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2021-08-31-accounts

taF)alc . )La . lil Annual Report 2020-2021 Pa_rtnerships for Change

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Contents

Vision, Mission and Values 3
Message from the Trustees 5
Achievements 6
Our Work 7
Daily Life of a Talibé 9
Literacy for Talibés 10
Supporters 11
Financial Report 13
Governance 15
Administrative Details, Objectives 17
Accounts 19
Other News 23

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Vision, Mission and Values

Vision: A time when all people are born with equal opportunity to access education, health and sustainable employment.

Mission: to enable local communities to improve their life circumstances by improving access to health, education and sustainable jobs.

Values: Community Respect led Integrity Partnership Equality

She thinks she just made a bracelet. We know she also learnt numbers and colours in French.

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Message from the Trustees

As we reflect on the year (Sep 20-Aug21) there is plenty to celebrate despite the ongoing difficulties of coronavirus. Fundraising became all consuming for parts of the year but thanks to the loyalty or our individual and trust supporters we were able to maintain out projects. We are grateful to each of you.

The work of Diapalante Community Education Centre in Kaolack, Senegal has largely returned to normal relying on masks and extra cleaning to keep coronavirus at bay. Sadly, there are still virtually no vaccinations in Senegal! However, the pandemic has also brought opportunity. Two local staff, employed in the absence of UK volunteers, have enabled us to start teaching a group of 60 talibés - young boys living in dire poverty and outside the school system. We are filled with hope for their future when listening to youngsters in our programmes telling us of the improvement in their educational achievement since joining The Diapalante Community Education Centre.

Many of the school leavers and adults who have moved on from our programmes are using the skills they have learned to secure jobs which improve the quality of their lives. Access to school, health, food, and other essentials are made easier when earnings rise, even by a small amount.

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Diapalante Community Education

This has been another busy and successful year at the Diapalante Community Education Centre in Kaolack, Senegal.

Life in one of the world’s least developed countries is tough: job, food and health insecurity are commonplace

Meet the staff: Nafi, Mamadou and Kaba.

and many jobs do not provide an adequate income. To help people escape the vicious cycle of inadequate family income the Diapalante Community Education Centre identifies and addresses some of the educational issues that hold back adults and children from surviving and thriving in their community, and from these choose the issues that the Centre are best placed to address.

The Centre is open to everyone and people come around their other family, work or school commitments. Often learners are also volunteers: teenagers trained in the Young Leaders programme lead activities for primary school children while adults and older teenagers help in the literacy programme for children who do not attend school. The Centre also benefits from links with other local education authority and community organisations.

The Centre's outreach is greater because learners also volunteer to help teaching.

A welcome addition to the Diapalante Community Education Centre this year is the introduction of a three year pilot project teaching 60 young boys who do not attend school to read and write in Wolof (their mother tongue) and learn basic maths skills. (Read more pages 8-9).

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Centre, Kaolack, Senegal

Why do you come to the Diapalante Community Education Centre?

Primary School Children

• Learn French so they can understand school lessons

• Young leaders lead small groups in craft, board games, storybook and other activities designed to improve French.

• 150+ primary school children and 30 Young Leaders

Out-of-school Children (7-18 yrs)

• Learn to read and write in Wolof

• Learn basic maths skills

Secondary School Pupils and Adults

 French grammar to improve schoolwork.  Some pupils stay at school into their 20s.  English & IT Skills

 Adult literacy

 250 pupils, 50 adults

Everyone

 Computer skills.

 Library

 STEAM activities (science, technology, art, maths)

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Daily Life of a Talibé

My name is Modou. I am from a village next to the Gambia. I came to Kaolack to learn the Quran. I and my friends are called talibés because we study the Quran and live in a daara (Quranic school).

Everyday I wake up at 5 in the morning, wash my face, take my wooden tablet, half sleep half awake and start studying the Quran under the supervision of my seriñ daara (teacher). At around 6:30 I take a break, do my morning prayers and start my daily begging. Everyday I go begging from door to door in the neighbourhood, in the streets or at the market. Sometimes I do some services like cleaning or carrying loads and get paid for those jobs. At around 8:30 I go back to the daara and study. At 12 I take another break. That break will be an opportunity for me to play football or marbles with my daara-mates and later on I go begging again for lunch. Study resumes again from 3 to 6 then I playing football and other fun games. Just after night fall I goes back to the daara for 1 more hour of learning before going out again to beg for dinner and watch tv in one of the houses in the neighbourhood. I then go back to the daara and go to bed.

My days off are from Wednesday afternoon to Friday afternoon. During that time, I have all the time in the world for myself.

Notes

It is during this time off, on Thursday and Friday mornings that MB comes to the Centre to learn to read and write in Wolof, his mother tongue.

Living conditions in daaras are often very basic. For example some daaras are based in partially built houses while the owner saves up to finish the build. The house is a shell with no plasterwork, rough floors, no doors, windows, water, sanitation or electricity.

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Literacy for Talibés

A group of 60 talibés, come to the Diapalante Community Education Centre twice a week to learn to read and write in Wolof, their mother tongue, and master the basics of maths. They just love the

computers and mastered the Roman alphabet so quickly as it is needed to use the keyboard. They play a few educational games we have made using Wolof, the local language, and read some books we have put online for them. There are so few resources in Wolof. They aren’t deterred by the computers being in French, a language they don’t understand.

Some talibés will return to their villages when they finish their Qu’ranic studies, others will stay in the daara and others start independent lives. Most will look for work but some may go on to school when they leave.

“Diapalante opened the door to education for me” (Baye Dam, a talibé who went on to attend school).

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Senegal - UK Links

When the Diapalante Community Education Centre in Senegal heard that during the second coronavirus lockdown children in the UK were being taught at home using laptops they realised they could help. They asked us to lend 16 donated laptops to a primary school for the children to use for study at home, rather than storing them while waiting for shipment to Senegal. Children from one very grateful school used the computers and returned them cleaned and the software was soon restored leaving the laptops once again ready for shipping.

In the summer of 2020 members of The Diapalante Community Education Centre wrote books which were then illustrated by volunteers in the UK. Though the project was due to finish at the end of summer a few illustrators kindly continued this year, creating some more beautifully illustrated Senegalese reading books.

11 Hillcrest Advisory Bureau and Our Work Bursary Fund, South Africa

Hillcrest Advice Bureau and Bursary Fund (HABandBF) is a small South African charitable organization set up in the 1970’s by three members of the Black Sash (a peaceful organization of women of all races who demonstrated for the freedom of Nelson Mandela and the end of apartheid throughout the apartheid regime). They are based in the beautiful but impoverished geographical area of the Valley of 1000 Hills surrounding Hillcrest, a small town just north of Durban in KwaZulu Natal. Unemployment in the rural areas is in the region of 75%, on average 30% of school children are orphans, with many child headed households.

HABandBF provides three elements towards supporting the local underprivileged community:

  1. Tertiary Fund : works with + 50 tertiary education students to help 96% of them achieve their qualification and go into a sustainable career so breaking the cycle of poverty.

  2. Schools Fund : works with + 110 school learners providing uniforms and a small number of special needs children providing transport and fees.

  3. Advice Bureau : paralegals assists + 120 community members in accessing their rightful grants, pensions and insurances

Diapalante supports Hillcrest Advisory Bureau and Advisory Fund and Advice Bureau annually through a restricted fund. Only donations given specifically to support the work of HAB&BF are used to support their work. Following the devastation of coronavirus, their fundraising in South Africa became very difficult and their ability to continue supporting students in tertiary education was in danger. Diapalante enabled UK supporters of HAB&BF to organise online fundraising activities. We are delighted that sufficient money was raised to allow all the 51 students to continue their studies.

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Supporters

Afternoon tea fundraiser. Ashwell WI.

Online fundraising events through the year included:

International cookery demonstrations, head shave, sports challenges

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Supporters

have supported us this year. These include:

The London school that gives us computers for re-use.

Storybook illustrators

Our many VOLUNTEERS in the UK and Senegal

and many more!

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Financial Report

We are very grateful for the continuing support we have received. In a worsening economic climate your continued commitment helps us prevent fundraising becoming so time consuming it reduces our ability to give time and expertise to support the work of our partners in Africa. All work in the UK, both fundraising and project support, is done by volunteers.

The money we receive goes into our general fund unless donated for a specific purpose when it is allocate to a restricted fund. Of the money spent this year, £23,030 was spent from restricted funds. All of the £8,241 spent from the general fund funded the Diapalante Community Education Centre in Senegal.

Finance matters, but the donations of time, goods and expertise, here and in Senegal, are equally important. All contribute to achieving a successful outcome.

500 people in Senegal better equipped to contribute to a more sustainable future for their families and their country.

Let’s do it again next year ….

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Looking to the Future

Diapalante is a Wolof word meaning solidarity, working hand in hand, standing together. This word guides our relationship with our partners in Africa.

We have many ideas for our next steps, each requires opportunity, time, money and work to develop and implement it. It is hard to know which will be the next opportunity. Here are some of the ideas which are simmering and slowly being progressed, ready for when the opportunity arises.

Re-usable period pads

Coding Clubs

A bookbox scheme brings a lending library to the classroom

Diapalante’s own premises

Project Trust volunteers return to volunteering

There are signs of choppy waters ahead for us:

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Governance

Structure

Diapalante is a charitable trust governed by a Declaration of Trust dated 02/08/2005 as amended by Deed dated 04/01/2006 and by Deed dated 15/08/2012.

Diapalante is run by trustees who give of their time freely and no remuneration is paid. Trustees are appointed by the existing trustees and serve for three years after which they may be reappointed. There must always be at least three trustees. At least two ordinary meetings must be held each year to discuss future strategies, projects and fundraising.

The four trustees meetings and all trustee training was held online this year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Meetings will remain online until trustees consider the situation regarding coronavirus sufficiently resolved.

Public Benefit

The trustees have had due regard to the commission's guidance on public benefit. We have taken the guidance into consideration when exercising the relevant powers or duties. Our charitable purpose for public benefit is demonstrated by the activities and achievements summarised in this report.

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Governance

Safeguarding

Diapalante takes seriously its responsibility to protect and safeguard the welfare of everyone involved in our programmes, particularly children and vulnerable adults. To this end we have reviewed our safeguarding policy and code of conduct and procedures.

Risk Management

The trustees have continued to review the risks the charity faces and acted to mitigate the most likely these. Coronavirus remains a major potential risk to our fundraising in the UK and to our project delivery in Senegal. The risk of inadequate income due the need to cancel planned fundraising events was averted by diversifying our funding streams. The risk of coronavirus impacting on project delivery in Senegal remains high but was reduced by working outdoors where possible and employing extra cleaning and hygiene measures.

Reserves

Diapalante uses The Wise Owl Partnership's Reserve Calculator in conjunction with CC19 reserves guidance from the Charity Commission to establish a reserves amount and a reserves policy. Diapalante aims to hold a reserve of unrestricted funds which is appropriate to allow us to meet 6 months budgeted expenditure. For a low risk commitment in 2021-22 the six month reserve of unrestricted funds is calculated at £14,000. In line with this policy our unrestricted fund stood at £14,148 on 31/0/21.

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Administrative Details, Objectives

Charity name: Diapalante Charity Number 1112875

Address: Kirby Manor 73 High Street Ashwell Herts

SG7 5NP

Charity Trustees as at 31st August 2020:

Pamela Brannigan Caroline Chandler Elizabeth Chandler Ian Chandler Emily Charlton Orlando Gibbons Alan Muhr Carol Muhr

Bank HSBC Station Place Letchworth Garden City SG6 3AJ

Diapalante’s Objectives

To further charitable purposes which relieve or combat malnutrition, hunger, disease, sickness or distress.

To help prevent or relieve poverty or financial hardship by providing or assisting in the provision of education, training, healthcare projects and any necessary support, enabling individuals to generate a sustainable income and be selfsufficient.

Accounts 19 Dlapalanto 1112875 (o Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For th• p•rlod from To 0110912020 3110812021 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestrlctad funds R8Strlct8d fund5 Endowment funds Total funds Last y￿r toth• n•irn•t lo th• n•ar••t É to lh• n•urn•t É tothTr É to th• n••r••t£ A1 R￿91 General FuDd UK Admini91rntyty7 Comrnufilly Educaiion Cenlre, Seneq81 Medical Grants. SanagBI MauDLgfiia, Tall￿ Project Souih AlnGa. Hilkrgst Advlce Bnd 8ur&ary Fund Gifts 8,560.120 8,s81 14,096 226 228 8,759 8,7Sg Sub tot•1 (Gross income for ARJ 8,$01 23.084 31,884 A2 As••t and Inv•stm•nt sal•8, see table Sub total 8,581 23,084 31,664 A3Pa entJ General Fund5 UK Adminisliatson 155 155 19,741 2,616 Comrnufiily Educa￿0￿ Cenlre, Senegal M8dlcal Grants. Senegal MauDtania, Tall￿ Project Souih AfriGa. HilkreGI Advice ond 8ur5ary Fund Gifts 8,241 11,500 2,616 8,759 8,7S9 Sub total A4 Asse¢ and Investment urchases see table Sub total Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers betrween funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds thls year end 340 53 394 20.177 CCXX Rl accounts1551 2710912021

[20] Administrative Details, Objectives Accounts

Accounts 21 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustaasl m•mb¢rs of On accounts for the year onded Charity no lif any) 3 i ¥ LOLI 111187S Set out on pag•s I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity Ilhe Trust.) for the year ended Rasponslbllltl•$ and As the charfty trustees of the Trust, you aré rgsponsible for the P￿pa￿￿tIOn ba$1$ of report of the accounts in acoxdance wth thè requirements of the Charities Act 2011 1.the Aet"). I report in respect of my examin8tion of the Trust's aecoun15 carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying OLJt my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by thè Chartty Commission under section 1451Sllbl of thÈ Ad. I have ctsmpleted rny examination. I confimi that no material matters have me lo my attention (other than that disclosed below'l in connection with the examination vthich gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. accounting records wfjr$ not kèpl in accordancè wlh section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting rewrds Indepondent examinerfs statement I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connectlon with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order tD enable a p￿per understanding of the accDunls to be reached. Please delete the words in the brackets rflhey do not apply. Slgn8d: Dat¢: Name: L(SiLJC RA I I CHAILI) Relevant prof85sional quallfieationlsl or body lif any).. Address: £14wGzJL- IER October 2018

22 Accounts Section B Disclosure Only complete rf the examiner needs lo highlight matters ol ¢one&rn (see CG32, Independent examin8tion of charity accounts.. d1￿CtionS and gul¢Jance for examiners). Give here brièf dètalls of any items that th8 examiner wish8S to d15close. IER October 2018

Other News Other News

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We have two UK groups who meet on Zoom. A Book Club who are working their way around Africa a book at a time!

And also a square foot gardening club, who are raising money for Diapalante a plant or pot of jam at a time. - https://diapalante.org/category/book club/) - - https://diapalante.org/category/square foot gardening/

Congratulations to our Centre Coordinator, Mamadou Kane and his family, on the birth of a son in September 2020.

Congratulations to PamBrannigan, one of our trustees, on being awarded the British Empire Medal.

Ex volunteer Susanna House, seen here meeting Mamadou’s baby, has been back in Senegal in her role as Africa Roaming Policy Officer at Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Please consider donating to our work

Every donation counts, every £1. Please help us to support The Diapalante Community Education Centre as it enables and encourages adults and children gain the skills needed to secure better futures for themselves and their families.

If you feel more comfortable giving money as and when you can afford it then please do that.

However, if you can give a little every month, this allows us to plan ahead responsibly and ensures that The Diapalante Community Education Centre can continue to help people today, tomorrow and into the future.

334 supporters giving £5 per month would provide this income or 166 supporters giving £10 per month or

83 supporters giving £20 per month

We are grateful for every penny, and many people help Diapalante in many different ways. If you can support us financially – please do. If this isn’t for you then keep in touch, all support and encouragement is valued by us.

To donate

Kirby Manor 73 High Street Ashwell Herts SG7 5NP

Charity No: 1112875