Friends of Burundi Annual Report & Financial Statement October 1[st] 2022- September 31[st] 2023 Registered Charity No. 1117715
General Introduction: On 20[th] January 2023, the family and friends of Hugh James met for a service of thanksgiving and celebration of his life. Friends of Burundi is so grateful for Hugh’s work as Honorary Secretary since the start of the charity in 2006 until his retirement from this role in January 2021.
Friends of Burundi has continued to support the church in Burundi in prayer and financial support. Our Communication Secretary, Sue Finlayson, has produced and shared with members a regular ‘News and Prayer Points’ with other emails sent requesting prayer for special needs. Burundi has continued to face considerable economic challenges following COVID and the invasion of Ukraine. Inflation more than doubled from 8.4% in 2021 to 18.7% in 2022. The shortage of foreign currency has led to frequent fuel shortages and the depreciation of the currency. Burundi remains one of the world's most impoverished countries, with 87 percent of the population living below the World Bank's poverty measure of $1.90 per day, 80-90 percent of the population reliant on agriculture (mostly subsistence farming) and a youth unemployment rate of about 65 percent.
Small grants for ‘Good Causes’ totalling £6,965 were sent to partners in Burundi. Some of the work supported has included relief support for flood victims, the training of pastors and pastors’ retreats, church building and help for those living with disabilities, musical instruments and scholarships for Batwa children. Additional designated grants (amounting to £3,276) which comply with the aims of the charity, were also transferred to Burundi. All overheads and administration costs have been kept to an absolute minimum (£35).
One of the charity’s trustees, Andrew Maclay (Treasurer) was able to visit some of the church partners in Bujumbura, Burundi following Rooted in Jesus training courses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Bethesda project, supported by Friends of Burundi and ministering to the disabled in Muyinga diocese, continues to grow under the leadership of Fiacre following a visit by Bridget Hathaway (Friends of Burundi Member) and Gill Stern in March 2023.
Our Advisory Group member, Alison Guinness with her husband Paul and young family continue their work with Burundian colleagues and regional partners to encourage the mobilisation and training for cross-cultural mission of the Burundian church. This mission work is also supported by Stephen and Catherine McGoldrick and their colleague, Aloys, in the work of Acts 13 as well as Philip and Elspeth Adeney.
Michael Hunter, member of Friends of Burundi, has continued his teaching at Bujumbura Christian University. Friends of Burundi member, Sally Botteley, supports the work of REMA Burundi, which has a particular ministry to assist returnees and forced displaced people in Burundi.
Governance
The trustees remain as William Challis (Chair), Hugh James (until his death on December 31[st] 2022), Andrew Maclay (Treasurer), Stephen Stordy (Secretary) and Sue Finlayson (Communications)
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The Advisory Group (formerly called the Friends of Burundi Committee)
The Annual Meeting took place via Zoom on 29[th] December 2022. Members were invited to comment on the Good Cause applications for 2022/23 and news was shared on the current situation in Burundi.
Meetings of the Trustees
The trustees met via Zoom on 6[th] December 2022 to decide the allocation of funding for 2022/23.
The 2023 Annual General Meeting
The delayed 2022 AGM was held via Zoom on Monday 23[rd] January 2023 with 23 members attending.
At the meeting members the trustees and members of the Advisory Group were elected. The 2021/22 Annual Report and Financial Statement was approved. Presentations on work in Burundi were given by:
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a) Steve McGoldrick and Aloys Nduwindavyi reported in their work in Acts 13 which is reaching out to the church in Africa to send mission partners cross-culturally to other countries in Africa.
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b) Other news was work in Burundi was shared by Alison Guinness; in particular, on the Burundi Mission Alliance. Sally Botteley reported on the work of REMA Burundi, Rob Burch and Bridget Hathaway on the work of the Bethesda project, Georgette Butera on Herridge School and Michael Hunter on Bujumbura Christian University.
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c) Good Cause Grants were awarded in 2022/23 totalling £6,965. In addition, Friends of Burundi assisted with the transfer of designated gifts totalling £3,276.
Patrons
The Patrons are Jane Williams & Archbishop Sixbert Macumi
General Data Protection Regulations
We comply with the General Data Protection Regulations
Safeguarding Policy
At the instigation of the Charity Commission, a policy, based on the Church of England Safeguarding guidelines, has been produced and is reviewed and approved annually.
Communication with Members
Communication with members is maintained by a quarterly news and prayer update with occasional interim emails with additional news and items for prayer. Friends of Burundi members, who attended the Church Mission Society Africa Conference in Swanwick from 7-9[th] October 2022 were able to hear reports from members on visits to Burund
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Friends of Burundi
DRAFT Annual fnancial report for the year ended 30 September 2023
I am pleased to present to you the accounts of Friends of Burundi for the year ended 30 September 2023. We received £5,650 in membership subscriptions and donations in the year, from approximately 37 different supporters. We also received £16,086.65 in relation to the death of a supporter.
| Income Membership subscriptons and donatons Designated gifs Memorials and legacies Gif Aid tax reclaimed Total income Expenditure Grants Bujumbura diocese - food assistance Bujumbura diocese - Widows Healing workshop Bujumbura diocese - pastors retreat Muyinga diocese - Bible school training Muyinga diocese - training of church ministers Muyinga diocese - Bethesda project Matana diocese - building project Gitega diocese - pastors refresher course - Gitega diocese - roofng sheets for Kabanga parish church Buye diocese - Bible School Rutana diocese - pastors training Rutana diocese - Equipping of Bible school Buhiga diocese - training of catechists AFREM Mwaro - scholarships for Batwa students Herridge Technical school REMA UK Food for the Hungry Five Talents Alpha Burundi YADA Christmas party and food relief AVC Evangelism and Sewing project All Natons Christan College - En Route Designated gifs Matresses for Buye lycee Bishop of Buhiga Mutanga Nord church, Bujumbura – children’s support Jean-Claude Ngiyimbere |
year ended 30 September 2023 2022 £ £ 5,325.00 5,150.00 3,076.25 5,200.00 16,086.65 1,846.37 970.33 |
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| 26,334.27 11,320.33 |
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| 1,000.00 1,000.00 750.00 750.00 716.67 700.00 511.91 700.00 1,000.00 750.00 750.00 716.67 700.00 750.00 750.00 1,023.81 300.00 500.00 500.00 500.00 2,000.00 500.00 511.91 511.91 1,200.00 3,076.00 200.00 1,000.00 2,000.00 |
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| Rutana Pension house Expenditure Informaton Commissioner subscripton Bank/Western Union charges Total expenditure Surplus/(Defcit) for the year Balance Sheet Surplus/(Defcit) for the year Lloyds balance at beginning of year Funds available Lloyds balance available for general funds at 30 September Funds available |
2,000.00 35.00 35.00 105.00 |
|---|---|
| 10,276.00 17,232.88 |
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| 16,058.27 (5,912.55) |
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| 16,058.27 (5,912.55) 5,879.07 11,791.62 |
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| 21,937.34 5,879.07 |
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| 21,902.34 5,879.07 |
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| 21,902.34 5,879.07 |
Andrew Maclay, Treasurer Trustee
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