About

Established in March 2006, AVIF is an independent non-profit UK registered charity. We are registered with the UK government’s HMRC (Her Majestys Revenue and Customs) ref. XR99385 as an Excepted charity, from the Charity Commission, due to our small size and low income. We receive no governmental funding and no significant sustained funding from other sources. Any donations go directly into projects (that abide by the principles of J-PAL). All our work is archived on the blog (previously on Blogger here).

AVIF works in partnership with many other communities and organizations, including the Nkiito maasai manyatta (village) in Amboseli, the highly recommended Stilts Backpackers in Diani Beach on the Indian Ocean coast, Leben und Lernen en Kenia e.v. (Live and Learn in Kenya) www.llk-selb.de, Naivasha Youth Sports Academy…..

To meet any of our volunteers and discuss experiences & our work:      

Founder Trustee: Alison B Lowndes View Alison Lowndes's profile on LinkedIn

I decided to make AVIF a charity rather than a company as people are always more willing to offer time to a non-profit organisation.

Mary Wright

Now retired, Mary is an active volunteer across various organisations. Mary’s career since 1970 has been predominantly associated with the NHS and the development of Primary and Community Health Services in England and in Scotland.

In Memorium of Sharon Argwings Kodhek

It is with heavy heart that we write that Sharon passed away (May, 2013) but will always be remembered in our hearts. A resident of Nairobi and native Kenyan, Sharon has, for the many years, been trying to eradicate child domestic labour from Kenya, and to raise awareness of and provide support to fellow sufferers of Lupus, the auto-immune disease that eventually took her from us. Her son, More, now continues her work from Nairobi.

I look at the children all around, I think that children all need a fair chance so I try and get people and organizations to help out.

Sharon was responsible for Kenyan operations and will be lovingly remembered as the Big Sister to all our Volunteers and an incredibly resourceful, caring & informed woman.

In Memorium of Pauline Hulme 

Pauline (Alison’s Mother) was a founding member of AVIF until she suddenly passed away August, 2009. AVIF owes itself to Pauline, who was an amazing woman and a huge support to AVIF, emotionally and financially, offering advice and assistance whenever needed.

She is missed beyond words.