## **The Mikhulu Trust Registered - Charity Number 1,158,733** 

**Annual Report – 1 December 2020 - 30 November 2021** 

## **Trustees:                                                                                     Address:** 

Peter Cooper                                                                                                 85 Church Way Lynne Murray                                                                                               Iffley Cathy Creswell                                                                                             Oxford Nova Robinson                                                                                             OX4 4EF Nicholas Dowdell                                                                                         UK 

## **Review of Objectives for 2021-2022** 

- _i. Continue to support DBS trials around the world._ 

During the period we supported trials in Turkey, France, Italy, and the UK. Some of these, together with ones in Sweden, Brazil and Colombia, have been successfully completed. A number of journal articles are currently in preparation or submission. 

## _ii. Continue to support the Mikhulu Child Development Trust in South Africa_ 

The MCDT in Cape Town, under the direction of Kathima Ebrahim, continues to expand its activities and influence across South Africa. A major innovation has been the incorporation of DBS into routine community health provision through the training of several hundred Community Health Workers in the Western Cape - Province. (See https://mikhulutrust.org/annual reports/  for annual report). 

_iii. Support book-sharing around Italy_ 

We set up a collaboration with Bresica University to train 16 educators-psychologists working with preschool services to deliver DBS to parents in preschool settings. They will be the facilitators in a new Brescia led RCT. 

We set up a collaboration with Ombretta Pellegrini to provide DBS training to parents of children attending the creche in Pieve Santo Stefano 



## **Objectives for 2022-23:** 

## _i. Provide DBS support_ 

Continue to support groups in Italy and around the world in both DBS research and systems of DBS delivery.  In Italy, identify someone (possibly Dr Mauro Belluardo) to train to be a trainer of DBS facilitators in Italy, as a national resource. 

- _ii. Bologna University collaboration_ 

Set up collaboration set up with Prof Leonardo De Pascalis, University of Bologna, and raise funds to support training of all ECD teachers in the Emilia Romagna region. 

## _iii. Libri Fatto a Mano_ 

Develop a project with Ombretta Pellegrini and Libri Fatti a Mano, initially focusing on Pieve Santo Stefano and surrounding villages, to deliver DBS to ECD and elementary school teachers and parents, working in collaboration with social services and the local pediatric service to reach the most vulnerable parents. This should include the development of a public space as a resource for families and children in the new Pieve Santo Stefano library. 

- _iv. Mignano Museum_ 

Begin preparing engaging educational materials for children to access, via a small local museum in a medieval village, Mignano. These materials will focus on local issues concerning ecology, country life, and local cultural history, around which children will make books at Libri Fatto a Mano workshops.  These books will then be used in classroom and museum-based DBS sessions.  Identify a site for the museum and begin to develop, an appropriate space. 

## **Financial Report** 

There was no income or expenditure (apart from bank fees) during the period.   Balance as of 30 November 2021 = £23,025.59 and of 30 November 2022 = £22,965.59