2024-05-31-accounts

Annual Report 1 June 2023 — 31 May 2024

THE THUNDER FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES AND SCHOOLS

The Thunder Foundation has operated successfully during the 2023-2024, celebrating its 12th anniversary of activity in Kenya. The Foundation now has 16 students in secondary school, 6 in primary school, 2 in vocational trainings, and 16 special needs children attending 4 different special needs schools.

The Foundation has added micro-finance loan projects for the parents and has continued the chicken and vertical vegetable farms projects.

We have introduced more opportunities for the children to be exposed to different experiences with field trips, seminars, sports camps and workshops, children parties and health care talks.

The Thunder Foundation was able to enlarge its network of connections and collaborations with other Kenyan NGOs and entities —- The German Catholic Church in Nairobi, Warembo Wasanii Art Foundation, Ghetto Foundation Mathare, and build or strengthen collaborative bonds with reputable schools in Nairobi - The Banda and Braeburn Internation School; in Italy we have connections with Istituto Comprensivo Andrea Testori, and in the UK with Mayville High School, Portmouth.

Beside the 11 children who graduated from Primary schools in 2023 and who now attend form 2 in secondary schools, 6 more students joined secondary education in January 2024.

Our 40 children are now enrolled in 17 different day and boarding schools:

ee

$<

PRIMARY EDUCATION - 6 children

• e The New Highlight School where we have 6 of our mainstream primary aged children (Aziz Shakui, Grace Wangari, Mary Njeri, Jecinta Nyambura, Derrick Mwangi, Peruz Muhando).

SECONDARY EDUCATION — 16 students

• Day schools Form 1: e Ereti mixed secondary school, for Anita Nduta e PCEA Rungiri High School for Chrisance Kamau e Ruthmitu Mixed Secondary School for Alice Wanjiru

• Forme 2 Ruthmitu Mixed Secondary School for Allan Kiarie and Simon Mukono. e Muhu Kangari Secondary School for John Muinde. e Fr Kevin Kelly High School for Fauzia Shakui.

• Boarding Schools: Form 1: ® MoiGirls High School Kamangu for Aisha Shakui. » Kahuho Uhuru High School for Shadrack Obare and Romybill Ndungu.

• Form 2 = Gituamba secondary School for Elisabeth Njoroge. « Musa Gitao Secondary School for Mary Muiruri and Winnie Njoki. ® Oloolaiser National School for Rufus Mutuma. = Huruma Girls High School for Erika Njeri and Susan Wanjiro. = Brian Mbugua has completed his vocational training in March 2024. = James Ndengu has left secondary school last july 2023 and is planning to joina vocational training next July 2024.

SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN — 16 students

• We were able to assess 3 of our children, as recommended by the Special Needs Children Educational Department, and enrol them in 2 different new schools to better cater for their needs. Our 16 Special needs children are now divided into 4 different institutions. These are: e Dagoretti Special Needs School, where we have 11 children. e Tai School for Alleluya Obare. e Kisii Vocational School, located in Kisii County (315km from Nairobi.) This is a specialised vocational college that caters for high functioning Special Needs young adults. Jesseyn Ndege is a boarder at this college and is learning various skills to help him eventually support himself.

• e Adventist Special School, a specialised boarding institution for deaf children for Alvin Webukhulu and Joseph Mutua).

CHALLENGES Our main challenges are keeping up with the increase in prices and costs and coping with the unpredictable extra fees which all the boarding schools demand with very little notice. Failure to pay these extra expenses results in children being suspended from school with immediate effect. These extra fees are not included in the fee structure that each child is given at the start of each academic year. Another challenge is how to maintain the quality and at the same time minimise the costs of the special needs transport service. A private bus collects our special needs children every morning to bring them to school and drop them back home in the afternoon. The bus price has increased by almost 50% in the past year. Fuel prices have increased hugely in the last 43 months due to a combination of the weakening of the Kenyan shilling and the rise in global prices of refined oil.

KENYA POLITICAL AND SOCIAL SITUATION After last year’s elections, the political and social situation in Kenya has increasingly improved with more stability, compared with last year which witnessed weekly strikes and violent demonstrations. The new President William Ruto has been in office since August 2022. His focus has been on an education system task force, on the high cost of living and agriculture reform. Lowering public debt and cost of living are on the President's agenda too. The rate of inflation is 6.6% (in comparison with 9.6% in 2023) with the rise of basic food prices reaching almost 7% in the first 6 months of 2024. In March and April 2024 weeks of rain brought destruction and catastrophe to Kenya and its population, particularly the 60% who live in slum areas. More than 500 people died and half a million were displaced. 412,500 school have been destroyed by the torrential rain. 2 major extra food distributions have been organised by The Thunder Foundation for all of our 40 families whose parents were unable to leave the house and reach their workplace due to road disruption and sewage pollution. Regular food supply distribution to our most vulnerable families (Brian, Peruz, Maryanne and James) has continued with food parcels provided monthly. Thunder was able to launch a new micro-finance loan project to help our families start a new business or boost their existing ones and strengthen their financial stability. 10 families are part of this project. The vertical gardening project and the chicken farm project, launched in 2022, are still running very successfully.

FINANCE AND FUNDING

Thanks to our very committed sponsors, trustees and generous donors we were able to address all the challenges that having 16 children in secondary education involve (educational costs double in secondary school because of higher fees, extra uniforms, books and supplies).

We have also benefitted from several individual donations (lvanha Hartman, Julia Hartlieb, Chris and Lise Maloney, Ben and Anna Miles, Francesca Lazzari). One new sponsor from Italy was added to our contributors in 2024.

Some successful fundraising was organised by sponsors and donors over the past 12 months:

• e Elena Bonalumi ran the London Virtual Marathon in April 2024 (1430 Euro);

• e Banda School in Nairobi fundraised for us (600£);

• e Mayville High School Christmar Fair (300£) e Mayville School in the UK emergency fundraising (200£);

• e Istituto Comprensivo in Italy fundraised for The Thunder Foundation in May 2024 (880Euro)

• e Lise Maloney’s shells and art fundraising (3000£).

• e Food and clothing donations from Braeburn School in Nairobi and Agus Susanto’s Indomie Company.

• e Ben miles donated a new wheelchair for Lavian.

Thunder has had to cover many additional costs this year, besides school fees. The extra costs have included:

• e xtra school supplies and books since Kenya has introduced a new Junior High School programme in Year 6 which has involved considerable expense.

• e Exam stationery and supplies.

• e Increase in school fees for High School.

• e Boarding fees and relentless demands for the many ‘extras’ from each High School. e High School and Primary school snacks.

• e Private tuition for our secondary school students.

• e Extra tuition for our primary graduating students.

• e Workshop to cover main health topics.

• e Sport camp.

• e Diapers for special needs children and pad for our teenage girls.

• e Physiotherapy sessions for our special needs children. e Every half term and term break shopping for our students who board (toiletries, snacks, stationary).

• e Special Needs bus monthly cost has increased from 40.000 Ksh shilling to 60.000 Ksh per month due to the high increase of the cost of petrol.

NEW TRUSTEE

Heather Sanders was nominated trustee in 2023. With her decades of experience in charity administration and finance, she is the perfect match to address the complexity of our operations in Kenya. We are extremely grateful she has agreed to join Thunder and share her knowledge. Compiling all the administrative tasks and applying for a new bank account have been made easier now that Heather is a Trustee and Treasurer.

EXTERNAL COMUNICATION

We are continuously and consistently communicating with our sponsors and supporters through monthly reports for each of our children. We are sharing achievements, school report cards, a quarterly newsletter and continuous updates on social media (through our website, Facebook and Instagram) to provide transparency about our children’s progress.

STUDENTS CASES

Alan, John, Fawzia and Simon — Form 2 Secondary School

These four students, due to their poor performance in high school and their discontent with boarding and bullying experiences, have been transferred from boarding schools to day schools, not far from their home.

Maryanne

Maryanne is one of our special needs children who has been temporarily been placed under her grandmother’s care, outside Nairobi, since her pregnant mom has been bedridden for medical reasons. With this family arrangement, Maryanne has been unable to attend school for the past 4 months.

James

James has decided not to continue with secondary education and has expressed the desire to attend a vocational college. He will start the new course in July 2024, once he has established a course of treatment for his health condition. He has been diagnosed with HIV.

Blessing Kwamboka

Blessing, one of the students sponsored by Thunder since 2014, was excluded from the program in March 2024. Thunder discovered, through Blessing’s school principal, that her family has been receiving full school fee contribution from several different sponsors in addition to the help supplied by Thunder. Due to the intimidating environment existing around Blessing’s family, the trustees have decided to keep a low profile and just communicate to the family that, due to a breach in trust, we were not able to continue to sponsor Blessing. Her school and Thunder sponsors have been informed.

|

Emanuel Ushindi

Emanuel is almost 17 years old. He is one of our special needs children attending Dagoretti Special Needs School. His family has always struggled to accept Emanuel’s differences and was never able to create a peaceful home environment. He has run away from home many times and 11 months ago we decided to temporarily place him with another of our families. Emanuel’s sponsors paid the extra expenses for the first 10 months and now Thunder has taken over the responsibility of the hosting family’s contribution (rent and food) to alleviate the burden of having an extra guest.

RAMADHAN OKIMARU OMURUNGA - THUNDER PROJECT MANAGER

Ramadan has been working with Thunder since October 2022. Thunder has benefitted immensely from his knowledge, experience, dedication and commitment.

We are pleased with his performance as a Project Manager. He oversees all our projects, communicating well with the trustees and managing well the budget whilst liaising with our treasurer in the UK.

We invested in his training by funding a computer course for him to improve his computer skills and we enrolled him in a street business course in cooperation with Ghetto Foundation to be able to support our parents who own businesses.

Ramadan is working hard to motivate our children and push the parents to take responsibility for their children’s education.

He is very active in coordinating the communication between Thunder trustees, the children and the parents. He organises regular meetings with the children and their families.

The micro-finance project was his initiative which has helped 10 of our families start a new business or boost their existing one.

Ramadan’s main task is monitoring the children’s school attendance, their performance and organising monthly meetings with the children, their teachers and the principals. He has been able to build a very strong cooperative relationship with the schools where our children are enrolled. He regularly visits the different high schools which are scattered around Nairobi County each term and he does weekly visits to the schools in Nairobi.

Ramadan advises us in our selection of the secondary schools we apply to for our students, and he organises extra tuition during holidays to better support our children’s learning.

Ramadan strongly believes that parents must act as project stakeholders, showing their commitment to Thunder’s values. The parents have learnt to cooperate, show initiative and contribute, according to their abilities. As a confirmation of Ramadan’s successful approach, we are happy to report that the parents of our high school boarding children managed, for

the second year, to fund the transport costs and the pocket money required. This is a considerable step forwards and confirms that the parents recognise that the education of their children is a team effort.

Ramadan regularly visits our children’s homes to make sure they are safe and well looked after. Families recognise his leadership and trust his judgment. He has implemented procedure for emergencies, and healthcare intervention. He selected a very comprehensive Government Hospital situated in our families’ area as a main point of reference.

Internal Communication

Paola Bonalumi and Georgina Swift are in daily contact with the Project Manager Ramadan and hold weekly Zoom calls (on Tuesdays) for updates and actions. Paola and Gina run Thunder whilst reporting to the Trustees frequently.

The trustees share updates, main issues and concerns through a common WhatsApp group chat.

We had 2 trustees’ meetings:

15" October 2023

February 4" 2024

ACTIVITIES

1 June 2023 — 31 May 2024

June 2023

• e 12/6 extra distribution of new shoes, shoes polishing, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and detergent to boost hygiene and care with the younger students at New Highlight School.

• e 24/6 Trustee Gina Swift took part at the Mayville High School summer fair, Southsea, to raise awareness about the work of The Thunder Foundation in Kenya.

• e Anita emergency medical case addressed with extra funds allocated for medical investigation. Fainting caused by iron deficiency and H Pylori.

• e New program of biweekly physiotherapy sessions launched in Dagoretti Special Needs School for our children with disabilities. Costs covered by The Thunder Foundation.

• e Ramadan pay rise approved from 30.000ksh to 35.000ksh. e Year 7 tuition organised by New Highlight School paid by Thunder.

• e Emanuel ran away from home twice. He has been removed from his family and placed with Morgan’s family. We suspect he is abused at home.

• e Boarding School extra costs covered (dormitory contribution). e Morgan’s family support approved for June and July 2023 (rent and food expenses contribution in exchange for hosting Emanuel). After July, Emanuel’s sponsor will cover the costs, while Thunder will look for a permanent solution.

July 2023

• e Severe case of bullying in boarding school raised by Allan.

• e Astrict policy on how to address bullies was designed by Ramadan to address this menace that involves 97% of secondary students in boarding schools in Kenya.

• e New micro-loan project launched. 5000ksh borrowed by 4 families. This project was privately funded by one of our trustees.

• e Amore families added to the chicken farm project launched last year.

August 2023

• e 3/8 Special needs Ball Games Tournament: Emanuel Brighton and Friedrick successfully represented their school and Thunder.

• e 14/8 Workshop re bullying organised for secondary school and Year 8 students with New Highlight School Principal.

• e 19/8 reward trip organised for the best students with ice skating and lunch. Romy, Shadrack, Rufus, Erika, Winnie, Aisha were part of the trip.

• e 14/8 extra tuition organised by New Highlight. 9.600 ksh paid by Thunder.

• e Alvin and Joseph joined a new boarding school specialised in deaf children. e 22/8 warning letter sent to Allan and Fawzia for their poor performance in High School.

• e James has been temporarily suspended from the project for running away from boarding school.

• e 26/8 Ramadan meets all the students to check on their wellbeing before resuming school.

September 2023

• e Ramadan visited Alvin and Joseph boarding school where they will be learning sign language.

• e Alleluya moved to a new school from Dagoretti Special needs school to a mainstream school that offer support, following the recommendation of the Department of Education.

• e Allan and James school fees payment suspended as they refused to stay in a boarding school.

• e Special needs Bus monthly increased from 40.000 to 55.000 ksh. e Special lunch for Year 8 students in preparation fot diploma exams.

October 2023

• e 19/10 Prayer Day organised by New Highlight School as part of exam preparation.

,

| |

• e Ramadan started attending the course about how to organise a Street Business offered by Ghetto Foundation in Mathare.

• e Ramadan purchased all the supplies and stationery needed for Year 8 exams. 6 candidates from Thunder. Exam fees paid.

• e Food donation received from Indomie Company Nairobi

• e Huge clothing donation received from Braeburn School International e 30/10 KCPE exams start

November 2023

• e Sports camp organised by Ramadan during end of school year holidays in November and December

• e Ramadan organised physiotherapy sessions at home for 4 of our special needs children during long holidays.

• e Rufus, Mary, Winnie and Elisabeth declared the best students

• e Year 8 KCPE exams results receive. Ramadan in charge of selecting secondary schools for the 6 students who graduated from primary.

December 2023

• e Health seminar organised by Doctor Da Silva to raise awareness of important health issues for all our children.

• e End of Primary School celebration organised by Ramadan for our 6 students who graduated.

• e Ramadan attending various Christmas Bazar in Nairobi to raise awareness about Thunder Foundation’s projects.

• e 15/12 Special food donation received from Braeburn International School and distributed to our families.

• e Christmas vouchers distributed to all families (1250 ksh for each family).

• e High schools chosen for the year 8 graduated students by Gina Swift, Paola Bonalumi and Ramadhan Okimaru.

• e Field trip organised for the top performers Rufus, Elisabeth, Winnie and Mary.

January 2024

• e New uniform for Dagoretti Special Needs Students paid.

• e Fawzia, Allan, and John moved to day schools due to poor performance. e 6new students that graduated from primary joined secondary school. Only the 3 best students (Aisha, Romy and Shadrack) placed in boarding school. The other 3 (Alice, Chrisance and Blessing) attend day school.

• e Newcontract signed for Special needs children transport service. Change required because of the unsatisfactory quality provided by the previous provider. Price of service increased from 55,000 to 70,000 ksh due to fuel price increases.

• e James diagnosed with HIV

aa

February 2024

• e Ramadan monthly salary increased to 42,500ksh.

• e Banda School fundraising for Thunder.

• e Meeting with all the Secondary School Students

• e Blessing transferred to a new school by the family without consulting Thunder.

March2024

• e 4/3Ramadan meets all students during school break.

• e xtra food support approved for James (4000ksh per month).

• e Ramadan and Rufus delivered a presentation to the Banda School and collected funds raised by the school.

• e 25/3 Braeburn High School Students visited our 11 special needs children at Dagoretti Special Needs School. Food donated.

• e Emanuel, Morgan and Ermelide graduated from Primary Special School and joined Junior High School. Party and shopping voucher for the graduated students organised by Ramadan.

• e Blessing investigation started due to suspicion raised by her school.

April 2024

• e Thunder takes over Morgan’s family support (12,000 ksh for rent and food) to express appreciation for hosting Emanuel). Previous months support was covered by Emanuel’s sponsor.

• e Blessing expelled from the sponsorship programme due to a breach of trust.

• e 17/4 field trip organised by Ramadan to Railways Museum to reward top students Erika, Rufus, Shadrack and Romy.

• e 6/4 Easter Party for our special needs children at Dagoretti School.

May 2024

• e Simon transferred from boarding school to day school. New uniform and desk purchased for him (12,000 + 4,500 ksh).

• e On May 6" and 13" food parcels were distributed to each family, to alleviate the effect of the flooding .

• e 13/5 Nirvana Kaur, a young Kenyan photographer has started a three-month internship to help us document Thunder activity in Nairobi.

• e 31/5 Tabitha, Brian’s younger sister died of HIV complications.

FINANCES

Bank Balance 1.6.23. £20,140.25 Bank Balance 31.5.24 £31,693.32 Total transferred to Kenya £21,731.31 Total bank charges £254.00 Total subs paid to Just Giving £504.00

i

£204.00

Total cheques (auditors)

Motion that The Thunder Foundation Annual General Report for the year 1.6.2023-31.5.2024 be accepted be accepted accepted as true and true and and correct. .

----- Start of picture text -----
1.6.2023-31.5.2024 be accepted be accepted accepted as true and true and and correct. .
Adrienne euefa NIE gsc Daten hey
Paola venauum © oS Rowe < pare 211] ey
Gina Sut ne QUEM, nnn daten Sl. L24
Denise Courtney... A J (C tL(FT . Datennnalafelidan
Anna Mites... onvnsDate SOLO | 24
Julia Hartlieb.. .) AAP LUA pate, 22 ].6/ Uy
Heather tra pg then oo. 32 28 La
Christine Fagan...
| agan [-] Daten. S6\ 24
----- End of picture text -----

Charity No. 1159407

THE THUNDER FOUNDATION STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MAY 2024

Gibbons Mannington & Phipps LLP Chartered Accountants 20 Eversiey Road Bexhill-on-Sea East Sussex TN40 1HE

THE THUNDER FOUNDATION RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MAY 2024

	2024		2023
	£	£	£	£
GENERAL FUND (UNRESTRICTED)
Receipts
Donations		30,771		22,604
Sponsorship		1,312		2,638
Gift Aid		2,519		2,604
		34,602		27,846
Payments
School costs	21,731		27,006
Fundraising	356		493
Embezzled Funds	-		1,884
Accountancy	204		192
Bank Charges	254		329
Donations Charges	504		216
		23,049		30,120
Net Receipts for the year		11,553	-	2,274
Bank balance as at 1 June 2023		20,140		22,414
Bankbalanceasat31May2024		31,693		20,140

On behalf of the Trustees

Gina Swift

Page 2

INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS TO THE TRUSTEES OF “THE THUNDER FOUNDATION” FOR THE YEAR ENDED 315? MAY 2024

I report on the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31°* May 2024, which are set out on page 2.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to

• e® examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act, » to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and

• « to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent examiner's statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair view” and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statements below.

Independent examiner's statement

I have compieted my examination.

I can confirm no matters have come to my attention:

1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements

2. e to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and e to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act

have not been met; or

1. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Gibbons Mannington & Phipps LLP ~ 20 Eversley Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, Danny Sallows FCA East Sussex, Chartered Accountant TN40 1HE.

Date RE... Feary 2025

_

Page 1

Charity No. 1159407

THE THUNDER FOUNDATION STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MAY 2024

Gibbons Mannington & Phipps LLP Chartered Accountants 20 Eversiey Road Bexhill-on-Sea East Sussex TN40 1HE

THE THUNDER FOUNDATION RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MAY 2024

	2024		2023
	£	£	£	£
GENERAL FUND (UNRESTRICTED)
Receipts
Donations		30,771		22,604
Sponsorship		1,312		2,638
Gift Aid		2,519		2,604
		34,602		27,846
Payments
School costs	21,731		27,006
Fundraising	356		493
Embezzled Funds	-		1,884
Accountancy	204		192
Bank Charges	254		329
Donations Charges	504		216
		23,049		30,120
Net Receipts for the year		11,553	-	2,274
Bank balance as at 1 June 2023		20,140		22,414
Bankbalanceasat31May2024		31,693		20,140

On behalf of the Trustees

Gina Swift

Page 2

INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS TO THE TRUSTEES OF “THE THUNDER FOUNDATION” FOR THE YEAR ENDED 315? MAY 2024

I report on the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31°* May 2024, which are set out on page 2.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to

• e® examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act, » to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and

• « to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent examiner's statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair view” and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statements below.

Independent examiner's statement

I have compieted my examination.

I can confirm no matters have come to my attention:

1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements

2. e to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and e to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act

have not been met; or

1. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Gibbons Mannington & Phipps LLP ~ 20 Eversley Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, Danny Sallows FCA East Sussex, Chartered Accountant TN40 1HE.

Date RE... Feary 2025

_

Page 1