Our Story
Baraka Community Partnerships is a charity that began in 2007, when three much-travelled friends who had witnessed firsthand so much inequality and poverty, decided to get together to make a difference.
Our Approach
Starting with one project in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, Baraka has since evolved to encompass a multitude of projects, focusing on Zambia and Laos, whilst still helping out in Morocco with some earthquake relief.
We don't give cash handouts because we want to look at long-term solutions. We want the changes in communities to come from them - their ideas, their goals and aspirations. By developing educational facilities, promoting healthcare and instigating water and sanitation projects, we try to galvanize communities to develop their own sustainable, self-sufficient futures through the power of education. Approximately 80% of our funding supports educational projects. Most projects (apart from our Learning Centres and Safe Houses) are suggested or initiated by locals, so we can help them build their own vision for their community to make it a reality. Where possible, we ask the community to contribute in some format, such as labour or local materials.
100% of all donations go directly to projects in zambia and laos
Who we are
Baraka Community Partnerships is run on a day-to-day basis by our Co-Founder Andy Mckee (pictured left, in Zambia). Andy is supported in the UK by a six-member Board of Trustees who all give their time and expertise voluntarily. Andy's sister Louise Mckee and Jo Sutton work on a part-time basis and oversee much of our administration, finances, and in Louise's case, our educational strategy in Zambia.
We are registered in the UK and Zambia as a Non-Governmental Agency (NGO), and have a team of twenty-eight full-time staff who coordinate and deliver our projects in the field.
We are also registered in Canada, where the five-member Board of Directors are primarily concerned with our Zambia projects, including our medical volunteer trips.
We have a network of wonderful volunteers who support the work we do, sometimes in person at our projects.
Where we work
The largest portion of our work is in Zambia, followed by Laos.
The majority of Baraka Community Partnership's projects are educational. Roughly 80% of our funds go towards schools, teachers, our sponsorship program and our Zambian Learning Centre. The remaining 20% is distributed between sanitation, water and healthcare programs with a few extra projects as and when they arise.
Baraka canada
The Canadian team has become increasingly active in Baraka Community Partnerships' sponsored children program in recent years. Young Zambians lacking the means to pay for their own education are sponsored by donors in Canada who contribute to their college fees and other basic needs.
Canadian donors have contributed to various projects, including a fully stocked science block, the development of our sports area at our Learning Centre, classrooms at Baraka Primary School, and the girls’ safe house.
In 2019 and 2023, the Baraka Canada medical team hosted clinics at the Zambian Learning Centre near Kapiri-Mposhi. More money has been raised to support various initiatives at the Learning Centre, while other funds have been used to buy desks for local schools, provide aid during the Covid-19 pandemic and distribute medical supplies to local clinics.
Fund-raising events in Canada are held annually, and we help spread the word of our medical trips through videos, talks and presentations. Past events have included pub nights, painting parties, school visits and book clubs.
Baraka Projects
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Kapiri Learning Centre
Zambia
The Baraka Learning Centre is based in a rural setting in the Central Provence of Zambia near the town of Kapiri-Mposhi. The Learning Centre provides the support and educational resources to help about 30 schools, its teachers and its pupils to achieve a higher level of academic success. -
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Maamba Learning Centre
Zambia
Similarly to the Kapiri Learning Centre, all lessons and sessions are free of charge and for those schools that can't access the Learning Centre, we provide an outreach program that takes the Learning Centre to the schools.
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Baraka Primary School
Zambia
Baraka Primary School is located in Kapiri-Mposhi and provides education to children in the area. Recent developments at the school include a library and a hygiene-friendly female toilet block to allow regular attendance. -
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Baraka Secondary School
Zambia
Currently under construction, the Baraka Secondary School is next to the Baraka Primary School and will provide crucial educational resources to youth in Kapiri-Mposhi. -
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Maamba Safe House
Zambia
In 2015 we were asked to step in to rescue The Maamba Safe House, a safe haven for 20 teenage girls, to prevent the home from closing. The house had been funded by a large charity that pulled out with a few weeks notice. -
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Kapiri Safe House
Zambia
The Kapiri Safe House provides a home to 30 girls who would otherwise fall victim to an endless cycle of poverty and gender-based violence. The house is located beside the Learning Centre, providing access to educational resources and sponsorship opportunities.
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Nong Khiaw Learning Centre
Laos
The Learning Centre at Nong Kiaw is situated next door to the town's primary school. It organises after-school activities at the same time as providing a valuable educational resource for the school.
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Nan Learning Centre
Laos
The Nan Learning Centre is a smaller version of Nong Kiaw, supporting just over 100 children and offering a similar range of activities.
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Vieng Khien Learning Centre
Laos
The Vieng Khien Learning Centre offers a similar range of activities as the Nan and Nong Khiaw centres.
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Mekong Book Boat
Laos
The Mekong book boat is based in Luang Prabang, operating on the Mekong River. It visits over 100 rural villages annually, mostly inaccessible by road.
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Ou Book Boat
Laos
The Ou book boat is based in the provincial outpost of Nong Kiaw and operates on the Ou River, serving over 44 villages each year.
