouraging sustainability in Africa.
Meet the Team
The For The Love of Africa Society Board of Directors are all volunteers, contributing their time, expertise and energy without remuneration.
Angela Gurney
President
Angela had always dreamed of travelling to Africa but didn’t think it would ever happen. She joined the Society in 2017 and soon after was assisting with Social Media postings.
She jointed Team Tanzania 2018 to work on the Nashipay School in Makuyuni. She enjoyed working with the Maasai people who were so welcoming. Even though there was a language barrier, communication wasn’t an issue. Working with some of the amazing Mamas, who have no formal business education was an eye-opening experience. It proved to her that anyone can do anything if they just try.
And in 2019, another opportunity to travel to Tanzania, this time to Dodoma to work on the Ndachi school project. Her mother had moved to Dodoma in October of 2018 and would also be part of Team Tanzania 2019. “My time working at Ndachi was so different than Nashipay. I met a little girl who seemed to fall in love with me as much as I fell for her. The ladies of the church made us tea-time snacks, chai tea and Mandazi (Tanzanian doughnut), then lunch every day. The ladies welcomed me to their kitchen and they taught me the recipes.”
She currently manages the Website and Social Media.
Linda Ryder
Treasurer and Secretary
Linda is retired from various jobs in the area of finance. She joined For the Love of Africa Society in 2013 and, while living in Canada, served on the Board of Directors in the positions of treasurer and secretary/treasurer. Linda now resides in Dodoma, Tanzania, but thanks to Zoom meetings is now able to participate as a board member again and work with other board members to guide the society to follow its values, vision and mission statements.
Linda’s first visit to Tanzania was in 2015 when a team travelled to work with the local community to construct the Dodoma Technical Institute. She felt very “at home” in Tanzania and enjoyed meeting all of FTLOA Tanzanian partners. She travelled with other FTLOA teams in October 2017 to Dodoma and May 2018 to Nashipay School in the Maasai Village at Makuyuni, TZ. After this trip Linda decided to move to Dodoma, TZ and after all paperwork was completed she moved in October 2018. When a team travelled from Canada in May 2019, Linda joined them in their work at the Ndachi School project.
Living in Dodoma and learning the local language, Kiswahili, has been an exciting experience. Linda remains in contact with Tanzanian communities where FTLOA has completed projects and has been able to visit some of the projects in person.
Kevin Sterne
Past President
Kevin is a retired civil engineer (geotechnical) who has worked in the consulting industry for 40 years. He was born and raised in South Africa and has an appreciation for the different ways that things are accomplished in Africa. Throughout his career, he worked in the design and construction of schools, hospitals, day care facilities, roadworks and water dams and wells. Each required careful planning, execution, project management and quality control. This extensive experience provides a unique skill set to the Society for the evaluation and management or FTLOAs projects in Africa.
Kevin joined the For the Love of Africa Society in 2014, following a vacation in Tanzania during which he was inspired by the people he encountered. The Society’s mission and values were consistent with his own beliefs.
Barry Hammell
Vice President
For the Love of Africa SocietyFinances
Financial Year: 2022-2023
100% of our Donations and the net proceeds from Events (revenues less expenses) go towards our projects in Tanzania.
All costs for our Operations are financed solely by membership fees.