APARA - American Pan-African Relief Agencies, Inc.

The American Pan-African Relief Agencies, Inc. (APARA) was first incorporated in December 1998 as the American Pan-African Relief Fund. Our name was amended in May, 2000, to reflect the scope of our services. Since then much has been accomplished. Please visit our APARA in Action Photo Gallery to see examples of our activities

2005 - Third Relief Mission Trip to Africa (Nigeria)

In 2005, the American Pan-African Relief Agencies embarked on a mercy mission to Nigeria, a country which is faced with many challenges. It is Africa's most populated country representing one quarter of all of Africa's people and 20% of the population of the Black World. During this visit, APARA donated cash, materials and equipment (including computers and related equipment) to schools and 13 charitable organizations with proven track records.

The Executive Director of APARA, Mr. Emmanuel M. I. Omokha, Sr, and his entourage admires some of the 95 children in the Ijamido Children's Home with the PRO, Miss Stella Willoughby.

The charities visited by APARA included

SOS Children"s Village,
Nigeria Society for the Blind,
Strong Tower Mission Family Relief Centres,
Wesley School I for the Deaf,
Wesley School II for the Dumb,
Lagos State Government of Nigeria - Ministry of Youth Sports and Social Development: Old People's Home,
Lagos State Government of Nigeria - Ministry of Education: State School of Deaf and Dumb,
Ijamido Children's Home,
Modupe Cole Memorial School/Home for the Physically Challenged and Handicapped Children
and the Lucinma Women Development Centre.

The Executive Director of APARA, Mr. Emmanuel M. I. Omokha, Sr, presenting the donations of cash and a set of computers, printer and fax machine to Mrs. Mary Ogunjob, Vice Principal (School II) and Mr. Solomon Abbey, Vice Principal (School I of Wesley School of Deaf and Dumb, Surulere Lagos.

Charitable Religious Groups visited included

Victorious Christians Assembly,
Celestial Church of Christ - Ikeja II Parish.

APARA also visited the Urbane Medical Clinic.

The donations to these charities and schools was a realization of APARA"s strong belief of cooperation and collective efforts with other NGO's in providing realistic and effective services to the needy and distressed in society. The visit attracted wide media coverage by six respected media organizations in Nigeria, namely: Punch (Nigeria) Ltd, The Sun Publishing Ltd, Daily Times of Nigeria PLC, This Day Newspapers, The Vanguard Media Ltd and The Guardian Newspapers Ltd.

APARA's 2005 Relief Mission to Africa is now documented in a brochure (click here) and videos (click here).

2004 - Second Relief Mission Trip to Africa (Sudan and Uganda)
In 2004, we embarked on our second project mission trip to Sudan and Uganda to start the implementation of some of the needs we identified during our first visit in 2003. During this visit, not only did we provide these people with relief materials including medical treatment, we also started the construction project for housing and a health clinic for the children of Uganda. The building project is known as “Children's Center For AIDS Orphans and Vulnerable Children”. Some of our volunteer engineers and other professionals provided free services and local labor was used to start the construction. At the close of 2004 as can be seen in our video and photo album gallery, the building foundation has been completed. Please see details in APARA full write up on Sudan and Uganda project.

2003 - First Relief Mission Trip to Africa (Republic of Benin, Sudan and Uganda)
In response to the distress calls from the Pan-African regions in 2003, APARA., embarked on a project mission in Uganda to help the AIDS orphans and vulnerable children, war, famine, and drought refugees in Sudan. During this visit, relief materials such as food, clothing, medicines, medical treatment, etc. were provided to these poor children and the refugees. During our first visit we also assessed the needs of these underprivileged people of Sudan and Uganda. Their needs were enormous and included health clinics, educational facilities, pure drinking water, and better housing for AIDS orphans and vulnerable children in Uganda. Other important needs for the refugees and displaced people in Sudan are farming implements, other agricultural and irrigation equipment, and financial resources to assist them for group and large scale farming, so that they can produce sufficient food to feed themselves and be less dependent on foreign food donations.

2003 - Economic Empowerment Program in the Republic of Benin

APARA have provided small grants to 150 women to establish trades and businesses, so as to be financially independent, and as well as to be supportive to their families.

2003 - Uganda Project

Pharmaceutical products and medical supplies and treatments were provided to the AIDS orphans and vulnerable children in Kumi county in Kumi District Uganda through the ACF, East Regional Chapter Medical Representatives.

2003 - Scholarship Program

Under the African Christian Foundation Mission ( Holistic Family Support Project), we are supporting 26 families and 81 orphans in Kumi County, Kumi District, Uganda, who are currently benefiting from our scholarship program. Our scholarship program covers education costs through to university.

2000-2002

During our first two years, through collective programs and contract agreements with many agencies, APARA provided services such as English-as-a-Second Language (ESL), High School Equivalency degrees (GED), job training and employment, job readiness, housing and immigration services, and career and general counseling to immigrants in need.

Agencies that assisted APARA included:

Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement, Inc.
Covenant House Harlem Resource Center
Services for Training and Education Program Services (STEPS)
Creative Interactive Solution, Inc.
Metro Training Center (MTC) in conjunction with Urban Placement Brokers, Inc.
STRIVE, Inc.
Urban Placement Brokers

Between 2000 and 2002, over 2000 immigrants and non-immigrants visited APARA"s office to request a variety of services. Out of this figure, the American Pan-African Relief Agencies provided services to 1282 people with the breakdown as follows:

250 persons were placed in permanent employment positions by our partners in Urban Placement Brokers, STRIVE and Creative Interactive Solutions.
135 persons received job and English-as-a- Second Language (ESL) training
897 immigrants affected by the September 11 terrorist attacks received financial aid and other relief material assistance through several APARA outreach programs:
519 persons received financial assistance from the September 11 Fund of New York, Safe Horizon Red Cross and the Salvation Army
200 persons received FEMA Housing assistance
178 persons received financial assistance of $4000 each at the APARA’s office in New York city by Safe Horizon

Recipients of Sept. 11th relief assistance - many African immigrants applied and were granted emergency funds and other assistance.

Your generous donations to help those in need can be made by credit card or e-check online through our secure website, or by regular mail using this form. We also welcome non-financial donations of medical, educational, computer and other supplies. Please tell us about your non-financial contribution using this form. All donations will be gratefully acknowledged for tax purposes.