About WACIA
Our Mission Statement
"Working to alleviate hardship and suffering by funding projects which provide a sustainable benefit and help give women and children in Africa a better quality of life".
Women and Children in Africa was founded by Joanna Pike in November 2005. Born in Zanzibar and having maintained strong links with Africa throughout her life, the charity developed from a conversation in July 2005 with her brother, Graham Stevenson, who lives and works in Tanzania. The following month a mutual friend, Charles Nyeko-Lacek, returned from his home country, Uganda, with a powerful dvd highlighting the atrocities being committed on the children in northern Uganda. This dvd was the catalyst in the creation of the charity which is now funding projects in Tanzania, Malawi, South Africa and Ghana as well as Uganda.
The charity’s primary purpose is to undertake manageable and sustainable projects that can make a real difference to individuals and communities, enabling them to improve their lives.
Africa is full of resourceful, dignified, proud people who want to be given the opportunity to look after themselves and their own. They want and need a hand up, not a hand out. We help by finding the right people to work with and identify projects that enable them to do this.
What makes WACIA different to other charities?
Whilst some donors prefer anonymity and nothing further than the act of donating, WACIA appreciates that for many people there is a desire to know exactly to whom or how their donation has made a difference. For these people, WACIA wants to provide timely and appropriate feedback.
"Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life."
"Working to alleviate hardship and suffering by funding projects which provide a sustainable benefit and help give women and children in Africa a better quality of life".
Women and Children in Africa was founded by Joanna Pike in November 2005. Born in Zanzibar and having maintained strong links with Africa throughout her life, the charity developed from a conversation in July 2005 with her brother, Graham Stevenson, who lives and works in Tanzania. The following month a mutual friend, Charles Nyeko-Lacek, returned from his home country, Uganda, with a powerful dvd highlighting the atrocities being committed on the children in northern Uganda. This dvd was the catalyst in the creation of the charity which is now funding projects in Tanzania, Malawi, South Africa and Ghana as well as Uganda.
The charity’s primary purpose is to undertake manageable and sustainable projects that can make a real difference to individuals and communities, enabling them to improve their lives.
Africa is full of resourceful, dignified, proud people who want to be given the opportunity to look after themselves and their own. They want and need a hand up, not a hand out. We help by finding the right people to work with and identify projects that enable them to do this.
What makes WACIA different to other charities?
Whilst some donors prefer anonymity and nothing further than the act of donating, WACIA appreciates that for many people there is a desire to know exactly to whom or how their donation has made a difference. For these people, WACIA wants to provide timely and appropriate feedback.
"Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life."
Nelson Mandela
The Team
David Pike is a qualified Chartered Accountant who’s role in the charity is to ensure that the financial records are maintained
properly and that all donations received are appropriately used.
Joanna Pike was born in East Africa and has never lost her love of the continent and its people. She is the driving force behind the charity and has considerable administrative and organisational skills.
Joy Wishlade originally trained as a teacher and is now a senior manager of a local authority in Somerset. She is also trustee of a charitable organisation working with sufferers of drug addiction and alcohol in Devon.
Elizabeth Gunn is a health professional working both for the NHS and independently. She has worked in public, private and voluntary sector organizations and worked with WACIA as a volunteer for the past two years.
Charles Nyeko-Lacek was born in Gulu, Uganda, in 1956. He is a committed Christian with a desire to help others make the most of their lives, irrespective of their social background. Charles has been actively involved in fundraising and charity awareness campaigns since 2002.
Joanna Pike was born in East Africa and has never lost her love of the continent and its people. She is the driving force behind the charity and has considerable administrative and organisational skills.
Joy Wishlade originally trained as a teacher and is now a senior manager of a local authority in Somerset. She is also trustee of a charitable organisation working with sufferers of drug addiction and alcohol in Devon.
Elizabeth Gunn is a health professional working both for the NHS and independently. She has worked in public, private and voluntary sector organizations and worked with WACIA as a volunteer for the past two years.
Charles Nyeko-Lacek was born in Gulu, Uganda, in 1956. He is a committed Christian with a desire to help others make the most of their lives, irrespective of their social background. Charles has been actively involved in fundraising and charity awareness campaigns since 2002.