_Joshua Orphan and Community Care Annual Report 2024 Registered Charity Number: 1114727_ Introduction from our founder, Sylvia Avgherinos _The past year, 2024, has been one of steady, determined progress and deepening community engagement for Joshua. After the immense challenges of 2023 (largely due to Cyclone Freddy and its associated aftermath), it has been wonderful to focus on building resilience and expanding our impact in a sustainable way._ _This has been achieved against the backdrop of very difficult fundraising conditions in the UK, which makes us all the more grateful for the incredible, steadfast support we receive from our partners and donors. Their generosity has enabled our team in Malawi, led by Sue Cabon, to respond directly to the needs identified within our communities._ _A powerful example of this is the establishment of our new physiotherapy clinic at the AMECA clinic in Chilaweni. This initiative was born from a survey of community members with physical disabilities and is already providing vital therapy and resources to many._ _This year, our development has been driven by successful small grant applications. We have been able to drill a new borehole in Kaliati, build three new composting latrine blocks in locations under TA Somba, and re-roof and renovate several of our CBCCs, including the building donated by Chief Ching'namba. We were also thrilled to host a visiting group of Scouts who did extensive work at Milo Pensulo._ _Our digital learning project has been strengthened by the hiring of a new Digital Officer, who is training caregivers in all 17 centres, and the rollout of new solar systems and the "Masamu" (maths) app._ _None of this would be possible without the hard work of our Malawi team—Sue, Joseph, and all our Field and Specialist Officers and the generosity of our donors._ ## _**Sylvia Avgherinos**_ ## _**CEO of Joshua**_ ## **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 periurban 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 2024** - 1) Provide Early Childhood Development and Education along with critical nutrition to children under six years old through our 17 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. ## **Our Work in 2024** For Joshua, 2024 saw a significant focus on infrastructure improvements and the expansion of our health services, all while strengthening our core educational programmes. ## **CBCCs and Infrastructure** We continue to provide daily support to 17 CBCCs. Our Field Officers work closely with these centres, mentoring the volunteer caregivers and advising the local Centre Management Committees to ensure high standards of care and community ownership. We were delighted to see a significant increase in child registrations during the latter half of 2024. For example, **Solomoni, Ching’amba, Manyowe, and Nkanamwano (Khola)** centres are now recording figures between **80 and 112 children** each. This can be attributed in part to the poor harvest of 2023-2024, as more families struggle for food, but we hope it also reflects an increased community interest in early years education. This increase puts pressure on our resources but demonstrates the vital role our centres play. Our infrastructure programme, driven by small grants, delivered crucial upgrades: - **Water & Sanitation:** A new borehole was successfully drilled at **Kaliati** , providing clean, safe, and reliable water to the entire community. This dramatically reduces the burden on women and children. Additionally, three new **composting latrine blocks** were constructed in communities under **TA Somba** , including a new block at **Mwandika** generously funded by **Caledonia** . - **Building & Renovation:** We continue to invest in the longevity of our centres. The community building at **Chief Ching'namba** was fully re-roofed, making it safe and dry. At **Nchokera** , the existing roof was professionally cleaned and painted to protect it for years to come. ## **Volunteer Groups** This year, we were thrilled to welcome a visiting group of Scouts to our **Milo Pensulo** centre. Their energy and hard work made a tangible impact in a very short time. The team focused on a complete renovation of the centre, which included painting the classrooms, building a new playground structure, and landscaping the grounds. They also worked alongside local builders, learning new skills, painted murals at a nearby CBCC with a local artist, and assisted at the local primary and secondary schools by repairing desks and painting classrooms. Their contribution was invaluable. This successful visit aligns with our aim to reinvigorate these group visits in the coming years (after a reduction since Covid-19). ## **Digital Learning** Our digital learning project is now active in all 17 CBCCs, bringing modern educational tools to the communities we work with. A significant step forward this year was the hiring of a new, dedicated **Digital Officer** . This specialist role is transformative: the officer provides structured training to all caregivers, ensuring they are confident using the tablets and educational apps. They also manage the rollout of new content, like the 'Masamu' (maths) app, and oversee the maintenance of the equipment. This project is supported by new solar power systems, funded by a grant, which keep our tablets charged and our centres lit. ## **Feeding Programme** Our daily feeding programme remains a cornerstone of our work and a primary driver for attendance. For many children, the hot, fortified porridge they receive at our centres is their only guaranteed, nutritious meal of the day. This is vital for their physical and cognitive development. ON\ ee a a> — i "viteey In addition to our daily feeding, 2024 saw a critical need for emergency food aid due to widespread crop failures from El Niño conditions. We launched an “ 5 ia } { . i we urgent Food Security Appeal to support vulnerable families in 12 villages. The response from our donors was truly heart-warming and we successfully raised ig enough funds for our Malawi team to distribute 1,414 bags of maize flour to these families, and also provided flour to our dedicated caregivers | i TIME and management committees in all 17 centres as a thankHOUSE.% == NTHAc> you for their work. This year, the programme was also significantly enhanced by a generous donation from **Ener-G-Africa** of **170 family-size sustainable cooking stoves** and one group-size stove. These 'changu' stoves are not only faster and safer but also use far less firewood, reducing the environmental impact and the burden of wood collection on the community volunteers. ## **Health and Nutrition** Our health programme continued to expand in 2024, including basic monitoring services and direct service provision. - **Mobile Clinics:** Our mobile clinic service provides a vital health safety net. It operates on a threeweek rotation, with our team setting up a clinic at a different CBCC each week. This allows children and local adults to be treated for small ailments (cuts, infections, malaria tests) without a long walk to a government facility. Our team also provides referrals to hospitals for more serious conditions, liaising closely with local DHO clinics, such as the **AMECA clinic in Chilaweni** . - **Nutrition:** We conduct **termly BMI/MUAC nutrition testing** for all children in our CBCCs. This is managed by our team with support from local Health Surveillance Teams. This regular screening is critical as it allows us to identify children at risk of malnutrition early and provide them with nutritional support before their condition becomes severe. - **New Physiotherapy Clinic:** An exciting development in 2024 was the launch of our own physiotherapy clinic. After conducting a community-wide survey to identify needs, we established the clinic, which runs weekly at the **AMECA clinic** . Our team provides hands-on therapy, resources, and practical advice to families with children and adults with physical disabilities. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. _We continue to be immensely grateful to all the individual supporters who continue to support our work. Whether this is through regular donations,_ a! - _participating in sporting challenges, or organising fundraising events, our_ eg _work could not continue without them. We are also pleased with the_ y feesa ‘a i. seas7 =aa cS y- os ae _strengthened promoting of our work within Malawi, representing Joshua at the NGO day at Sanjika Palace and the NGO education sector conference at the Amarylis Hotel in Blantyre, ensuring Joshua's work is aligned with the Malawian national strategy._ ## **Resources & Financial Management** Overall, in 2024, JOCC raised £160,818; fundraising through Aid Agencies, Trusts 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 £160,818 fundraised for JOCC in 2024. It should be noted, that unrestricted donations and regular donations **----- Start of picture text -----**
JOCC 2024 Accounts - Receipts
Regular donations £19,462
Sponsorship £7,393
One off donations (general) £22,998
Restricted One off donations (inc. Trust Funds) [£104,582 ]
Gift Aid Receipts £5,997
Other (Interest & Charitecards) £386
Total £160,818
JOCC RECEIPTS FOR 2024 Other (Interest &
Charitecards)
Gift Aid Receipts Regular donations
0.1%
4% 12%
Sponsorship
5%
One off donations
(general)
14%
Restricted One off
donations (inc. Trust
Funds)
65%
**----- End of picture text -----**
While all our donors are invaluable, we wanted to extend a special thank you to some of the partners who supported specific projects in 2024: - **Caledonia** for generously funding the new **latrine block at Mwandika** . - **Ener-G-Africa** for their significant donation of 170 family-size **sustainable cook stoves** and one group-size stove. - The **One World Group** who are long time supporters of our work gave another generous donation which funded the new **borehole at Kaliati** - The **visiting Scouts** group for their incredible hands-on work, fundraising, and for building such strong connections with the community. - **Engineers Without Borders (EWB)** for lending their time and expertise to evaluate and plan new infrastructure projects. - And a heartfelt thank you to **every single donor** who contributed to our urgent **Food Security Appeal** . Your generosity provided a lifeline to over 1,400 families. The next table and graph show the breakdown of how funds raised were spent in 2024 for JOCC. Majority of funds were sent directly to Malawi (91.77%) with 4.01% going towards staff costs (including some Malawian staff) and the remainder on administrative costs. |Transfers to Malawi|£164,508| |---|---| |Bank Charges|£255| |Employment Costs|£7,197| |Office Rental|£6,000| |Fundraising Costs|£249| |Insurance|£717| |Other|£327| |**Total**|**£179,253**| **----- Start of picture text -----**
Fundraising Costs Insurance
JOCC PAYMENTS FOR 2024
0.14% 0.40%
Employment Costs
Office Rental Other
4.01%
3.35% 0.18%
Bank Charges
0.14%
Transfers to Malawi
91.77%
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Statement about Trustees** All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity. Regular trustee meetings take place throughout the year. There is a separate independent board in Malawi. We were delighted that our Chair of Trustees, **Julie Smallwood** , was able to visit Malawi in early 2024. She toured four CBCCs ( **Chimwemwe, Mwandika, Solomoni, and Kanchamba** ), reporting back on the wonderful impact of our programmes and the dedication of our Malawi team and volunteers. ## **Trustees who served in the year** Julie Smallwood (Chair) Sarah Charlton Laura Hussell (Finance) (Secretary) Sylvia Avgherinos Janie Hargreaves Michael Ellis Berry Butler (Donations Secretary) Our Chair of Trustees Julie getting involved during her trip ## **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** 63 Adams Way, Norwood Junction, CR0 6XR ## **Independent Examiner** Ian Wardle, member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales ## **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 17 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 2024 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 throughout the year. 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 2024 supported by Joseph Chiundiza as Programmes Manager and local Field Officers. Specialist staff include Early Childhood Development teacher, and Digital Learning Officer. ## **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** CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examine¢s Report Report to the trustees On accounts for the year ended Charity no (if any) i /ii/i(rn¥ Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity {'the Trust.) for the year ended Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent Fhe*Nt¥-&gu)ssincom&exceeded£251xIQQ-aRd-l-am￿qUa1ifTred.t0. examiner's statement qualified.member-of-[insert name of appj1c￿￿[-D9Iet￿[-]4f440tsppIlG8bI8. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination lotk8r4haN4hat disclosed-below") which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or the accounts did not accord wrth the accounting records. or 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. 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. Please delete the words in the brackets rf they do not apply. Signed: Date: Name: AEOLÉ Relevant professional qualification(s) or body ICAE qolOGZI Oct 2018 IER (if any): Address: VIILUDC-d￿ Lo 0% FiilD4HIPi q MILLPobJKJ Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. 01￿ IER Oct 2018 Joshua Orphan and Community Care Ref: 1114727 For the year ended 31 st December 2024 Recel ts and Pa ments accounls 2024 2023 Recelpts Regular donations Sponsorship Gioup ProJecl Donations On8 off donations general Restricted One olf donations (inc Trust Funds) Glft Aid receipts Other {Inleresl and Charitecards) 19,462 7,393 21.383 7,243 22.998 104,582 5.997 386 48,613 62. 759 10.786 327 Tolal Receipts 160,818 151,111 Payments Translers to Malawl Bank charges Employmenl Costs Office renlal Fundraising cosls Insurance Other (164,508) (255) 17,197) 16.000) (249) (717) (327) (124,488) (195) (13,4 10) {4.000) {520) (717) Total Paymenls (179,253) (143,330) Net ol Receiptsl(Payment8) (18,435) 7,781 Cash funds last year end 106,823 99,042 Cash funds Ihls yeor end 8B,388 106,823 Statement ot assets and IlabS1itiès as at 31112124 Cash funds 2024 2023 Lloyds bank- current Lloyds bank BB Inst Online CAF 56.118 32,270 74,933 31,890 Total cash funds 88,388 106,823 NOTE: Reserves Movements & balance 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Closlng balance 31,104 (239) 19,446) 16,907 7,781 {18,435) 88,388 . Internal Use Only CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examine¢s Report Report to the trustees On accounts for the year ended Charity no (if any) i /ii/i(rn¥ Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity {'the Trust.) for the year ended Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent Fhe*Nt¥-&gu)ssincom&exceeded£251xIQQ-aRd-l-am￿qUa1ifTred.t0. examiner's statement qualified.member-of-[insert name of appj1c￿￿[-D9Iet￿[-]4f440tsppIlG8bI8. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination lotk8r4haN4hat disclosed-below") which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or the accounts did not accord wrth the accounting records. or 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. 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. Please delete the words in the brackets rf they do not apply. Signed: Date: Name: AEOLÉ Relevant professional qualification(s) or body ICAE qolOGZI Oct 2018 IER (if any): Address: VIILUDC-d￿ Lo 0% FiilD4HIPi q MILLPobJKJ Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. 01￿ IER Oct 2018 Joshua Orphan and Community Care Ref: 1114727 For the year ended 31 st December 2024 Recel ts and Pa ments accounls 2024 2023 Recelpts Regular donations Sponsorship Gioup ProJecl Donations On8 off donations general Restricted One olf donations (inc Trust Funds) Glft Aid receipts Other {Inleresl and Charitecards) 19,462 7,393 21.383 7,243 22.998 104,582 5.997 386 48,613 62. 759 10.786 327 Tolal Receipts 160,818 151,111 Payments Translers to Malawl Bank charges Employmenl Costs Office renlal Fundraising cosls Insurance Other (164,508) (255) 17,197) 16.000) (249) (717) (327) (124,488) (195) (13,4 10) {4.000) {520) (717) Total Paymenls (179,253) (143,330) Net ol Receiptsl(Payment8) (18,435) 7,781 Cash funds last year end 106,823 99,042 Cash funds Ihls yeor end 8B,388 106,823 Statement ot assets and IlabS1itiès as at 31112124 Cash funds 2024 2023 Lloyds bank- current Lloyds bank BB Inst Online CAF 56.118 32,270 74,933 31,890 Total cash funds 88,388 106,823 NOTE: Reserves Movements & balance 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Closlng balance 31,104 (239) 19,446) 16,907 7,781 {18,435) 88,388 . Internal Use Only