Rural Extension with Africa's Poor
102 Kidmore Road, Caversham, Reading RG4 7NB
Charity registration number 1075121
Report of the Trustees and Accounts For the year ended 5 April 2022
Rural Extension with Africa's Poor
Report of the Trustees For the year ended 5 April 2022
The Trustees present their report and the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 5 April 2022.
OPERATIONS REVIEW
Introduction to REAP
REAP (Rural Extension with Africa’s Poor) aims to enable Africa’s poor, especially those in rural areas, to reach their full potential while becoming good stewards of God’s creation. This holistic vision seeks to teach them to make use of the many local resources available, so that they can maintain their own dignity and become fully functional in supporting their own families, gain fulfilment and contribute positively to the community. We continue to see many taking up our teaching, uplifted in this way.
REAP’s approach is to work alongside the rural poor to counter what we see as three of the most common problems in Africa. These are seen as dependency (overcome by teaching and motivating the poor to do something themselves rather than wait for external aid), the challenges of money and materialism (by providing spiritual motivation and encouraging selfless sharing with others) and environmental concerns (to be met by encouraging the preservation of natural resources and making use of locally available materials which otherwise would be seen as waste).
REAP has developed a wide range of ideas that can be introduced with little or no cost to the user and cover every aspect of life. These form the core of REAP’s teaching. Our proactive work focuses on training of trainers and through this we have also added to our portfolio of teaching by drawing on the experience of those we have trained as well as trying new things.
REAP’s teaching is refined on an ongoing basis, and teaching aids and planting materials that are appropriate to individual needs are produced, recognising different local customs and climates. The REAP team works with and follows up many contacts, particularly within African churches and para-church organisations, to ensure that their teaching is effective, fully accepted and sustainable. Much of this follow up continues to be by telephone and other remote means.
The COVID19 pandemic has continued to impact our work in different ways. It has limited travel and limited gathering together. We have responded to this by adapting our way of working, encouraging those that we have trained to reach out into their local areas with the teaching that they have adopted themselves. Since the pandemic has increased the interest in Natural Medicines we have seen growing interest in the growing of plants that help boost the immune system, and particularly Artemisia annua. We continue to respond to this interest by having planting material available both from the REAP farm but also from those that we have trained.
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Rural Extension with Africa's Poor Report of the Trustees For the year ended 5 April 2022 continued
The photograph is of Isaac Mutai in his Artemisia farm. He attended the Natural Medicine Seminar just before the COVID19 pandemic reached Kenya. He had planting material from the seminars he attended and was conscientious in propagating from the few plants he had, so that he is now able to produce an abundance of dried leaves for use in his home area, and has also distributed rooted cuttings throughout the area.
Use of the REAP plot of land at Kajulu, near Kisumu
The REAP farm near Kisumu continues to thrive. Although the site has continued to develop as a Visitors’ and Training Centre, visitors and groups have been fewer than previous years due to COVID19 restrictions. Most of the plants and techniques relating to the different aspects of REAP teaching can be seen. Since the reporting year has been dominated by COVID19 in Kenya and the resulting restrictions, the team based in Kisumu have not been able to get out and visit as they used to, so have focused on work within the farm and where possible they have been open to receive visitors and share with them.
During this year work has been undertaken on the building, with the completing of tiling of the floors and the fixing of internal doors making the building much more conducive for training and enabling its use as the field office. During the year the office in Kisumu town was closed and the function moved to the farm. This practical teaching base is dynamic and new ideas are tried and those that have potential are incorporated into the farm.
Artemisia on Isaac’s farm
Recent trainees visiting the REAP farm
Interior of Kajulu building showing tiles and doors
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Report of the Trustees For the year ended 5 April 2022 continued
The rainfall has been moderate, but there is underground water available on farm and the location of the land means a wide range of plants can be grown. Since the soil is fully protected against erosion the farm is a living example of what farmers can do using the simple technology of Vetiver grass; this has continued to be a central part of the teaching. Throughout the plot and round the periphery, trees have been incorporated into the farm in a way that maintains soil fertility and good productive use of a limited plot of land. Since many of the trees have grown to a stage where they impede the crops during this year, we have cut some back to make charcoal and sell firewood. This is a practical example of the teaching of working with the trees that we are encouraging in our extension work.
We have planted the main medicinal plants that REAP teaches about; both locally familiar and new medicinal plants can be seen growing by any visitors. The farm is used for multiplying planting material, both from vegetative materials and from seed, for distribution when extending teaching. With the growing interest in Artemisia annua as an immune booster and therefore helpful in the COVID19 pandemic, we have given special emphasis in producing enough rooted cuttings for distribution. As a result, we have always had rooted cuttings available for the local community, and through sending by courier services to other parts of the country.
The plot continues to serve as a place for trying new ideas. We have continued to experiment with the indigenous species of Artemisia afra to strengthen what we have already been promoting with Artemisia Annua. The farm is well labelled so that it becomes a resource for learning, including both the local or indigenous species, with local names, and the exotic introduced species.
We continue to add to the variety of ideas in the home garden area where we practice ideas such as container planting and the keyhole garden which are particularly relevant for visitors from Kisumu town. We have developed this as a demonstration of what can be done on very small areas, emphasising ideas relevant for urban farming. Visitors often eat food from this garden cooked in our improved local kitchen.
Saw toothed Coriander, one of the new herbs showing promise
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Domitila cooking in Kajulu kitchen
As we have developed our teaching in relation to the value of leguminous trees in the garden, we have also been harvesting those trees that have grown to the stage of being a shade nuisance. This year we have been experimenting successfully with making charcoal from the larger Leucaena trees, most of which are self-sown. We are thus encouraging this as a potential source of income particularly in upgrading poor land. We have used local methods of making charcoal and are now looking at a simple kiln for more efficient production.
The external rural kitchen, which has been fitted out as an operational local kitchen using the fuel saving stoves, and other aspects of teaching included in the REAP extension teaching, has continued to be used and has been a focus on interest for visitors.
We have continued to maintain and improve the paths and routes round the farm for the benefit of visitors while consolidating the production areas. Since the farm has been laid out with paths, visitors can be taken on a route round that plays to their interest. The main areas of interest are natural medicines, care of the soil including Vetiver Grass for erosion control, and for general environmental care which we teach as Creation Care. The whole garden has taken on an internal logic with a good flow for visitors coming to learn or just to see, and we believe better use of the available resources.
Leucaena in the REAP farm
Teaching and Training
REAP continues to focus on extending the teaching developed into rural communities through both formal seminars and less formal input to local groups. Much local teaching is conducted on the planting, preparation and use of Natural medicines, sometimes covering a range of medicinal plants and sometimes concentrating on specific ones for a group showing interest. Training is given at different levels according to levels of understand and local needs.
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Teaching and Training (continued)
REAP conducts regular ‘Training of Trainers’ (TOT) seminars in order to equip people from a range of backgrounds and locations with the knowledge to take to their own work. This reporting year, we have been able to conduct three major one-week seminars on Natural Medicines conducted by REAP staff. In August 2021 we only had 9 participants all from Kenya. In November 2021 we also had 9 participants. In February 2022 we were able to train 12 participants, drawn from four different nationalities. We conducted all these trainings at a centre in Karen on the outskirts of Nairobi where one of our former trainees has established an impressive medicinal garden. The training covers a basic focused curriculum on the growing, processing and use of proven medicinal plants and products.
We have always emphasised the value of Natural Medicines for general health and strengthening the immune system, and since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic we have been able to conceptualise our teaching based on principles from our experience in Natural Medicines for Health. Our focus upon Artemisia annua is seen as particularly relevant, as well as locally available technologies such as hand washing bottles. With every seminar we are able to add to our recommendations and expand our teaching.
Photos of training in Subiaco
At a more local level non residential seminars have been organised by various churches and REAP staff have been able to facilitate with teaching on a range of topics. Two of the REAP staff conducted a five-day seminar in May 2021 for the students of the Africa Inland Church Missionary College in Eldoret. Although this training covers the range of the teaching we normally give, it has an extra focus on how Natural medicines can facilitate mission outreach.
Seminar at AIC missionary college, Eldoret
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Teaching and Training (continued)
REAP’s proactive work from the Kisumu Office, now based at the Kajulu farm, and the area within reasonable reach of Kisumu. REAP staff have been invited to conduct non-residential trainings at the local level at various local churches. These include facilitating sessions within conventions and conferences, as well as some days organised specifically for taking the REAP teaching to the church members.
Although it has not been able to make most of the usual visits as in previous years, the team has been able to follow up on specific teaching. The team has been following up on many of those who have been for training, and especially those who have been sponsored. Follow up visits to The AIC Missionary College and the Every Day Bible College at Kamukuywa to give further practical teaching on the Artemisia planted at each college has been particularly significant in enabling these two colleges to have productive plants from which to supply their staff and students and also to continue teaching from.
George with Artemisia at AIC MTC
One focus we have had in REAP has been on the use of available resources that can be found in rural communities. One of the participants from the February 2021 training was Peninah Kairbiru. At the end of each seminar we encourage the participants to identify one idea that has struck them as particularly relevant to their situation. During the reporting year Peninah identified the insulated baskets that we call fireless cookers, and she started training the women of the community-based organisation, Knowledge in Biodiversity Utility Initiatives, that she had founded. The success of her teaching is confirmed in that it featured in a national newspaper in August 2021.
Peninah Kaibiru’s teaching on fireless cookers
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Environmental Teaching
Although we have not been able to go out and promote it as actively as we had planned, during this year, REAP has continued to promote Vetiver Grass and a number of those we have trained have been teaching on its use for soil conservation. Our substantial Vetiver Grass nursery is a local source of planting material. One of our contact pastors reports that many local teaching sessions having been conducted and we still promote small local Vetiver grass nurseries. This has had the greatest adoption in the Butere and Mumias areas of Western Kenya, where a significant number of farmers are protecting their land with Vetiver grass. We have however had enquiries from further afield and have been able to send planting materials to various parts of Kenya through courier services, and to share teaching on the value and planting of the grass over the phone or through local contact people we have trained in the past.
REAP has continued to network with other organisations with an emphasis on Creation Care. We give teaching relating to Creation Care and the Gospel whenever possible, encouraging churches to be responsible stewards in caring for the environment. We have responded to the growing publicity in the media in relation to climate change and its impact on farming by emphasising the Biblical mandate to care for God’s creation, and by developing more practical teaching. We have improved some materials we have been working on for the urban church youth on how they can be involved. We have been actively involved in a new initiative on Faith Based Tree Growing, giving significant input into the strategy based on our years of experience working with churches on a Biblically based approach to motivating church members to care for the environment. Although this initiative is still at an early stage, we see it as something we have already had a significant input to.
Vetiver hedge well planted on a contact's farm
REAP representatives at Kenya Faith Based Tree Growing Round Table meeting
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Report of the Trustees For the year ended 5 April 2022 continued
The Nairobi Office
The Nairobi office continues to be the communication centre for REAP, and with the opening of international travel we have again started to receive a number of overseas visitors from North America and Europe as well as locally based people seeking information and advice. It is a centre for sharing of ideas more widely and for networking with others interested in what we teach, though much of this sharing we now do electronically. REAP continues to be the local contact organisation and distribution centre for “anamed” publications and as a result we have continued to have many visitors interested in Natural Medicines. This has led to some strategic linkages and sharing of ideas and teaching in the wider sphere of REAP’s teaching.
We have continued our links with the ECHO regional centre in Arusha, and with CMS- Africa, based in Nairobi as well as Creation Stewards International (CSAI) and AROCA Kenya. We have welcomed to the Nairobi office several individuals and representatives of NGOs and churches throughout the region who come to discuss ideas, and this enables the spread of REAP teaching much more widely than in the areas where REAP is proactive. We have continued to follow up on contacts working in South Sudan who continue to pass through the Nairobi office for ideas for their work there but have not had visitors from the wider region. From many other parts of Africa we have been contacted us via electronic media, particularly in relation to our teaching on Natural Medicines and Creation Care, and we have been able to input a number of think tanks in relation to sustainable agricultural production and responding practically to the challenges of climate change.
Plans for 2022/23
Having been severely restricted by Covid19 in 2021 we will be building on the foundations already laid and increase outreach. We will run two international Natural Medicine seminars, and several local training seminars with like-minded organisations that we partner with.
We will increase our networking on creation care, with particular emphasis on tree growing and continuing to promote the use of Vetiver Grass for soil and water conservation.
We will start reaching out again with the improved rural kitchens and stoves.
At the REAP farm we will improve the visitor experience through further planting and signage and reach out to encourage more groups and visitors.
Dr Roger Sharland REAP Director
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Report of the Trustees For the year ended 5 April 2022 continued
TRUSTEES' REPORT
The Trust, Rural Extension with Africa’s Poor REAP “REAP UK” is governed by a deed dated 18th March 1999.
The principal objectives of REAP are: -
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a) To support (financially or otherwise) individuals and organisations operating in Africa and being engaged in the relief of poverty, sickness and infirmity in Africa and all forms of need, hardship or distress associated therewith;
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b) To promote and further widen rural development thinking so as better to assist the support of and eventual self-sufficiency of poor local African communities;
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c) To advance and further the religious and other charitable work of local churches in Africa; and d) To promote and further educational endeavour in any or all of the above areas.
These objectives are achieved through REAP Kenya and other similar charitable agencies. REAP Kenya continues to give teaching relating to Creation Care and Natural medicines encouraging churches to be responsible stewards.
Composition of the Trustee Board
The make up of the Trustee Board is as follows:
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Trustee Role Term of office
Stephen Burgess Safeguarding and Data Protection Three years to 31 October 2024
Nicholas Burn Treasurer from 1 Nov 2021 Two years to 30 June 2023
Paul Fountain Trustee Three years to 31 October 2021
Hannah Hallett Secretary One year to 31 October 2022
Michael Hallett Treasurer Three years to 31 October 2021
Philip M Johnson Chair Two years to 31 October 2022
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In 2021-22 Hannah Hallett was reappointed as a trustee for a further year. Mike Hallett and Paul Fountain stood down as trustees and Nick Burn joined the trustee board in June 2021.
Operations
The area of REAP’s work continues to be Kenya with a focus on: -
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(a) the Environment - REAP Kenya promotes sustainable agriculture and environment and emphasises working with God's creation. REAP’s teaching concentrates on motivating Christians to be responsible stewards of the soil and environment that God has provided through creation;
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(b) Women in development – REAP Kenya propagates its teaching through women’s church fellowship groups with a specific emphasis on improved rural kitchens including fuel efficient stoves. An initiative which is having a positive impact on climate change; and
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(c) Natural medicine - REAP Kenya teaches people how to grow, prepare and use researched and effective Natural Medicines especially Artemisia for Malaria prevention and treatment.
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Rural Extension with Africa's Poor
Report of the Trustees For the year ended 5 April 2022 (continued)
Operations (continued)
REAP Kenya continues to promote awareness of the challenges of global climate change and teaching on how to respond appropriately.
Like all Charities REAP continued to feel the impact of Covid 19 during 2021-22. All Trustee Board meetings were held online via Zoom. Dr Roger Sharland was unable to visit the UK for the second year running.
Trustee efforts continue to try and increase the awareness of REAP’s activities and work through various communication channels e.g., newsletters, increased stories / updates through REAP’s Facebook page, website development and new options for giving.
The Fund-Raising Consultant we appointed in 2020-21 finished their activities early in 2021-22. Following the work of the Fund-Raising Consultant and Dr Roger Sharland REAP received a grant of £5,000 from one of the funding agencies that it had approached.
During the year we ran a recruitment campaign for new trustees. This campaign resulted in the appointment of Nick Burn with an initial appointment of two-year duration. Nick Burn took up the role of treasurer when Mike Hallett stood down as a trustee.
Finance
The sources of REAP’s funding are giving from Churches, Charitable Trusts (which are difficult to predict and depend on applications), and individual giving. In 2021/22 income was £45,602 which was up by £11,949 from the previous year, despite some organisations choosing not to fund REAP and the general turn down in charity funding due to Covid 19.
During the year REAP UK made grants of £36,940 to REAP Kenya. Less than 1.1% of income was used to cover administrative and promotional costs, which represented a decrease from the previous year due to the completion of the work of the Fund-Raising Consultant. Except for examination fees (Audit) all the income is applied to operations in Kenya which includes missionary work, training, natural medicine seminars, up-keep of the Kisumu farm, etc.
The trust does not employ any staff and trustees are not remunerated.
By order of the Board Philip M Johnson, Chair Dated: 22 December 2022
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Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Rural Extension with Africa's Poor
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 5 April 2022 which are set out on pages twelve to fourteen.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The 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 examination is needed.
Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given 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 also includes consideration of any unusual items 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 consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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- the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Simon Porter FCA Independent Examiner 120 Woodcote Road, Caversham, Reading RG4 7EZ
Dated: 22 December 2022
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Rural Extension with Africa's Poor
Statement of Financial Activities For the year ended 5 April 2022
| Incoming resources: Donations received Gift Aid tax receivable Total incoming resources in the period Resources expended: In furtherance of the Charity's objectives: Grants made For management and administration: Website Fundraising Fees to independent examiner Total expenditure in the period Net (outgoing)/incoming resources and net movement in funds in the period Funds brought forward at 5 April 2021 (2020) Funds carried forward at 5 April 2022 (2021) |
Note 2 3 |
2022 £ 43,193 2,409 45,602 36,940 79 0 400 37,419 8,183 17,038 25,221 |
2021 £ 31,941 1,712 33,653 32,996 14 1,600 100 34,710 (1,057) 18,095 17,038 |
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The Notes on page 14 form part of these Accounts
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Rural Extension with Africa's Poor
Balance Sheet
Charity registration number 1075121
As at 5 April 2022
| Note Current assets: Debtors 5 Bank balance Current liabilities: Accruals Net current assets and net assets Accumulated funds 3 |
2022 £ 2,409 23,212 25,621 400 400 25,221 25,221 |
2021 £ 1,712 16,026 17,738 700 700 17,038 17,038 |
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These Accounts were approved by the Board of Trustees on 22 December 2022.
Philip M Johnson Trustee Dated: 22 December 2022
The Notes on page 14 form part of these Accounts
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Rural Extension with Africa's Poor
Notes to the Accounts As at 5 April 2022
1. Accounting policies
| Donations received are included when they are received, net of tax where Tax received is accrued in the year that the corresponding gift is received. Income from sales of books and videos is included when it is received. Interest received is included net of tax when it is received. 2. Donations received 3. Grants 4. Movements in Funds Unrestricted funds: Balance at start of year Net incoming resources for year Balance at end of year Restricted funds: Balance at start of year Net incoming resources for year Balance at end of year Accumulated funds 5. Debtors Gift Aid recoverable Grants made These accounts have been prepared using the following accounting policies: Donations received |
appropriate. 2022 2021 £ £ 43,193 31,941 36,940 32,996 17,038 18,095 8,183 (1,057) 25,221 17,038 0 0 0 0 0 0 25,221 17,038 2,409 1,712 2,409 1,712 |
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