Ask anyone who has spent time in Africa and they are likely to tell you another side to the story of hunger and suffering so often portrayed on our television screens.  It is the story of a luminous, vibrant continent made hopeful by the determination of people to overcome the poverty and hardship they face.  As the actress Emma Thompson observed while in Ethiopia, ‘The world is not divided neatly into haves and have-nots. There are large groups that do not have certain resources, such as land, food, water or - vitally – rights. The specificity is extremely important. What they do have is resilience, the like of which most of us could never dream of. What they have is courage, determination, intelligence, knowledge and ideas - and they know how to put those into practice’.

Advantage Africa believes that lasting change in poor communities is best achieved from the inside.  It starts with inspirational people like Lesa Musyoki and Jack Okoth, who, with Advantage Africa’s support, have become catalysts for change and hope in their communities (see projects for details).  The inspirational people with whom we work are all visionary community activists acting for the benefit of others and driven by values that arise from their own experience of poverty, and often a strong religious faith too.

Inspirational people show resilience and tenacity in the face of hardship and a real passion to make a difference. While some are charismatic and outraged, others show compassion and quiet resolve, but all want to change the poverty and injustice they see in their communities.  People like Jack and Lesa are also determined ‘doers’ who tirelessly apply their knowledge, skills and contacts to make things happen.  They also have integrity, and gain the respect of others through their honesty, openness and involvement of those around them in managing community initiatives.

Finally, inspirational people are realists.  Unlike optimists who see the good, often closing their eyes to the bad, inspirational people embrace reality and get on with doing something about it simply because it is natural.  They do not depreciate, judge or pull down but create, encourage and inspire others.  

It is by working in close partnership with such visionaries and their community groups, that Advantage Africa is helping to bring about change from the inside - for some of Africa’s most disadvantaged people.