## **Joshua Orphan and Community Care Annual Report and Accounts 2021** _Registered Charity Number: 1114727_ ## **Introduction from our founder, Sylvia Avgherinos** _Our work in 2021 continued to be hampered by the lasting impacts of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Schools in Malawi were mostly closed until May and even after that attendance of both staff and students posed real problems. During the first part of the year, we continued to deliver likuni phala to all the CBCCs in take home portions and managed to continue with BMI/MUAC testing by arranging this to be carried out at the same time as likuni phala deliveries. All meetings and workshops were adapted to comply with Malawian Task Force rules and guidance. The closure of DfID and subsequent impact on International Aid from the UK has had a significant negative impact on both Joshua Orphan and Community Care and Malawi as a whole. Feeding and providing our centres with sufficient resources continued to be a challenge but we are, as always, so grateful to all our donors for their continued generosity which ensures our vital work can continue. Sylvia Avgherinos CEO_ ## **Our Mission** Joshua Orphan and Community Care (JOCC) is a UK based Charity working to fund JOCC Malawi. Joshua’s Mission is to support community-driven sustainable development projects to assist orphans, vulnerable children, and their families in the rural and peri-urban Blantyre area. ## **Our Approach** We believe communities should have the resources, skills, knowledge and support to ensure that children can grow and develop free of hunger and with access to education and basic healthcare. JOCC’S registered charitable Objectives are: a) Advancing the education of orphans and other vulnerable children in Malawi – in particular, but not exclusively, in the area of Blantyre and its surrounding villages -by the provision of schools and materials, funding teacher training and sponsorship programmes. b) The relief of poverty and hunger in Malawi – in particular, but not exclusively, in the villages surrounding Blantyre – by the provision of feeding centres and income-generating projects. c) The relief of sickness and the promotion of good health through education programmes. d) Assisting in the provision of safe water to the communities. The Trustees are aware of and apply the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. All JOCC’s income is raised in the UK, the USA or Malawi and is used to achieve the Charity’s objectives. **Our Strategic Objectives for 2021** - 1) Provide Early Childhood Development and Education along with critical nutrition to children under six years old through our community-based childcare centres. - 2) Improve access to quality Education through development of educational facilities and provision of school sponsorship - 3) Support communities with basic health services and improved access to safe water. ## **Early Childhood Development: Achievements and Impact in 2021** - Approximately 1000 children regularly attending 15 early years centres - 8 centres growing or producing fortified porridge - Children attending centres in Chilaweni (funded by UK Aid Direct) outcomes - 5 volunteer caregivers completed Certificates in Early Childhood Development - Digital learning projects in Kachumbe, Mwandika and Chimwemwe, working with Teach the World Foundation 2021 saw the completion of our major three-year project setting up 5 early years centres in Chilaweni. This was funded by UK Aid Direct. The inevitable disruption due to COVID 19 was joined by a 25% budget cut for the final year of the project, which meant we were not able to deliver as much support as planned. We were able to conduct an evaluation of this project in June 2021 and were encouraged by the findings. The evaluation noted that the project delivered significant benefits in the short and longer-terms by enhancing school readiness and educational outcomes and improving physical and mental health. In particular, the data suggests improved educational attainment through learning activities, parent education, volunteer training and creating links with government services. The evaluation noted significant increase in the performance and mastery of early numeracy skills by children at the end of the project. Literacy skills also improved. This advantage was maintained in individual children through a period of disruption to education due to COVID-19, and there was no notable difference in the attainment of girls and boys. The evaluation recommended scaling this approach up across other centres due to the lasting effects on overall school readiness, and children’s development. We continue to focus on supporting the centres to operate sustainably and independently of our support. Some of the centres were able to continue producing their own fortified porridge ‘likuni phala’ during 2021, following training provided under the Rapid Response project funded by UK Aid Direct in 2020. Nchokera, Mwandika and Solomoni are growing their own crops for this. During 2021 we were able to continue with our partnership with the Teach the World Foundation. This partnership provided us with tablets for digital learning in one of the CBCCs at the beginning of 2019. The project continued to run throughout 2021. The CBCC runs in the morning, providing two one-hour shifts using the tablets and continues with other ECD activities throughout the morning. Children are also provided with likuni phala. In 2021 we have been able to keep the centre open in the afternoon. Children from the nearby Nancholi Primary, many of whom were introduced to digital learning whilst attending the CBCC, now choose to come in the afternoon to continue with the digital learning programme. ## **Education Achievements and Impact in 2021** - 200 students supported to stay in school and one student received sponsorship for tertiary education - 23 girls and young women took part in a pilot project through the Waterloo Foundation to support girls’ education The Malawi school year continued to be restructured to try and catch up from the six month closure in 2020 due to outbreak of the COVID 19 pandemic. However, a further closure for 6 weeks at the start of 2021 and continued disruption due to teacher strikes meant that this was no longer possible. These school closures have impacted attainment across the education system; a trend we observed in our sponsored students. We continue to support 200 students across 15 secondary schools. Students receive school fees and in many instances money for uniform and other educational resources such as solar lamps. In 2021, we completed a small pilot project, funded by the Waterloo Foundation, to support girls and young women to succeed in education. The Waterloo Project supported 23 girls in 4 secondary schools. Although this project was inevitably disrupted due to COVID-19 and the subsequent dropping out of some students, our learning from this project demonstrated the importance of a good school for sponsored students, and that individual aptitude and family support are not enough by themselves. The long-term connection we have with local communities revealed some noticeable successes when selecting students for secondary sponsorship. Two female students who started their education in our early years centres in Tiyamike and Solomoni passed Standard 8 and were selected for Lunzu secondary school. **Health, Wellbeing and Community: achievements and impact in 2021** - Regular mobile health clinic in TA Kuntaja and Somba which provides health care and advice to over 400 children and family members The mobile health clinic visits 6 different communities on a 6 week cycle every Thursday. This was disrupted by COVID at the start of the year but has picked up again. The clinic saw over 1103 individuals (959 children and 144 adults), giving advice on health issues such as diarrhoea, skin rashes, coughs, eye and ear problems. The nurse also provides health advice and talks on topics such as HIV and AIDS, COVID-19, hygiene and nutrition. Joshua liaises with local DHO clinics, for example, the AMECA clinic in Chilaweni. Health Surveillance Teams support termly BMI/MUAC nutrition testing for all CBCC children. All Centre Management Committees, some CBO members and Caregivers received Child Protection training during 2021. Sadly, our mobile health clinic nurse Edith died suddenly in August 2021. Edith had led our mobile health clinics since 2015, she was a dedicated member of the team who is missed. ## **Fundraising report 2021** We continue to be grateful to all of our supporters. In particular, the invaluable support from the Hurst footballers, Roger Woodward, Elizabeth Cracknell, Elmhurst School, Tonbridge Grammar School and Buckland Primary School. We were pleased to welcome support from US Friends of Joshua and Santiago Rotary Club to fund early years activities in Nchokera, and support from Secret Compass for the centre in Mwandika. We also had a successful Big Give Christmas Challenge in December 2021 which raised just over £10,000 for our early childhood development work. We were very grateful to the Jessica Mathers Trust who put up £5000 of this amount as the matched funding within this campaign. The fundraising climate in 2021 has continued to be difficult. We had just heard about a successful grant application when it transpired that the UK Aid Direct scheme was closing. We have received funding from several trusts and foundations through 2021 and are grateful to the Souter Charitable Trust, Scotia Education Trust, Dinning Trust and Teach the World Foundation for their support. The continuing disruption to travel has meant that we have been unable to host volunteer groups. We miss this opportunity to get this involvement in our projects and hope it will resume as soon as possible. _We continue to be immensely grateful to all the individual supporters who continue to support our work. Whether this is through regular donations, participating in sporting challenges or organising fundraising events, our work could not continue without them._ ## **Resources & Financial Management** In 2021, JOCC raised £104,056; fundraising through Aid Agencies, Trusts, Volunteer Groups (in spite of no visits, they still kindly donated) and individuals. JOCC operated with the very lowest overheads ensuring that the majority of funding goes to projects in the community. We consistently evaluate all costs to identify areas for savings without compromising on the services we provide. The table and graph below show the breakdown by source of the £104,056 fundraised for JOCC in 2021. ## **JOCC 2021 Accounts - Receipts** |**JOCC 2021 Accounts - Receipts**|| |---|---| ||UKP| |Regular donations|£31,716| |Sponsorship|£2,229| |GroupProject Donations|£1,982| |One off donationsgeneral|£35,053| |Restricted One off donations(inc Trust Funds)|£25,877| |Gift Aid Receipts|£7,079| |Other(Interest & Charitecards)|£121| |**Total**|**£104,056**| ## **JOCC Accounts 2021 - Receipts** **----- Start of picture text -----**
£121
£7,079
£31,716
£25,877
£2,229
£1,982
£35,053
Regular donations Sponsorship
Group Project Donations One off donations general
Restricted One off donations (inc Trust Funds) Gift Aid Receipts
Other (Interest & Charitecards)
**----- End of picture text -----**
The table and graph below show the breakdown of how funds raised were spent in 2021 for JOCC. 93.1% of funds were sent directly to Malawi with 6.0% going towards staff costs (including some Malawian staff) and the remainder on administrative costs. ## **JOCC 2021 Accounts - Payments** ||UKP| |---|---| |Transfers to Malawi|£105,658| |Bank Charges|£210| |Employment Costs|£6,831| |Office Rental|£0| |FundraisingCosts|£86| |Insurance|£717| |Other|£0| |**Total**|**£113,502**| ## **JOCC 2021 Accounts - Payments** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Office Rental
Fundraising Costs 0% Insurance
0%
1%
Other
Employment Costs
0%
6%
Bank Charges
0%
Transfers to Malawi
93%
Transfers to Malawi Bank Charges Employment Costs Office Rental
Fundraising Costs Insurance Other
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Legal and Administrative Details** ## **Legal Status** Registered charity in the UK, charity no. 1114727. Registered NGO in Malawi with the Malawi NGO Board and the Council for NGOs in Malawi. ## **Principal Address** 15 Gatton Road, London, SW17 0EX ## **Trustees who served in the year** Beth Chapman (Chair) Laura Hussell (Finance) Berry Butler (Donations Secretary) Sarah Charlton (Secretary) Sylvia Avgherinos Rachel Blackamore Michael Ellis ## **Independent Examiner** Marie Cottam, member of the Institute Chartered Accountants of Scotland ## **Charitable Objectives** - Advancing the education of orphans in Malawi, in particular but not exclusively, in the area of - Blantyre and surrounding villages by the provision of schools, teachers, school materials and grants - The relief of poverty in Malawi, in particular but not exclusively in the villages surrounding - Blantyre by the provision of feeding centres . - The relief of sickness and promotion and preservation of good health. ## **Public Benefit** The Charity has complied with the public benefit requirement in accordance with Section 17 of the Charities Act 2011. The Charity Commission in its Charities and Public Benefit Guidance requires that key principles be met in order to show that an organisation's aims are for the public benefit. Firstly, there must be an identifiable benefit, and secondly, the benefit must be to the public or a section of the public. Joshua Orphan and Community Care works with 19 communities in rural and peri-urban Malawi. To provide public benefit to these communities, projects are focused on communities where the majority of households are dependent on subsistence farming and live on less than $2 per day. Our approach aims to ensure that projects reach vulnerable families and communities such as those affected by HIV and AIDS, female and child-headed households, and children and young people who have been orphaned. ## **Our Impact** The preceding pages outline the impact we were able to make in 2021 in relation to strategic objectives. ## **Statement about trustees** Joshua was registered as a charity in June 2006. All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity. Regular trustee meetings take place at least every two months. There is a separate independent board in Malawi. ## **Governance, organisational Structure and Staffing** There is no physical UK office as the trustees have chosen to focus all resources to work in Malawi. Joshua’s UK fundraising is supported by a freelance fundraiser. There is a small office in Blantyre, Malawi with a small staff team. Sylvia Avgherinos is CEO of Joshua, providing guidance on strategy and project development. Susan Cabon has continued in post as Country Manager through 2021 supported by Joseph Chiundiza as Programmes Manager and local Field Offiers. Specialist staff include Early Childhood Development teacher, and Digital Learning Officer as well as Lino Solomoni as Finance and Office Manager In addition, Staff are supported by John Gomondo, driver. ## **Safeguarding** Joshua’s work has a strong focus on working with vulnerable children and adults and there is a continued focus on safeguarding across the organisation. Staff training on the safeguarding policy is ongoing. At project level, safeguarding training and awareness work took place with CBCC caregivers and volunteers. **www.joshuainmalawi.org.uk** Jwhua OTrhan Cornrnuhlty ¢v• R•tr. 1114727 2021 Accounty R•￿IPts Regulardonati¢x SponSo￿hlp Group Proled Dpnatlon5 ¢￿e off donalknns ger*r#l Reslrfded One off donalhjrts lkn¢Tn*l FwKJ51 GtRAid rEcelpts Olherllnlwesl ond ChaTMet•d51 31.716 1.982 35.053 25.877 7.079 121 Tothi Rocglpts Pa￿￿1$ Translers to m￿a￿l Bank charges Emplo￿￿nI costs Olfice rental Fundrai%iTyJ cosls Insuranc* Other 1105.6581 (2101 (s￿31) 1861 (717) Totsl Paymènts 1113.S02) Net of R•¢•lpWIP•yThnt81 19h461 Ca$h fvnds188t ￿areThI 91.sao C••h fvnd• thls y•ar •nd 81136 Statsmèrht of*sts•ts and Ilabllths *8 * 3111V21 Cash lund8 Uoyds bank- rjj￿enI Uoyd5 bank BB Irffjt Onhp 31.595 Totsl ca8h lunds 82.13$ NOTE: 2003 2004 2005 5.011 14,942 19.219 117.1091 59,285 (26.3791 20.995 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2018 121.B141 121.0361 38.t#J4 127.4881 12.9171 31.104 12391 2.135 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGIAND MD WALE5 Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustoesl Members of On accounts for the year ended Charlty no Ilf any) 111<717 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above ¢harity (Ihe Trusf) for Ihe year erKled DD I MIA I YYYY. Responslblllties and basls of report As the charitys trustees. you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in acc(*dance with the requirements oflhe CharitEs Act 2011 rthe Acl"). I rep￿ in respect of my examination of the Trusys accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Aci and in carying out my examination. I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under seciion 14q5Xb) ot th8 Independent trhe ¢hariWs gross income exceeded £250.IX)O and l am qualffied to examlnerfs statement undertake the examination by being a qualified member of [insert name of applicable listed botyl]. Delele [ } rfnot applicabla. I have c£Jmpleted my examination. I Confi￿ that no material matters have come to my attention in connection the examination {oiher than that disdosed below") whth gives me Ixuse to believe that in, any material res￿￿￿. the accounting re￿￿￿$ were not kept in aco)rdance with section 130 of the Charities Act" or the accounts did nol accord with the accounting records" or the ac(%unts did not cy)mply wth the applicable requirements concemirrfJ the form and content of accounts sel out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulation$ 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a Irue and faif view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no COn￿mS and have come auoss no other matters in ￿nneCtiOn ith the examination to which attention shoukl be dravm in this report In order to enable a prO￿r understanding of the accounts to be reached. . Please delete the words in the brad(ets ilthey do not apply. Date: Slgned: Name: Relevant professlonal quallll¢ation(s) or body lfvJsnrurE OA C￿￿￿.￿y) O SLP li f4AD IER Oct 2018 (If any): Address: 3 LVrJffJfvJ PWLK fiJ[￿E ItJf LMI9 Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concem (see CC32. Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiner5}. Give here brief delalls of any Ilems that the examlnor wishes to disclose. IER Oct 2018