Bae cl ee BUILDING RESILENCE 3 THANDA UK ANNUAL REPORT 1 JULY 2023 - 30 JUNE 2024
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WHAT HAS CHANGED IN 2023/2024?
Thanda UK provided valuable support to Thanda After-School, a non-profit organisation based in Mtwalume, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa throughout 2023-2024.
This report details Thanda After-school’s activities and how Thanda UK’s support has contributed to empowering communities in rural South Africa.
By building resilience at multiple levels, Thanda is breaking generational cycles. Their ECD and Education programmes equip individual children, while home visits and the household gardening initiative support their families and enhance food security. Thanda also empowers neighbourhoods through group meetings and workshops that strengthen community bonds and foster organic problem-solving.
EQUIPPING INDIVIDUALS: STARTING FROM BIRTH
Thanda's Baby Programme fosters playful interactions between guardians and babies through home visits and neighbourhood playgroups, aiming to achieve key developmental milestones in social-emotional growth, physical health, and language and cognitive skills.
In 2023, Thanda had 67 babies enrolled in this programme.
Overall, 73% improvement in babies’ scores towards reaching developmental milestones from baseline to final in 2023.
SPOTLIGHT ON CHANGE IN LEARNING The greatest improvement (135%) was within the Opportunity to Learn category, which works towards age-appropriate milestones for babies’ vision & coordination, language, and cause & effect.
There was a notable shift in guardian’s understanding of when a baby starts learning. At the beginning of the year, 63% guardians believed babies start learning from pregnancy birth, but this had increased to 93% by the end of the year.*
Overall, the shift in perspectives between the baseline and end-line in 2023 seems to reflect a deeper understanding and articulation of parental responsibilities… The most notable changes include an increase in responses related to attention, love, support, as well as an emergence of new categories such as emotional support and education and learning in the end-line assessment. This proves that due to Thanda’s Baby Programme, guardians developed an understanding of their multifaceted role in teaching their babies.*
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EQUIPPING INDIVIDUALS: ENABLING EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
Thanda's Community Centre-based Imbewu ECD, Satellite ECDs, and Fun Foundations ECD groups ensure that children receive learning opportunities, regardless of how isolated their location may be.
In 2023, 287 children attended these programmes, gaining access to Early Learning opportunities they otherwise would not have had.
Thanda's curriculum, designed specifically for the rural South African context, has been validated by independent assessments, which have shown significant improvements in children’s skills.
In 2023, children in Thanda's Imbewu ECD programme improved by 53% on average and those in the Satellite ECD programme improved by 42% on average.
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EQUIPPING INDIVIDUALS: INCLUDING CHILDREN LIVING WITH DISABILITIES
Thanda offers children with learning and developmental challenges the chance to learn alongside their peers, fostering a sense of belonging within their community. This inclusive environment also encourages their classmates to accept, support, and include friends with challenges, just as they would any other child.
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20 2 30 217
¢ oe
# of children with Facilitation # of therapy sessions # of therapy sessions
of child for ECD children for ECD children
disabilities supported
dependency grants (with an
occupational therapist)
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In 2023 Thanda helped children with a range of disabilities including:
Cerebral Palsy ADHD Diplegia Autism Spectrum Disorder Speech Delay Hemiplegia Down Syndrome Epilepsy
In 2023, Thanda observed improvements across all assessed skills in the 0-7 year age group, with an outstanding 87% increase in language and communication abilities.
Two children in Thanda's ECD (Grade 00) are living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In 2023, both made significant progress, obtaining new skills and reaching milestones across various categories. These include following a beat, matching shapes and colours, sorting, creating simple patterns, using basic sign language to communicate, engaging in parallel play, expressing moods and emotions, independently using the toilet, eating and drinking, and maintaining concentration for short periods.
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MPILO (4), AUTISM
Mpilo enrolled in 2022 and initially struggled with listening to his teachers, following instructions, and participating in classroom activities. He was very withdrawn, avoided interaction with other children, and had difficulty managing his emotions, which led to frustration when trying to communicate. He also had trouble using utensils for self-feeding.
Since joining Thanda, Mpilo has shown remarkable improvement. He now enjoys classroom activities, is more empathetic towards his classmates, and actively participates in play and sharing. With Thanda’s support and a referral to the local clinic, he has started medication to help manage his frustrations and has become better at communicating with his teacher and peers. He listens to and follows instructions more effectively and can now feed himself independently!
Overall, Mpilo demonstrated a 163% improvement in Functionality & Independence in 2023, including learning to use the toilet on his own and communicating some preferences and needs through gestures, signs, symbols, or words.
EQUIPPING INDIVIDUALS: ENABLING CHILDREN TO CATCH-UP
Thanda's Thandukwazi Programme, designed for children in grades R-2, uses the Red Flag Assessment tool to track individual progress. Developed by partners, Siyakwazi, this tool evaluates whether children are meeting their cognitive and motor skill milestones for their age group.
Facilitators conduct a series of nine activities with their groups, including games that assess abilities such as coordination, writing, memory, counting, pattern recognition, and following instructions. Children who successfully complete six or more activities are classified as 'no red flag,' while those who complete fewer than six are 'red flagged.'
The graphs below illustrate the children’s progress during 2023 by depicting their results at baseline, midline and final assessment in 2023. Across all grades the number of children who could successfully complete all 9 activities increased between baseline and final assessment. In grades R and 1, at the final year assessment there was no longer a single child red flagged in either of these assessed grade groups.
Notably, none of the red-flagged children had participated in a Thanda ECD Programme. Of those who completed baseline, midline, and final assessments, 53% of the Grade R children, 40% of the Grade 1 children, and 33% of the Grade 2 children had attended Thanda ECD.
Red Flag.. Grade R - Successful Activities Baseline • Four of Nine Five of Nine Midllne ILI Six of Nine Oseven of Nine • Eight of Nine Nine of Nine (all) Flnal 00 20% 40% 60% 80% 1000 Red Flag: Grade 1- Successful Activities Baseline Five of Nine Midline •Six of Nine Seven of Nine Elght of Nlne Nine of Nine (all) Final 0% 20% 40% 80% 80% 1000 Red Flag.. Grade 2 - Successful Activities Baseline •Five of Nine Midline •Six of Nine aseven of Nine • Eight of Nlne • Nine of Nine lalll Final 0% 20% 400 800/0 100%
EQUIPPING INDIVIDUALS: BUILDING AGENCY AMONGST GIRLS
Thanda's Girls Leadership Programme (Amaqhawekazi) is an intensive 2-year-long programme designed to enhance girls' judgement and decision-making skills, foster a greater sense of community responsibility, and develop their leadership capabilities.
The programme features a range of activities aimed at helping girls develop essential skills in financial management and budgeting, digital literacy, food cultivation, and resume writing. This multifaceted approach equips girls with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the real world.
The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a short emotional and behavioural screening tool used around the world. The SDQ evaluates five categories: Emotional Problems, Conduct Problems, Hyperactivity Problems, Peer Problems, and Prosocial Scale. The first four categories are combined to produce a total difficulties score for the children.
As shown in the graph above, girls in Amaqhawekazi demonstrated positive improvements from their baseline to final assessments, indicating that fewer experienced issues in these categories by the end of the programme compared to the beginning. When compared with the control group, these results suggest a positive correlation between participation in Amaqhawekazi and a reduction in problems in the assessed areas.
In percentage change terms, the average from baseline to final decreases (in other words the number of difficulties experienced improves) as follows:
Emotional problems: 2% Conduct Problems: 30% Hyperactivity, Problems 20%
Peer Problems: 23%
BOYS PROGRAMME & GIRLS PROGRAMME
These gender-specific programmes are available to children from Grade 5 onwards. They explore topics crucial for those navigating the complexities of adolescence.
2023 ENROLMENT
Girls Programme – 190 Boys Programme – 120
SIYAZAZI
Siyazazi means ‘KNOW YOURSELF’ as this programme aims to develop a child’s inner voice so that they have the confidence to make intentional decisions about their life. It caters to children from Grade 3 to Grade 4.
2023 ENROLMENT 332
EQUIPPING INDIVIDUALS: BUILDING STRONG BODIES & MINDS
Meals provided 2023 Meals provided 2008-2023 130,798 1,304,413
STRENGTHENING HOUSEHOLDS: SUPPORT FOR HOUSEHOLDS OF CHILDREN IN THANDA'S EARLY LEARNING & EDUCATION PROGRAMMES
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69,589
11,559
Library books
Library books
borrowed
borrowed 2023
2012- 2023
22,351
2,988 Home Learning
Home visits 2023 Packs Distributed
2020-2023
42 Book Dash books Distributed per
household 2020-2023
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“SUPPORTING HIGH-QUALITY PARENTING MAY THEREFORE BE AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO MITIGATE THE DEVELOPMENTAL RISKS FACED BY YOUNG CHILDREN FROM DISADVANTAGED FAMILIES.”
Nicholson et al., Enhancing the early home learning environment through a brief group parenting intervention, 2016.
STRENGTHENING HOUSEHOLDS: COMBATTING MALNUTRITION & UNEMPLOYMENT: A LOOK BACK ACROSS 2016-2023
Thanda's overall Organic Farming production has increased year on year, from R26 297 in 2015 to R6 623 178 in 2023.
STRENGTHENING HOUSEHOLDS: EMPOWERING HOUSEHOLDS TO FARM
Since 2016, Thanda has...
EMPOWERED 1426 households with farming skills to grow food for consumption and income.
ESTABLISHED TRAINED & MENTORED 500 926 farmers as part of household Nisela Organic Farming gardens. Programme. os
STRENGTHENING HOUSEHOLDS: ESTABLISHING LOCAL FOOD SECURITY
From 2016 to 2023, vegetables valued at R31 052 209 (based on retail prices) were cultivated by Thanda’s farmers! With 82% of the produce from Nisela farms and 100% of Household Garden yields either consumed, shared, or sold within the local community, a nutritional value of R26 321 557 was directly infused into the community over the past eight years.
STRENGTHENING HOUSEHOLDS: GENERATING AN INCOME STREAM
With 90% of adults in the local community unemployed, Thanda’s Nisela Organic Farming Programme has become a vital lifeline for Mtwalume residents. In 2023, the average production per farmer was six times* greater than in 2016, significantly boosting food security and household income.
After accounting for individual input costs (such as seedlings and diesel), Thanda’s Organic Farming programmes have produced R28 617 246 worth of food at no additional cost to the community beyond labor and time. The sale of this produce generated a net profit of R16 035 853 for farmers, effectively doubling the average household income.
*Wazimap Profile: Ugu, KwaZulu-Natal.” Wazimap, https://wazimap.co.za/profiles/municipality-KZN213-umzumbe/. Accessed 27 Mar. 2023. Data from Census 2011.
The graph below illustrates the value of continued participation in the Nisela Organic Farming Programme, showing a strong correlation between the number of years in the programme and increased production. On average, farmers who remain in the programme can expect a 22% growth in production each year.
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Years of Participation
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EMPOWERING
NEIGHBORHOODS: RESULTS OF PILOT NEIGHBOURHOOD WORKSHOPS 2023
Throughout 2023, Thanda actively piloted their resilience model in four communities, where they assessed, consulted and adapted the pilot programme to become part of their core community services across neighbourhoods in 2024. Here is what two of the families who took part in Thanda's pilot programme in 2023 had to share about their experience:
NONHLANHLA explains that the closeness of the relationships between the women in the Baby Programme Group has taken time to establish, but that it is now a very strong bond. “The mothers who meet within this neighbourhood have become much like sisters. Thanda’s intervention has been really important in breaking down walls and even egos that existed prior to our joining the group.”
Thanda has seen that Household Visits coupled with Community Workshops can provide hyper-local psychosocial support to groups of people. Nonhlanhla shares an example, “My husband is very sick and looking after our chil-
dren generally falls solely on me. I am a person too. I do get stressed about him and worry about the household too, but I know on Tuesdays, when I go to the group to meet the other mothers at KwaShange (at the Shange household where this group meets) I will find help or get relief from my worries. I am more comfortable sharing my personal stories with the women in Baby Programme Playgroup than other women in my community because we all understand that it is a safe space for all of us to raise our children and each other. Whereas if I shared my domestic, personal and child-related stories with someone that is not within the group, there is a chance that it will turn into community gossip.”
These group interactions have allowed individuals to recognise their shared commitment to the well-being of their children and the application of the valuable lessons acquired through Thanda’s programmes. As Nonhlanhla says, “I thought I knew everything about parenting but my eyes have been opened. I thought that all one needed to do to raise a child was to give them enough food to grow, but that is not so.”
These shared ideas and trust are the core of our effort to strengthen neighbourly bonds, shifting mindsets and fostering community change for lasting self-reliance.
MAMBAMBO MBHELE is a Household Gardener, but she has been part of the Thanda family for a much longer time. Her children attended programmes at Thanda, and her grandchildren now attend, too. She proudly shares their success:
“Oh Thanda! Thanda has been very good to me and my children. My children went to Thanda after-school classes. Do you know that one of them is now a nurse? The other is an office clerk at Mnsinisi Primary School. And my son is now overseas. They are all in these high places because of Thanda!”
She explains that the success of her children is what has made her adamant that her grandchildren should attend programmes today.
“What motivates me to keep on taking my children to Thanda is that I see a community. A community for myself and them. At Thanda, there have been guardian meetings for us, too. We are taught to play, be carefree and love. I remember we were once asked to play skipping rope games and even to create our own skipping ropes using bread plastic packs (giggles). That was very different for me. It was amazing. With strong knees or weak knees, everyone played and had fun.
We work together as a group, a group of people from different homes and backgrounds, but we can come together and create something fun together. These activities made me realise that we needed co-operation. If we did not work together as a unit, it wouldn’t work. We ended up as a group of beings that think and feel the same thing. This is an important lesson to learn.” “My child, you don’t understand the difference it (Household Gardening Programme) has made. When I plant and harvest, I am able to feed and share with my family. I am also able to share with my neighbour who doesn’t have food, and we all eat. As a community, we have had a few things that have brought us together, but I can say that through farming and gardening (with Thanda), I am now able to go to another ‘mama’ and speak to her about her garden and share ideas.”
Neighborhood advantages are all the protective factors that increase resilience for the citizens who live there. Within the context of promoting resilience among children, community connections emerged as a significant neighborhood advantage. (Beese, S et al. Flexible Resources Key to Neighborhood Resilience for Children: A Scoping Review, 2023) * .?
FUNDRAISING
During the reporting period, Thanda UK's fundraising activities have remained online and include one major fundraising drive in the lead up Giving Tuesday as well as continuous email updates to previous donors, containing stories from the community and sharing the impact that Thanda's programmes are making, with encouragement to continue to donate.
FINANCIALS THANDA UK- FINANCIAL STATEMENT l July 2023- 30 June 2024 ASSETS Non-current Assets Fixed Assets Fixed Asset5 Current Assets Bank and Cash Balances 159 422,13 EQUITY & LIABILITIES 159 422,13 Funds Opening Funds Surplus Current Year Amount Available Total Available for Contribution 129 687,70 33 749,43 163 437,13 Accounting Fees Foreign payments Bank Charges Closing Funds Surplus 500,00 3 500,00 15,00 159 422,13 Current Liabilities Trade & Other Payables TOTAL EQUITY & LIABILITIES 159 422,13
THANDA WWW.THANDA.ORG Ovin FV4 FOLLOW GIVE CONNECT
THANDA UK Receipts and Payments Account
| Year start date Year end date 1-Jul-23 To 30-Jun-24 |
Year start date Year end date 1-Jul-23 To 30-Jun-24 |
Year start date Year end date 1-Jul-23 To 30-Jun-24 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For the year from |
1-Jul-23 | To | 30-Jun-24 | ||
| Receipts and payments | |||||
| Receipts | 2023-24 2023-24 2023-24 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds £ £ £ - - - 33,749 - 33,749 - - - - - - - - - 33,749 - 33,749 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 33,749 - 33,749 - - - 33,749 - 33,749 |
2023-24 Total funds £ |
|||
| Donations, legacies and similar income | |||||
| Membership subscriptions | - | - | - | - | |
| Donations | 33,749 | - | 33,749 | 33,749 | |
| Legacies | - | - | - | - | |
| Gift Aid | - | - | - | - | |
| Other similar income | - | - | - | - | |
| Sub total | 33,749 | - | 33,749 | 33,749 | |
| Grants | |||||
| Grant | - | - | - | - | |
| Other grants | - | - | - | - | |
| Sub total | - | - | - | - | |
| Fundraising (gross) | |||||
| Detail 1 | - | - | - | - | |
| Detail 2 | - | - | - | - | |
| Other fundraising activities | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | ||
| Sub total | - | - | - | - | |
| Investment income | |||||
| Bank interest | - | - | - | - | |
| Building Society interest | - | - | - | - | |
| Other investment income | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | ||
| Sub total | - | - | - | - | |
| Total Gross Income Asset and investment sales, etc. Total receipts |
|||||
| 33,749 | |||||
| - | |||||
| 33,749 | - | 33,749 | 33,749 |
THANDA UK Receipts and Payments Account
| Year start date Year start date |
Year start date Year start date |
Year start date Year end date |
Year start date Year end date |
Year start date Year end date |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For the year from |
1-Jul-23 | 1-Jul-23 | To | 30-Jun-24 | ||
| Receipts and payments | ||||||
| Payments | 2023-24 2023-24 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds £ £ |
2023-24 Total funds £ - - - - - - - - - 15 500 3,500 - - - 4,015 - - - - - 4,015 - 4,015 29,734 129,688 159,422 |
2023-24 Total funds £ |
|||
| Charitable Payments | ||||||
| Consultancy fee | - | - | - | - | ||
| Rent | - | - | - | - | ||
| Water | - | - | - | - | ||
| Electricity and Gas | - | - | - | - | ||
| Insurance | - | - | - | - | ||
| Repairs and Renewals | - | - | - | - | ||
| Materials and equipment | - | - | - | - | ||
| Printing and photocopying | - | - | - | - | ||
| AGM and trustee expenses | - | - | - | - | ||
| Bank Charges | 15 | - | 15 | 15 | ||
| Accountants Fee | 500 | - | 500 | 500 | ||
| Other costs detail 3 | 3,500 | - | 3,500 | 3,500 | ||
| - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | - | |||
| - | - | - | - | |||
| Sub total | 4,015 | - | 4,015 | 4,015 | ||
| Fundraising expenses | ||||||
| Detail 1 | - | - | - | - | ||
| Detail 2 | - | - | - | - | ||
| Detail 3 | - | - | - | - | ||
| Other fundraising costs | - | - | - | - | ||
| Sub total | - | - | - | - | ||
| Total Gross Expenditure Asset and investment purchases, etc. Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
||||||
| 4,015 | - | 4,015 | 4,015 | |||
| - | - | - | - | |||
| 4,015 | - | 4,015 | 4,015 | |||
| 29,734 | - | 29,734 | 29,734 | |||
| 129,688 | - | 129,688 | 129,688 | |||
| 159,422 | - | 159,422 | 159,422 |
~~LT~~ Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the year
| £ | £ | £ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash funds | |||
| Bank current account | 159,422 - 159,422 | 159,422 - 159,422 | 159,422 - 159,422 |
| Bank deposit account | - - - | - - - | - - - |
| Cash/Floats | - - - | - - - | - - - |
| - - - | - - - | - - - | |
| - - - | - - - | - - - | |
| Total cash funds (Agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) |
159,422 - 159,422 | 159,422 - 159,422 | 159,422 - 159,422 |
| Other monetary assets | |||
| Tax claim | - - - | - - - | - - - |
| - - - | - - - | - - - | |
| - - - | - - - | - - - | |
| Sub total | - - - | - - - | - - - |
| Investment assets | |||
| - - - | - - - | - - - | |
| - - - | - - - | - - - | |
| - - - | - - - | - - - | |
| Sub total | - - - | - - - | - - - |
| Non monetary assets for charity's own use | |||
| Stock | - - - | - - - | - - - |
| Land and buildings | - - - | - - - | - - - |
| Motor vehicles | - - - | - - - | - - - |
| Other | - - - | - - - | - - - |
| - - - | - - - | - - - | |
| - - - | - - - | - - - | |
| - - - | - - - | - - - | |
| Sub total | - - - | - - - | - - - |
| Liabilities | |||
| Accounts not yet paid | - - - | - - - | - - - |
| Expenses incurred but not invoiced | - - - | - - - | - - - |
| Subscriptions not yet paid | - - - | - - - | - - - |
| Loan - detail | - - - | - - - | - - - |
| Other liabilities | - - - | - - - | - - - |
| Sub total | - - - | - - - | - - - |
Contingent liabilities and future obligations
| Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees | Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Signature | Print Name | Date of approval | ||
| Stephen Howard | 15-Apr-25 |
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ Charity Name Thanda UK members of
On accounts for the year 30 June 2024 Charity no 1126225 ended (if any) Set out on pages 1 - 38
(remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 30/06/2024.
- Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report 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 the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below *) in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
-
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
- Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Signed: Date: 09/04/2024 ~~| pecpae fit | |~~ Name: Deepak Bhutra ~~Cs~~ Relevant professional Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales qualification(s) or body (if any):
Address: 41 Ember Court
Hazel Close, London UK
NW9 5FX
- Section B Disclosure ~~ee~~
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
October 2018
1
IER
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
October 2018
2
IER