OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2024-02-29-accounts

Mityana Charity Annual Report 2023/2024

(Registered Charity No 1064825)

Index

1. UK Trustes 2023-24 – Jean Ajin 3
2. Overview 4
3. Chair’s Report – Jean Ajin 6
4. Treasurer’s Report – Bob Riddaway 7
5. Charity Organisation and Operating Processes – Nigel Birch & Jean Ajin 8
6. Committee Recruitment and Succession Planning – Peter Thompson 10
7. Safeguarding Report – Jo Riddaway 11
8. Sponsorship Report – Jenny Penfold, Helen Thompson, Jean Ajin & Jo Riddaway 12
9. Building, WASH and Health Projects – Richard Tudor 14
10. Menstrual Hygeine Management (MHM) – Nigel Birch 17
11. The Magic of Mityana – Nicola Edwards 18
12. Gorillas in the Mist – Keith Greatbatch 20
13. Fundraising Activities – Jean Ajin 22
14. Communication – Nigel Birch/Jean Ajin 24
•
Gift Aid Declaration Form (2024) – Jean Ajin

2

UK Trustees 2023-2024

Name

Role

Jean Ajin Chair & Sponsorship Sarah Birch Secretary Jen Penfold Sponsorship & Safeguarding Bob Riddaway Treasurer Jo Riddaway Minute Secretary & Sponsorship Support Helen Thompson Sponsorship Peter Thompson Sponsorship Support Richard Tudor Construction & WASH Projects

Committee

Nigel Birch Abbie Milwood

Publicity

UK Charity Address

6 Tangley Drive Wokingham Berkshire RG41 2NY

UK Charity Website

www.mityanacharity.org

3

Overview

Promoting Prosperity

Improving Welfare and Support

Improving Medical Provision

4

Enhancing Education

Child Safeguarding and Protection

The seven beneficiaries who graduated from various institutions.

5

Chair’s Report – Jean Ajin

It is with great pleasure that I bring to you the Annual Report of the Mityana Charity for 2023 – 2024. With the help of your generosity, we have continued to help transform the lives of many people in Mityana.

During our recent visit we were able to review progress with our projects and meet the team and directors of PaCT. A highlight was visiting the maternity ward in Kabule, which was almost at completion. Our thanks go to Claire Choudhery who funded the construction and the local Rotary Club, who purchased the land and some equipment. At the construction site we were warmly greeted by the local community who are happy that they don’t have to travel long distances for maternity care and vaccinations.

This year, two new girl-friendly latrines and rain harvesting tanks were constructed at St Kizito and Mwerere Primary Schools with another tank at Sserunyonyi Primary School. Girls changing rooms were also constructed at Kalangalo Primary School and St. Mugaga Secondary School. Both these schools are where several of our sponsored children attend. These developments are only possible thanks to the continued support of several churches and charitable foundations.

In previous years the girls in Orange House, Wellington College, have supported the projects associated with human rights, particularly those affecting children. But last year they wanted to focus on a variety of iniriatives affecting menstruation hygiene management for school-going adolescents. During our visit, we were really impressed to see both girls and boys now making reusable sanitary towels.

Our sponsorship scheme is a core component of the charity’s activities. As well as supporting the education and wellbeing of the sponsored students, it helps raise families out of poverty. In 2023 there were 251 sponsored students: 110 in nursery and primary, 118 in secondary and 23 in tertiary or vocational education. 32 grandmas were also supported. Our sponsorship scheme has dropped ten students this year, due to those completing their education, and only three new sponsors have been recruited. It is quite worrying that we are not attracting more sponsors so it would be fantastic news if everyone could find one new sponsor.

The community and training hall at PaCT’s facility is still awaiting funding to complete it. Raglan House, Wellington College, is committed to supporting the project, but any donations and fundraising by others would be gratefully received. Once the hall is up and running, it will permit some local fund-raising by PaCT.

Last year there were two fundraising events that require special mention. Yasmin Jenkins did a sponsored cycle ride between Maidenhead and Tunis and Dorothea Pease was involved in a sponsored relay swim across the Channel. Their efforts and long-term support for the charity are greatly appreciated.

We endeavour to ensure that all monies provided by our donors are used for their intended purpose. We monitor progress in Uganda by receiving monthly financial and project reports from PaCT. These highlight monies received and spent and describe the activities carried out during the month. They also identify any safeguarding issues which have arisen and specify the actions that have been taken.

I find it hard to believe that 29 years ago I first visited Mityana. We have been investigating how to make our charity more sustainable, as many of us are getting older. If you are interested in helping with the running of the charity in any way, please contact me.

I am truly grateful for all the support you have given over the years. I am indebted to the donors, trustees, volunteers and our dedicated PaCT team and especially Geoffrey Kinaalwa, who has great vision and commitment, to develop the communities. Without you we would not have continued to help improve the lives of so many people.

6

Volunteers

Large single donations

Treasurer’s Report – Bob Riddaway

Finance – Mityana Charity Accounts

As shown in the final accounts, income in 2023/24financial year (1 March 2023 to 29 February 2024) was £232,711 with expenditure of £220,235 giving an in-year surplus of £12,476. Details are given in the Financial Accounts on pages 30 to 34. The following graph summarises income and expenditure for 2023/24.

The following provides some information about the finances of specific projects.

7

Charity Organisation and Operating Processes – Nigel Birch/Jean Ajin

Organisation

Mityana Charity is registered and compliant with regulations of the Charity Commission beta.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1064825&subid=0

The Charity is run by a committee whose membership includes trustees of the Charity. Various committee members are designated Project Leaders for the main areas of work funded by the Charity.

The Charity works with PaCT (Partners for Community Transformation) formerly named as Mityana (Uganda) Charity. It is a Ugandan registered NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation) which manages the projects in Uganda. The relationship between the Charity and PaCT is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding.

The Charity has no paid employees within the UK but supports the employment of an Executive Director and other administrative staff in Mityana who manage projects funded by the Charity. The UK Project Leaders monitor progress with projects based on monthly reports provided by PaCT. PaCT also carries out projects that are not funded by the Charity. A monthly financial report is provided by PaCT.

UK Trustees and Committee Members

The Charity’s trustees are members of the UK committee elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Also, there are a few members of the committee who are not trustees – they can contribute to overseeing the activities of the Charity without the additional legal responsibilities of being a trustee. Due to the small numbers of committee members there is no formal process for selecting and vetting trustees. Those who want to serve on the committee are personally known and trusted. The trustees are responsible for the running of the charity according to its Constitution and the Law and ensure that all decisions taken are based on sound judgement. They ensure that financial accounting and monitoring of the Charity’s work is at a high standard.

The minutes of all committee and specific trustees meetings are fully documented. These are referred to when carrying out the annual financial review. The trustees are responsible for the approval of the statement of accounts.

8

Organisation

Mityana Charity is registered and compliant with regulations of the Charity Commission beta.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1064825&subid=0

The Charity is run by a committee whose membership includes trustees of the Charity. Various committee members are designated Project Leaders for the main areas of work funded by the Charity.

The Charity works with PaCT (Partners for Community Transformation) formerly named as Mityana (Uganda) Charity. It is a Ugandan registered NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation) which manages the projects in Uganda. The relationship between the Charity and PaCT is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding.

The Charity has no paid employees within the UK but supports the employment of an Executive Director and other administrative staff in Mityana who manage projects funded by the Charity. The UK Project Leaders monitor progress with projects based on monthly reports provided by PaCT. PaCT also carries out projects that are not funded by the Charity. A monthly financial report is sent to us by PaCT.

UK Trustees and Committee Members

The Charity’s trustees are members of the UK committee elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Also, there are a few members of the committee who are not trustees – they can contribute to overseeing the activities of the Charity without the additional legal responsibilities of being a trustee. Due to the small numbers of committee members there is no formal process for selecting and vetting trustees. Those who want to serve on the committee are personally known and trusted. The trustees are responsible for the running of the charity according to its Constitution and the Law and ensure that all decisions taken are based on sound judgement. They ensure that financial accounting and monitoring of the Charity’s work is at a high standard.

The minutes of all committee and specific trustees meetings are fully documented. These are referred to when carrying out the annual financial review. The trustees are responsible for the approval of the statement of accounts.

Public Benefit

Public benefit in the UK relates to the Charity’s interaction with its donors, sponsors and churches that have an interest in the Charity. These relationships help to communicate and inform a wide audience about developments in Uganda in particular and Africa in general. Also they provide a opportunities for individuals and organisations to support international charitable activities in an efficient and effective way.

Public benefit in Uganda is provided by the community projects that have been funded by the Charity and executed through PaCT. The Mityana community clearly benefits from the projects funded by the Charity. These projects align with the aims and objectives of the Charity.

Administration and Communication

Our computerised database, with the overall objective of making the administration of the Charity more efficient, allows more people to take responsibility for various elements of the administration, rather than being totally reliant on just a few key individuals.

The Donorfy system focuses on sponsors, donors and other interested parties and allows us to:

9

We have had generous donations from two organisations (Mandeville Recruitment and The Flatman Partnership) to cover the annual costs of running the Donorfy system again this year.

PaCT has a separate database which holds all child-centred data. It aims to improve the way sponsors are updated with news of their sponsored children. All reports, letters etc. are online in the Ugandan database and it is the sponsors responsibility to check on updates. Sponsors have been informed of their unique number and password. Please let us know if you are unable to log in. The system has been designed for sponsors to be able to reply to the letter their child writes. The replies go through to our sponsorship department in Mityana, who read and show the letter to them. This is also essential for safeguarding the children.

Data Management Systems, Data Protection

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into effect after 28 May 2018. It is essential that you ensure that you have signed up for us to continue sending you our standard communications: newsletters, AGM invitations and Annual Reports. Please go to www.mityanacharity.org/mailing.php if you do not receive the standard publications but would like to do so.

Committee Recruitment & Succession Planning – Richard Tudor

For over a year now, the committee have been turning their attention to succession planning. The charity has been running for almost 30 years, and a number of our existing trustees and committee members have served for much or all of that time, so there is a real need for new people to join us, bringing fresh ideas and enthusiasm.

A “Strategy Group” was formed, which analysed the way we work and how this could be streamlined. In October we held a Committee “Away Day” at Richard & Jane Tudor’s home in Dorchester on Thames, when, facilitated by Jane Tudor, we reached the joint conclusion that a key task was to focus on the recruitment of new trustees and committee members, and ideally someone to work alongside Jean Ajin, with a view to taking on her role as Chair of the Mityana Charity.We resolved to:

New members of the committee are always welcome – please talk to any of the existing trustees about how you might get more involved, and what skills you might bring to us!

10

Safeguarding Report – Jo Riddaway

A revised Safeguarding Policy was been adopted by the Charity in November 2023. This takes into account advice provided by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO). As part of the policy, the Mityana Charity commits to addressing safeguarding throughout its work with a focus on:

UK personnel involved in the Mityana Charity have no direct contact with children or vulnerable adults who are supported via PaCT. However, the Charity has a responsibility to ensure that PaCT embraces safeguarding in its fullest sense. This requires PaCT to have a robust safeguarding system in place with the accompanying procedures being actively implemented in day-to-day practice. Visits to partner schools and children’s homes by PaCT staff continue to be a vital part of the safeguarding process.

Any safeguarding issues are included in the monthly reports provided by PaCT. In 2023/24:

PaCT’s Child Protection Policy includes procedures associated with:

The topic of safeguarding is included in all meetings involving students, parents/guardians, PaCT staff and the PaCT Board.

The Mityana Charity appoints a trustee to take the lead on safeguarding. For most of the year this role was undertaken by Jenny Penfold, but she has now been replaced by Jo Riddaway.

11

Sponsorship Report – Jenny Penfold, Helen Thompson, Jean Ajin, Jo Riddaway

Sponsored students

The sponsorship programme continues to support underprivileged communities by providing school fees, scholastic materials and midday meals for sponsored students. Also efforts are made to strengthen educational provision in government schools. This has only been possible thanks to the many individuals who sponsor students, and the dedicated sponsorship teams in Uganda and the UK.

The following table shows the number of sponsored students in 2022/23 and 2023/24.

2022/23 2023/24
Nursery 4 1
Primary 136 109
Secondary 93 118
Tertiary/Vocational 28 23
Total 261 251

The reduction in the total number of students and the lack of new ones coming into nursery and primary is a concern because the sponsorship programme is a key part of the charity’s activities. Also the gift aid from sponsorship donations make an important contribution to funding the running costs of PaCT.

Some students take public exams towards the end of the academic year.

These results mark a significant step in some students moving onto new educational opportunities in schools, vocational colleges and universities. Also during 2023 five sponsored students graduated – one with a BA in Education, one with a Certificate in Plumbing and three completed an apprenticeship in welding.

Other aspects of sponsorship

Sponsors have a direct relationship with the students they sponsor. Indeed the sponsored students and their families greatly appreciate the gifts provided at birthdays and Christmas. Use of the sponsorship on-line system is an effective was of enhancing communication between sponsors and their students. Please access this system to find out information about the students and see the letters written to their sponsors. Any queries about your sponsored student can be sent to Florence Nabukalu at sponsorship@pactug.org but please copy in the relevant member of the UK sponsorship team.

In addition to sponsoring students, support is also provided to 32 grandmas who are mainly unsupported widows or caring for many orphaned grandchildren. Though donations are usually made each month, the money is transferred to the grandmas on a quarterly basis. This allows them acquire funds to support long-term sustainability (e.g. rearing pigs or renting land to grow crops).

12

It is recognised that not every sponsor is able commit to funding a student through their primary or secondary education. Also funding tertiary or vocational education might be beyond the means of some sponsors. If you are in that position, please inform the relevant UK sponsorship coordinator as soon as possible so that action can be taken at an early stage to manage the expectations of a student. Also an option is to provide funds for support activities (see the next section) rather than continue to sponsor a student.

Sponsored students at Nabukenya Primary School.

Sponsored students cutting their graduation cake at PaCT’s offices

Support activities

To enhance the effectiveness of the sponsorship programme and the development of the sponsored students, there are various supporting activities that play a key role. The following gives a brief description of some of those activities.

Our thanks go to everyone who generously supports the sponsorship programme. It really does transform the wellbeing, educational attainment and life chances of the students and their families.

Helen Thompson (Secondary & Tertiary); chthompson@btinternet.com Jenny Penfold (Primary 4 to 7): jen.penfold@virginmedia.com Jean Ajin (Nursery and Primary 1 to 3): jean.ajin@gmail.com Jo Riddaway (Sponsorship Support): joriddaway@yahoo.co.uk

13

Grandma with some of her grandchildren receiving gifts from her sponsor.

Sponsored students learning how to make shoes as part of the life skills initiative.

Building, WASH and Health Projects – Richard Tudor

Building Projects

Kalangaalo Primary School

The newly refurbished classroom was handed over in in February 2023, thanks to a generous donation by Andrew and Sarah Dodd. A group of trustees and sponsors were able to visit the school in February this year. The school gave us a warm welcome and proudly showed us their new building as well as entertaining us with lunch singing and dancing by the students.

Raglan Hall Training Centre

Mityana Charity’s Ugandan NGO Partner PaCT (Partners for Community Transformation has its headquarters in Mityana and is now seeking to complete the construction of a training centre alongside their offices in the new Ajin Building. This hall will provide a venue for the many training and public events PaCT hold as part of their work, and will also provide a revenue stream helping to make the NGO more sustainable in the future.

Raglan House, Wellington College has partly funded the project to bring it to this stage – please help us to bring this project to completion! £30,000 is needed to complete the building and provide Mityana with a valuable new training centre.

14

WASH Projects

St Kizito Mirembe Primary School

Girl-friendly latrines: The construction of a girl-friendly latrine at St Kizito Mirembe primary school was completed, than ks to a further generous donation from Finchampstead and California and St Sebastian’s PCCs in February 2023.

A water tank was also installed at St Kizito, with the generous support of John and Sue Edwards.

Girl-friendly latrines are a relatively recent innovation for PaCT Latrines, which provide an additional larger cubicle, with washing facilities, to allow for period hygiene and additional privacy for girls during their periods.

Mwererwe Primary School girl-friendly latrines, and water tank

These were completed in February 2023, thanks to a grant from the Hilden Charitable Fund.

Lulagala Primary School – Girl-friendly latrines

Finally John and Sue Edwards have generously funded another girl-friendly latrine for Lulagala PS, near Mityana. This project is due to be completed shortly.

Water tanks

Serunyonyi Primary School

Dorothea Pease completed an impressive cross channel swim, and raised funds for Mityana which went towards a much needed rainwater harvesting tank for this school.

15

St Ann Primary School, Mityana

Once again Finchampstead and California PCC, with the family and friends of Ann Beaver contributing also on the occasion of her funeral, to fund a water tan at this school.

Hand Wash Facility – Mityana Public School

A hand washing facility was also recently completed at Mityana Public School, which has grown from 300 to over 1000 students in just a few years.

Health Projects

Maternity Ward at Kabule Health Centre III

The project is now nearing completion, thanks to a generous donation from Claire Choudhury. As part of a visit to Mityana with a large group of trustees and sponsors of the charity, we had the opportunity to visit the site of the new maternity ward, currently nearing completion, at Kabule Health Centre III.

We were warmly welcomed by the staff of the Health Centre, as well as the Rotary Club of Muyenga, who are funding the equipment for the new unit (as well as providing the site for the original health Centre). We also saw the existing maternity facilities, to give you an idea of how important the new ward is.

The existing maternity ward The existing delivery suite

16

Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) – Nigel Birch

In 2023 Diane Simpson stood down from the Mityana Charity committee and relinquished her role in the Human Rights and Prisons Project. Her final report was published in the 2023 Annual Report. Following the AGM in May 2023 I took on the MHM Project as the UK point of contact on a temporary basis until a more suitable committee member was available to take on the role.

The MHM project was re-launched in February 2024 led by Nabukalu Florence as project coordinator. The students in Orange House at Wellington College have supported the work done in the past and we hope they will continue to liaise with PaCT in raising funds as the MHM project progresses. During 2023 we encouraged the PaCT team to provide Update reports twice a year. These reports have been well received and given both Mityana Charity and Orange House valuable insight into current activities.

The goal of the MHM Project is “to improve knowledge and practices of Menstrual Hygiene Management and Sexual Reproductive Health among school-going adolescents in Partner schools.”

In Uganda there is a social and cultural taboo concerning menstruation and sexual health in adolescent girls leading to secrecy and poorly informed hygienic practices. Sexual matters are often misunderstood contributing to teenage pregnancies, STIs and leaving education early. To make sustained improvements the project is focusing on education, providing safe environments and involve both girls and boys in conversations about menstruation and sexual relations which is seen to be essential in educating adolescents about their bodies.

Menstruation is seen to be an important factor in school attendance of adolescent girls which impacts on their education. The MHM project aims to provide information and activities creating greater awareness about menstruation among girls and boys and teachers.

Progress and Achievements

(iii) Training on reusable sanitary pads and safeguarding

In the last quarter of 2023 the production of reusable sanitary pads and the implementation of awareness programs in schools came to a holt due to school holiday closures. The activities restarted with renewed vigour in February 2024.

In February of this year, the MHM team welcomed a visiting group from the Mityana Charity to tour Nabukenya Primary School. During their visit, the boys and girls demonstrated their skills creating reusable sanitary pads and showing the UK visitors each stage of the process. This interactive session was both enlightening and memorable showcasing the tangible impact of this project.

17

The Magic of Mityana – Nicola Edwards

Just another melodic Monday!

Today started with a burst of Ugandan colour as the children adorned the pathway to the PaCT charity office. The music, inviting. The dancing, incredible. The joy, infectious.

I was in awe. It felt like such a privilege to be here, to be in the presence of these exuberant young people and to be immersed in the culture of the Pearl of Africa.

It was incredible, and somewhat humbling to see the behind the scenes efforts of The Mityana Charity and PaCT combined, and the difference that is being made to the life chances of children and young people with regards to their education.

I’m forever blowing bubbles!

Kalangaalo school was a whole new experience for me, one of wonder, overwhelm and humility. A sea of pink uniforms greeted us excitedly. “The whites are here!” I opted out of the formal school tour to spend time with the children, it felt more important to me to be present, to feel and to connect. I had never experienced such happiness, yet such heartbreak at the same time at any other point in my life. Children with so little, yet so much to give. Big smiles and beautiful eyes followed me everywhere. I wished I had more time to make sure that I had held all of the hands that had reached out to me….and I wish I had taken more bubbles!

Just keep swimming!

It felt like I was in a movie. Picture the scene: Laughter echoing as children engage in friendly water battles, while toddlers giggle with unrestrained joy. The vibrant energy of a sunny afternoon in the outdoor pool created an atmosphere of fun and happiness, where the worries of the outside world faded away, replaced by the simple pleasures of sunshine, water, and chicken and chips!

18

It wasn’t a movie. It was an afternoon of pure delight where I got to meet the little girl I sponsor. After three years of writing letters, here we were, making a real life memory. One I will never forget. Later in the week, I had the privilege of visiting Agatha at her home. The experience was nothing short of surreal as I witnessed the tangible impact of the items I had contributed through the charity seamlessly integrating into their daily lives. While one anticipates the reception of donations from afar, witnessing it in person adds an entirely different dimension to the connection. Reflecting on the journey—sending items, facilitating access to essential resources like animals and water taps—it struck me: how often does one have the opportunity to bridge a 6000-mile gap, establishing a tangible link with a family and observing the transformative effects first-hand?

Picture perfect!

Local artist Robert came to visit with some of his amazing artwork. It was a wonderful and meaningful experience! Robert has connections with The Mityana Charity from being young. He had discovered his artistic talent and flair purely by accident…and now, his art had the power to evoke strong emotions and create connections between people. We studied his collection and I bought a painting called “Friendship.” As I look upon the framed artwork that now graces my home, I am struck by how it serves as a poignant reminder of both my journey and the endeavours of the charity. The piece eloquently communicates the universal threads of humanity, weaving connections through shared emotions and experiences, transcending the physical distance between Uganda and England. It possesses a remarkable ability to bridge diverse cultures and backgrounds, fostering a profound understanding and appreciation for the shared facets of the human experience.

Coffee!

How do you like yours? I like mine from the Lwankuba coffee plantation! We had an incredible and immersive experience at the coffee plantation. Tasting coffee that has undergone the entire journey from plant to grinder was something I never thought I would ever get to experience. Visiting Lwankuba plantation allowed me to see the intricate process of cultivation, harvesting, processing, and finally, brewing. The smell was vibrant, invigorating and comforting. It is hard to explain, but the freshness of the coffee beans directly impacted the taste, and being able to enjoy coffee so close to its origin enhanced the overall delight of what was, most probably, the best coffee that I had ever tasted.

A jewel in the crown

Nabukennya School, a hidden gem nestled in the hills, felt like a little piece of heaven. The vibrant atmosphere painted the surroundings with an explosion of colours, creating a lively hub of activity. Yet, amidst the energetic buzz, there was an unmistakable sense of sanctuary, a respite from the dusty streets of Mityana. Grazing goats added to the picturesque scene, complemented by awe-inspiring lush greenery and panoramic views that seemed to stretch endlessly across the countryside.

19

As the children animatedly talked, danced, and sang their way through the day, they adorned themselves with the primary colours representing the houses of the school, creating a kaleidoscope of joy.

Participating in a reusable sanitary towel workshop was a poignant moment. It dawned on me that these children, immersed in their vibrant surroundings, were perhaps the most happy, resilient, and joyful young people I had encountered in my 25 years of teaching. That realisation continues to linger with me, a testament to the enduring impact of Nabukennya School’s unique and spirited environment.

Spring is in the air

And by that, I’m referring to the water spring nestled among the rocks! Following a warm welcome featuring home grown fresh fruit and peanuts at the residence of Edward Kazairwe, a long-standing friend of Jean, we ventured along the well-trodden path to the local water spring for our water collection ritual. Surprisingly, at this juncture of the journey, it felt like the most ‘normal’ thing to do! As we strolled, passing by local families and amiable animals, the act of balancing my water canister on my head seemed as second nature to me as walking my dog in the serene landscapes of the English countryside. The once unfamiliar terrain had seamlessly become a part of the rhythm of our experience, blending the exotic with the everyday in a harmonious way.

The early hours of Saturday marked the commencement of our journey, fuelled by anticipation as we headed towards the equator on our way to the enchanting Rushaga Gorilla Lodge. Little did we know that a whirlwind weekend awaited us—a 12-hour odyssey that would etch memories into the fabric of our experiences. From encountering the majestic Mishaya gorilla family amidst the awe-inspiring Bwindi forest to marvelling at the kaleidoscope of colourful creatures during the Kazinga Channel cruise, and braving the exhilarating bumps of a bucketlist safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park, each moment unfolded as a chapter in an adventure novel.

Rewind to Sunday, the 11th of February, where I found myself at an airport, surrounded by 10 strangers. Ten days later, bidding farewell was a poignant moment as I said goodbye to 10 friends with whom I had just shared a life-changing adventure. If you had asked me on the first day of the trip whether I would ever return to Mityana, I would have confidently declared it a one-time deal. However, after just 10 days, I found myself already planning my next visit. Such is the magic of Mityana—a place that transforms a fleeting adventure into an enduring connection.

Gorillas in the Mist – Keith Greatbatch

As a part of the Mityana Charity visit to Uganda in February we did find some time for some Rest & Relaxation (or so we thought!) after spending a great first 5 days at schools, maternity clinics and with the families of some of the sponsored children.

We had the wonderful opportunity to join a trek to find some of the “Gorillas in the Mist” as made famous by Sigourney Weaver and of course Sir David Attenborough over the years.

The day began with a very early start as we had a 9-hour drive ahead of us, not including stops. Our destination was the Gorilla Valley Lodge at the edge of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

To avoid significant road works and traffic disruption we left the main tarmacked road and drove along unpaved country roads. It was a severe test for our backs as we bounced in the vans as well as for the suspension of the vehicles.

20

We were exposed to some beautiful scenery and saw many examples of extreme terraced farming practices on the exceptionally steep slopes.

We eventually reached our destination after almost 12 hours and settled in for the night ready for the adventure ahead.

The next day started with another bumpy ride the to the meeting area to receive a briefing about our day ahead.

We, along with other trekkers were split into various groups and started our trek into the Impenetrable Forest. We were accompanied by a ranger and porters as well as a security guard with a loaded AK 47 rifle. The group of 9 that I, Roger and David were in soon came to our first challenge…to cross a fast-flowing river using a fallen tree as a bridge. (The 8 ladies were in another group). We were grateful for the assistance of the porters.

Once across, the uphill trek started. Our Ranger and guides led the way using a machete to cut through the “Impenetrable” undergrowth. The hills were very steep, overgrown, muddy and wet leading to most of the party stumbling and falling on a number of occasions. Trees had thorns, and many of the plants could sting hence the need to wear gloves.

After an extremely strenuous climb our ranger advised that a family group of gorillas had been spotted by Trackers who had been out searching for them since before sunrise as they move location every day.

Our first sighting was of two juveniles eating in the trees. We then saw the patriarch of the family, a huge silverback. He was estimated by the ranger to be about 160kg (25 stone). Other family members joined and we saw 7 of the family in total.

We were guided around the hill to get a far better view of the family.

While there is a 10m limit for how close humans can get to what are wild animals. However, if they come toward you they do not adhere to this rule. We were told by the ranger to stand still and not to make any noise as one juvenile female, about 2-3 years old, came running down the hill behind us. She sat approximately 2 metres from the front our group!

In all we spent an hour observing these magnificent creatures before heading back downhill. This proved to be as challenging as the climb up as it had started raining causing more falls and tumbles but thankfully no injuries.

The gorillas were totally fascinating and captivating. Watching these wild, yet human like creatures was a huge highlight of the trip for all concerned.

21

Fundraising Activities – Jean Ajin

Congratulations to these 2 valiant fundraisers.

Thank you to Yasmin Jenkins who raised £15,557 between us and 2 other charities when she cycled from Maidenhead to Tunisia last summer and to Dorothea Pease who swam the English Channel with another generous donation of £2,000 which has allowed us to commence provision of another water tank at Serunyonyi Primary School and books for the resource centre.

Thank you to Huawei for raising £1,147.85 from their golf day at Wentworth golf club which has gone towards the construction of the Raglan training centre.

How can you help?

Use this QR code for easy donations:

Fundraising

The charity relies on fundraising and donations for all its work. If you wish to raise money through your own sponsored event or by joining a national event, you can set up a fundraising page linked to the charity with:

Just Giving https://www.justgiving.com/mityana

Fundraise through Crowdfunder https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/mityana-charity-1064825

Have you got Nectar points you don’t use? Then please donate them to us: - - https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/mityana charity 1064825/payment/J1yzKBOb/details

Or use Everyclick when you search the internet https://www.everyclick.com/mityana.

22

Volunteering

As we are constantly expanding, we need to recruit a team of volunteers who we hope will be willing to dedicate their time, skills and commitment on an ad-hoc basis to assist us with fundraising and administrative projects. We do not require a large commitment from our volunteers, and even just a few hours of your time at any of our events would be a huge benefit to the charity.

If you would like to know more about volunteering with the Mityana Charity, please email enquiry@mityanacharity.org

How can I donate?

www.mityanacharity.org/donate.php to get the direct links.

NOTE: Please add PayPal costs of 1.4% + 20p per transaction. If you are abroad and will be converting to pounds sterling there are more charges which you will need to pay.

www.justgiving.com/donation/ direct?process=1&queryId= YwBoAGEAcgBpAHQAeQ A9ADEAMQA2ADgANQA4AA

Leaving a legacy

For more information go to our website or contact one of our trustees.

You can make an online donation to Mityana Charity to a loved one on Memory Giving memorygiving.com

23

Communication – Nigel Birch/Jean Ajin

Mityana Charity Website

www.mityanacharity.org

We also have a German translation of our website thanks to Leoni Knaup.

Our website is a very useful source of information about the charity. We have had many new sponsors via the web site so it is a valuable tool for the charity and hopefully will continue to be so in the future.

Thanks go to Nick Penfold for updating our website. We welcome articles on visits or your views on future activities or ideas! Contact us by e-mail enquiry@mityanacharity.org

Newsletters

We have continued to produce three newsletters per year. These newsletters are continuing to be useful in communicating information about projects and charity activities at more timely intervals and keeping donors/sponsors better informed. Unfortunately, due to high postal costs, we cannot send these out to people who are not on email. If you wish to receive paper copies then please contact the Secretary to arrange. We urge everyone to provide relevant contributions especially those who have made recent visits to Uganda. Newsletters are really useful in advertising a fund raising idea/event or something about projects of interest. So please contact Jean Ajin or Colin Rouse colrouse@hotmail.co.uk for details of publishing dates and contributions to newsletters. Thank you Graham Addison for producing the newsletters over the last few years.

Please ensure you have signed up to receive the newsletters by email at mityanacharity.org/ mailing.php. You can contact us on enquiry@mityanacharity.org

Publicity material

We have publicity material about the Charity, including leaflets, flyers, various posters, PowerPoints and display boards to use at presentations and other occasions. Just contact us!

Visits

If you are interested then please email us enquiry@mityanacharity.org

24

(Registered Charity No 1064825)

Gift aid

Gift aid is reclaimed by the charity from the tax you pay for the current tax year. Your address is needed to identify you as a current UK taxpayer. The charity claims 25p of gift aid for every £1 you donate.

GIFT AID DECLARATION – for past, present & future donations

I want to gift aid my donation and any donations I make in the future or have made in the last four years to the Mityana Charity.

I am a UK taxpayer and understand that if I pay less income tax and/or capital gains tax than the amount of gift aid claimed on all my donations in that tax year it is my responsibility to pay any difference.

My details:

----- Start of picture text -----
Title First name or initial
Surname
Full home address
Postcode
Email
SIGN
Signature Date
----- End of picture text -----

Please notify the charity if you:

If you pay income tax at the higher or additional rate and want to receive the additional tax relief due to you, you must include all your gift aid donations on your self-assessment tax return or ask HM Revenue and Customs to adjust your tax code.

Please return this completed form to:

Bob Riddaway 57 Trevelyan, Bracknell, RG12 8YD Or emailed to bobriddaway@hotmail.co.uk

25

(Registered Charity No 1064825)

New Life Gifts New Life Gifts New Life Gifts
Would you like to give a unique gift to someone close and also support the efforts to alleviate poverty and bring
hope to Mityana? If so, kindly fill in the form below and receive a gift certificate to thank you for your support.
Hen £14 Donation towards Micro finance for single mothers’
groupto start small business		 £15
Goat £55 Soap and pants £16
Pig £36 School bag £17
Doll £16 Suitcase £25
Mattress £30 Dress £20
Bed Sheets £15 Shirt and trousers £30
Blanket £14 Children’s medicines £10
Dental Treatment/extraction £12 Child’s pair of shoes £17
Mosquito Net £10 Money to help a grandparent for one month £15
Bicycle £99 Porridge for a child for a month £7
A book for the Resource Centre £10 Food for Christmas £40
Bra for a girl £5 Sanitary towels for a month £7
Roof solar panel, battery & 2 lights £52 Football/netball £14
I would like to donate the Life Gifts as indicated above.
Certificate to be posted to:
The occasion with the date:
(Please give as much notice as possible!)
Name of recipient as you would like it displayed on the Name of recipient as you would like it displayed on the Name of recipient as you would like it displayed on the Name of recipient as you would like it displayed on the
My name:

Would you like to give a unique gift to someone close and also support the efforts to alleviate poverty and bring hope to Mityana? If so, kindly fill in the form below and receive a gift certificate to thank you for your support.

I would like to donate the Life Gifts as indicated above.

The occasion with the date:

(Please give as much notice as possible!)

Name of recipient as you would like it displayed on the certificate:

Wording: (The standard wording is: “(Item) has been donated on your behalf and will be sent to help alleviate poverty and bring hope in Mityana, Uganda” Do you wish to add anything?

Tel: Email:

My address:

From: (or leave blank for your signature)

Postcode:

Cheque for: in total (made payable to “Mityana Charity”)

Please add £1 for each address – if you would like your card emailed then there is no charge for this.

I would like to gift aid this money (Yes/No) date:

If you would like to pay online please email enquiry@mityanacharity.org for further details.

I am a UK taxpayer. Please treat all donations I make or have made to Mityana Charity in the past six years as gift aid donations until further notice.

You can pay directly to our account or by cheque but please return the order form etc. to:

Colin Rouse, 18, St. Anthony’s Close, Bracknell RG422EB – email colinrouse@outlook.com or call 07814420489

Your money and gift aid will help pay for the gift – which are secured locally in Mityana. We always spend your money either on your chosen gift or on something else in the same category. This kind of flexibility means that poor communities in Mityana can get exactly what they need if and when their circumstances change. For more details on how it works please visit our website www.mityanacharity.org

(Registered Charity No 1064825)

Standing order form

Our bank: HSBC, 1-2 Market Place, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 1AL.

To (Bank) Sort Code Account Number Branch Address

Date Tel Beneficiary Reference: Mityana Charity Beneficiary Sort Code: 40-47-09 Beneficiary Account Number: 41515667 Beneficiary Name: Mityana Charity IBAN: GB48HBUK40470941515667 BIC: HBUKGB4113F

Amount: Date of first payment: Amount of subsequent payments: Date of final payment or Until Further Notice (UFN): Due Date and frequency of payments: SIGN Signature Date

Please send the above completed form to your bank and a copy to us.

Ref project:

Bob Riddaway 57 Trevelyan, Bracknell, RG12 8YD

Please send the above completed form to your bank.

27

(Registered Charity No 1064825)

Sponsorship application form

For as little as £300 a year or £25 a month (primary) and £420 a year or £35 a month (secondary) you can support the education of a disadvantaged child from Mityana and make a huge difference to the life of the child. Also for £15 a month there is the option of sponsoring a grandparent to help provide food and essentials for the family being raised by the grandparent.

If you would like to sponsor a child/grandparent then please complete the form below and email it to enquiry@mityanacharity.org, or complete the online form mityanacharity.org/sponsorship_form_auto. htm or post it to: Mityana Charity (Sponsorship), 45 Qualitas, Bracknell, RG12 7QG, UK

Name:

Address: Postcode Email: Phone: I would like to sponsor a grandparent. Yes No I would like to sponsor child/children. Preference for boy/girl, age (although this cannot be guaranteed we will try our best). I am paying by: Standing Order start date (Remember YOU have to set this up with YOUR bank) OR cheque value £ I would like to gift aid my donations Yes No Please remember that if you pay tax and you complete a gift aid form we can claim another 25p for every £1 that you donate. We will contact you when we receive your form and your first deposit has been made and we will send details of the child as soon as they are available. We take your data privacy very seriously. We will never send your contact details to any other organisation and we will only use your personal data to manage your sponsorship. Do you want to receive our standard communications: newsletters, AGM invitations and Annual Reports and occasional updates on the charity’s achievements? Yes No 28*

*Please remember that if you pay tax and you complete a gift aid form we can claim another 25p for every £1 that you donate.

We will contact you when we receive your form and your first deposit has been made and we will send details of the child as soon as they are available.

We take your data privacy very seriously. We will never send your contact details to any other organisation and we will only use your personal data to manage your sponsorship.

(Registered Charity No 1064825)

Financial Accounts

29

oac (Registered Charity No 1064825) MITYANA CHARITY FINAL ACCOUNTS INCOIIE FIiOM t01.82S 3,331 17.615 101m5 3J31 17.615 570 101.397 1817 525 14.807 14.￿7 4732 1.124 6.211 281 Bulkli￿ Fwvj. I F￿11￿11￿$ Fmj FundM* 1SY) 21.2 TOTAL INCOIAE 45.1W2 187A19 251711 187.rA8 11￿.877 11x877 1LM).616 5.197 I7.￿) 570 41.WJ 17.620 37. 41,￿) 1Z5S3 MHM Pr BuiI1MvJ FuTh1. Hal Faoli1￿ FuF)J 79) &424 19. 19. 19.1( 11383 1.531 1.425 273 ).397 189,837 220XL 1&3.284 14.7& 1318 1Z476 12.495 18 12A78 37.1WJ 103.1 140.2r2 147.038 AT 29 FEBRIIARY 2024 120231 49.675 101074 151749 1402T2 Prepared by Julle Mltchell on 11 April 2024 30

oac (Registered Charity No 1064825) MITYANA CHARrrY FINAL ACCOUNTS 2023 212WJ 129,46Y 159.036 120, 142.085 DUE WTtHThl 014E YEAR 1012 152.748 140273 151748 140273 DUE AFfER ONE YE*A None 152.748 140.273 49.675 37.1 103.074 103.092 152.749 140272 Prnpared by Julle hlltchell on 11 Aprll 2024 31

oac (Registered Charity No 1064825) MITYANA CHARITY FINAL ACCOUNTS NOTES TO niE ACCOUNTS 11 FurMI• Prwr•d by Juli• Mltch•N on 21 Aprll 2022 32

oac (Registered Charity No 1064825) MITYANA CHARITY FINAL ACCOUNTS 11thW112W24 Julie C Mit 33

(Registered Charity No 1064825)