Press Clippings
Articles as appeared in the press  
..........END.......... Daily Observer
Monday, December 8th, 2008
 Hearts to Africa, a charitable organization, last Saturday, convened its annual awards ceremony at the Corinthia Atlantic Hotel in Banjul.
The Observer Company, publisher of the Daily Observer newspaper, received two awards - ‘Thank you’ and ‘Future Leaders Award’. Founded in 1997 with the sole aim of assisting African children and complementing the efforts of African governments in national development, the Hearts to Africa group has since its inception been acknowledging individuals and institutions involved in the promotion of national development.
It does so in the form of two kinds of awards: Outstanding Achievement Award and Future Leaders Award. Last Saturday’s award ceremony brought together students from 35 different schools in the Greater Banjul Area and the North Bank Region, as well as teachers, journalists and a cross-section of the community.
Yankuba Bojang, vice president of Hearts to Africa, dilated on his organizations track record in complementing government’s efforts in the key areas of education, health and agriculture since its inception. He used the opportunity to call on parents and teachers to take care of their children, describing them as the ‘future leaders of Africa.’
The director and founder of Hearts to Africa, Samuel Burke, thanked the participants for honouring their invitation. He assured everyone of his organisation’s continued support in improving on education and in other sectors relevant to national development.
He recalled that over 23 schools in The Gambia attended their award ceremony last year, describing this year’s turnout as excellent. He revealed further that since the establishment of his organisation, they had been concentrating on the Western Region; but he said that they are now considering expansion into the North Bank Region. Burke also promised his continued support for Gambian students.
At the end of the ceremony, a number of students from various schools across the country were presented with awards as well as organisations and businesses.
www.observer.gm
..........END..........
Clarendon Compass 
Managing Editor: Miss Stephanie Elliott
From Clarendon Compass a Jamaican community newspaper, reports London based charity hails local reporter Head of London based Charity group, 'Hearts to Africa', Samuel Burke, has heaped praises on Managing Editor of Clarendon Compass, Stephanie Elliott, for her efforts to have the works of the organization recognized.
Miss Elliott, the letter of commendation states, "has been instrumental in assisting the group in publicising their charity work in Africa and other sections of the world".
’Hearts to Africa', appreciates the effort of Miss Elliott and others to raise awareness of the work of our organization and applauders their efforts", said the head of the Charity Group.
The Group took the opportunity to mention an invitation they received from African Family Reunion of the DR-Congo, to visit their country sometime in 2009, adding that as a special gift, Miss Elliott has been invited to attend. "We have offered Miss Elliott to accompany the group to DR-Congo. We hope she will accept", said Burke.
Charity Group, 'Hearts to Africa' has been operating out of London for over 10 years, and has received several awards for their work in Africa. Four members of the group were recently awarded Ambassador For Peace Awards, and honoured during a ‘Remember Africa’ awards ceremony in London last year.
The Head of the group, Samuel Burke, is Jamaican and hails from the parish of Clarendon. Wednesday, June 25, 2008 ..........END.......... 
................... Croydon Guardian Angels of mercy: 
Darren and Sarai Campbell have officially recognised for helping send aid to Africa. Reach out to Africa
Darren and Sarai Campbell have been working with national charity Hearts to Africa since 2002 and have made several trips to the continent, all of which were paid for out of their own pockets. The couple, who married at the end of September after 10 years together, help African families by taking unwanted clothes and other goods. They have helped more than 35,000 children in the process. Their work is so highly valued that they recently received a prestigious award from a United Nations organisation. Sarai and Darren, from Denmark Road, were honoured as Ambassadors of Peace' by the Universal Peace Foundation - an organisation affiliated with the United Nations. Sarai, 29, explained what triggered the couple to start work with the charity: "I remember thinking one day how amazed I was at all the stuff people throw away each year on a daily basis and people in Africa have a real need for it all." The couple contacted the charity and have been working alongside them each year by taking out the donated items and spending time with African children. Hearts to Africa is based in Croydon. In the nine years that it has been established it has never received sponsorship. It has relied on the generosity and support of communities and individuals from across the borough. Each trip Sarai and Darren make is self-funded, so the hard working pair have had to save money before they can leave. So far they have visited the Gambia and Senegal. Sarai and Darren, who have two children aged one and two, spend at least two weekends a month with the rest of the volunteers at the charity sorting donated items. This year they will be taking a 40ft container filled with items, including prams, clothes, gardening tools, medical equipment and stationary. They will then be distributed around hospitals, schools and to families. Samuel Burke, director of the charity, nominated the couple for a Champions award. He believes they are unsung heroes. "Sarai and Darren are long standing members of the charity and have demonstrated their commitment by going out of their way to work closely with the residents in the borough and promoting the work of the charity over and beyond expectations," he said. Sarai added: "It is really nice to get some acknowledgement for the work we have been doing and to know that people are starting to understand why we are doing it. Although it all feels very surreal, I don't feel like we have done enough to deserve all of this. "I will be doing this forever, it brings the African families so much happiness when we arrive and until they turn around and tell me that they don't want me to take out this stuff anymore then I will carry on." For more information on the charity or to find out how to get involved visit heartstoafrica.org.uk. 3:49pm Thursday 19th October 2006
..........END.......... 
|
Press Clippings 
