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ADU ReVIeW

African excellence on display

frican-Australian relations were abuzz programme at the Ngara Hospital in Tanza- small team.
Athis year as Africa Down Under wel- nia to enrol 120 nurses. “It’s a really good project,” he said. “This is
comed back key international delegations fol- “We’re very proud that Adavale is involved a small company, only three or four people
lowing two years of Western Australia’s hard as well,” Staley said. “I think the entire brand- with a low market cap, doing what they can
border locking out keen visitors. Australia mining sector will be watching.” to make a difference to the community sur-
Speaking to a fully-fledged ADU, Australia West African Resources Ltd (WAF) won rounding their area of operations and doing
Africa Minerals & Energy Group (AAMEG) the Best Innovation in Corporate Social De- so successfully.”
chief executive Roger Staley revealed the velopment award for its community service The Norkama project has helped to build
top motivations for members joining the or- around the Sanbrado gold mine in Burkina three new classrooms and establish a can-
ganisation were country risk, compliance Faso. teen programme at the Norkama Primary
and ESG concerns. WAF has built a new school, supplied so- School in Burkina Faso. Sarama has had
“We poll our members every year and ask lar power systems to five schools that pre- a relationship with the school since 2011
them, ‘why do you come to AAMEG? What viously had no connection to electricity, and and their engagements have helped to
is it you’re looking for us more than double stu-
to do to help you?’,” he dent numbers, student
said. “It was interesting. performance and female
The members typically participation. The project
look to themselves and has also paved the way
to specialist contractors for an organic, accessible
on the ESG. sustainable garden which
“For country risk and has employed locals.
compliance…we get the “The garden is linked
insights from our mem- with a company canteen,”
bers and share those Staley said. “Basically,
with the Department developing a little circular
of Foreign Affairs and economy which will sur-
Trade, we share it with vive in the mining transi-
their heads of mission in tion and it brings other
the various jurisdictions.” skills. We’re very proud
AAMEG also gave to see Sarama awarded.”
out their annual awards AAMEG Africa Awards: Richard Hyde (West African Resources), Roger Staley The annual awards
recognising excellence (AAMEG), Nina Hjortlund (Kilimu Bora), Andrew Dinning (Sarama Resources), Sarah also saw special men-
in African organisations Siva (AAMEG) and Yangama Jokwiro (Vaka Health Foundation) tion for the Kilimu Bora
and members of the re- programme in Tanzania.
sources industry which explore in Africa. donated furniture and classroom equipment Kilimu Bora is the literal Swahili translation
Health-tech startup Vaka Health Founda- to schools. of “smart farming” and the programme has
tion was awarded the Best Workforce and “It’s a situation that many Australian re- helped teach locals how to farm mushrooms.
Industry Development Initiative. sources companies face,” Staley said. “Low The organisation is also focused on driv-
“This is the most amazing and incredible rates of education, high unemployment, ing food security, entrepreneurship, gender
project you’re ever heard of. It kicked off in poor socioeconomic security and all eyes equality, the fight against climate change,
Zimbabwe with a couple of brothers with a on the Australian resources companies on and supporting nutritional health.
good idea,” Staley said. what they’re going to do to help fix it. Cer- Success in mushroom farming was car-
“Bringing together some slimmed-down tainly, WAF have been doing some really ried out through an eight-week training pro-
technology to provide up to date training, good things and setting a high benchmark gramme which even taught business skills
wisdom, and references to nurses and mid- for other Australians to follow.” and how to organise export agreements.
wives.” WAF has also funded scholarships, in- Employment priority was given to young
Vaka has so far enrolled more than ternships, work experience programmes, women and disabled people. An upscaled
450,000 frontline nurses and midwives in supported skilled learning for locals and has long-term project is to start in Q1 2023, de-
east and southern Africa. The company’s funded business literacy programmes for lo- pendent on funding.
next step is going through Kenya, Zimbabwe cal women. Kilimu Bora was nominated in the Best In-
and West Africa. Meanwhile, Sarama Resources Ltd was novation in Corporate Social Development
“Every single person in the room that has crowned Emerging ESG Leader for its work category. Staley said it was an impressive
an interest in Africa can tap into this pro- at the Norkama project in Burkina Faso, programme led by a single-person organisa-
gramme,” Staley said. helping to deliver educational supplies to tion.
Vaka’s pilot programme has been ex- surrounding communities. “A one-person company based here in
tremely successful, with 95% of Zimbabwe’s Sarama recently delivered classroom Perth doing amazing things,” he said. “Talk
nursing sector joining the platform, making supplies and healthcare materials to 1,600 about aspirational.”
up for 29,500 workers. students and medical clinics. Staley ac- – Fraser Palamara
Vaka is also partnering with ASX compa- knowledged the “long-standing member
ny Adavale Resources Ltd to bring a training of AAMEG” for achieving its goals with a

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