Happy Birthday Pearl of Africa

Hi all,

Today marks 8 years since Pearl of Africa Foundation was founded (3 November 2003) in Utrecht, Netherlands

Achievements to date:

1. Mobilising over 1000 members
2. Publishing a periodic magazine/newsletter, The Pearl (2004-2007)
3. www.pearlofafrica.nl website
4. Pearl of Africa Yahoo Group
5. Annual General meetings since 2005
6. Education, Integration, Employment, Insurance and Remittances workshops
7. Kwakoe participation 2005 and 2007
8. Support of Uganda Kobs football team 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009
9. Legal procedure of several asylum seekers
10. Ugandan businessman - John Osapil, Josna Enterprises, Fraud case
11. Uganda Artists in Netherlands
12. Networking: African organisations; Afroneth, Nedas, The Voice, Kenya Platform, UKEA, DSOR, GLARO, Sudanese forum; Dutch organisationss; Oxfam-NOVIB, VON, SVO, Kerkinactie, NCDO, , SMS, NCDO, IICD, DFD, Een Procent

12. Engaging the Dutch Parliament
13. Wedding fundraisings
14. Return of bodies and burial
15. Participating in the Derde Kamer (Third chamber of Parliament)
16. Ugandan Diaspora Organisations.; UNAA, UK, Denmark, Belgium, Sweden, Germany
17. Hosting Ugandan visitors; ministers, MPs, RDCs musicians etc
18. KIT; guest speaker on Uganda for KLM and Police consultants
19. Organising the Gulu Walk in Amsterdam 2006, 2007 and 2008
20. Setting up a Day Care Centre in Gulu 2008
21. Setting up a tailoring School in Gulu 2010
22. Setting up an ICT Centre in Gulu 2011

Past Performance:

Pearl of Africa has for the past five years been involved in the following activities:

• Promoting the collective interests of Ugandans living in the Netherlands.
• Providing a platform for sharing knowledge and experiences.
• Supporting and advising Ugandans on integration into Dutch society
• Lobbying for the promotion of good governance as well as political and economic reform in Uganda.
• Promoting Ugandan culture, tourism and trade and advocating for the improvement of the position of vulnerable groups such as women and children.

Core values

People-centred partnerships – we believe in working in partnership with communities whose interests we serve and in alliance with like-minded organisations

Excellence – we seek to excel

Accountability Transparency – accountable to our membership, the communities we work with and to our financing partners.

Regionalism - value and foster the spirit of regionalism as a strategic alliance harnessing the strengths residing in countries of the region.

Looking out for Gender justice and diversity – we respect diversity and promote equity in our organisation and work.

Wish Pearl of Africa a Happy birthday.

Ali Balunywa

Chairman