Build IT International are a Shrewsbury based charity that are committed to improving the lives of people in sub-Saharan Africa.
Founded in 2006 by Andrew Jowett, Build IT International provide essential community buildings and skills based training in Zambia. Many communities in Zambia are in desperate need of essential facilities and many men and women struggle to find work in a country where over half the population is unemployed. To date the charity has completed over 19 building projects helping over 125,000 people and trained over 150 men and women in building skills.
The charity builds schools and clinics whilst running an innovative ‘Training into work’ programme. The programme creates opportunities for members of the local community to receive both practical skills and building theory whilst building the schools and clinics that are desperately needed in their community.
The trainees gain a nationally recognised trade qualification, improving the trainees’ employment opportunities in the construction sector. The programme has been hugely successful with 97% of trainees finding building work since completing their training. Many have gone on to improve their own villages and community buildings.
Next month will see the completion of Build IT International’s first health clinic and maternity ward, which will serve over 2,500 people from the surrounding area. The clinic will provide basic primary care facilities, services for under-fives and pregnant women including a small maternity ward. It will serve as a base for outreach work in public health and maternal child health.
For Andrew the clinic will be another milestone for the charity “This clinic will make a huge difference to this community; many sick people currently walk over 8 hours to receive medical treatment. A staggering 48 newborns and 8 women die during childbirth every day in Zambia. We are especially proud of the Maternity unit, which has been separated from the main building to give pregnant women greater privacy during childbirth, a feature that was requested in the community meetings.”
In 2012 Build IT International will build an orphanage, a community training centre, a primary school and two secondary schools. The organisation is also looking to expand to other countries in the future and wants to raise £6 million over the next 5 years.
If you would like to find out more about Build IT International and its projects and support their work, contact the Head Office on 01743 246317, visit the website at www.builditinternational.org or find them on facebook and twitter.
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