Africo Resources Wins Mines and Money Award

Africo Resources Wins Mines and Money Award

At London’s Mines and Money Awards Dinner on December 3rd, Africo Resources Ltd. was recognized for its outstanding and innovative community service in the Katanga Copperbelt, where the company’s major project is located. Ms. Sauda Kilumanga, Community Relations manager, accepted the award for Africo’s Wheelchairs for Kids program.

Physical disability in a developing country with scant economic resources places a terrible burden on both its victims and their families. Africo’s Wheelchairs for Kids distribution now covers much of southern Democratic Republic of the Congo, with 328 wheelchairs distributed this year. The wheelchairs are donated by the Australian-based volunteer project Wheelchairs for Kids inc., which makes specially designed, rugged wheelchairs for distribution to poor disabled children in over 50 developing countries. Since acquiring the Kalukundi concession, a copper/cobalt joint venture with state-owned Gecamines (25%) in 2004, Africo’s OHS and Community Relations departments have developed a close, dynamic relationship with area communities. Together they have brought potable water to the closest village; provided malaria nets, inoculation and de-worming programs for local employees and villagers; built and subsidized a school that has grown from 74 to 420 students and 8 teachers; established a producing market garden, and more.

During the Gala Dinner, Ms. Kilumanga and CEO Tony Harwood agreed that Wheelchairs for Kids has given Africo some of its most satisfying moments. At the dedication in Kinshasa this September, representatives of the Mayor and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs expressed their intention to partner with Africo in future social upliftment projects. A Memo of Understanding was signed with the Ministry of Social Affairs in Kinshasa in October 2007, the first such partnership with a mining company in the Katanga Province.

Africo Resources Ltd. explores for and develops base metal and gold assets in Africa. Current projects are Kalukundi, a greenfields development-stage copper-cobalt deposit in the DRC, and Mporokoso, located in northern Zambia, also greenfields and prospective for gold, copper and nickel. Africo is Vancouver-based, with an office in Lubumbashi, DRC.

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