The idea for Achieve Africa came from Fr Isidore Nnam Di Obi, a Catholic clergy ordained since 2010 for the diocese of Clifton, UK.
Born in Imo State, Nigeria, his further Religious studies in Europe were at the Catholic University in Leuven, Belgium and St. John’s Seminary in Wonersh near Guildford, UK.
He has served in Swindon, Stroud, Tetbury and Cirencester and has recently taken a much challenging responsibility in Wroughton and Swindon parishes which include the Regional Hospital. Fr Isidore serves with the diocese of Clifton Marriage Tribunal and as such, very familiar with marriage and family challenges.
In 2013, Fr Isidore learnt that his 7 year old nephew, living in Nigeria, had become seriously ill and sadly, as a consequence, had become disabled.
He took on the challenge of finding a suitable home for his nephew where he could receive the specialist care that he needed. After a difficult effort in searching around, provision was eventually secured through the Holy Family Sisters of the Needy at St. Joseph’s Care home in Onitsha, Anambra State, South East Nigeria, where care was provided for his nephew until he died three years later.
Recognising that the provision for the care of disabled children in South East Nigeria was extremely limited, Fr Isidore made the decision to invest his own limited income to support St. Joseph’s care home. And to address the wider social and economic need, he started a small dedicated group in Gloucestershire, England, determined to raise awareness and funds for what he called ‘Achieve Africa’.
The fundraising continued through the work of a growing number of volunteers and supporters, enabling further projects to be supported. Eventually an application was made for formal recognition as a charity, and in 2019 the Charities Commission for England and Wales granted “Achieve Africa” official charitable status as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).