
Glamour, delicious food, fabulous entertainment, music and dancing all wrapped up into one sparkling evening. 153 guests from 37 nationalities attended our first annual charity ball. Among the attendees, we had guests from Leeds, Leicester, Manchester, London, Bognor Regis, Brighton, Chichester, Southampton, Bournemouth, Spain, Paris and the Republic of Guinea.

The event started at 7pm with welcome drinks and Opera performance by Lilliana. At 7.50pm guests were seated for their 3-course meal. At 9.50pm Mariato & Peter Diaz performed followed by performance from Decades live UK. There was ongoing entertainment til 1am. 

Your contribution helped us to raise a total of **£5,300** (and still counting!) which will go a long way to helping URBOND help advance education in one of the poorest countries in the world (Republic of Guinea). We are building a school for children in need, we will provide them with teachers, health care and the basic things in life for a better future.

We had some wonderful auction prizes donated by Richmond Motor Group, Paul Pogba, the Village hotel, Rowan Watts Photography and DJ Mark.

It all wouldn’t have been possible without the support of people in the community and beyond and companies that have donated their time and services free of charge. Special thanks to our sponsors Tennyson Ltd and Richmond Motor Group for their continuous support. Thanks to all those colleagues and guests of companies that have attended the events.


First Charity Ball


On 26th January, **URBOND** hosted its first conference. Our guests enjoyed an afternoon of presentations of all three of the programmes which are the Community Integration, Youth Development and Child Education along with an insight into the charity goals for 2023.

Under the charity’s Community Integration Programme, [URBOND](https://www.linkedin.com/company/urbond/) have succeeded to bring together a staggering 40,583 people in Portsmouth spanning 78 different nationalities since inception in 2013. In 2022 alone, the charity had over 2,500 participants and beneficiaries under the programme.

URBOND Youth Development Programme, which is working to drive opportunities, wellness and success for young people, has benefitted almost 4,000 participants in the city with 147 of those engaging with the charity activities and support every single week. The charity works with children and young people particularly where issues such as crime and low-income are prevalent.

URBOND’s Child Education Programme has seen almost 3,000 primary school children supported in The Republic of Guinea, West Africa which is working to improve children's access to education in areas where they would otherwise go without. In 2022, the URBOND built a brand-new toilet facility for girls which over 600 girls now have access to every day, delivered menstruation and hygiene workshops, donated 2,200 basic items such as menstruation kits and dental hygiene equipment, taught English speaking classes to over 600 children, built a secure sports facility sponsored by the charity long term partner [Richmond Motor Group](https://www.richmondmotorgroup.com/search/) which over 1000 people now have daily access to, delivered irregular migration workshops, and facilitated disabled children with 1:1 support.

This year URBOND has plans to reach out to larger audience in Portsmouth to help advance racial harmony, equality and diversity. The Youth Development Programme is looking to grow relationships with local businesses and schools to expand and engage with more young people, providing them access to education and employment. URBOND’s Child Education Programme is planning to provide clean water to their partner school, open a technical training centre to provide job opportunities for young people, give disabled children the facilities and resources to go to school, build a school in a remote area of the country where children currently have no access to education and many more exciting projects to support the underprivileged communities.

Thank you to **University of Portsmouth**, Business and Law for hosting us and thank you to long term partner Richmond Motor Group for their ongoing support and **POOW Media** for helping change lives.


URBOND Conference 2023


We have successfully completed the building of the library and the computer room. These facilities will benefit over 700 children each year, will benefit the community in Dubreka and the surrounding areas. The laptops for the computer room had various programs installed - Word, Paint, and games, all for students to learn and play.

For the entire duration of the trip, volunteers were based in Dubreka, they formed stronger relationships with the children, parents and the locals. It’s has been a memorable journey, we can’t wait to tell their stories.

Thank you to all our supporters, without your kind support these great achievements wouldn’t have been possible!


First Volunteer's trip


The annual black-tie fundraising event was held on the 6th November 2021 at the Marriott Hotel, Portsmouth. The event helped raise funds for children in need, celebrated the outstanding work of its volunteers and helped promote racial harmony, equality and diversity for the best interest of our city Portsmouth.

150 guests from 42 nationalities attended the annual black-tie event. Among the attendees, we had guests from Spain, Republic of Guinea, Paris, Leicester, Manchester, London, Bognor Regis, Chichester, Southampton, Bournemouth, and Birmingham.

Your contribution helped us to raise a total of **£13,710 **(and still counting!) which will go toward URBOND Child Education Programme (in the Rep. of Guinea, West Africa) which is working to improve access to primary education for children in areas where there are shortfalls.
 
It all wouldn’t have been possible without the support of people in the community and beyond and companies that have donated their time and services free of charge. Special thanks to our special sponsor Richmond Motor Group for their ongoing support. Thanks to [Gagliani & Co](https://www.instagram.com/gaglaniand/), Perfect Pear, [M3 Shop](https://www.instagram.com/m3shopuk/) , Success Connections and Daviun Vodka.  

Thanks to all those colleagues and guests of companies that have attended the events.


Second Charity Ball


URBOND, held its second conference event to shine a light on the work the charity has done around community integration and cohesion, youth support and providing education and opportunities to children in need across the world and the impact this created during 2023. Guests enjoyed an afternoon of inspiring speeches of all three of the programmes which are the Community Integration, Youth Development and Child Education along with an insight into the goals for the year of 2024. 

The Community Integration Programme was formed off the back of local integration issues to help advance racial harmony, equality and diversity for the city of Portsmouth and so far over 50,000 people spanning 80 different nationalities have benefitted from the programme.

The charity’s Youth Development Programme is working to drive opportunities, wellness and success for underserved young people and their future and is addressing prevalent issues in the city such as youth crime, obesity, low literacy rates and unemployment. In 2023, URBOND saw almost 8,000 young participants with 156 of those engaged every single week, organised over 400 activities and spent a staggering 1,131 hours with young people.

URBOND’S Child Education Programme is helping improve child education and provide opportunities to children in need in the Republic of Guinea (Africa), where there are major shortfalls and a severe lack of opportunities for young people. You will be able to hear from some of the charity volunteers who took the trip to the Republic of Guinea in October 2023 at the event where they will share their experiences. Since inception, the charity has supported over 20,000 primary school children under the programme, donated over 15,000 basic items and study materials and empowered teachers and parents on the need for education.

URBOND Conference 2024


On Sunday 2nd of October 2022, 12 of our dedicated volunteers from 8 different nationalities embarked on their humanitarian mission for 12 days. The trip has been challenging but very impactful. With the help of our supporters in the UK, we have been able to provide life changing opportunities to children and the locals the Republic of Guinea.

The volunteers had 4 key areas to address and where they would work and impact the young people and their communities. These areas were, education, infrastructure, health, and sensitation campaigns. 


Second Volunteer's trip


The annual black-tie fundraising event was held on the 12th November 2022 at the Marriott Hotel, Portsmouth. 130 people attended the event and celebrated the outstanding work of the charity both in the Portsmouth (UK) and in Koutaya, Dubreka (Republic of Guinea).

Your contribution helped us to raise a total of **£8,571.37** (and still counting!) which will go toward URBOND Child Education Programme which is working to improve access to primary education for children in areas where there are shortfalls.

URBOND’s Child Education Programme was established in Guinea in 2019. It is currently based in Koutaya, Dubréka (Republic of Guinea), just north of Conakry. It seeks to dramatically improve the opportunities for access to education at all levels, and to provide basic educational and learning resources to children in need. It also seeks to work with young people to encourage them to stay in school where possible, and not to risk their lives leaving the country illegally for Europe. It has supported a total of 2,940 primary age children since 2019 – among these pupils, girls attendance with partner school has risen hugely by 62.2%.

To help with the fundraising, we had some wonderful auction prizes donated by Paul Pogba, Richmond Motor Group, University of Portsmouth, Proestetica Beauty, EuroStar, Jaimes Harrington, the Marriott hotel and Alseny Camara.

It all wouldn’t have been possible without the support of people in the community and beyond and companies that have donated their time and services free of charge. Special thanks to the special sponsor Richmond Motor Group for their ongoing support. Thanks to Gagliani & Co., POOW Media, Perfect Pear, Portsmouth News and Poppy Haskell for their amazing contribution. Thanks to all those colleagues and guests of companies that have attended the events.


Third Charity Ball

On Thursday 5th October, eight of our dedicated volunteers took the annual charity trip to the Republic of Guinea for thirteen days. 

Sixteen suitcases, eight hand luggages and eight backpacks full of books and over two thousand sanitary kits to be distributed to young girls to try and keep them in school.

> “It’s my third time, it’s great to be back in Guinea, serving those in need.” – Kingsley Digby

### Impact of 2023 volunteers

The volunteers had three key areas to address in two different cities (Dubreka and Coyah) and in the village of Koutaya. For thirteen days in the Republic of Guinea, the volunteers would come together, work hard on these projects thus positively impacting children, young people and the locals in these underprivileged communities.

The impact areas were: education, infrastructure, and sensitization campaigns.

### Education

**Training in menstruation**

This project was delivered in partnership with the British Embassy to Conary (Republic of Guinea) targeting the city of Coyah, which is 18.4 miles from Dubreka and 29.1 miles from the capital (Conakry), to support young girls to stay in school and not risk dropping out of school because of menstruation.

The Republic of Guinea is one of the top 10 countries with the lowest literacy rates, and statistically it is girls who suffer the most with this educational problem. The adjusted net attendance for girls drops from 66% in primary school to 29% in lower secondary school, dropping even further to 11% in upper secondary school. Between social and cultural problems which contribute to this, it is estimated that 1 in 10 school age girls in Africa will skip school during menstruation or drop out because of lavatory sanitation. The majority of schools are not equipped with sanitary facilities which means it is difficult to keep girls in school.

During the volunteers’ trip, 20 workshops were delivered between Monday 9th October and Monday 16th October. 500 young girls, 720 boys, 173 parents and 81 teachers received training on menstruation, sexual violence and self-defence. In addition, 2,000 sanitary pads were distributed to girls from underprivileged communities in Coyah with our effort to keep them in education.

Ongoing training and equipment is to be provided to young girls with our effort to keep them in school. We have already formed a working group in Coyah which includes students, teachers and parents. Their goal is to work together and prevent young girls from skipping or dropping out of school due to menstruation.

**English Language classes**

Over 500 children and over 150 members of the local community benefitted from intensive English classes. Children that couldn’t speak, are getting fluent in English.

### Infrastructure

**New school in Koutaya**

In February this year (2023) Portsmouth family run business Richmond Motor Group, our long-term partner, agreed to sponsor the educational building in Koutaya. The building will comprise of a library, computer room, teachers meeting room, head teacher’s office and internal toilet facilities.

Koutaya is a village in Dubreka (with a population of around 3,000 people) which currently has no available schools situated locally. To attend the nearest schools children must walk distances of 8km-10km each day, with many of those also having to make a dangerous water crossing.

With our plans to start teaching in September 2024, we are looking to complete building six classrooms by February 2024. The Richmond Building is nearly complete, with £44,000 spent so far, with only the ceiling, the flooring, the windows and painting left to finish.

Completing this project will vastly improve the educational opportunities for communities in Koutaya and surrounding areas and make learning accessible to children who are currently very much in need.

Upon completion more than five hundred children will be educated yearly, upwards from fifteen locals will be employed and the project will empower around three thousand members of the community in Koutaya and nearby villages.

**Renovation of the multi-sport facility in Dubreka**

The designated sports facility was built and inaugurated on the 12th October 2022. For the past eleven months, over eight hundred young people and members of the community have been using the facility daily.

Due to the facility being overused, the surface was damaged and the basketball hoops were broken. Renovating the facility was not part of the budget plan this year but we had to anticipate and renovate it so that young people and members of the community can keep using the facility. The renovation of the facility cost £3,700.

The full-size basketball and volleyball court is the pride of the children, promoting safe playing conditions for the children and the community.

**Renovation of the library and the computer room in Dubreka**

In 2021 the primary purpose of the trip was to build a library and a computer room which has had a massive impact on local lives. Over 15,000 children, young people, teachers and members of the community have been accessing the building yearly. Community members have been obtaining jobs through the IT classes and children who have never used computers before are now doing coding and programming thanks to the building and the classes.

This year the building was renovated by the help of our dedicated volunteers. In addition new air conditioning units have been fitted and over 2000 books have been added. The renovation, which was not planned but required due to the condition we found the building in, cost £2,600.

### Workshops and sensitization campaigns

**Irregular migration workshop**

This is a major rising issue in the Republic of Guinea, and other parts of North West Africa: irregular migration to mainland Europe. Between January to October 2019, 28% of irregular migration from West Africa was made up of Guinean nationals (IOM, 2019). Since May 2022 we have been working with parents and children helping tackle these issues as many children have lost their lives trying to cross the sea to come to Europe.

To help support parents and young people, URBOND has partnered with Microsoft to provide a Gig Academy which provides technology training to the locals, ultimately giving them skills for jobs when they are certified after six months. In Dubreka, from December 2023, the centre will take on twenty young people as a pilot, to ensure the system works smoothly. Its capacity will subsequently increase to an intake of eighty young people every six months. Disabled people face particular barriers to employment, and so URBOND aims for disabled people to comprise of 30% of beneficiaries.

We are planning to bring more opportunities to young people so they can contribute to the development of their country.

**URBOND Ambassadors in Coyah**

We have formed a team of 42 ambassadors in Coyah to help tackle issues preventing young girls from attending school. The group of ambassadors are made of parents, teachers, and students. Some of the issues we are planning to tackle are FGM1, domestic violence, sexual violence, rape, child marriage and child labour. We have seven school partners in Coyah, our plan is to increase girls’ attendance with our partner schools by 15% by the end of 2024.

**International Girls Day celebration**

We celebrated International Girls’ Day on Saturday 14th October: over six hundred people attended the event. We were joined by some incredible and inspirational women to help empower the young girls, and sensitise them on the need for education. It was also great to see the girls taking part in the computer programming competition which is traditionally a male dominated area.

**Semi-marathon to raise awareness on Need for Child Education**

URBOND successfully organised its second edition of the semi-marathon on the 15th October. The event was organised to raise awareness on the need for child education. The event was a great success: over one thousand people from Conakry, Dubreka, Coyah and surrounding areas were in attendance.

**Other sporting events for child education awareness**

We organised football, basketball and volleyball events across three different days, in total 1,500 people attended these events. At every given opportunity, we stopped the event to express how important it was for children to attend school.

### URBOND Conference

On the 11th October we held an URBOND conference at the British Embassy in the Republic of Guinea.

We were joined by the British Ambassador (John Marshal), UK Embassy staff, Rio Tinto, members of Guinean government, UNICEF, many more institutions and businesses. This was a great opportunity to introduce URBOND and the work we do in Guinea which is providing education to children who may go without it.

37 people were in attendance. We were able to network with businesses, institutions, and organisations. We are hopeful the outcome of the conference will be positive and more partnerships will be created off the back of this impactful meeting.

Third Volunteer's trip



### Portsmouth charity hosted black-tie fundraiser to raise money for its charitable work in the UK and in the Republic of Guinea ###



A multi-award winning CHARITY that helps young people across the world hosted its 4th Annual glitzy black-tie event to raise funds for underprivileged young people in Portsmouth and overseas in the Republic of Guinea (West Africa).

URBOND a Portsmouth-based charity hosted a glamourous charity fundraising ball to help support their work with underserved young people in the city of Portsmouth through its Youth Development Programme and continue its ongoing work with children in the Republic of Guinea through its Child Education Programme.

Over 150 people pulled out their best dresses and suits for the do, which took place this past weekend at the Portsmouth Marriott Hotel. Guests enjoyed an evening full of entertainment, including the great comedian Adrian Doughty, music from DJ Mike Sullivan, alongside drinks and a three course meal.

To help the charity’s fundraising endeavours, they hosted a live auction where guests bid on one-of-a-kind collectables such as signed shirts from Manchester United, Liverpool Football legends and memorabilia from iconic stars including Adele and Madonna.

The headline sponsors for the night were Richmond Motor Group and SLR Marine Recruit. The following comment was made by Sam Nobes from Richmond Motor Group “The work that URBOND is doing here in our community and in the Republic of Guinea is invaluable, we are proud to support wherever we can.”

Sarah Roads at SLR also said on the evening, “SLR Marine Recruitment were so delighted to be a part of the charity event and having more of an insight into the amazing work they are doing within our city and overseas. URBOND is a very important organisation that SLR is excited to support.”

URBOND’s Community Integration Programme is helping advance racial harmony, equality and diversity for the public benefit. Since inception in 2013, the charity has brought together over 50,000 people and is continuing to provide support to the Portsmouth community through its sporting activities, community works, workshops and seminars, social events, women’s group and hard talk forum.

Under URBOND’s Youth Development Programme, which operates in Portsmouth, the charity works with local partners to provide opportunities, wellness and success to young people in the city. This year alone, the programme has seen a staggering 7,596 participants at activities and events, engaged with 156 young people every single week, organised over 437 activities and events, and spent 1,131 hours with young people providing support and prospects for their future. The programme is growing year and year, which is why URBOND is seeking support from its community so they can continue with their great work.

On Thursday 5th October, 8 volunteers took the trip to Dubreka, the Republic of Guinea to develop the building of their new school and help tackle barriers preventing young girls from attending school, as well as teaching IT, English and Media classes to young children as part of URBOND’s Child Education Programme. The programme’s aim is to improve access education, empower communities, provide support to teachers and help change the lives of children in need. So far, the charity has supported over 20,000 primary school children in Guinea, donated over 15,000 basic items and study materials, educated over 12,000 young boys about girls’ protection and sexual violence and educated over 10,000 young girls on menstruation.

URBOND’s charity ball event is held every year to raise funds and raise awareness on it’s dedication to help children and young people that would otherwise go without. This year, the ball raised an amazing **£11,354** and still counting!

 If you would like to donate to URBOND, please visit their website at [www.urbond.org](https://urbond.org) and click the ‘Donate Now’ button.

You can now also Sponsor a Child in the Republic of Guinea where your donation will go directly to supporting a children’s basic needs such as food and clothes along with covering the costs of them going to school. For more information on how to Sponsor a Child, please visit [childeducation.urbond.org/what-we-do/sponsor-a-child](https://childeducation.urbond.org/what-we-do/sponsor-a-child)

Fourth Charity Ball


Over 120 guests gathered at the Marriott Hotel, Portsmouth, on Saturday 23rd November for URBOND's Fifth Annual Charity Ball, an evening dedicated to raising funds and awareness for children and young people in need.

Dressed in their best suits and gowns, attendees enjoyed a night of entertainment featuring the wonderful singer Gloria Miller, live music from DJ Ross, a delicious three-course meal, along with a raffle and auction with amazing prizes that were up for grabs. The event highlighted URBOND’s commitment to providing support and opportunities to children and young people who might otherwise go without.

The evening was made even more memorable by testimonials from those directly impacted by URBOND’s work. Alfie, a young beneficiary, shared his inspiring journey over the past two years, crediting URBOND with building his confidence, improving his mental health, and enhancing his employability skills. Today, Alfie is thriving in a supervisor role and attributes much of his success to the guidance and support he received through the charity.

Guests also heard from Rob, a dedicated URBOND volunteer, who spoke about his recent 12-day trip to the Republic of Guinea. Rob’s efforts in delivering basketball coaching and raising awareness about the importance of education left a lasting impact on the children and community of Dubreka.

To shine a light to those who have gone above and beyond in supporting the charity over the past year, URBOND awarded three people to celebrate their efforts including: Volunteer of the Year (Patrycja Tatarzycki), Role Model of the Year (Konstantinos Peponis) and the URBOND award (Kingsley Digby). Congratulations to our award winners, you truly deserve it.

The evening’s success was made possible thanks to the generosity of attendees, volunteers, and sponsors, including SLR Marine Recruit, GRP Solutions Ltd, and the National Institute for Health Research.

Fifth Charity Ball

**URBOND** is charity working in the Republic of Guinea to provide primary education to children who would otherwise go without. One of URBOND’s main campaigns in supporting child education is Building Schools where there is no current access to education – the charity is constructing a school in a village called Koutayah where previously children have had to make a dangerous see crossing just to get to school in next town.

During the planning of the school, URBOND representatives identified that Koutayah also suffered from not having access to clean running water. Through speaking with locals in the village, it was discovered that mothers and children would walk journeys of 7-8km to fetch water for their families. It has been recorded that 1/3 of Guineans drink unsafe water, with rural villages such as Koutayah suffering the most.

On 22nd May, URBOND began the construction of the water borehole on site of the new school building. After two days of digging, the charity brought clean water to the children and the locals who previously had no access.

Giving children in Koutayah education is giving them tools to work their way out of poverty but water is the most basic need in the world.

### Benefits of the Project

With a safe water point close to school, children's attendance rates will increase significantly. Girls will no longer have to stay home during their menstrual cycles. Toilet facilities will keep children on the school campus during the day. Handwashing facilities reduce the spread of disease and therefore reduce absence in children’s school attendance.

Having access to safe water and sanitation will greatly reduce the spread of disease. Providing a safe water facility can improve the overall health of an entire community for now and for years to come.

The responsibility of fetching water usually falls to mothers and young girls. By having an accessible facility in their community, women and girls will no longer have to journey far from home, where they're at risk of violence and kidnapping.

### Impact of the Project

Koutayah and nearby villages have a population of approximately 3,500 people. These villages will now have access to clean water on a daily basis.

**Case Study: Moriba Camara**

“My name is Moriba Camara. I was born and raised in Koutayah, and my parents and grandparents are all from here. Throughout my childhood and up until now at age 73, we have always walked about 6km to fetch water and walked 6km back to the village. For the past 20 years, we have had many organisations and the government promising us clean water, but they never kept their promises.

To be honest, when URBOND purchased land in Koutayah to build a school so the children wouldn’t risk their lives crossing the sea to go to school, we never believed it would be done.

However, witnessing everything they have been doing here has given us, our children, and our grandchildren hope. You can sense that they deeply care and want to help us.

Saying this borehole is life-changing is an understatement. I know our ancestors will be praying for everyone involved in this project. We don’t have much to give, but we are praying for URBOND and their supporters every day for God to keep giving them the strength to help those in need.

I will be happy to go to my grave knowing Koutayah has clean water and that we have people who care about us.”

URBOND would like to thank GRP Solutions Ltd for sponsoring this life-changing project for the village of Koutayah, the support is truly appreciated. Water is the most basic need in the world, which unfortunately millions of people across the world go without. With the support from our sponsor, it has been made possible to change the lives of an entire village and surrounding areas for now and years to come.

<img title="a title" alt="Alt text" src="/images/assets/bore.jpg"> <img title="a title" alt="Alt text" src="/images/assets/locals.jpg">

Providing Clean Water to a Community in Need

On the eighth day of URBOND’s initiative in Guinea, the team’s first stop was the URBOND Centre, where we successfully delivered more dental hygiene workshops. The sessions aimed to educate young people on the importance of oral care, focusing on the long term health risks associated with poor dental hygiene. Remarkably, some children had their teeth cleaned for the first time, marking a milestone in the project.

The team’s second destination was the GLS School in Dubreka, where we delivered a dental hygiene lesson to over 100 students. The impact was profound, as it became apparent that some of the teenagers were learning to clean their teeth for the first time. Originally, URBOND had planned to base their operations here, but we eventually settled at Ecole Primaire d’Application.

Later in the day, the volunteers visited a local radio station where Ousmane Drame, URBOND’s CEO, spoke live on air. Drame used the opportunity to raise awareness about URBOND’s mission, highlighting the charity’s upcoming sporting events aimed at promoting child education.

The volunteers then gathered at a sewing centre for lunch, where they observed the sewing team in action. URBOND’s partnership with Days for Girls UK continues to thrive, as they work together to ensure that young girls stay in school by providing sanitary pads, a critical aspect of the charity’s focus on gender equality and access to education.

The day culminated in a basketball exhibition game back at the URBOND Centre. The event was designed to raise awareness about child education in Guinea, a cornerstone of URBOND’s mission. As the evening progressed, the atmosphere turned celebratory with music by Rob, who DJed, and plenty of food to bring the day to a lively close.
URBOND’s work continues to make strides in improving access to education and equal opportunities for all in Guinea.





<img title="volunteer photos" alt="day two" src="/images/assets/dayeightba.jpg">

Day 8: Volunteers Trip to Guinea - URBOND’s Mission in Full Swing

The day started early for the URBOND volunteers, who gathered at 5am, energised and ready for the third annual Dubreka semi-marathon. This annual event always hold a special significance, as its goal is to raise awareness about child education. After a quick coffee, the team made their way to the starting point, the local authority building, known as La Prefecture, where they were greeted by an eager crowd that included many of the children and parents benefiting from URBOND’s educational initiatives.

Participants pinned on their URBOND provided t-shirts and race numbers around 6:30am. At 7am, a warm-up session led by members of the Guinean sports federation kicked off the event. Music, dancing, and the traditional Mongo exercises set a lively tone, emphasising the importance of physical and mental health for all participants. This moment brought together not only the volunteers and participants but also underscored URBOND’s commitment to promoting education and well-being in the local community.

Throughout the 15-kilometre route, participants stopped at checkpoints where instructors led energising exercises, boosting morale and engagement among the runners. The marathon ended with a vibrant closing ceremony that included speeches, dancing, and music attended by more than 1,000 people, including local officials, sports ministry representatives, and the director of competitive sports in Guinea.

After a well-deserved break at the hotel, the volunteers returned for an afternoon focused on child education awareness. URBOND organised a basketball event featuring three games, including under-15, under-18, and adult matches. Despite the morning’s activities, community members showed up in impressive numbers to support the games.

Following the matches, 17 coaches who had been part of coaches training workshops received certifications, marking a significant achievement and celebrating the hard work of both the coaches and the programme organisers. With their new qualifications, these coaches are now equipped to deliver training to local children and students from nearby schools, contributing to the long-term sustainability of URBOND’s educational efforts in Guinea.

Day 11 ended on a high note, with volunteers, coaches, and local community members energised by the success of the events and hopeful about the impact these initiatives will have on future generations in Guinea.



<img title="volunteer photos" alt="day two" src="/images/assets/dayelevenba.jpg">

Day 11: Volunteer Trip to Guinea – Marathon and Basketball Events Drive Child Education Awareness

The fifth day of the volunteer mission in the Republic of Guinea started like any other with a nutritious breakfast and a detailed planning session. Volunteers were set to meet with local authorities, conduct more workshops on dental hygiene, continue the training at the sewing centre, and coach basketball camps. The agenda was as full and busy as ever.

At 10am, the team met with key local officials, including the General and representatives from various ministries, at the local authority building. The meeting focused on the impact URBOND has had in different communities and emphasised the need for stronger support from local authorities to expand the organisation’s efforts. URBOND highlighted that its independent approach working directly with beneficiaries has proven successful, and requested the authorities to continue following their lead on future projects. The goal was clear: better communication and teamwork would lead to greater benefits for the country’s children.

The strategic meeting was productive, offering an opportunity to reflect on the past three years of URBOND’s work in Guinea. It also helped solidify the working relationship between URBOND and the authorities, setting the stage for even more impactful projects in the future.

Afterward, volunteers split up to tackle their assigned duties. Delyth and Mariam were dropped off at the Sewing Centre to continue training local women on manufacturing sanitary kits. The day’s focus was on expanding this programme to empower more girls and women in the region.

Meanwhile, the remaining volunteers prepped for various workshops at the URBOND centre. The CEO met with the school’s headteacher and staff to discuss upcoming activities. Rob geared up for the basketball camp, Patrycja prepared the dental hygiene workshops, while Aidan, Kingsley, Smangele, and Izzy engaged with the children. Alec, as usual, documented everything to ensure no detail was missed.

In a touching moment, the team witnessed the importance of their work firsthand. A young girl at the school, terrified after experiencing her first period, was visibly distressed. She feared her mother would accuse her of inappropriate behavior due to the sudden bleeding. Thanks to the education provided by URBOND, the teachers were able to calm her down and explain the situation. Even more fortunate, there were sanitary kits available, supplied by the sewing team, which helped the young girl regain her confidence and return to class with dignity. This incident underscored the life changing impact of the sanitary kit programme and the importance of menstrual education in the region.

Later in the day, the basketball coaches’ camp resumed. The coaches, punctual and prepared, showed clear progress from previous sessions, confidently coaching the children. The volunteers were thrilled to see the camp objectives being met, with the coaches embracing their roles and the children actively participating.





<img title="volunteer photos" alt="day two" src="/images/assets/dayfiveba.jpg">

Day 5: Volunteers Trip to Guinea - URBOND’s Impact and Progress

The day began with a warm welcome for Delyth, the newest addition to the URBOND team. After a communal breakfast, the team set out for the URBOND centre, where Delyth was introduced to the group and briefed on the upcoming delivery of menstruation kits to the local community.

At midday, the volunteers split into two teams. One team headed to the sewing centre to begin producing menstruation kits and conduct educational workshops, while the other group took to the school grounds for a litter picking session with local children. This effort not only helped tidy up the school but also provided a cleaner, more inviting environment for the students.

Later in the afternoon, all the volunteers gathered at the sewing centre to witness a significant milestone: the production of the centre’s first sanitary kits. With Delyth’s guidance, local seamstresses learned how to cut, sew, and assemble liners for the sanitary shields. This historic moment marked the beginning of a new chapter for both the sewing centre and the city of Dubreka. Already, the centre has provided employment for five women from underprivileged backgrounds, while also contributing to menstrual hygiene and education for girls who previously had to miss school during their periods.

At 2pm the local General visited the sewing centre to see firsthand the impact of the partnership between URBOND and Days for Girls. He was given a tour of the centre, where he saw the progress being made in both sewing and menstrual health education. After lunch, the General was presented with a Days for Girls menstruation kit as a token of appreciation, and he expressed his gratitude and enthusiasm for the positive changes happening in Dubreka.

Later in the day, the volunteers and the General attended the second session of the URBOND basketball camp. The camp included both classroom lectures and on-court practice, where players were introduced to systems like the “5 and out.” Unfortunately, a storm cut the session short, forcing the volunteers, coaches and players to take shelter.
While waiting for the storm to pass, the volunteers engaged with local community members, discussing their lives, interests, and the challenges they face. This impromptu interaction provided a deeper insight into the lives of the people they were there to help, fostering a stronger bond between volunteers and locals.

As the storm showed no signs of clearing, the group decided to head back to their accommodations. The evening ended on a lighter note, with food and social time, marking the end of an impactful and eventful Day 4 of the URBOND trip.
This day not only brought immediate change but also laid the groundwork for long-term community development, particularly in empowering women and improving education in Dubreka.




<img title="volunteer photos" alt="day two" src="/images/assets/dayfourba.jpg">

Day 4: Volunteers Trip to Guinea - A Day of Progress and Community Engagement

On Day 9 of the volunteers’ trip to the Republic of Guinea, the team continued their efforts to support education and community development in Dubreka. The day began at 9am, with the group heading to the URBOND Training Centre to prepare for a visit from Maxton Milner, the Deputy Head of Mission in Dubreka. The agenda was packed with activities, including a guided tour of URBOND’s facilities, dental hygiene workshops, a Coaches Basketball camp, and a football event promoting child education.

At 9:15am, Maxton Milner and the Embassy staff arrived at the URBOND Training Centre, where they were warmly welcomed by the volunteers. The tour included visits to the training centre and the basketball court. A key highlight was the head teacher’s office, constructed by URBOND, where the delegation met with school staff to discuss the organisation’s impact on children’s education in Dubreka since 2019.

By 10am, the group visited the sewing centre, where URBOND has been making significant strides in producing sanitary pads. This initiative is crucial, as many women and girls in Guinea lack access to menstrual products, a situation that often prevents young girls from attending school. The visit provided the Embassy team with insights into the project’s future growth, reinforcing the belief that this initiative will be transformative for many girls and women in the community.

Following the sewing centre tour, Maxton, the Embassy staff, and the URBOND team met with local authorities. The meeting was an opportunity to discuss URBOND’s ongoing projects, and the General expressed his gratitude for the organisation’s continued support of vulnerable children in Dubreka.

A poignant moment of the day came when the group visited Dubreka port. This location holds significance as the spot where many young people cross the river by boat to reach school. Tragically, some have lost their lives in the process, a stark reminder of the challenges faced by children in the region. URBOND’s initiative to build a new school in Koutaya aims to alleviate these dangers and provide a safer path to education.

At 11:30am, volunteers returned to the centre to deliver dental hygiene workshops to teachers and parents. The day’s goal was to train 100 peaoe in dental care and provide them with the knowledge so they can carry on delivering to the children. By addressing basic hygiene needs we are helping remove barriers that prevent children from feeling comfortable in school and fully engaging in their education.

The day concluded with a football exhibition match at 5pm, held to raise awareness about the importance of education for children. This event is central to URBOND’s mission, emphasising that sustainable community development relies on access to education for all.

Overall, Day 9 was another impactful day in the volunteers’ journey, as they worked alongside local authorities, educators, and the community to create lasting change.






<img title="volunteer photos" alt="day two" src="/images/assets/daynineba.jpg">

Day 9: Volunteers Trip to Guinea – Visit from Maxton Milner, the Deputy Head of Mission


The first day of 2024 marked an intense, yet incredibly successful beginning for our URBOND volunteer team. Our journey started at 12:30 am, as we gathered at URBOND headquarters to pack an impressive 18 large suitcases and 12 hand luggage, filled with essential supplies. These included materials to sew menstruation kits, basketballs, jerseys, trainers, toothpaste, and toothbrushes, all vital for the various projects we were set to deliver during this impactful trip.

At 1am, Pete’s Airlink, who generously sponsored the volunteers’ travel, arrived to transport us to Heathrow Airport. After a smooth three hours at the airport, we boarded our flight to Paris Charles de Gaulle, arriving safely at 8:20am. With an 8 hours layover in Paris, our team took the opportunity to recharge before embarking on the next leg of our journey.

At 3:25 pm, we boarded Air France flight AF0592 bound for Conakry, Republic of Guinea, landing at 8:40 pm. There, we were warmly welcomed by URBOND’s Interim Country Representative and drivers who assisted us with our luggage. After loading the vehicles, we began the journey to Dubreka, arriving at HB Hotel at midnight.
Despite the long and exhausting day, we managed a quick dinner before heading to bed, knowing that the next day would begin early at 7 am. With our first day behind us, the excitement for the work ahead was palpable, and the team was eager to continue making an impact.

“I am more than happy to offer our help, as a local company education is something we are very passionate about, we want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to attend school irrespective of their individual needs.” Jo, Manager Pete’s Airlink. 
Special thank you to Jo and everyone at Pete’s Airlink for sponsoring our volunteers travel to Heathrow. We appreciate their generosity. 




Day 1: Volunteers Trip to Guinea - A Grueling Yet Triumphant Start

The day began with a nutritious breakfast. The volunteers then headed to the URBOND centre to deliver two dental hygiene workshops. One of the workshops targeted solely young girls, this was important to increase girls’ participation in school.

At the same time as the dental hygiene workshops, Delyth was working with the sewing team to carry on building their skills in producing sanitary pads. Every precaution is being taken to ensure we can produce good quality kits for the local women and young girls. The work rate of URBOND to help the locals in Dubreka is increasing.

In the afternoon the volunteers took a drive to the school being built in Koutaya. The volunteers witnessed how remote of the location of the school is and understand what the local children have to endure to receive an education and why URBOND are building a school there. While on the drive we witnessed young children walking on a busy road from a school to their local village which was 8-10km away. This was heartbreaking to watch. The Koutaya local community welcomed the volunteers warmly with music and food. The volunteers had a tour of the school and engaged with the children. Patryca held a dance party! 

After greetings and food, a meeting was held with the local leaders. They were speaking to the volunteers about local issues, where URBOND reached out and agreed to help. The only thing the locals had to offer was their prayers, which the volunteers were very thankful for. They prayed for the volunteers so that they can continue their good work. 

At the school the volunteers visited the borehole built by URBOND sponsored by GRP Solutions. The borehole was built because the locals never had access to clean water, previously they would have to travel long distances for water, something we sometimes take for granted in the UK as we just go to the tap in our kitchen. Before leaving POOW Media held an interview with Drame and the leader of the locals to talk about the impact of URBOND in Guinea.
To end the day the volunteers returned back to the hotel for good food and social time around the pool. Time to unwind after an emotional day.




<img title="volunteer photos" alt="day two" src="/images/assets/daysevenba.jpg">

Day 7: Volunteers Trip to Guinea - Dental Hygiene and trip to URBOND new school

The volunteers kicked off their day with a hearty breakfast, preparing for a full day of activities.
In the morning, they set off for Conakry, dressed in formal attire. During the drive, they witnessed the vibrant yet challenging sights along the way: street vendors selling uncovered meat at roadside stalls and children tapping on car windows, asking for money, a glimpse into the local realities.

Upon arrival at the Embassy, they were warmly welcomed by John, the British Ambassador in Guinea. He helped organise URBOND conference attended by representatives from multinational corporations and national NGOs. This provided the volunteers with the opportunity to discuss their projects and share insights into the positive impact their work has had on participants.

The conference soon began, with John addressing the group, emphasising URBOND’s crucial role in Guinea and the tangible difference it is making in people’s lives. Ousmane Drame, URBOND CEO followed with an overview of the charity efforts since its arrival in Guinea, supported by statistics that showcased the impressive progress and contributions of the charity.

Each volunteer was then invited to introduce themselves and share the personal motivations that brought them to Guinea. One by one, they reflected on the importance of URBOND’s mission and the significance of their work in supporting local communities.

The conference also allowed NGOs to present their causes and explore opportunities for collaboration with URBOND, recognising that working together can amplify the reach and effectiveness of efforts to improve outcomes for communities across Guinea.

On the way back to the hotel in Conakry, the volunteers stopped for dinner, joining the locals in celebrating Guinea’s victory over Ethiopia in the AFCON qualifiers—LA GUINÉE!!!
With spirits high after a satisfying meal and the excitement of the win, the team made their way back to Dubreka, bringing an eventful and fulfilling day to a close.



<img title="volunteer photos" alt="day two" src="/images/assets/daysixba.jpg">

Day 6: Volunteers Trip to Guinea - URBOND annual conference held at the British Embassy

On the tenth day of their trip to Guinea, URBOND’s dedicated volunteers gathered at the community center at 8am, ready to bring to life the annual celebration for International Girls Day. Working alongside children, parents, and teachers, they prepared chairs, tables, and decorations for the event, aiming to underscore URBOND’s belief: education is a fundamental right for all, regardless of gender, background, or beliefs.

Education remains a critical mission for URBOND, particularly in addressing social issues like child marriage and child labour, which can disrupt young girls’ access to learning. The day’s agenda focused on sensitisation campaigns, designed to engage and educate parents about the importance of sustained education for all children. Highlighting this theme, the event also celebrated the opening of a new sewing centre, an initiative that has already provided full-time employment for five local mothers. This centre offers these women not only job security but also training and income, empowering them to support their children’s educational journeys.

By 10am, the sewing centre was ready for its grand opening. Local officials, community partners, and media representatives attended to witness the launch. Ousmane Drame, CEO of URBOND, delivered a heartfelt speech, emphasising the sewing centre’s significance in empowering local women and girls. Dubreka Prefecture General, Mr. Ali Camara, followed with words of appreciation, commending URBOND’s dedication to creating life changing opportunities for underprivileged children. The ceremony reached its climax with the ribbon cutting, marking a milestone in the community’s journey toward empowerment and growth.

Following a guided tour of the centre, guests enjoyed refreshments and networking. By then, everything was set for the main event back at the URBOND centre, where over 1,000 attendees, including local parents, eagerly awaited the celebrations. Three distinguished panelists, including Moussa Yéro Diallo, a prominent journalist and activist in Guinea, spoke passionately about URBOND’s impact. They emphasised the critical role of adults and parents in supporting children’s educational paths, as real change relies on community wide support.

Throughout the day, expressions of gratitude filled the air. A lively atmosphere was set as local artist Guastomic entertained the crowd with music that got everyone dancing and singing. The event wrapped up with certificate presentations, recognising individuals who have contributed significantly to URBOND’s mission, from seamstresses to IT trainees and community advocates.

The grand finale featured a volleyball exhibition match, Soumba vs. Conakry. The match, aimed at raising awareness for child education, thrilled the crowd and concluded with a score of 3-1 in Soumba’s favour. It was an inspiring end to a day that brought the community together, reaffirming the power of education, support, and celebration in building brighter futures for all.


<img title="volunteer photos" alt="day two" src="/images/assets/daytenba.jpg">

Day 10: Volunteers Trip to Guinea - International Girls Day and Community Empowerment

On the thirteenth and final day of their mission, URBOND volunteers in Guinea began their last morning with a later breakfast, scheduled for 9am. By 10am, they gathered for a final visit to the URBOND training centre, where they shared heartfelt goodbyes with the dedicated staff and the children they had worked so closely with. The centre had been a focal point of the trip, and parting ways brought a bittersweet feeling for everyone involved.

The volunteers then visited the sewing centre, another important part of the community outreach programme, to bid farewell to the skilled sewing team, who had become an inspiring part of their journey. These farewells underscored the connections made and the impact left behind.

Around 1pm, the volunteers returned to their accommodation to pack up and prepare for their departure. At 6pm, they arrived at the airport, where they had the special opportunity to meet with the airport’s chief. The volunteers expressed their gratitude for his unwavering support and the exceptional hospitality he extended to them on each visit, ensuring that their travels were seamless and comfortable.

Boarding flight AF0593 at 10:25pm, the volunteers left Guinea with heavy hearts but unforgettable memories. Their journey continued with a 12hour layover in Paris, where they boarded the connecting flight AF1180 bound for Heathrow Airport at 6:15pm the following day.

Reflecting on the experience, the volunteers acknowledged the transformative impact of the trip, not only for the children they served but also on their own lives. The bonds formed, the lessons learned, and the shared moments with the community will remain with them long after they return home. This journey marked the end of one chapter, with hopeful anticipation for future opportunities to make a difference.

Day 13: Volunteers’ Farewell in Guinea – A Memorable Goodbye

Despite the storms cutting our previous day short, Day 3 started with a renewed energy and determination to catch up. After a team meeting to align on our projects and goals for the day, we left the hotel at 9am, with two cars packed with basketball equipment, toothbrushes, and toothpaste ready for a full day of work.

Our first stop was the URBOND Training Centre, where we unloaded the supplies. Next, we visited La Gendarmerie and the local Police station to formally introduce the volunteers and brief them on our activities. It was important to ensure local authorities were informed and supportive of our efforts.

**Dental Hygiene Workshop: Empowering 150 Children**

At noon, Patrycja led a three hour dental hygiene workshop. Over 150 children attended and were educated on the importance of dental care. They each received toothbrushes and toothpaste to help instill these habits in their daily routines. The children left the session more confident, and we hope they’ll carry these health lessons forward in their lives.

**Engaging with the Community**

After the workshop, we took a brief break to connect with the children on a personal level. We played football, ran around, and even taught them a few words in English. It was a fun and rewarding way to break up the day and build rapport with the kids.

**Basketball Camp: Coaching for Change**

At 5:30pm, the much-anticipated basketball camp kicked off, led by Rob Milner, chairman of Portsmouth Force Basketball. The camp focuses not only on coaching young players but also training local coaches. This knowledge sharing is vital for continuing basketball development in Dubreka, keeping young people engaged and promoting their physical and mental health. For the most talented, the camp may open doors to professional opportunities.

The evening ended with a friendly scrimmage between the coaches, an exciting conclusion to a productive day



**New Arrival and Exciting Collaboration**

While Rob was delivering the basketball camp, Alec, one of our volunteers, and Mariam Bah, URBOND’s Interim Country Representative, travelled to Conakry to welcome Delyth, UK Days for Girls’ Country Coordinator, who is joining us to help establish a sanitary kits sewing team in Guinea. Her expertise will be instrumental in this vital project aimed at improving menstrual hygiene education and resources for young girls.
Overall, Day 3 was another successful day packed with progress, learning, and community engagement. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue our journey on Day 4!



<img title="volunteer photos" alt="day two" src="/images/assets/daythreeba.jpg">

Day 3: Volunteers Trip to Guinea - Making a Lasting Impact

Volunteers kicked off Day 12 with an early start at 8am, setting out to make significant contributions in both education and health. Arriving at URBOND centre by 8:30am, the team divided into two groups to maximise impact. One team focused on revitalising the school’s library with a deep clean, while the other team headed to Primary School General Lansana Conte (GLS) to continue delivering essential dental hygiene workshops.

With a target of reaching 1,000 beneficiaries, volunteers sacrificed their lunch break to ensure they met their goal. At the library, the team swept, scrubbed, and tidied every corner, preparing the space for learning opportunities. Following the cleanup, volunteers organised English reading sessions for the children, aiming to improve literacy and language skills in the community.

Meanwhile, at GLS, a dedicated team led by volunteer Patrycja tackled the final sessions of the dental hygiene workshops. Reaching the 1,000 people milestone was essential, as dental infections pose severe health risks for local residents. Their efforts, which addressed proper oral care practices, mark a significant achievement in promoting long term community health.

With their goal accomplished, the volunteers returned to the URBOND centre, proud of their hard day’s work and the tangible impact they had made. Later that evening, the team was invited to a dinner hosted by the General, providing a moment of relaxation and gratitude after a fulfilling day of service and say goodbye.

Key Takeaway: The team’s accomplishments in education and health on Day 12 underscore the critical role of volunteerism in transforming communities, one workshop and lesson at a time.




<img title="volunteer photos" alt="day two" src="/images/assets/daytwelveba.jpg">

Day 12: Volunteers Trip to Guinea - Volunteers Reach Milestone in Guinea with Dental and Educational Outreach

Due to long travel times on the first day, our volunteers had a lay in and started the day at 9am with a nice group breakfast. At 10am we headed to URBOND training centre for the volunteers to meet some of URBOND Guinea staff and network. As an organisation this is pivotal to our work as it allows our volunteers to gain a deeper understanding of URBOND Child Education. 

At 11am we met with the head teacher and some teachers of our partner school to introduce our volunteers. After the introduction with the teachers, we went into each of the class rooms to introduce our volunteers to the children we have been supporting. 

At 12pm we took a drive to the sewing centre we are putting in place for the best interest of the children from underprivileged communities. We met with five newly employed sewers who will be working at the centre sewing sanitary kits. The centre is coming together nicely, very impressive to see the decoration. 
After the sewing centre we headed to the local authority to introduce our volunteers and talk about different projects we will be running this year. The General was very impressed with the charity plans and asked to call up a meeting with all the local leaders to make sure everyone benefits from this year’s different projects. The meeting is scheduled for Monday 14th October at 10am. 

The majority of Guineans are Muslim, we decided to finish the meet and greet in time for Friday prayers. At 1:15pm we headed back to the hotel for launch and some rest as the weather was getting a bit hot. During lunch after the prayers, heavy rain and thunderstorms started at around 3pm and carried on until 7pm We had dinner at 8pm, had some social time. When web thought it was time for bed the basketball committee arranged an emergency meeting to discuss some important amendments to the basketball camps. The meeting took 45 minutes, attendees were Ousmane Drame, URBOND CEO, Rob Milner, Portsmouth Force chairman, and three figureheads from Dubreka sport disciplines. 


<img title="volunteer photos" alt="day two" src="/images/assets/daytwoba.jpg">

Day 2: Volunteers Trip to Guinea - Welcome and meeting the local authorities


On Friday, 27th October, we had the pleasure of visiting the Guinean Embassy in London with our incredible 2024 volunteers, who will soon be traveling to the Republic of Guinea. 


The Ambassador, Mr. Aly Diallo, on behalf of the Guinean Government, expressed deep appreciation for URBOND’s ongoing work in Guinea and personally thanked our volunteers for their dedication, hard work, and commitment to supporting children in the region. 


During the meeting, we had the chance to discuss our exciting plans for this year, which include: 

 
- Sewing sanitary kits for young girls in Guinea, which will provide employment for the locals. 

- Building a new school in an area where there is currently none. 

- Conducting dental hygiene workshops for the children. 

- Hosting sports camps for coaches and children. 

- Organising educational workshops and sensitisation campaigns. 

 

A heartfelt thank you to the Ambassador and the entire Guinean Embassy staff for their warm welcome and continued partnership.  

Embassy Visit 


1,500 + Reusable Sanitary Pads, 750 Young Girls, 5 Communes and 9 Different Schools.

Most girls in Guinea will miss school during their menstruation cycle or drop out once they start menstruating. URBOND identified the lack of sanitary products, appropriate toilet facilities, and lack of knowledge to be the key factors to be addressed for increasing school attendance and reducing childhood pregnancy.

From the 13th til the 23rd of February 2023, URBOND will work in partnership with the British Embassy to Conakry to deliver workshops to 750 young girls from 9 different schools and over 1,500 reusable sanitary pads will be distributed to support girls from underprivileged communities.

The aim is to increase girls’ school attendance by providing them with the knowledge and menstrual equipment so that they have better understanding of their bodies. For the past few years URBOND have worked hard to prevent girls from skipping or dropping out of school due to menstruation. In fact within 18 months, URBOND helped increase girls attendance with their partner school in Dubreka (Republic of Guinea) by 62.2%.

Education is a powerful weapon for young girls as it protects them from child labour, increases participation in workforce, increases earning capacity and reducing early marriage. URBOND and it’s partners are committed to supporting young girls to stay in school and obtain the education they deserve.


Menstruation project 


Thank you to our long-term partner Richmond Motor Group for agreeing to sponsor this life changing sports facility for the children and the locals. Over 500 children will use the facility daily.

“This project will provide children with a safer play area and, keep them mentally and physically healthy. Sam Nobes and everyone at Richmond Motor Group have heavily been involved with URBOND since the beginning, without their incredible support URBOND great achievements would have never been possible.”- Ousmane Drame, URBOND CEO


RMG Sponsors Childrens Play Area


URBOND Honoured at Portsmouth Tech and Cultural Summit for Transformative Global Work. 

 

On the 14th September URBOND was honoured at the prestigious Portsmouth Tech and Cultural Summit (PATECS). The award recognised the organisation’s ongoing efforts in the city of Portsmouth as well as its impactful Child Education initiatives in the Republic of Guinea. 

 

The accolade serves as a testament to URBOND unwavering commitment to positive social change, both locally and abroad. The Child Education programme in Guinea has touched the lives of numerous young people, offering critical resources and support in underserved communities. This work continues to make a profound difference by empowering children with the education and opportunities they need to thrive. 

 
A heartfelt thank you was extended to Gabriel and the entire Pavolera team for acknowledging these contributions. During the thank you speech, URBOND also expressed deep gratitude to its sponsors, supporters, volunteers, and beneficiaries. Their collective efforts, along with a dedicated core team, are the driving force behind the success and impact that URBOND continues to achieve. 

 
We are just getting started,” said Ousmane Drame, URBOND CEO. “Get involved, as together, we can achieve even greater things.” 

 

With this recognition, URBOND aims to inspire others to join their mission, reinforcing the belief that meaningful change is possible when communities come together. The future looks bright as URBOND pushes forward, creating a lasting legacy of empowerment and opportunity both at home and across the globe.  

 

For those looking to get involved or learn more, URBOND welcomes volunteers and supporters to contribute to the ongoing journey of transformation. 

URBOND Honoured at Portsmouth Tech and Cultural Summit for Transformative Global Work.


We are pleased to announce that our long term partner, Portsmouth family run business Richmond Motor Group will be sponsoring a library & a computer room within our school in the village of Koutaya.

This particular building will comprise of a library, computer room, teachers meeting room, head teachers office, etc.

Building a fully equipped school in Koutaya would provide vastly improved access to education for children in need, with significant improvements in their educational attainment that will empower them throughout their whole lives.

The school will assist the overall development of Koutaya in the short term through providing quality education to the children and prosperity for the community, and in the long term through helping to produce Koutaya’s next generation of citizens and community leaders.

A big thank you to Sam Nobes, Andrew Clarke, Abigail Talmondt, Jess Nobes and the whole Richmond Motor Group family and staff for their ongoing support and helping change lives.


RMG Sponsors Building of a library & computer room in Koutaya 

Since 2019, we have been working extremely hard to help improve primary education in the Republic of Guinea. The demand for child education support has been far greater than what we can currently offer, leading us to strategically selecting areas with the greatest need. 

In addition to Conakry, Dubreka, and Coyah, Kindia is now our new targeted area due to the high rate of school dropouts among girls. Kindia is the fourth largest city in Guinea, located about 137 km northeast of the capital, Conakry, with a population of approximately 200,000. 

From our feasibility study, engaging with local authorities, parents, teachers, and young girls, we concluded that the high dropout rate among young girls is due to the same issues faced in other cities we have worked with. These issues include a lack of basic sanitary facilities, insufficient access to sanitary kits, and a lack of education on menstrual health and personal care. 

Starting from the 17th of February 2025, we launched an initiative in Kindia to address these challenges. The workshops were incredibly successful, with an impact beyond our expectations and heartfelt feedback from participants. Even better, the 1,500 sanitary kits donated to support young girls were proudly made in Guinea by our talented sewing team based in Dubreka. 

Key achievements of the project: 

+ 508 young girls trained on menstrual health 

+ 1,500 sanitary kits donated 

+ 1,006 young boys educated on respecting girls and understanding sexual violence 

+ 73 teachers and 166 parents equipped to support girls during their periods 

A huge thank you to our partner schools, local authorities in Kindia, Days for Girls UK, Days for Girls International and the British Embassy for their invaluable support in making this project possible. 

This is just the beginning, Kindia, we’ll be back with more life changing opportunities for children from underprivileged communities. 


<img title="volunteer photos" alt="day two" src="/images/assets/kindia1.jpg">

Empowering Young Girls in Guinea: Tackling School Dropout in Kindia


Tough Mudder 2024: Aidan Law and Isabelle Laurent Gear Up for Guinea



In less than three weeks, Aidan Law and Isabelle Laurent will embark on a significant journey to Guinea, driven by their commitment to improving the lives of children in need. Their participation in Tough Mudder 2024 was not just a test of physical endurance but also a platform for raising crucial funds aimed at providing primary education to underprivileged children.

The Tough Mudder event challenged participants with a gruelling course, filled with obstacles that pushed each competitor to their limits. Yet, for Aidan and Isabelle, the true challenge lies ahead as they prepare to travel to Guinea, where they will witness firsthand the impact of their fundraising efforts.

This initiative highlights the importance of education and aims to bridge the gap for many children who lack access to essential learning resources. Every penny raised will contribute to establishing better educational facilities and materials, helping to pave the way for a brighter future for these young learners.

Urbond

Empowering Young Girls in Guinea: Tackling School Dropout in Kindia

Fifth Charity Ball

Day 13: Volunteers’ Farewell in Guinea – A Memorable Goodbye

Day 12: Volunteers Trip to Guinea - Volunteers Reach Milestone in Guinea with Dental and Educational Outreach

Day 11: Volunteer Trip to Guinea – Marathon and Basketball Events Drive Child Education Awareness

Day 10: Volunteers Trip to Guinea - International Girls Day and Community Empowerment

UK

GUINEA

USEFUL LINKS

FOLLOW US