Alice Foundation Annual Report 2025
## ALICE
## FOUNDATION LIGHT FOR LIFE
## ANNUAL REPORT 2024 – 2025
## Changing lives in Jaranwala, Pakistan
**Registration Number: 1161281**
**Date of Registration: 15th April 2015**
**Principal Office: 167 Risca Road, Newport, NP20 3PQ**
**Website: www.alicefoundation.co.uk**
**Tel: 07951 068305**
**Email address: rakhelsmith167@gmail.com**
**Trustees: Mrs Rakhel Smith, Mrs Marilyn Priday, Mrs Cynthia Bafico**
**Advisors: Mr Iven Smith, Mrs Susan Lewis, Mrs Elaine Harris, Ms Heather Eynon, Mr Roger Bafico**
**Secretary: Siama Smith**
1
Alice Foundation Annual Report 2025
## 10[th] Birthday of Alice Foundation and our Annual Curry and Carols
## **A few words before we cut the cake!**
Iven thanking his Christmas Elf Cynthia and all the folk present for joining the everincreasing numbers meeting for Curry and Carols at Trinity. Happy Birthday Alice Foundation.
2
Alice Foundation Annual Report 2025
## Fundraising Events
**----- Start of picture text -----**
7
**----- End of picture text -----**
Some of the FUNdraising events…and they are great fun. Many thanks to all our supporters.
And Pastor Amir is doing a great job ensuring **your** contributions give the children of the village a very happy Christmas as well as the year-round education they receive.
3
Alice Foundation Annual Report 2025
## Other Fundraising
**Rakhel, family and friends catering for events for the following organisations – sometimes more than once**
- For Amy & Glen Morris: Winding Snake film company
- Ponthir curry night
- Asian Music Night at Ponthir Village Hall
- Urban circle
- Curry and Carols at Trinity, which was also our 10[th] Anniversary as a charity
- Coffee Morning at Trinity
- Food for events for youth workers at Community House
- Events for police
- Asian costumes and food tasting
We have been busy spreading the word - letting people know about the story and achievements of the Alice Foundation.
Our “spread the word” team: Rakhel, Iven, Cynthia, Marilyn and Susan, in varying combinations, and over the years, have spoken to the University of the Third Age (U3A), St. Julian’s Methodist Church, Coffee’n’Laughs, Probus (a church women’s group in Pontnewenydd), Ponthir Women’s Institute, Rotary, Churches Together in Wales Racial Justice Committee, The Interfaith Council for Wales.
- Food for Maindee Library events
- International Women’s Day at the Riverfront
We are happy to do the same with any organisations that will invite us.
Rakhel and Iven Smith and Roger and Cynthia Bafico were invited to Frodsham Methodist Church by Reverend Gordon Gresswell. They gave a talk on the project with one of Roger’s lovely videos.
We have also built strong relationships with the Headteachers of Maindee, Pillgwenlly and Stow Hill Primary Schools.
As you can see from the list, Rakhel and her catering volunteer team have been very busy - in fact, have become the “go to” option for a tasty buffet for many organisations around Newport.
These organisations are so important to us for their ongoing support – and this would not happen if the quality of what the team delivers was not consistently great.
Alice Foundation Annual Report 2025
Risen from the Ashes 1. The building
How fabulous is this!! We thank God, that from the heartbreak of our devastated school and church, there is now this beautifully finished building. oa — . r Th The church is designed for big numbers who come from many villages. Toilets —————— replacing the ones originally funded by Brian Selby’s 2p to pee at his Tuesday Lunch Club = (TLC). 1 5
Alice Foundation Annual Report 2025
**Older pupils in class**
**Examination time**
**Such concentration from youngsters**
## **Photos of the**
## **children in school**
**Christmas Presents**
6
Alice Foundation Annual Report 2025
**Pakistan Day Celebration**
**Presentation of new books, to every child, for reading and for writing.**
**Saying Prayers on Pakistan Day**
**All the books were bought by Iven Smith, While he was visiting the school.**
**Older girls on the computers**
**Enjoying being in class**
7
Alice Foundation Annual Report 2025
## Celebrating Easter – Maundy Thursday in the chapel
While our **school** is changing lives for the young people, Christian and Muslim alike, in Jaranwala, Pastor Amir’s **church** is sustaining the spirit of a faithful Christian community.
Just a decade ago, this congregation would be meeting outside, regardless of heat, cold or monsoon and coffins were sheltered in tarpaulin tents. Through your help their worship is given dignity. In a tent or in a palace, they are with God. But let us thank all our supporters, everyone who worked on the original building and those in authority or directing charities who repaired our building. Their work testifies to a project of hope, courage and love.
## Uplifting
To those joining us for the first time, **welcome** . To those joining for the 10[th] time – **well done good and faithful servants** . AGM’s are normally dry, number orientated events which are to be endured rather than enjoyed. Not so with Alice Foundation. Here we have the privilege of being part of a project, small in world terms but huge in the impact on a community and their children.
Our earliest photographs showed children playing on rubbish dumps and not attending the almost derelict school. Those little children are now the senior class and some of them are even assisting the teaching staff. While there is no denying growing up in a poor rural area will continue to limit opportunities, what we can claim is that an education where there was none before taps into individual potential and opens horizons. The school aids the harmony of a Muslim and Christian village. There are heartwarming stories of Muslim neighbours helping their Christian friends during the time of the riots just two Augusts ago; equally Christians rallying round to help during flooding.
We, just ordinary people living a long way away from our adopted Pakistan village, can, with our fundraising energies, make a true contribution to understanding between countries, cultures, faiths and those no faith.
8
Alice Foundation Annual Report 2025
## **Alice events**
We would like to direct you to our website **www.alicefoundation.co.uk** and our Face Book page **Alice Foundation - Light for Life**
Finally, the Charity relies on a huge number of family and friends of Rakhel and Iven and those of other trustees and advisors who embrace the ethos of Alice. We would like to thank everyone who has donated money to this cause and all who have volunteered and given their time to make all this achievable. All trustees and volunteers have worked exceptionally hard. Siama and Marilyn and Roger must be thanked for their work with taking and/or managing the wonderful bank of photographs we have. We continue to receive help from folk connected in one way or another to Community House, Eton Road and we are particularly thankful for the continued support from Trinity Methodist. Cynthia and Roger are joined by so many others of that church in working for the cause.
Rakhel, Iven and all the Trustees thank you most sincerely for your continuing support.
You will see on our final page images of the devastation caused to village homes from recent floods. Pastor Amir was quick to give relief with meals etc. and, although not to do with the school/church specifically, we intend sending funds to help. Any further donations will be gratefully received.
9
Alice Foundation Annual Report 2025
## After the recent flood
In the words of Pastor Amir Masih on Facebook (That’s where the photographs have come from)
_‘_ Your attention can change someone's life, those lives that have been badly affected by the rains and landslides here. Please, your attention can also change a life with a sense of morality and a way of living. Please pray for these people and send help.
I believe God put in your heart about Pakistani Christian people's. God bless you all family’
10
Iiiiiiiiiiuiiiilli
Iiiiiiiiiuiiii
11
iiiiiiiii
li