Action in Africa Annual Report
2023-24
Our Mission Statement.
The objectives of Action in Africa are to provide relief from poverty and sickness and to deliver funding for education, in two areas of Tanzania – Nyaishozi and Mtandika. The beneficiaries are the people of the area, irrespective of race, religion or gender. We work through local committees representing all races and religions, men and women; helping them to develop a better future for themselves and for others.
The Chairman’s Report
It gives me great pleasure to present Action in Africa’s Annual Report, which sets out for our supporters and the general public what we have achieved in the past twelve months and our future plans. With the Covid crisis now behind us, we have at last been able to visit Nyaishozi. It was the first time to meet Father Hans since he became chairman of the Action in Africa committee and the first time for us to meet not only our Y1 intake at our primary schools, but also our trustees. It was a great trip and we can’t wait to share it with you, as well as all the other news of 2023 and 2024.
Nyaishozi
Sourcing the incubators funded by our Christmas Appeal 2022 took a lot of our time, with a reliable Tanzanian distributor only being discovered late 2023. Now that one was found, the procurement of the incubators could begin in earnest.
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Two incubators were delivered to Nyaishozi late 2023. The first went to Nyaishozi dispensary and the second to Kibogoizi. They were both put to work immediately, with twin boys being born at midnight on Christmas Eve at Nyaishozi dispensary (pictured below left ) and at Kibogoizi dispensary, 12 babies requiring use of the incubator intensive care facility within the first few weeks of its arrival (pictured below right). We must thank St Mark’s Overseas Aid Trust for providing the funds to purchase the incubator at Nyaishozi and the Randal Charitable Foundation and the Oakdale Trust who donated the funds for the Kibogoizi incubator.
2023 was dominated by our trip to Nyaishozi – a very exciting time for us to meet everybody and check in with all our projects. The presbytery, Father Hans’ home, is next to the kindergarten. This little preschool has always been supported by Action in Africa – the Nyaishozi committee members send their children there, (pictured below with Father Hans and Sister Xaverina). It provides a childcare service for professionals that is rare in elsewhere in Nyaishozi.
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While there we also visited our sponsored primary school children at Nyaishozi Primary School (pictured below) to give them gifts of teeshirts, (provided by St Andrew’s Catholic School, Leatherhead), underwear (kindly provided by Smalls for All) and Chelsea shirts, donated by Chelsea football club.
While at the primary school, we were able to sign off on our Maize for School dinners project which, if successful, should provide a maize gruel lunch for all 1071 children during term time. Pictured below are labourers preparing the school ground allocated for the maize crop, left and Nyaishozi Primary teacher and Action in Africa trustee Evaster with the maize ready for harvest.
In addition to our Maize for School Lunches project, we also ran a feminine hygiene course for the older female students at the school. Some girls can be as old as 16 before they graduate to secondary school. The kits we provide are washable and if cared for properly can last up to five years. We extended this initiative to Kasheshe Primary School, pictured below – a school which we began supporting in January 2023.
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Pictured above are our Y1 intake 2024 at Kasheshe Primary School. We will support these children until they decide to leave formal education.
Besides supporting primary school pupils, we sponsor secondary school students. We enjoyed catching up with all our secondary schools during our visit. In particular, we spent time at Ruhinda Secondary School where our Nyaishozi General Secretary, Mr Ambruce Abel, is headmaster (pictured right) and Jovinus, a teacher at the school and also a trustee on Nyaishozi committee is pictured left.
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Ruhinda Secondary School accommodates 77 girls with varying disabilities. The Tanzanian government has constructed a purpose built dormitory to meet their physical needs. However, there are no funds to cater for the girls academically and currently they are sitting in on mainstream lessons. While visiting the school, we were dazzled by an outstanding dance performance put on by the female students. It was only later that we were informed all the girls participating were in fact deaf.
It was then we decided to launch an appeal to raises to refurbish a derelict classroom (pictured below, left and right) to accommodate 71 female students who have varying disabilities. Our aim is to raise enough funds to equip the classroom with education aids and materials and medical assessment equipment. This is our Christmas Appeal 2023.
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Besides hand carrying washable feminine hygiene kits and gifts for our sponsored children, we also took two blood pressure machines which work on a traffic light system and are easy to use. They indicate preeclampsia – a life threatening condition for pregnant woman. Pictured below in the hands of our resident Nyaishozi midwife, Rebecca Didas and at Kibogoizi dispensary, these machines were designed and donated by Ashtead resident Rachel Tribe – Professor of Maternal and Perinatal Science. We would like to thank Rachael for her generosity.
Currently, we have four students studying at university, three of whom are female. Summer 2023 was the first time we were able to arrange work experience for our undergraduates. Through Rebecca we were able to organize internships for Jeules Philbert (pictured left) and Albina Alphonse (pictured on the left of Rebecca). Both girls are studying midwifery. Bibiana Patrice (pictured right on the last day of her work experience) is studying Law and secured work at Kayanga District Court through a former Action in Africa sponsored student.
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We have been partnered for a few years with Computeraid – a charity which reconditions computers and laptops and creates computer hubs in schools and villages in third world countries. We are delighted that Keith Sonnet, the Computeraid CEO, has secured funding to digitalise Nyaishozi secondary schools and providing a village community computer hub. Below are photos of the Computeraid technicians hard at work, below left and the Computeraid warehouse, below right.
Each school will receive 25 computers, a router, printer, projector and screen. Computeraid will also run a training programme for teachers and staff at the village hub, as well as providing laptops for our midwives at Nyaishozi dispensaries. This is a huge step forward for education in Nyaishozi and will at last allow students to access the internet.
Our annual quiz night was very well attended – with everybody enjoying the new format presented by quizmaster Duncan. As expected, our treasurer, Carolyn Higgs, organised a brilliant evening with the fish and chip supper going down a storm. It was lovely to see so many of our regular supporters there. ‘Chilled’ and ‘7 Samurai’ shared the brainbox prize. A staggering £1663 was raised.
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Kahanga clinic took possession of their very first incubator (pictured above left) in addition to Ruhita (pictured above right). These two dispensaries took precedence over other, busier medical centres. Midwife Rebecca, who has been overseeing the project, advised us that these two clinics were in most need, being the most remote of all the Nyaishozi dispensaries.
2024 promises to be another busy year for Nyaishozi, with another four incubators on order for deliver, two UK schools set to visit Nyaishozi in the summer and the Computeraid partnership moving swiftly ahead.
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Mtandika
St Agnes Vocatonal Training College
2023/2024 has been another excellent year for St Agnes Vocational Training College at Mtandika. formally known as the Mtandika Trade School. The college continues to be registered with the Tanzanian Government’s National Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NACTVET).
The highlight of early 2024 was the establishment of a third main course in Hotel Management, alongside the long established Tailoring and Electrical courses. Tourism has always been a major money earner for Tanzania and it has been obvious for many years that there was a need for training of staff employed in this industry. In fact a canteen block was constructed before Sister Barberina tragically died in 2019, with the intention that a course would be established. Now, with generous donations from sponsors, the Canteen/Classroom has been fully equipped and a teacher employed. So in January the course started with six students. A recent inspection by NACTVET congratulated all involved with setting up the course and the fact that practical work was carried out in the Canteen, which was open to the general public.
The college management remains as last year, with the addition of the teacher for the Hotel Management course, Christina Mwinuka. The Principal is Sister Damiana Kikoti, Vice Principal Shabani Bilaly and Bursar, Sister Restituta Msemwa. The teachers are also as last year, with Shabani Bilaly as Vice Principal and teacher of Electrical Engineering and Engineering Science, Peter Madeba as teacher of English and Communications, Technical Drawing and Life Skills, Yohana Mtagawa as teacher of Computer Studies and Mathematics and Sylvia Mfalamagoha as teacher of Tailoring, Business Studies and Entrepreneurship. The consistency of the management and teaching staff is a great advantage for the success of the college.
In 2023 there were twenty four students, nineteen of the students being on the Electrical Installation course and five on the Tailoring course. Of the twenty four students, twenty one graduated at the end of 2023, seventeen students from the Electrical course and four students from the Tailoring course. All of the graduates already have good jobs.
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2023 Electrical Graduates who already have jobs with TANESCO
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Paka=) Re /\ |
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2023 Tailoring Graduates who already have jobs
In 2024 there are twenty nine students, eleven on the Electrical course with nine in Year 1 and two in year 2, twelve on the Tailoring course with eleven in Year 1 and one in Year 2 and six on the first year of the Hotel Management course.
The 2024 Students with the Sisters and Teachers
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Electrical Students Electrical Practicals
with Teacher Shabani Bilaly
Tailoring Class
with Teacher Sylvia Mfalamagoha
Hotel Management Students Hotel Management Students with Teacher Christina Mwinuka in class
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Students in Exam
VETA indicated that the exam results from St Agnes VTC for 2023 were excellent and their Manager congratulated the teachers on achieving such good results.
Computng
On a visit to St Agnes VTC in August 2023, Action in Africa Chairman, Michael Agius, handed over six computers donated by Exsur IT Solutions. These had been uploaded with an Educational programme, Endless OS, by the donor. During the visit computer teacher, Yohana and some of the students were given a tutorial in the use of Endless.
Computer tutorial
Sports
Outside of the classroom, sport is high on the list of student activity. Prior to the August 2023 visit the younger members of the Agius family had held a sponsored football match in UK and raised £800. The proceeds were used to manufacture and erect two football nets and two netball nets and these were put to good use playing with the Sisters, teachers and students during the visit. In
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addition Exsur IT Solutions donated the green football kits shown in the photo below. Six footballs were also donated.
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Poupoeioert.
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The donated green football kits The donated football goals
The donated netball posts and kits
College Rehabilitaton
This year there have been several periods of excessive wind and rain and many buildings in the Mtandika area have had roofs ripped off. Luckily none of the college buildings have been affected that badly but minor damage has occurred and several roof panels needed to be replaced and other panels fixed more securely. In addition the roofs have been painted with anti-corrosive paint. There has also been flooding around the college, although damage has been limited.
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Damaged roofing Fixing loose panels Repainted roofs
Flooding around the college buildings
Cultvaton of Crops
Also outside the classroom, students have continued to assist in the growing of essential crops, such as maize, cassava, rice, beans, onions, tomatoes, bananas and papayas, continuing the work ethic established by the late Sister Barberina. This year there has again been plenty of rain which has resulted in multiple healthy crops, although unfortunately a small amount of damage occurred to the maize from monkeys, necessitating the erection of fencing around the crop and to the beans and cassava as a result of elephants crossing the nearby river onto college land.
The following areas were planted : 13 hectares of maize giving 84 sacks; 3 hectares of beans giving 21 sacks; ¼ hectare of bananas; ¼ hectare of cassava, although this was badly affected by elephants; ocra giving 17 sacks; 1 hectare of onions giving 30 sacks.
Fencing to protect Bagging maize Bagged maize crop from monkeys
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Bean crop Bagged beans
Rice drying after harvesting Rice being transported from one
Replanted bananas Onion fields showing irrigation channels after elephant damage
Fundraising
As in previous years, whilst two thirds of the College students pay annual tuition fees of TSh 700,000, about £250 at current exchange rates, ten of the twenty nine College students who are orphans or from very poor families are sponsored by TWOAT [Tadworth Overseas Aid Trust] and four by a private donor. In addition to supporting college students, TWOAT continue to supplement the teachers’ salaries and have also been instrumental in the setting up of the Hotel Management course with
In addition to TWOAT’s generous donations, fundraising continues to come from Benevity, the charity arm of the Bank of Canada, as well as many personal donors. In addition proceeds from regular cake and jam sales have provided much needed funds. We continue to receive generous, regular donations from individual sponsors.
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All income helps with the general running of St Agnes VTC, as well as the education of three Primary School children, five Secondary School students, three students studying for Degrees at university and two students taking short VETA vocational courses. All of these are either orphans or from very poor families.
Primary school students with Headmaster
Accounts
The Accounts for the year 2023/2024 are appended to this report.
Thanks
As Chairman, I would like to thank the Trustees who sat on the Action in Africa board this year, Tina Rayburn (Vice Chairwoman), Carolyn Higgs (Treasurer) and Michael Andrews for all their hard work. I really feel that the Charity continues to make a marked difference to the lives of so many people living in the Nyaishozi and Mtandika areas of Tanzania.
Michael Agius,
Chairman
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ACTION IN AFRICA (Charity No. 1072661)
Receipts and Payments Account for the year to 5 April 2024
| Receipts General Fundraising Donatons received Gif Aid receipt Bank interest Total Costs Administraton (Tanzania) Administraton (UK) Cash transfer costs Fundraising expenses Trustee visit to Tanzania £3,437 Total Net Income Payments to benefciaries Educaton Development Incubators Total Funds at 6 April 2023 Excess of receipts over payments for the year Funds at 5 April 2024 |
£6,340 £27,464 £5,874 £253 £39,931 £0 £220 £774 £1,276 £5,707 £34,224 |
|---|---|
£24,724 £5,411 £12,626 £42,761 |
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£38,870 -£8,537 £30,333 |
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Statement of Assets and Liabilites at 5 April 2024
| Assets | Total | £30,333 |
|---|---|---|
| Liabilites | Total | £0 |
Note to the accounts:
Net Fundraising
| Quizzes Jams/Cakes sales Marathon 2024 Amazon Smile, Easy Fundraising, BCMY recycling £99 Church Christmas collecton Total |
£1,683 £2,820 -£55 £517 £5,064 |
|---|---|
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Inde ndent examlnerfs re l port on the accounts of Actlon In Afrka for the year ended 5 April 2024. which are set out In pages 17 to 18. Res nsibilities of t arKI examiner The chariVs trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charitrfs trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent eXaMinan Is needed. ft is my responsibility to: Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act To folk)w the procedures laid down in the general DirectK)ns 8iven ty the commission under section 145(5){b) of the 2011 Art To state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basls of Inde ndert examinerfs re My examination was carrled out in accordano with the general Directions 8iven by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It a150 includes consideration of any unusual ttems or disclosures in the accounts. and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required In an audit and con5equentty no opinion is given as to whether the accounts provide a 't and fair vithrf and the report is limited to ttr matters set out in the next ststement. Inde nderrt exarninerfs statsment In connection with my examination, rn) matter has come to my attentk)n." l. WhSch gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material fespett the requirements To keep accounti records in accordan with section 130 of the 2011 Act and To prepare accounts whith accord with the account• records and comply with the accounting requlrements of the 2011 Act Have not teTh met or 2. To whlch, In my opinion, attentlon should be draT*m in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached Mary.A Gitto BA CA Amberley. 12 Highfiekls, Ashtead, Surrey, KT212NL 28th October 2024 19