## **UK charity registration number 1160089 Trustees Report 2020** ## **Introduction** The Mud House Children’s Foundation is a UK registered charity established to support and develop opportunities for children, especially from the Maasai communities of the Loliondo area of Ngorongoro District, to access education and improve their life choices. In recognition of the need and desire to create sustainable solutions our charity works closely with relevant Tanzanian government officers, the Chiefs of Maasai villages, Headteachers of schools and wider members of the relevant communities. ## **Structure, governance and management** Our charity formally commenced operations in January 2015 under the title of Ngorongoro Education Project Trust. In July 2020, with the approval of the UK Charity Commission and all our Trustees, the charity changed it’s title to the Mud House Children’s Foundation. It is now formally registered under this new name. The Trustees appointed have been drawn from acquaintances of the charity originators providing a useful blend of senior level experience from the public, private and voluntary sectors. All Trustees have been nominated and appointed at formal charity Board meetings. This year the Board membership has remained stable with just one new addition. We were delighted to appoint Mrs Gaynor Mckeown, a long term supporter of our charity who possesses a wealth of useful voluntary and charity sector experience. ## **Present structure of Trustee Board** Chair: Mr Robin Jarman LLB, MSt (Cantab) Trustees: Mrs Helen Culverwell, Mrs Aly Ryan, Mr James Culverwell, and Mrs Titian Fleming. Mr Matthew Culverwell , Mrs Jan Earney and Mrs Gaynor McKeown. Patrons; Sir Alan and Lady Grose. Mrs Sylvia Goodall To date, our charity has continued to primarily operate with the assistance of volunteers. We continue to support a range of relevant projects overseen by the Trustees, whilst delivered and managed by Mrs Nichola Jarman our Projects Director and Project Development manager, Hannah Povey. 1 Understandably, the Covid-19 pandemic has frustrated our travel plans this past year. In March 2020, a group of volunteers and a Trustee had to return prematurely from Tanzania in order to avoid being stranded. However, their somewhat curtailed visit still enabled meetings to be held with key stakeholders in the relevant communities and provided opportunities to review our projects and to verify the well-being of our sponsored children. ## **Our Partners** Without the support of key trusted, capable and committed people in Tanzania our efforts would all be in vain. We should recognise the contributions of The Loliondo District Commissioner, Government Education Officers, Headteachers and staff of schools, Chiefs of the Maasai bomas and numerous other community members, especially the charity manager, Salome Nassei, the Issuja family and countless others who have welcomed us into their lives and assisted us to help Tanzanian children. ## **Objectives & Activities** In accordance with our Constitution our stated objectives and activities are as follows; - To raise educational standards in the schools in the Ngorongoro District of Tanzania and - to improve access for children. - To create a self-improving, self-sustaining system by developing community cohesion. ## Activities: This will be achieved by; - Maintaining a school sponsored child programme - Providing teacher training, researching and evaluating its impact - Supporting the government to provide appropriate boarding for Maasai school children - Establishing a community educational resource base (Internet hub/library) - Support to maintain educational buildings - Providing vital school resources, materials and equipment - Developing exchanges with local and international volunteer students As a small charity based in the UK which is focused on delivering frontline meaningful projects in Tanzania it is not surprising that, over the years, we have encountered many challenges and learnt an enormous amount from our experiences. Notwithstanding the complexities of our operating environment, with the generosity of donors and incredible support of many volunteers and partners we are, with justifiable pride, able to point to proven successful delivery of several ongoing projects. ## **Achievements & Performance** Despite the challenges presented this year by the pandemic, we are still able to report and highlight the completion and ongoing development of a number of successful projects. a) Sponsored Children Education Programme Many Maasai children live in semi-permanent remote villages (called bomas) across the Ngorongoro region. Each day, the children often face lengthy journeys, on foot, to just reach a school. Many such journeys are of 1-2 hours duration. At the request of Maasai Chiefs and their communities our sponsored children programme was introduced to enable those children living in poverty to access boarding accommodation at the school(s). With the generous donations of UK residents, we are currently sponsoring 65 2 children in 10 educational establishments. These are primarily located in the Wasso, Loliondo area of Ngorongoro but college students are located in various cities in Tanzania. To ensure fairness the sponsored children are selected by strict criteria and negotiation with individual Maasai bomas. Salome Nassei (a senior local Maasai) co-ordinates this process as well as the ongoing needs and welfare of each child in liaison with the parents or guardian. In the future we hope to attract further sponsorship opportunities to fund even more children. ## b) Accommodation The Maasai parents and guardians of the sponsored children provide a hostel for the majority of our young children. Our charity supports this venture via utilities and building maintenance costs. Last year we reported that the local government had inspected the premises for suitability and were encouraging the construction of additional accommodation to enable expansion. In our view this would be both expensive and from past experience, potentially, counter productive. Alternative options are still being scoped and there is a potential longer term solution involving a new boarding school which is under serious consideration. This could alleviate many concerns. Meanwhile, to meet safety regulations, our charity has purchased fire extinguishers and smoke alarms which have been installed in the hostel. This year, we have also arranged for the parents, guardians and volunteers to receive safeguarding/child protection training. ## c) School Playground This year a further playground was funded and installed at Sakala Primary School. ## d) Health and Wellbeing Project We have closely monitored the Covid-19 situation and despite our initial concerns, it would appear that the virus has yet to seriously impact this remote area of Tanzania. However, to assist the Maasai communities our charity has facilitated the circulation of Covid-19 safety information and provided vital hygiene products such as sanitizer, soap and suitable water containers to many bomas (a small village). Over the years we have grown concerned about the living environment of the Maasai children. The mud houses have open wood fires and little ventilation. This causes health problems from smoke inhalation and children occasionally suffering horrendous burn injuries. In consequence, our charity has trialled a brick oven with chimney in a Maasai mud house. The results were promising and following extensive research we have identified more efficient and effective options. Recently, a few of our UK grant bids have been successful and we hope, in the coming year, to commence the installation of 100 chimneys and cookers. ## e) Food Programme Last year we reported that owing to a dramatic shortage of crops and subsequent inability to feed the sponsored children that an emergency food programme was rapidly introduced. In addition, an alternative irrigation and farming project was subsequently scoped with a view to providing a more sustainable solution. This led to maize, beans, potatoes, tomatoes and other vegetables being farmed and the first crop harvested providing vital food for the children. We are pleased to report that this year it has not been necessary to implement a food shortage response. 3 ## **Fundraising** This year the Covid-19 pandemic frustrated several fundraising events, especially our annual weekend music festival. Despite these disappointments, the charity has been successful in raising funds via several UK Grant bids. ## **The Mud House Club** The Mud House Club was launched last year and has a healthy growing membership. It now plays a vital role, enabling us to communicate our important work to a wider audience which is also attracting new volunteers. ## **Financial review** Our existing projects have sufficient specific fundraising support. However, it is hoped that the development of our new project “Looking Beyond” which hopes to support children through further education and university will attract fresh sponsors and enable us to continue to improve the life chances of Maasai children. 4 Charity Reglstratlon No. 1160089 THE MUDHOUSE CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 THE MUDHOUSE CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Patron$ Sli Alan Grose Lady Grose Sylvia Goodall Tru¥ts•8 Mr R Jarman (Chairman) Mrs H Culverwell Mr J Culvewell Mrs T Fleming MrsA Ryan Mr M Culvarw811 Mrs J E8mey Mrs G Mckeown (Appolnted 8 Seplembor 20201 Charlty number 1160089 PrIn¢l￿1 *ddr•ii Th8D H811 Lane Uppgr Farringdon Alton Hampshlfe GU34 3EA Ind•p•nd•nt •xamln•r Knill Jamgs LLP One Bell Lane Lewos E88t Sussex BN7 1JU THE MUDHOUSE CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION CONTENTS Pogo Truslees, report Indwndènt èxamlnerfs report Statemonl of ffinanclol actlvttlgs Balance Shget Nole81o the flnancSal statements 8-15 THE MUDHOUSE CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION TRUSTEES. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 The Iruslees present their report and f4n8nci81 stslemènts for the year from 1 January 2020 to 31 Decem￿r 2020. The financial state￿nIS have been prepared In accordan￿ with the accounting policles sel out in note 1 to the flnaricial slalements and comply with th8 chaflly's trust d88d dated 22 January 2015, the Charities Act 2011 and 'Accounling and Reporting by Charitses.. Stat6menl of Recommènded Practice applicable lo charities preparing Ihelr 8ccounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in Ihe UK and Republlc of Ireland IFRS 1021. las amendèd for accounting periods commencing Irom 1 January 20161- The Mudhouse Chlldren's Foundation is a UK registered charity established lo support and develop opportunities for ChIld￿n. especially from the Maa88I commun￿e$ of the Loliondo area of Ngorongtsro District, to ac￿ educ8llon and Improve their life cholces. In recognition of the need 8nd tJe8ire lo create sustsinable solu150ns our charity works closely ￿th felevanl Tanzanlan government officers, the Chigts of Maasai vlllage8, Headleachers ol ychools and widor momb8r8 of the relevant communlllès. Oblectlvo¥ and ictlvltlos In acrA)rdanc* wllh our Conslltullon our 8tsted oblectlves arKI actlvlllos arg as follow8,' To raise ed(tG81ional standards In the schoo18 In the Ngorongoro District ot T8nzani8 and lo Improve access to education for chlldren. To ¢roat9 a $9K-Improving. self-sustsinlng syslam by developlng communlty coheslon. Actlvltlo8: Th18 wlll ba achl6ved by= Establlshlng 8 school Sponsored chlld programme ProvldSng tsacher Iralning, ￿SearChIng and evalu811ng Ils impact Supportlng the govemmenl lo provlde approprlale boarding for Maa8818chool chlklren Eslablishlng a community educational resourc4 bose Ilnl8met hubllibr8ry1 Support to malntsln educallonal bulldlngs Provldln9 vllal school fgsources, malorl8ls an(1 equlpmenl Developing exchange8 with local and international volunteer students The Irusl8e8 have pakl due regard to guldanc6188ugd by the Charity Comm1881on In dactdlng whAI actlvlllg$ Ihe charity should undartaka. Achlgvoments and perforniance As a small charlty basgd in the UK whlch Is locused on dellverfng frontllne meBnlngful prolects In Tanzanl81118 not surprising that we have encountered many chaltenges and leafnt an enomioLbS amount ftom our èxperlences. Notwilhsl8ndlng the ¢omplexitie$ ol our ope18tlng envlronment with the generosity of donoTS and increillble Support of many volunteer5 and partners we are, with Iuslffiable pride. able to report and highlight tho completlon and devglopmgnl of 8 numbgr of Su¢r￿sSful projects. Spon8ornd Chlldr•n Educatlon Progrnmmtr Many Maasai children live in semt-permanent remote villages (called bomasl across the Ngorongoro legion. Each day, the children often face lengthy joumeys, on fool, lo just reach a school. Many such journeys are of 1-2 hours duration. At the requ¢$t of Ma8$8i Chiets and their communities our sponsored child programme was introduced to enable those children living in poverty lo access boarding accommodatson 81 the schoollsl. Wllh the generous donations of UK fesidenls wo are currently sponsoring 65 children lo attenrt school in 10 eilucational eslablishmenls. These are prim8rily located in the Wasso. Loliondo area of Ngorongoro but college students are tocated in various crties Sn Tanzania. To ensure faime8$ th¢ sponsored chlldren are sgle¢led by strict thleri8 and negotiat6on with individual Maasai bomas. Salome N8ssei18 senior local Maasail co-ordinales this pro¢oss as well as the ongoing needs and weware of each child in liaison with the parents or guardkqn. In the future we hope to attract further sponsorshbp opportunltles to lun¢J more c*itdren. THE MUDHOUSE CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION TRUSTEES. REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 Acwnmodatlon The Maasai parents 8nd guardians of the sponsored chlldren provide a h081el for the majoilly of our young Children. Our charity supports this venture via utilitios and building maintenance cos15. Last year we reported that the local government Insp8Ct8LI the premlses for suhability and they were encouraging the construction of additional accommodation lo enable expanslon. In our view this would be expgnsive and ffom past experience, potgn11811y, counler-produclSve. Ahemative options are still belng scoped and there is a potential longer lemi solution Involving a new boarding school which is under serious consideration. Thls could alleviate many concems. Meanwhile. lo meet safety regulations, our charity has purchased fire extinguishars and smoke alam)s whlch have been installed In the ho818l. Thbs year. we have also 8franged for the parents, guar