Harambee presentations have taken place all over Spain in the past months: in Andalucia, Valladolid, Castilla and Leon. Fund-raising concerts were held in Granada and Marbella.

Secondary schools included a Harambee information stand at their end-of-term parties, or held an “Africa Day” for pupils and their families to learn more about the realities of sub-Saharan Africa and its needs. Participants at all these events were encouraged to contribute to the health and education projects that have been selected for Harambee support this year.

In Africa there is no shortage of problems, but also no shortage of talent, or of people who only need help to develop their technical and professional talents to the full.

In Sudan, young war refugees will be given skills training; teachers in Kenya will be provided with in-service training and support that will benefit around five thousand school students; craft and business classes in Madagascar will enable families to set up in small businesses; and in Congo, health clinics will be created in deprived rural areas.

Harambee tries to combat the pervading air of fatalism, and aims to inject hope into the approach to educational projects and all that they can do. After a Harambee presentation at a school, one of the teachers said, “This scheme motivates young people to have a sense of solidarity and helps them in their personal growth".

Juan Luis Rodriguez Fraile, president of Harambee in Spain, says: “From Harambee we are sending a message of confidence to the African people and institutions who are working to help their countries advance, because we are convinced that the solutions to Africa’s problems will come from Africans themselves.”