How can a social enterprise develop an independently validated model for lifting rural African communities out of extreme poverty?
The answers are revealed in the latest non-fiction offering from pioneering publishers, the Breakthrough Books collective. And The Children Shall Lead Us tells the heartfelt and fascinating account of 23 years of Africa Bridge, the sustainable, cooperative agricultural model transforming rural villages
Described by Archbishop Desmond Tutu as performing “much needed divine work”, the Africa Bridge model offers powerful potential to lift the most vulnerable children out of poverty. And to do so in ways that are sustainable, sensitive and repeatable.
This work is not simply ‘charity’; it’s a proven community-led model that could redefine ethical development in Africa. The book is destined to become recommended reading for the social sciences.
Written by Barry Childs, founder of Africa Bridge, And The Children Shall Lead Us tells the engrossing story of how the project works, how it came about and was implemented, and what has been learned during its 23 years of operation.
Childs understood that to transform vulnerable children’s lives a secure revenue stream was needed, enabling them to be nurtured and educated, and offering realistic opportunities to achieve their potential. Africa Bridge establishes agricultural cooperatives and children’s committees, by actively empowering village women, to generate sustainable incomes while meeting social needs. This community-based, child-focused approach provides a blueprint for ethical development.
Barry’s personal journey from son of an agricultural officer to visionary leader dedicated to service (and winner of the Purpose Prize) is compellingly described in the book. Backed by academic research, it provides not only a proof of concept for Africa Bridge, but a promising blueprint for meaningful development work. For anyone interested in the future of equitable development, And the Children Shall Lead Us offers an eye-opening and engaging read. Order through Breakthrough Books.
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