Chairman’s Annual Report for 2023/2024
The charity continues to make a significant impact in terms of its aims and objectives, and has continued to expand its impact on the Meserani community through the number of students progressing to further and higher education. By the end of 2024 there will have been 293 young people who have been supported throughout various stages of their education. The major and most significant achievement to date is the opening of the new Meserani Secondary School in January this year.
We are currently sponsoring:
12 pupils at secondary school.
4 students are in their first or second year of A’ Level studies. 4 students are studying certificate and diploma courses at higher education establishments.
14 students are studying degree courses at university.
We are particularly proud that three of our university students are actually on a five year course at medical school training to be doctors, and one student is on a five year course at medical school training to be a radiologist.
Work on compiling a data base on which of our previously sponsored students were actually in employment is ongoing, although this is a time consuming process, and much work has yet to be done. However, initial findings are very positive and reassuring.
It is pleasing to report that the charity is still able to function successfully without taking any expenses at all out of money raised, generated or donated, meaning that the charity continues to give true value for money. All decisions made regarding spending the money are still only done following consultation with, and approval of, our indigenous advisors in Tanzania (our ‘committee’), meaning that all funding goes exactly where it is needed most. Throughout the past year there were a number of issues for which the advice of the committee in Tanzania was invaluable.
The new arrangements for sending money to Tanzania, from the charity bank account in the U.K., via a Revolut Bank account, to the account in Tanzania held by the Meserani Ward Councillor Loth Naparana, has been very successful, and monitoring of this continues to be extremely rigorous. The charity has made significant savings by using the Revolut bank to send money to Tanzania – the bank charges per transaction are
fixed at about $3.30 and their foreign exchange rates were significantly better than those used by Barclays Bank.
The Meserani Project has completed the building and furnishing of the two dormitories at the new Meserani Secondary School, and in January this year a group from Virgin Media/O2 provided and installed a comprehensive water harvesting system to both buildings.
The Meserani Project is also funding the building of a large dining/assembly hall for the school, which includes a kitchen and food storage rooms. We are also funding the building of a storage building for firewood, with changing rooms and toilets for the kitchen staff. These two buildings are due to be completed by the end of the year.
A new initiative is the setting up of ‘sponsorship bundles’ to support the new Meserani Secondary School. There are options for supporters to choose from text book sets, sanitary protection packages, trees and individual pupil sponsorships.
Group trips to Tanzania to support the charity continue to be organised, with the support offered by the Chairman of the charity. A group of 16 employees from Virgin Media are due to spend ten days supporting the charity in January next year, focussing on providing ICT facilities at the Meserani Secondary School. They have already committed to the provision of a photocopier and printer. A group of 16 from a secondary school in the U.K. spent almost three weeks in July this year engaging with the work of the charity.
Statistics
We have supported 293 young people throughout various stages of their education.
286 pupils have attended one of seven secondary schools that we have links with.
92 students have started their two years of A’ Level studies.
13 students have started their two year Vocational Training Courses. 28 students have started Certificate and Diploma Courses at College or University.
65 students have started their three year Degree courses at university. Fourteen classrooms have now been built and furnished for four primary schools.
Two dormitories have been built and furnished at the Meserani Secondary School.
A dining/assembly hall and storage buildings are being built and furnished at the Meserani Secondary School.
Thirty-one 5,000 litre water tanks have now been provided across four schools.
Funding was provided for completing the building of a new dormitory at Kipok Girls’ Secondary Boarding School, and the provision of 60 beds. Eighty desks and chairs have been provided for Moita Boys’ Secondary Boarding School.
Bunk beds for 58 pupils have been provided for Moita Boys’ Secondary Boarding School.
Solar power has been provided for four teachers’ homes, all dormitories, the school office, the staffroom and a new classroom at Kipok Girls’ Secondary Boarding School.
Solar power has been installed in the staff accommodation block at the Meserani Chini Medical Clinic.
Four teachers’ homes at Meserani Chini School have been renovated and furnished, and water harvesting systems and full solar power systems have been installed.
A photocopier, printer, generator and TV/Video player have been provided for three schools.
Laptops and projectors have been provided for an Adult Learning Centre and a Vocational Training Centre.
Four whiteboards have been installed at three secondary schools and one Vocational Training Centre.
More than eight hundred trees have been planted in five schools.
Financial situation
There was an income of £44,120.13 over the financial year 2023/2024 and expenditure of £40,043.40 There was a balance of £126,878.00 from the previous financial year. The balance at the end of the year 2023/2024 was £130,954.73
The balance on 14/11/24 was £88,628.18 – the difference between this and the balance at the end of the 2023/2024 financial year is because of the ongoing building costs for the dining/assembly hall at the new Meserani Secondary School.
A significant amount of this relatively healthy balance are funds raised specifically for the building project of the new Meserani Secondary School – we currently have a commitment to complete the building of a dining/assembly hall and kitchen, and provide tables and chairs for this building. We also need a contingency for any unexpected costs that may
arise – this has been a common feature regarding our sponsorship of students, and needs of the three secondary schools and four primary schools that we support. Approximately £2,500.00 is currently in restricted funds to fulfil specific ongoing commitments regarding the sponsorship of secondary school pupils, further education students and higher education students.
P.G. Swan 21/11/24
The Meserani Project 2023-24
Balance 5 April 2023 £126,878 Deposits 5 April 2023 – 4 April 2024 Secondary School 10,251.28 Reserve/overpayment of School Fees 1,893.33 Student Sponsorship 19,692.11 Video Sales 460.00 Period Pant Donations 179.00 Fund Raising Events 4,431.21 Donations 476 Gift Aid 5,624.36 Sale of Books 1,112.84 Total 44,120.13 Withdrawals 5 April 2023 – 4 April 2024 New Secondary School Build 25,276.57 Period Pants 736.00 Book Purchase 35.98 Students Fees 1,590.44 Bunk Beds 4,015.86 Funds to buy Equipment etc. in Tanzania 8,264.98 Yarm School Fair Stall Fees 51.48 USB Pens 72.18 Total 40,043.40 Summary Balance 5 April 2023 126,878.00 Deposits 2023-24 44,120.13 Withdrawals 2023-24 40,043.40 Balance 4 April 2021 130,954.73
Diane Swan Treasurer September 2024
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees Charity Name The Meserani Project On accounts for the year 31/03/2024 Charity no 1136570 ended (if any) Set out on pages 1 to 2 (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 31/03/2024.
Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report 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 I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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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.
I 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.
Date: 13/12/2024
Signed: Name: Stuart A.Fallowfield Relevant professional Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (Professional Qualification) qualification(s) or body (if any):
1
Oct 2018
IER
Address: 8 Black Diamond Way, Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-tees, TS16 0SE
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 .
There are no matters I wish to disclose.
2
Oct 2018
IER