Solace International
www.solace.international
(England and Wales Registered Charity No. 1162864)
(‘Solace’)
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taste better and CE You were alw8sS The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report IS.T.A.R. '221 pg.2
Solace Trustees Annual Report (2022)
S.T.A.R. ‘22
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For obvious reasons, parts of this Report mirror previous S.T.A.R.s
In consideration of the Organisation’s international audience, this Report is presented online during our 2022 Annual General Meeting (AGM)
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In line with established Solace International organisational practice,
this document also doubles as
the Organisation’s Annual General Report for the Year 2022, Anno Domini.
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“But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles…run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint” –Isaiah 40:31.
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His Steady Hand
The LORD has Brought us this far And farther Takes us still Raising always the Bar In Keeping with His Will.
The road has been so rocky And air around us mean Yet God has Made us stocky With Strength and Power unseen.
And so grateful we stand Faithful on we move Serving at His Command His Solace and Love to prove.
– Joseph Dos Santos
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| Contents1 | |
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| Item | Page |
| His Steady Hand | 7 |
| Our Mission Statement | 9 |
| Foreword | 10 |
| In His Footsteps | 11 |
| Resolution | 12 |
| SOLACE INTERNATIONAL: Solace in brief | 13 |
| The Organisation’s charitable objects; Its aims and activities | 14 |
| Activities (What the charity does); Who the charity helps | 15 |
| How the charity works | 16 |
| The Solace journey thus far: Pumping our fists | 17 |
| The Solace journey thus far: Scratching our heads | 44 |
| Conclusion | 54 |
| References | 55 |
| Appendices | 57 |
| Final Word |
1 This unique style of laying out a Table of Contents is the brainchild of Joseph E.G.D. Dos Santos (2019, 2020) and therefore duly acknowledged.
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Our Mission Statement
Guided by the Holy Spirit, Solace International’ s Mission is to provide an excellent support service which positively impacts lives and in so doing, contributes to a better world, thus glorifying God.
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Foreword
Welcome to the Solace Trustees Annual Report for 2022 (S.T.A.R. ‘22). This report outlines by the Grace of God, Solace International ’s progress in achieving its aims and objectives during the preceding year. As with its predecessors, although S.T.A.R. ’22 is a standalone document in its own right, the report can be read as continuing on from prior S.T.A.R.s. Thus, to the Glory of the LORD God Almighty – Sole, Everlasting and Omnipotent Solace of all Creation – in His Wisdom and by His Love, S.T.A.R. ‘22 uses in part or in whole at various points throughout, portions and sections which can also be found in previous reports – including but not only, S.T.A.R. ‘21. It is our hope in Him, that doing this will remain the convention for future S.T.A.R.s – for as long as it Pleases God that Solace International abides. We further pray and hope the LORD is Pleased to Grant that Solace International shall long outlive its Founder, abiding through all generations up until the Second Coming.[2]
2 See Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 1:9-11, etc.
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In His Footsteps
Like our Unfailing Role Model Jesus, the Only Christ, we aim to be – but positively so, different things to different people. Each of our actions will mainly seek to enhance the holistic advancement of any communities wherein as it Pleases the LORD, Solace is engaged – whether directly or otherwise. As was the Wont of our Lord Jesus Christ in Whose Footsteps we follow, Solace will always put the service user/client/customer (‘needy’) first; the needy will always be who, as well as what, drives us on and our services will generally be moulded around the needy as Guided by the Holy Spirit, Who alone Understands to Perfection our every need as individuals and as people. As our Unfailing Role Model Christ also Did, Solace will always aim for the highest standards with God the Highest Standard, our Guide and Focus. We want to be unique in everything we are engaged in; we want to be well-known for our overall excellent quality of service and marvellous personnel; we want to maintain an unassailable position among the best in our chosen fields of endeavour. Simply put, we just want to be the best.
By the Grace of God, we will be the best.
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Resolution
Following its meeting for Summer 2022, the Solace International Board of Trustees (hereinafter referred to as ‘The Solace Board’, ‘The Board’ or ‘The Trustees’) resolved as follows:
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1.) The Report covered by this resolution and contained in this document shall form the main body of the Organisation’s Annual Report for 2022;
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2.) The Report shall be designated and known as ‘The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report’ or S.T.A.R. ‘22;
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3.) The Report shall be presented online as part of the 2022 Solace International Annual General Meeting (AGM);
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4.) The 2022 AGM shall occur before the halfway point of 2022’s last quarter;
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5.) In keeping with Solace International (‘Solace’) convention established in the Year of our Lord 2017, S.T.A.R. ‘22 shall be deemed officially complete and therefore closed, after Christmas Day, 2022;
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6.) Official completion and closure shall include insertion of the accompanying report from InterSolace Organisation (‘Solace Kenya’) and any other Solace branch or affiliate in other countries as the case may be;
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7.) It shall only be declared complete and closed also, once there is no possibility of updates as requested or mandated by the Governments (or relevant departments) of the countries where Solace actively operates.
Signed………… D.N. Mnyasa ……………………………………….
Dephrose N. Mnyasa (for: Board of Trustees, Solace International )
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SOLACE INTERNATIONAL: The Organisation in brief
Some information about Solace International is provided below in 10 bullet points:
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1) The word "solace" is nearly identical with words like: aid, assistance, calming, comfort, compassion, motivation, refuge, relief, serenity, soothing, support and tranquil.
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2) Our name therefore indicates our primary goal of making Life easier for others.
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3) Solace International was created in the UK, but it started off by functioning in Kenya in 2012, after which it was registered in both the United Kingdom (UK) and Kenya.
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4) Solace's official name in Kenya is ‘InterSolace Organisation’.
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5) Although not part of any denomination, Solace is by the Grace of God, run on Holy Bible principles. We nevertheless conduct Christian religious services and activities (in the UK and to a lesser extent, in Kenya).
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6) We continue to cooperate with others (private citizens, institutions, or communities) because we equally value partnership.
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7) We want to combat inequality and advance the Christian Faith.
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8) We also want to have an impact on at least one life in every country and region on Earth.
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9) The globe is made up of more than two hundred (200+) countries and regions. So far, Solace International has only provided assistance to individuals and organisations in forty nations.[3] As such, there is obviously so much to be done.
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10) But what will Solace International do when we God Willing, have eventually managed to help at least one person in all 200+ places? By the Grace of God, once we are sure we have touched at least one life in every nation and territory on Earth, we shall start the process again, seeking to help or support someone in each of the world’s 200+ nations and territories.
3 Appendix B has more information.
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The Organisation’s charitable objects
The objects of Solace are:
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a.) To benefit the public;
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b.) The advancement of the Christian Faith and
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c.) The prevention or relief of poverty.
Its aims and activities
We seek to honour God the Almighty Creator of All Life and Owner of Everything. We also seek to and testify of His Greatness and Goodness through our actions and activities in that light – and hoping to work in collaboration with other similar-minded groups or individuals, the aims of Solace International are chiefly to:
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Be and remain, an international organisation operating across several continents of the world;
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Further the Christian Faith through the use of apostolic and deaconate means;
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Empower people and groups against poverty in all its forms, using a prudent but radical understanding of ‘poverty’.
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Activities (What the charity does)
Solace in furtherance of its aims, engages in general charitable purposes as well as the following:
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a.) Education and training;
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b.) Prevention and relief of poverty;
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c.) Religious activities;
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d.) Economic/community development;
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e.) Promotion and support of diversity, equality, human rights, racial harmony, and religious tolerance.
Who the charity helps
Solace International helps the general public and Mankind. In other words, we are not particular or discriminatory about who we help. The help we give is however subject to variables, such as:
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(1.) The availability of relevant human, financial and other resources;
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(2.) Strict criteria as set forth in the Organisation’s Constitution, Beneficiaries Policy and/or other governing documents;
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(3.) Any other criteria laid down by the Solace International Board of Trustees.
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How the charity works
There are several ways by which we work to achieve the above, the main one being that:
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a.) Solace International makes grants to individuals and to organisations;[4]
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b.) We also develop and provide human resources;
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c.) Solace International offers governance and capacity-building support;
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d.) We are engaged in community-relevant training delivery, business support, as well as the facilitation of seminars and workshops;
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e.) Finally, Solace provides advocacy and advice/information as well as other services relevant to individuals in need and to communities.[5]
In keeping with practice established in the original Solace Trustees Annual Report and maintained thereafter, as well as for ease of communication, this report uses the information bulleted under Activities: What the Charity does as subheadings in the two sections (‘Successes’, ‘Failures’) below. Also, in line with established Solace convention, the information under the other subheadings (e.g. ‘Who the charity helps’, ‘How the charity works’ and ‘The Organisation’s charitable objects’, etc.) contributes to fleshing out the report in the relevant sections.
4 We do not offer loans. We have experimented with doing so (offering interest-free loans in support of small businesses and serious family challenges), but discovered that lending money although potentially of greater value/benefit to those who receive them, only provides brief respite. Worse still, it generates levels of dishonesty and ill-will almost impossible to describe – or even understand. Lending is in our opinion, for a small charity such as this, more trouble than it is worth and so the decision has been made to ditch the idea.
5 This includes signposting to other entities which a
re relevant to beneficiaries’ needs.
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The Solace journey thus far: Pumping our fists
Sweetly as always, the LORD God Favours Solace International with the Honour of Allowing us to enjoy success in myriad areas – even as to His Glory and in His Strength, we improve on strides already made in years of yore. Solace International is at best, a Vessel – a Tool – an Instrument in the Hands of the Master of all Creation Who has no shortage of Resources – and so Honours us by Using us, since while He can Do without us (and indeed everyone else), not even one of us can manage without Him. In that light, the list of what for want of a better – and humbler word we would refer to as ‘successes’, are outlined below, keeping in mind the Undying Words of our Lord Jesus Christ, as Recorded in the Holy Gospel according to the Evangelist Luke:
IT IS THE SAME WITH YOU; WHEN YOU HAVE DONE ALL YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD TO DO, SAY: 'WE ARE ORDINARY SERVANTS; WE HAVE ONLY DONE OUR DUTY.' [6]
One important aspect of note as indicated in S.T.A.R.s ‘20 and ‘21, is that the enormity of what by the Ever-Bountiful Hand of God, we have so far achieved, is better understood when juxtaposed against Solace International ’s continued lack of corporate funding, regular donations or high publicity. It is simply impossible for us to ever appreciate the LORD Almighty enough regarding His Goodness as Demonstrated through this charity in the following pages. As you read, please keep in mind that the key barometer by which Solace International evaluates its achievements, regrets and areas for improvement is the Organisation’s plans for each year in furtherance of its aims and objects.
6 Lk 17:10 (GNT)
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Area 1(a)[7]
The alleviation of poverty – UK, etc. Activity Details From the evidence presented by a variety of sources, the end of 2020, witnessed a worsening of already dire UK-wide poverty levels, due among other factors, to the COVID-19 pandemic. Poverty indicators such as begging, dumpster-diving, food bank visits, rough-sleeping and shoplifting, were especially on the rise. One consensus finding shared by researchers as previously noted, is that many UK families struggle to afford decent meals – even where they have Foodbank one or more gainfully employed breadwinners. In many cases, families are having to make the ‘heat-or-eat’ choice, where they must sometimes sacrifice decent or adequate meals in favour of paying bills. Of course, 2022’s unprecedented inflation rates have made things worse, even hampering the ability of charities like Solace International to attract donations (Civil Society and Legraien, 2022; Joseph Rowntree Foundation [JRF], 2021; Mitchell Charlesworth, 2022; Office For National Statistics [ONS] and Keane, 2022; Poverty and Social Exclusion [PSE], 2022). Due to the steadily weakening power of the usually all-conquering Pound
7 The ‘Areas’ have been numbered for ease of reading and reference. The numbering does not reflect any specific order or priority list.
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Sterling, our ability to reach more of the needy through stretching each Pound raised, has shrunken – particularly in those countries outside the UK and Europe where, by the Grace of God and to His Glory, we continue to support many people.[8] By the Grace of God, food banks and other food provisions (e.g. soup kitchens and food hubs) abound. Nonetheless, some families are too embarrassed or even afraid to access these free facilities. Such reticence unfortunately and unwittingly generates an added vulnerability by cutting them off from a vital and free/ low-cost source of sorely needed support. Foodbank Accordingly, Solace International has supported several organisations with food donations – including but not only: the H2G Food Hub, Croydon BME Forum and St. Peter’s Church of England Parish (SW16). We are still seeking to establish if not in 2022 – then in 2023, a soup kitchen which could also serve as a one-stop shop for support in other areas. Noting that food poverty is usually an indicator of other serious qualityof-life-affecting issues, we anticipate that the proposed one-stop shop would offer support such as: employability support, benefits advice and signposting. Furthermore, the Organisation continues to operate its flagship Foodbank With A Difference.[9]
8 Please refer to the Appendices for a full list of the countries in question.
9 This involves operating a floating foodbank. The way it works is that we go in search of the needy, taking food to th
em, instead of waiting for them to find us. We identify them through a variety of contacts.
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| Foodbank | Keenly, we are in doing so, walking in the Footsteps of Jesus Christ our Chief Role Model Who did not always Wait for those in need to approach Him. As the Gospels Show, He more often than not, Moved around, Making Himself both Available and Accessible to those in need of His Matchless and Boundless Goodness. Since this year a level of heatwaves that the country had not seen since around 1976,10 _Solace International_visited parks and distributed bottles of water which we had cooled overnight to ensure it provided both physical and psychological relief by respectively cooling parched throats and giving a sense of relief to those who seek solace from the heat. |
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| School support | Solace_continues to support schools in Kenya, to educate orphans and children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The level of support has however been somewhat scaled down. Coming to this decision was in deference both to the Organisation’s lack of resources, as well as the Organisation’s decision to reduce its involvement and presence in Kenya, from last year (i.e. 2021).11 However,_Solace’s schools support varies, depending on the institution – and can include supporting children through school by paying for their |
10 According to the Met Office.
11 The Solace International Board of Trustees later rescinded this decision as a result of which, Kenya continues to be the main focus of our work and resources. This situation is to be however, regularly reviewed between now and 2025 when by the Grace of God, a final decision on the matter would have been made.
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school fees, school uniforms and other school-related needs. Other support includes availing them and/or their families, money for extra tuition, school meals and boarding. So far,[12] it has Pleased God that in Kenya, we have supported children, schools and teachers. Our support reached Busia, Eldoret, Kakamega, Kilifi, Machakos, Malindi, Nairobi, Nakuru and Waitamu. We have supported over fifty children, two teachers and five schools, with money, books and pastoral care. School support Less intensely, we have also supported families with their children’s schooling and other needs, in Bulgaria, Ghana, India, Malawi, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa and Uganda. Support we have sent to other countries – most notably Congo-Kinshasa and Botswana, has while aimed at children and families, not necessarily been with an eye to schooling or education. Discussions are also ongoing for support of school children in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, although for reasons explained elsewhere, our negotiations to support school children in Vietnam, have stalled. Alleviation of poverty is one of our key aims. thus, Solace continues to support parents experiencing poverty to deal with their situation by Poverty- breaking free from the cycle/bondage of poverty. busting
12 That is, as at mid-2022.
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Because of the current global economic and health situations, our priority is to generalise our support in this area, on a case-by-case basis. Consequently, small cash grants have been made in the UK and elsewhere. Coping with what has come to be known as ‘the new normal’ (Maragakis, 2020), the Organisation’s flagship Solace Enterprise Empowerment Programme (S.E.E.P.) which was temporarily shelved, has resumed. Doing this helps us support as many people as we we reasonably can, to reject poverty and instead flourish, by breaking free through enterprise Poverty- and self-employment wherever possible. busting Enterprise empowerment is to the Glory of God Whose Will it is that we “prosper and be in good health”[13] . The SEEP will however as noted hitherto, shortly begin to diversify its content. Following this new approach is with the aim of making S.E.E.P. more beneficial to a wider populace. We are also developing an online version which would be cost-effective for us and accessible to even more people. Partnership and other forms of cooperation are an essential resource to any charitable organisation. As such, we are building relationships with Collaboration
13 3Jn: 2
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| Collaboration | other organisations – including academic, charitable, corporate, religious and unregistered community groups both in Kenya and the UK.14 An advantage here is that it helps reach even more people without having to take on the immense costs of registration and opening offices everywhere. It is also a chance to support other organisations towards achieving their own visions, aims and objectives. Many individuals and groups have shown the efficacy of a collaborative approach to supporting those in need. We are for instance, working with groups and individuals in Uganda, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Nigeria, Nepal, Namibia, Kenya, Ghana, Botswana and elsewhere. Of course, in light of current resource realities which the Organisation is currently having to live with, the collaborations have been largely informal and even indirect – such as some or all of our arrangements in Botswana, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nepal, Pakistan, etc. Joining up with entities from other lands with their different cultures, eccentricities, perspectives, prejudices and sensitivities presents unique challenges – some exciting and others dampening, especially with some of the arrangements still at a very basic stage. |
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14 Our letterheads reflect this as we tend to include at the bases of the documents, logos of most organisations we have worked or partnered with. Some groups are yet to be added though. They will be inserted as time goes on, subject to approval by the Trustees acting on the advice of the Chief Administrator.
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All the same, interagency working remains a key aspect of Solace International ’s modus operandi. In the UK and Kenya, Solace continues to Collaboration be a part of and/or engaged with a wide variety of organisations both religious and secular. We do not partner with political groups.[15]
Area 1(b) The alleviation of poverty – Kenya and elsewhere Activity Details C hokora or ‘street kids’, as they are known in Kenya, are minors (typically aged between six and fifteen years old) who for a variety of reasons, are forced to live on the streets. Street kids Homelessness among Kenya minors is more an urban issue – especially in the capital, Nairobi. Becoming a chokora often results from abuse or crime, being orphaned, running away from home, drug addiction, etc.
15 Organisations and groups we have worked with however fleetingly, include but do not stop at the following: UK: ACTS Church, Croydon BME Forum, Croydon Voluntary Association (CVA), Faiths Together in Croydon (FTiC), Heads2Gether (H2G), Kingston Voluntary Action (KVA), Lambeth Voluntary Action Council (LVAC), Restoration World Revival Church (RWRC); India: Jetsons; Kenya: Born Again Revival Tabernacle International, Kenya (BARTI-K), Deliverance Church International, Groots-Mathare, Hope Africa Community, SOS Children’s Village Buruburu; Nepal: Rakesh Women’s and Community Empowerment Group; Pakistan: Sadia Gill.
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On most days no matter the weather, chokoras can be spotted moving around in dishevelled packs of five-to-fifty strong. They are particularly vulnerable to lynch mobs.[16] – as well as paedophiles and violent criminals. Kids in chokora situations are also usually easy targets for human traffickers, organ harvesters. Criminal and terror gangs also find them easy Street kids candidates for recruitment into nefarious networks. Only limited supported can be offered;[17] but this is wide-ranging nonetheless as it includes: food and money, as well as companionship which in the absence of formal counselling, has proven quite helpful.[18] Relevant to the issue of chokoras still, it is noted in passing that last year,
16 This is especially the case when a theft or other petty crime has occurred, but the perpetuators are unknown or unclear. There remains an awareness on our part and on the part of other entities doing what they can to help these unfortunate children, that when accused of crimes, the chokoras are not always innocent. In their desperation, they have been known to commit serious crimes such as violent robbery, severe assaults and the occasional rape. However, Solace takes the position that nonetheless, street children are as a whole (despite the unfortunate and opprobrious actions of a minority within the group), quite vulnerable, being easy targets for every kind of criminal and violent person (which in part explains why street children tend to move in packs…safety in numbers). Whatever they may rightly or wrongly be accused of, it must also be remembered, that street kids like all other children, are minors.
17 This is because the problem of chokoras is complex, deep and in need of long-term engagement – the type which only governments (in this case, the Kenya Government and devolved governments running the counties) can handle since the issue requires a huge array and amount of resources.
18 Especially in the cold and lonely hours of the night when most law-abiding adults are home – and law enforcement agents are scarce – leaving the streets bare, dangerous, as well as lonely for any children at all – but particularly for the country’s street children.
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| Street kids | _Solace International_appointed an official whose role is to explore ways of supporting children and parents in need. Among the foci for the new role is the provision of more bespoke support for those children and families experiencing levels of need which force them onto the streets to beg or scavenge for sustenance. |
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| Clothes supply | Continually from 2014 up to the summer of 2022,_Solace International_has supplied more than ten thousand free clothes and shoes to those in need. We have targeted various countries with this support. Last year, our manner of distribution changed so we could reach even more individuals in need. Our previous (quite generous) system often allowed some people to receive too many clothes and others too few. Our stock of second-hand clothes in Kenya has not been replenished however, due to the exorbitant cost of shipping. We have focused instead on sharing our stock with groups within the UK.19 The supply of free clothes is a very important aspect of our work in the prevention or relief of poverty in countries outside the United Kingdom. where so many people live below the poverty line. Here it is also noted that a small percentage of our clothes was distributed |
19 We have especially made clothes donations to those concerned with the flood situation in Pakistan and the economic collapse of Sri Lanka.
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| Clothes supply | to people living in the UK, for just the third time in our history. There is a growing trend of people coming to_Solace International_for clothes. Even though we have been happy to help – to the best of our ability, the only other times when such a demand in the UK for our free clothes occurred were in 2015 and last year.20 _Solace International_continues to monitor the situation, with a view to increasing the percentage of clothes donations we reserve from our stock, even though this might mean fewer clothes for other countries. |
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| Cash grants | As already indicated,_Solace International_continues to make cash grants to those in need. The Organisation does not however, give loans. Beneficiaries and other interested entities can find our reasons for this in S.T.A.R. ‘20 and S.T.A.R. ‘21. Cash grants we give are usually small. Duly, all the grants we make are subject to the availability of funds and strict criteria as laid out in our Beneficiaries Policy. Even with the current economic malaise sweeping the globe, monies are |
20 In 2015, we had many people come to us for food needs, but many of them also asked for clothes. The 2022 upsurge is however, attributable to THE COVID-19 pandemic.
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| Cash grants | not disbursed without the approval of the_Solace_Board of Trustees. For this year so far,_Solace International_has made grants to beneficiaries from and/or in eight countries. God in His Loving Kindness has Let our grants benefit: Congo-Kinshasa, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, India, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. |
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| Area 2 Religious activities |
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| Activity | Details |
| The ‘Towards’ Reports |
To God’s Glory, the ‘Towards’ reports are a unique capacity-building tool aimed at supporting churches, pursuant to our aim of furthering the Christian Faith. As stated in previous S.T.A.R.s, every year since 2012, we have contributed to the capacity-building of at least one church. Our support is wide-ranging – from setting up a youth/teens ministry,21 through observing what could be going wrong in a church and suggesting ways to put it right,22to simple church planting23- as well as general advice |
21 Winners Chapel , Malindi, Kenya.
22 Hope Africa (now Hope Community ), Syiokimau, Kenya.
23 Born Again Revival Tabernacle International (BARTI), Maziwa, Kenya .
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for Christian groups focusing on women[24] and/or children.[25] With God’s Matchless Help, we have so far provided such support for around fifteen churches and Christian groups or ministries. Where appropriate, the support would include a report the title of which begins 26with the word: ‘Towards’. Among other benefits, the reports give deep insight from a neutral point to church leaders, on how they may improve their usually already great services. For Solace , the reports allow us to build, maintain and present a colourful portfolio of our work in this unique area of Christian ministry. The ‘Towards’ Reports Research conducted by the relevant churches and Christian groups in the future, may also find that our ‘Towards’ reports are a very good place to start, or that the reports can at least furnish the researcher with some new insights regarding the church-related issue(s) under study. During germination and development, a Christian organisations may find the unique tool of a neutral outsider’s keen eye inimitably valuable as the organisation seeks to glorify God and meet people’s expectations through the work they do in His Name, by His Grace and to His Glory. Strong though their bias is for Christian organisations, the ‘Towards’
24 Rakesh Ministries, Nepal.
25 Jetsons Ministry for Children, Tamil Nadu, India.
26 e.g. ‘ Towards A Better Youth Ministry’, ‘ Towards Clearer Communication’, ‘ Towards A Stronger Church’, etc.
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reports are however not restricted to supporting only Christian entities. In 2016 for instance, we prepared one for Ashleys Hair and Beauty Academy The ‘Towards’ (Kenya), doing the same in 2020, for Heads2gether aka ‘H2G’ (UK). Reports Although we are an intrinsic an inextricable part of the Church – the Bride of Jesus Christ, Solace International does not refer to itself as a church and is not affiliated to any church/denomination. Be that as it may, our work is centred on furthering the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This has brought us to the attention of several Christian leaders who have responded largely positively. Preaching engagements Consequently, some churches have honoured our Founder and by extension, Solace International , with the privilege of speaking God’s Word from their pulpits, altars, sanctuaries and other exclusive platforms. During 2021 alone, there were over ten such engagements – and since 2012, there have been more than one hundred. We appreciate this greatly – especially since some church leaderships have also been hostile to us. Even so, to share the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Solace International does not rely on any church’s goodwill; we have our own Christian fora e.g. WhatsApp -based daily preaching and prayer platforms.
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| Evangelisation | For this aspect of our work in furthering the Christian Faith,Solace continues to work with other entities in reaching out to God’s People on the streets of not only Kenya and the United Kingdom, but Botswana, Ghana, India, Jamaica, Nigeria, Nepal, Pakistan, Portugal, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Uganda. Going forward, we are acting on our conviction that aside from preaching, there are numerous other ways of spreading the Gospel. In that light, our training programmes generally contain Bible-based material, although wherever and whenever possible, we are keen to explore and develop non- Bible-based alternatives. |
|---|---|
| Bible distribution |
Here and there,Solace_continues to acquire through a variety of means including purchases and donations, copies and versions of the Holy Bible which are then distributed free of charge, to those who need but cannot afford to buy them. In 2019,_Solace International_received from_St Francis (Church of England) Parish, Monks Hill (Selsdon, Surrey), the generous donation of ten bibles – wonderful gifts which were duly passed on, to those who needed them. We are finding that the need for bibles has never been so dire.27 Joining up with various evangelistic groups28in informal arrangements, allows us to also make grants towards the purchase and distribution of |
27 Especially in these truly tough times.
28 When we say ‘evangelistic’ we do not refer to a formal or semi-formal group such as Evangelicals, the Evangelical Alliance or churches and groups with words such as ‘evangel’, ‘evangelise’, ‘evangelism’, ‘evangelist’, ‘evangelistic’, etc., in their names. Instead, we are referring to any groups – whatever their names, which are actively engaged in bringing the Gospel and the Love of God through Jesus Christ, to people in
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| Bible distribution |
bibles, as well as the printing of tracts which usually contain copious extracts from Sacred Scriptures. Keeping in mind that the LORD can – and mostly Does, Further the Gospel (as well as Do whatever else He Pleases) without our input, we are as always, quite glad as well as humbled and honoured, to serve the LORD and His People in whatever way it Please Him that we can. |
|---|---|
| Other support for the wider Church |
Like we have been at pains to explain through this report and in its forbears, although we are not always party to any formal agreement or arrangement,_Solace International_continues to support directly and indirectly, with cash and other resources, a variety of Christian groups. We especially do what we can for other Christian charities. Much of our effort in this area, goes into sensitising Christians to the fact that giving to other Christian charities is part of the duty contingent on all Christians, of giving to the Work of God. Between 2019 and this year for instance,_Solace_personnel made five hundred calls to different people – especially (though not only) our friends. Noting their kindness towards us and their love for the Gospel, we encouraged them to consider also supporting other Christian charities. While endeavouring not to favour any, we have specifically mentioned _Open Doors_which supports the persecuted Church around the world – and for which_Solace International_organised an awareness night in 2017. |
different parts of the world – whether close to where Solace International is based or further afield. Mill Hill Missionaries is a good example of this. Another is Deliverance Church Hinterland Mission Outreach .
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One other thing we do to support other Christian charities is including Other support profiles of Christian charities at the backs of our publications – a practice for the wider established in 2019. In addition, Solace continues to support even more Church Christian ministries, with a monthly tithe on income generated.[29]
Area 3 Economic/community support Activity Details Put simply: Solace International supports economic growth as one way of addressing poverty issues. Thus, we have in Kenya mainly – but also to a lesser extent in other countries such as India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, supported since 2012, over two hundred and fifty small-scale businesses. More Relationships Quietly but firmly, we have consistently backed them with money, training and other resources. In addition, we are supporting several groups to register formally as charities, nongovernmental organisations or charitable organisations in the UK, Pakistan, Nigeria, India and Kenya.
29 Although in light of 2Cor 9:7, Solace International’s Founder does not believe in tithing as a New Testament obligation, the Organisation’s original Secretary (Teresa Kaberere) made a strong and compelling argument for its inclusion in our ways of serving and honouring the LORD. As such, in 2013, the Organisation’s Board of Trustees approved tithing as a means of both generating funds and distributing them. The issue is therefore now mandated in – and governed by, the Solace Tithe and Tithing Policy.
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| Rendering such support makes apparent how seriously we take our aim of alleviating poverty. We have made massive contributions to the socioeconomic empowerment of hundreds and maybe thousands30of people31– a feat for an organisation with minuscule resources. |
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| Area 4 Education and training |
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| Activity | Details |
| Seminars and workshops |
We believe that it is the Will of God, for people to be well educated, better informed and more empowered. “My People perish” He Says, “from lack of knowledge”.32Thus, it is the position of_Solace International_ that the more educated one is, the better able they would be to serve God optimally by among other things, contributing to the community and doing their best for their loved ones._Solace_also holds, that the most effective antidote to the maladies of corruption, poverty and wanton violence (be it domestic, political, religious, ethnic or other) is through education. For this reason,_Solace_regularly puts on free training programmes. Depending on the topic and space, the programmes last from half a day (e.g. ‘Helping children settle in their new surroundings’) to |
30 The true figure will never be known. This is not a situation unique to Solace International , though: most helpers – be they individual, groups or organisations would find that each time you support one person, you could be supporting many others who deoend on them – such as family members and those who might be employed by them – not to mention people whose businesses provide services to the person or entity receiving the charity’s help. Therefore, no matter how you calculate, the numbers of those benefiting directly and indirectly from our work, would be stupendous, to say the least.
32 Hos 4:6
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31
pg. 34
| Seminars and workshops |
twelve weeks (e.g. ‘_Solace_Enterprise Empowerment Programme’). As part of the training programmes we deliver (usually completely free of charge33)_Solace_uses the Christian Sacred Scriptures (commonly known as ‘the Holy Bible’), together with a creative mix of written and non-written sources. The training we offer especially in business support and set-up will from next year, focus less on Christian principles and more on generally applicable ones. We aim in doing so, to make the training more attractive and accessible to a wider clientele. A full list of what programmes we offer accompanies this report (see: ‘Appendices under: _Solace’s_Training Programme’). |
|---|---|
| Books | _Solace_has collected and distributed since 2014, more than seven thousand books. These have come from a myriad of sources including Joseph Dos Santos (the Organisation’s Founder), members of the public, abandoned publications, donated misprints,_Solace International_purchases, etc. The books tend to be mainly educational with a heavy bias for primary school- age readers. However, we have also distributed a good number of entertainment books such as novels, novellas and periodicals. We believe that reading enhances education, but reading would not be easy if it had to be without entertainment. For this reason, we have not restricted our work in this area to only academic textbooks or Christian religious publications._Solace_continues to negotiate with schools and bookshops, both Christian and non-Christian, for more donations. In line with our aim of furthering the Christian Faith, the Organisation has also distributed so far, more than one hundred copies of the Holy Bible. |
33 Where fees are applied, these are usually nominal and generally waived or reduced if the debtor so requests.
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| Books | Last year (2021),_Solace International_also engaged in storytelling and story- writing for children. Plans to add to this achievement by working this year with selected parents on supporting children to tell and even write their own stories have not quite worked out, but we are hoping – Deo Volente. to have achieved that goal by the end of 2022 – or at furthest, by the time of publishing S.T.A.R. ’23. Some of these stories will with their permission, be printed and published under the ‘Solace International Publications’ banner, but with the authors retaining unconditionally, the complete rights of full copyright. |
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Area 5
Human rights, religious/racial harmony, equality/diversity Activity Details As most people would probably agree, what happens in people’s homes can have a serious impact on a person’s socioeconomic outcomes. Domestic abuse and domestic violence are therefore important – although they are very complex issues replete with academic, cultural, legal, moral, racial, religious and social connotations which mean that each is viewed and treated differently in different regions of the world. Domestic violence But to simplify things, Solace International takes the position that domestic violence is reprehensible and unacceptable. The fact that violence is visible, easy to prove and almost always traumatising, makes it distinctly less onerous to oppose than domestic abuse since ‘abuse’ is a word and concept open to varied interpretations – as well it must also be said, as wide misinterpretations and even justifications.
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Consequently, while almost everyone can agree on what ‘violence’ is, it is harder to find consensus over what amounts to ‘abuse’. Still, we do Domestic whatever we can as Jesus Did, to support the marginalised of society violence wherever we find them. The appointment of an official whose role and remit involves the support of women and families, will go a long way in ensuring we can do more for people having to deal with domestic violence and its fallout.[34] Abuse or maltreatment of employees is a socioeconomic problem which transcends all races and cultures throughout the world. But at Solace International, we are actively engaged in supporting victims wherever and whenever we can. Confidentiality and sensitivity requirements however mean that we will Employee not give any details in this document. abuse Despite threats against Solace staff, we will continue to firmly challenge all forms of abuse – including workplace oppression. Employees ought always to be treated fairly and kindly as to His Matchless Glory and in His Infinite Wisdom, God Requires.[35]
34 As stated in our last S.T.A.R., much of our work in this area will focus on Asia and sub-Saharan Africa (as we have done up to this moment). This is anticipated that to soon change – expanding over the coming years, to include Europe and the Americas.
35 The Holy Bible’s Gospel According to Saint Luke (Lk) 10:7 and Saint Paul’s First Letter (possibly) to Timothy col 4:1; 1Tim 5:18; Jas 5:4, etc.
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Solace International is if the position that one aspect of poverty not often viewed as being connected to the problem, is advocacy. Our interactions and engagements consistently show that many people are in poverty because of what we call ‘the voice issue’. Lacking the ability or skills to project a strong voice in their situation – and/or not having someone to speak out/up for them is serious. Letters and At Solace , we have continued however, to provide understated but quite advocacy effective support in this area for members of the public. Country and culture differences mean as we have found (at times at some cost) though, that the need for this service tends to vary. Employability support on offer, Solace also helps prospective job seekers in the production of CVs, cover letters and personal statements.[36] Solace International believes in peace. It is God’s Word and Way, that we “seek peace and pursue it”, ensuring that “if it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all”.
36 Between the end of last year and the middle of this year, Solace International has provided such support to two hundred and four individuals, as well as eleven groups – a marked enhancement of the 2021 figure when we gave written/writing support to a total of ninety-eight people and groups – most of them from the UK – unlike in 2022, where most of the support went to Africa – particularly, Ivory Coast, Kenya and Ghana. With these figures, the Organisation managed to cross the one-thousand threshold – just as we had hoped to, as expressed in S.T.A.R. ‘21.
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| Seeking peace during Kenya’s 2020 general elections |
Each person is also Admonished by the LORD, to keep in mind the Divine and Eternal Truth that, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be Called (Children) of God”.37 Elections to Kenya’s highest political offices take place every five years. 2022 was general election year for the country. The elections were as usual, fraught with exaggeration and tension. Kenya’s elections in other words, are often a challenge to peace. It would be recalled that in 2007, the country experienced violence of such severity that some of its senior politicians ended up before the ICC at the Hague. In that light, we worked very hard,38to ensure the violence which normally bedevils the country’s general elections, were kept on this occasion, to a minimum – if not eliminated altogether. Numerous Peace Initiative Messages or ‘PIMs’ were prepared in English and translated into four major Kenyan languages: Kikuyu, Luo, Kiswahili and Taita. Generally, the PIMs were widely distributed. We also held forty days of daily prayers for kenya. This was an online one-hour programme, held from 02 July to 10 August 2022.39 |
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37 Respectively: Ps 34:14, Rom 12:18 and Matt 5:9.
38 Alongside other groups and individuals within and outside Kenya
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| Miscellaneous | |
| Activity | Details |
| Family | _Solace International_provides a completely free-of-charge service in which we try to reunite estranged family members. One of our greatest successes as noted in last year’s annual report was the reconciliation in 2017, of a father and daughter after nearly fifteen years. Lines of enquiry we applied included social media, word of mouth and discussions with known friends or associates of those involved. Another part of our work here involves working with men who deny paternity of children it is reasonable to believe they have sired. Children suffer unimaginable physical and mental difficulties as a result of the rancour which may have overshadowed their parents’ parting. Each case sees us work to resolve things so that children caught in the middle may receive the support they are Entitled to from their fathers.40 |
39 Every evening, at 1830hrs, East African Time.
40 Our position on the matter is rooted not in human rights and safeguarding rules, legislation or guidance, but in God’s Will as Expressed in Sacred Scriptures such as the Holy Spirit’s Words Delivered to us through His Servant Paul when in 1Timothy 5:8 we are Admonished that: “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the Faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (New King James Version – NKJV).
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While it is conventional among charitable groups to focus on specific groups, projects and interests or causes, it is still the case, that Solace works Targeting with individuals as well as communities in support of those who though in need, fail to meet specific criteria and so are unable to receive the required help. We endeavour where possible, to identify such individuals – then provide relevant support within reason and according to our means. Solace International continually enhances its capacity-building through the compilation and application of relevant policies. Currently, the Organisation has a total of twenty-five policies – a list which includes policies to cover: • Volunteer • Tithe and Tithing • Office Share • Invoice • Holiday Policies • Health and Safety • Food Hygiene and Safety • Equal Opportunities • Enterprise Empowerment • Data Protection • Conflict of Interest • Complaints
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• Child Protection and Safeguarding • Beneficiaries • Accounts Despite the almost indescribable financial pressures we are under, Solace has refused to cut corners such as engaging in bribery. Bribery has remained an almost immovable issue in Kenya. In the UK, Solace invariably returns or rejects (i.e. refuses to collect or accept) all donations Integrity where doubts exist or persist, as to the source and/or motive of the donations in question. A third straight year has seen Solace International successfully generate revenue from outside the UK. Other than pledged support from WoW Sanctuary ,[41] which petered out without explanation, we have had support from individuals in Kenya and Nigeria. Expanded reach Bangladesh has this year, become the newest – but sole addition to our list of countries where at least one person has benefited from Solace . We have however been unable to offer support for anyone in Lebanon, Peru, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines or Venezuela, despite our eagerness to do so.
The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report (S.T.A.R. ‘22)
41 A church based in Juja, Kenya.
pg. 42
Points to ponder…
These reasons to smile, are only a selection taken from a beautiful range of many more. Solace International remains firm, focused and fired up as we seek by the Grace of God and to His Glory, to keep labouring in the Divine Vineyard, while receiving in all humility, such Victories as it Pleases Him to Grant us. We know that there are – and will always be, many other organisations which as the LORD would Have it – although better-resourced than Solace International , have been unable to achieve this much. That realisation is however balanced against the equal Truth, that there are – and will always be, other organisations with even far less resources than God has Granted this Organisation, which have performed far better than Solace International. That said, successes are always worth celebrating – no matter what size, shade or shape they come in, since all good things Flow to us on Earth from Heaven Above, to the Glory of God the Father of Lights, with Whom there is no shadow of turning.[42] He Guides us to aim for more and for higher, even when we find ourselves looking at some of the mountains before us – and scratching our heads…
42 Jas 1:17
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The Solace journey thus far: Scratching our heads
In His Infinite Wisdom, it has Pleased the LORD that we are humbled by several areas for improvement, some of which are outlined below. In last year’s annual report, the same format as in the case of ‘Reasons to smile’, was used to outline our drawbacks and setbacks. In this year’s report however, a different format has been adopted. This is because most of our challenges as reported last year, have remained largely the same, so that we consider it unnecessary to essentially repeat verbatim, the relevant sections of S.T.A.R. ’21. This in effect means that readers wishing to know about our challenges should read alongside this report (S.T.A.R. ’22), the report for last year (S.T.A.R. ’21).
Area 1[43]
The alleviation of poverty
Activity/Project Details The alleviation and ultimate defeat of poverty remain a huge part of our work; it is a job the Organisation takes quite seriously. Thus, as hitherto noted, Solace International provides to those in need, material reliefs such as clothes and financial support in the form of small grants. This it may be argued, is a laudable approach (Blattman, Fiala, and Martinez, 2014; Mora, 2017) . Going by expert opinion in some quarters however, this approach
43 Again, the ‘Areas’ have been numbered for ease of reading and reference. In other words, the numbering does not reflect any specific order or priority list.
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is nonetheless, dubitable (Aizenman, 2017). It has in fact been noted, that: “(Although) giving money directly to poor people works surprisingly Material and well…it cannot deal with the deeper causes of poverty” (Orton, 2013). cash reliefs Give Dir e ctly is an organisation which simply gives money to the poor (Give Directly, 2020). It has however been suggested that while the Give Directly approach is unique, direct and at least a provider of short-term relief, raw cash gifts cannot on their own solve the problem of poverty. (Starr and Hattendorf, 2014). As noted last year, Solace International is still struggling to formulate an effective poverty alleviation approach – one that would not weigh the Organisation down as we endeavour to support those in need.
Area 2 Religious activities Activity Details Notwithstanding our own needs and the paucity of resources available to us, this year, we have continued to support the work in other countries. Our support has especially spanned Ghana, Jamaica, Kenya, India, Nepal, Nigeria and Pakistan. It has been given to UK-based entities.[44] The support has mainly been in terms of advice and good offices in Dealing with
44 For reasons of confidentiality and in line with applicable Organisation policies, all names and identifying features of such entities – human or corporate, have been kept out of this Report.
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| corruption Dealing with corruption |
setting up faith groups, charitable organisations and businesses.45 Our long engagement spanning ten years or so, with several countries places us in a truly unique position to offer such support.46 But we recently realised, that some have become less cooperative – mainly due to our insistence on good governance. Repeatedly,_Solace_has made clear its strong opposition to jumping of queues and cutting corners. In the Spring of 2022 for instance, there was a particularly uncomfortable dialogue between_Solace International_and a UK-registered charity over the giving of bribes in one or more of the countries that charity was seeking to expand into as they sought to facilitate speedy registration. By ‘facilitation’, the charity usually agrees to circumvent laid-down procedures of the countries’ Governments, by giving financial inducements to low-level and/or middle-ranking Government officials – usually off the record – with no receipts or legal proof of payment. |
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45 According to the Collins Online Dictionary (COD): ‘Someone's good offices are the help that they give to other people who are trying to achieve something’ (COD, 2022), while Dictionary.com describes it as: 'influence, especially with a person in a position of power – or, services rendered by a mediator in a dispute' (Dictionary.com, 2022).
46 This is also reflected in the kaleidoscopic set of nations and cultures from which our Trustees, officials and volunteers are drawn: Uganda, The UK, St. Lucia, Kenya, Jamaica, India and Ghana.
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Espousing a stance which we have adopted since inception, based on Holy Bible Principles and longstanding British good practice, Solace International stood firmly against this decision. This of course, led to a cooling off. of what had hitherto been a great collaborative experience. Reflecting upon this experience, it is possible that we could have handled things better or differently – although it is difficult to see what more we could have done, given that any compromise could be in effect, a negation of our principles and a tacit approval of bribery. Yet, Solace will be reviewing the situation early next year – although it is highly unlikely that we would ever contemplate a change in our antibribery position.
Area 3
| Area 3 | Area 3 |
|---|---|
| Economic/community support | |
| Activity | Details |
| There has been a longstanding recognition at_Solace_, that working together is a crucial aspect of effective charitable work and it holds immense benefits for all stakeholders, for which reason itought to be encouraged as well as promoted, with gusto. Of course, there can be no doubt that working together is also an essential |
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| Collaborations | aspect of Christianity as a result of which the Body of Christ which places great emphasis on unity and working as one – “for there has God Commanded the Blessing”.47 God’s Ever-Present Mercy has Allowed_Solace_to continually see the benefits of collaboration. However, we are yet to reach our full potential regarding such engagements, with like-minded organisations in the UK, Kenya and elsewhere.48 Even so, we are still finding that negotiations for working together appear to be taking too long. For instance (as noted in our previous annual reports), a collaborative effort between_Deliverance Church_, Kahawa, Kenya, took eighteen months to arrange. This is not an exclusively church issue. Even now, after three years of |
|
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47 Ps 133:3.
48 As last year’s TAR showed, the feelers we sent out to various groups Christian and otherwise, have yielded mixed outcomes. Even now one year on – probably due to the global pandemic (although this would be too simplistic and sweeping a factor to be accepted as solely responsible), arrangements with potential partners in places such as Barbados, Jamaica, Pakistan, Rwanda, St Lucia, Vietnam and Zambia remain at a germinal stage – although to the Glory of God, our solid relationships with groups and individuals in Ghana, Malawi, Nepal, Nigeria and South Africa are looking good. The orphanage in Uganda which we were supporting, remains under sanction though, following their abiding failure to demonstrate transparency in the use of the financial and other resources we sent them in past years. The Trustees determined last year, on the advice of the Organisation’s Chief Administrator, that sanctions against the orphanage will remain in place until the conclusion of a fact-finding mission which we plan for after the current COVID-19 situation eases.
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talks, our attempt at collaboration with several corporate bodies in different countries (including but not only, Kenya and the UK) are yet to yield any real fruit. Collaborations Having said so, we note that the challenge for Solace here is not simply the stalled, staggered or stopped negotiations, but the very crucial need for gaining a clearer awareness of the collaboration landscape, so the Organisation may choose its partners wisely. Eventually, our goal is to achieve not only partnerships and other collaborative setups, but to do so while steering clear of drawn-out negotiations which are often ultimately unnecessary, but a truly frustrating waste of precious and even irreplaceable resources. Collaborations Resources such as confidence, esteem/respect, focus, scarce funds, time, etc., can be seriously dented by near-endless negotiations and so our challenge here is to recruit good negotiators or come up with a more effective and less time-consuming negotiations.
Area 4 Education and training Activity Details We remain unable to acquire enough books for distribution to those in
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| Books | need, as the demand far outstrips the supply. This is one of several issues that has bedevilled the Organisation for over a year. |
|---|---|
| Training programmes |
The current global economic situation, as well as the worldwide pandemic have led to a rise in online education and training which has in turn generated a greater uptake of online academic and empowerment services. Due to the inability to recruit personnel who could has not taken advantage of this new and truly exciting opening, despite its potential for better publicity, higher revenue generation and greater reach. |
Area 5
Human rights, religious/racial harmony, equality/diversity
Activity Details The PIMs and Prayer For Kenya could have been done better. For the prayer sessions, the publicity was poor and this was reflected in the attendance to the prayers, as we had less than twenty in total – and not more than five on any given day. It is also interesting that although approved by the Solace Board of Trustees, none of the Trustees Peace supported the project with their presence or physical engagement. The initiatives PIMs on their part were approved, but problems with translation, printing and costs – as well as trying to find translators for more of the languages,[49] meant that the Organisation got the messages out so late that we were forced to use social media more than print media, even though the vast majority of Kenyans have no access to the internet. In effect,
49 Kenya has roughly fifty languages spoken by native inhabitants of the country.
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though our peace initiative was a good idea, the application was poor since it alientated huge swathes of its target audience.xxx The point has been made in previous TARs, that Solace International is not in receipt of funding from any source. The Organisation considers this to be a failure because there is always funding available, even if Solace International has neither identified nor applied for any so far. We have also not registered for Gift Aid – a failure which has potentially denied us Funding thousands of Pounds. The matter has unfortunately persisted in the sense that we have not received any funding – although thank God, compared to past years when the Organisation’s funds sometimes nosedived steeply, our income for the moment continually shows improvement.[50]
Area: General Activity Details In S.T.A.R. ’21, we reported that: “Our fully operational website[51] is now about one year old”. While it still is the case that, “establishing a viable social media presence continueas to be a challenge – despite our presence on several platforms”, we have the additional sad report that our website has gone ‘dead’, due to our disgruntled contractor’s deliberate sabotage.[52]
50 That said, the situation remains, that in the absence of funding, the Founder a freelance writer uses his skills to raise money for the Organisation. All monies raised are donated to Solace International.
51 www.solace.international
52 We are now on: WhatsApp (+447904027127 – three platforms), Twitter (@a1solace), Telegram, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook (Solace Kimataifa).
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This is a matter which has held us back from projecting our image and activities for more people to know. Publicity It is with deep sadness that we admit a lack of resolution in the matter, owing to both a shortage of funds and possible overcautiousness in trusting someone else to build our website. Thus, we continue to suffer the effects of last year’s sabotage against our internet and social media presence. We remain optimistic all the same, that by the Grace of God, these issues would have been successfully resolved, well before S.T.A.R. ’25 is compiled and published. We are yet to secure funding despite applying this year, to several funders – around ten in all. This a marked improvement on last year’s search for funds, when we applied to none. We have also contacted both Croydon BME Forum and CVA to help us with our search for funders and subsequent funding applications. KVA have also been mildly helpful. Funding There has however been no success so far, despite all the support. We are not despondent though – despite the discouraging outcomes thus far. This is because we know the LORD will Open Doors for us in due course – even as we seek to diversify our search for funds, by appealing directly to English Catholic and Anglican parishes, as well as engage in door-to-door canvassing once we have secured the requisite paperwork as mandated by the UK Government, Police and local authorities.
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We keep in mind…
…that as said earlier, these points whereupon we are left scratching our heads, are in no way, reasons to be despondent or to lose hope. We take great strength from the stories of other groups and individuals – both in antiquity and in our day, whose lives and times have borne out the Divine Truth in the Question: “…Who has despised the day of small things?”.[53] At Solace International , we know that although we are not always sprinting, we are at the very least, moving; what is more: we are moving in the right direction – all by the Grace of God, by Whose Love and Wisdom we are Reminded of an old poem which talks of small steps and heavy loads:
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A TORTOISE GOING SLOWLY ON ITS WAY – SLOWLY CREEPING, SLOWLY CRAWLING – FIFTY YARDS IN HALF A DAY? WHY SO SLOWLY – OH SO SLOWLY, DOES IT CREEP FROM PLACE TO PLACE WITH THAT VERY – OH SO VERY, TIRED LOOK UPON ITS FACE?
IT IS NOT BECAUSE IT’S LAZY – OR BECAUSE IT’S OLD AND SLOW:
IF YOU WERE CARRYING A HOUSE ON YOUR BACK – HOW QUICKLY WOULD YOU GO?
– Author unknown
Thus, even as we find ourselves scratching our heads while we stand looking at some of the mountains before us, we shall continually bear in mind, that as long as we keep moving the LORD in Accordance with His Promises will Look after us. Amen!
53 Zech 4:10
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Conclusion
As this admittedly voluminous (albeit comprehensive) document reveals, the period between our last Annual Report and this has been for Solace International, replete with a potpourri of giddy highs and depressing lows.
But irrespective of what one may make of this report – or our performance as an organisation vis-à-vis our stated aims and objects, one thing is impossible to truthfully deny: despite its limited resources, Solace International is has done really well.
Congratulating ourselves is not something Solace International would love to dwell on though, even as we look forward to celebrating by the Grace of God, our first decade as a recognised organisation operating on two continents.
Despite our achievements – especially the fact that so far, we have been of God-Given support to people in forty countries – all to the Glory of God, our Ever-Giving Father, we still have a long way to go in reaching our key objective.[54]
Everything we do is to the Glory of God Who Bestows Upon all Creation, Grace and Guidance. Despite all the challenges, it is an honour to serve the LORD by helping the disadvantaged. We hope and pray therefore, to in His Light, remain humble, obedient, and grateful to Him.
54 We want to do something good for at least one person in every nation and territory on Earth. If it be God’s Will, we would also love to achieve this high ambition during our Founder’s lifetime.
The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report (S.T.A.R. ‘22)
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References
Aizenman, N. (2017): 'How To Fix Poverty: Why Not Just Give People Money?'. Available at: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2017/08/07/541609649/how-to-fix-povertywhy-not-just-give-people-money
Bible Gateway (2022): Various Versions and translations of the Holy Bible. Available at:
www.biblegateway.com
Bible Hub (2022): Various Versions and translations of the Holy Bible. Available at:
www.biblehub.com
Blattman, C., Fiala, N. and Martinez, S. (2014): 'If You Give the Poor Cash, Does it Help? - Giving poor people money gives them tools to invest in their job prospects, their future, and a more industry and service-oriented local economy'. Available at:
- https://www.poverty
action.org/sites/default/files/publications/If_you_give_the_poor_cash_does_it_help.pdf
Borgen Magazine (2015): 'Why Maternal Health is Vital to Poverty Reduction'. Available at: https://www.borgenmagazine.com/maternal-health-vital-poverty-reduction/
The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report (S.T.A.R. ‘22)
pg. 55
Civil Society and Legraien, Lea (2022): 'Soaring inflation set to hit charities hard, sector bodies warn'. Available at:
https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/soaring-inflation-set-to-hit-charities-hard-charity-bodieswarn.html
Collins Online Dictionary (2022): 'Good offices'. Available at:
- https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/good
offices#:~:text=Someone's%20good%20offices%20are%20the,are%20trying%20to%20achieve %20something.&text=She%20sought%20the%20good%20offices,smooth%20passage%20of%2 0the%20Bill.
Dictionary.com (2022): 'Good offices'. Available at:
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/good-offices
Dos Santos, J. (2020): Glorious Generations – A Handbook For Parents and For Professionals Engaged in the Learning Environment Nairobi: Solace International Publications
Dos Santos, J. (2019): Released To Soar – A Book Of Pointers For Entrepreneurs, Based On Bible Principles Nairobi: Solace International Publications
Gilbert, Ella (2022): 'Yes, Britain had a heatwave in 1976. No, it was nothing like the crisis we’re in now'. Available at:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jul/19/britain-heatwave-1976-crisissummer-heat
The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report (S.T.A.R. ‘22)
pg. 56
Information Commissioner's Office (2022) 'Register'. Available at:
-
-
- https://ico.org.uk/for organisations/data protection fee/register/
-
Joseph Rowntree Foundation (2021): ‘Inflation pushing people deeper into poverty’. Available at:
-
-
-
- https://www.jrf.org.uk/blog/inflation pushing people deeper poverty
-
-
JustGiving (2022): 'Do something incredible today'. Available at:
https://www.justgiving.com/?giving
Maragakis, L. (2020): 'The New Normal and Coronavirus'. Available at:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/coronavirusnew-normal
Met Office (2022): 'Record breaking temperatures for the UK'. Available at:
https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/press-office/news/weather-and-climate/2022/redextreme-heat-warning-ud
Mitchell Charlesworth (2022): 'The impact of rising inflation on charities'. Available at:
https://www.mitchellcharlesworth.co.uk/news/the-impact-of-rising-inflation-on-charities/
Mora, A. (2017): 'Yes, Giving Money to Very Poor People Will Make Their Lives Better — Just Ask Ecuador'. Available at:
The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report (S.T.A.R. ‘22)
pg. 57
https://unu.edu/publications/articles/giving-money-to-very-poor-people.html
Novogratz, J. (2007): 'Patient capitalism'. Available at:
https://www.ted.com/talks/jacqueline_novogratz_patient_capitalism
Office For National Statistics and Keane, Kathryn (2022): 'Inflation and the cost of living for UK households, overview: June 2022'. Available at:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/articles/overviewofinflationandthe costoflivingforukconsumers/june2022
Orton, I. (2013): ‘Cash to the poor: Pennies from heaven’. Available at:
https://basicincome.org/news/2013/11/the-economist-cash-to-the-poor-pennies-from-heavengiving-money-directly-to-poor-people-works-surprisingly-well-but-it-cannot-deal-with-thedeeper-causes-of-poverty/#:~:text=The%20Economist.-
,%E2%80%9CCash%20to%20the%20poor%2C%20Pennies%20from%20heaven%3A%20Givi
ng%20money,the%20deeper%20causes%20of%20poverty%E2%80%9D&text=The%20Econo
mist%2C%20%E2%80%9CCash%20to%20the,poor%20people%20works%20surprisingly%20 well.
Pacella, S. (2017): '15 Things Women Can Do That Men Can't'. Available at:
https://www.therichest.com/technologies/15-things-women-can-do-that-men-cant/
Poverty and Social Exclusion (2022): 'Inflation ‘hits poorest families hardest’'. Available at:
https://www.poverty.ac.uk/inflation-low-income-households-necessities-reports/inflation-‘hitspoorest-families-hardest’
The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report (S.T.A.R. ‘22)
pg. 58
Sirolli, E. (2022): 'Want to help someone? Shut up and listen!'. Available at:
https://www.ted.com/talks/ernesto_sirolli_want_to_help_someone_shut_up_and_listen
Skalle, A. (2017): '15 Things Men Can Do But Women Can’t'. Available at:
https://www.theclever.com/15-things-men-can-do-but-women-cant/
Solace International (2019): S.T.A.R. ’20: The 2020 Solace International Trustees Annual Report London: Solace International Publications
Solace International (2021): S.T.A.R. ’21: The 2021 Solace International Trustees Annual Report London: Solace International Publications
Starr, K. and Hattendorf, L. (2014): 'GiveDirectly? Not So Fast'. Available at:
https://ssir.org/articles/entry/givedirectly_not_so_fast
The Holy Bible – New King James Version Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers (1982)
The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report (S.T.A.R. ‘22)
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New Additions to the Reference List[55]
Bible Gateway (2022): Various Versions and translations of the Holy Bible. Available at:
www.biblegateway.com
Bible Hub (2022): Various Versions and translations of the Holy Bible. Available at:
www.biblehub.com
Civil Society and Legraien, Lea (2022): 'Soaring inflation set to hit charities hard, sector bodies warn'. Available at:
https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/soaring-inflation-set-to-hit-charities-hard-charity-bodieswarn.html
Collins Online Dictionary (2022): 'Good offices'. Available at:
- https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/good
offices#:~:text=Someone's%20good%20offices%20are%20the,are%20trying%20to%20achieve %20something.&text=She%20sought%20the%20good%20offices,smooth%20passage%20of%2 0the%20Bill.
55 Compared to S.T.A.R. ‘21.
The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report (S.T.A.R. ‘22)
pg. 60
Dictionary.com (2022): 'Good offices'. Available at:
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/good-offices
Gilbert, Ella (2022): 'Yes, Britain had a heatwave in 1976. No, it was nothing like the crisis we’re in now'. Available at:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jul/19/britain-heatwave-1976-crisissummer-heat
Information Commissioner's Office (2022) 'Register'. Available at:
-
-
- https://ico.org.uk/for organisations/data protection fee/register/
-
Joseph Rowntree Foundation (2021): ‘Inflation pushing people deeper into poverty’. Available at:
-
-
-
- https://www.jrf.org.uk/blog/inflation pushing people deeper poverty
-
-
JustGiving (2022): 'Do something incredible today'. Available at:
https://www.justgiving.com/?giving
Met Office (2022): 'Record breaking temperatures for the UK'. Available at:
https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/press-office/news/weather-and-climate/2022/redextreme-heat-warning-ud
Mitchell Charlesworth (2022): 'The impact of rising inflation on charities'. Available at:
https://www.mitchellcharlesworth.co.uk/news/the-impact-of-rising-inflation-on-charities/
The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report (S.T.A.R. ‘22)
pg. 61
Novogratz, J. (2007): 'Patient capitalism'. Available at:
https://www.ted.com/talks/jacqueline_novogratz_patient_capitalism
Office For National Statistics and Keane, Kathryn (2022): 'Inflation and the cost of living for UK households, overview: June 2022'. Available at:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/articles/overviewofinflationandthe costoflivingforukconsumers/june2022
Poverty and Social Exclusion (2022): 'Inflation ‘hits poorest families hardest’'. Available at: https://www.poverty.ac.uk/inflation-low-income-households-necessities-reports/inflation-‘hitspoorest-families-hardest’
Sirolli, E. (2022): 'Want to help someone? Shut up and listen!'. Available at:
https://www.ted.com/talks/ernesto_sirolli_want_to_help_someone_shut_up_and_listen
The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report (S.T.A.R. ‘22)
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Appendix ‘A’
Statement of Beliefs (the Nicene Creed)[56]
We believe in One God, the Father, the Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, of all that is – seen and unseen.
We believe in One Lord, Jesus Christ, the Only Son of God, Eternally Begotten of the Father: God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God, Begotten, not Made; of One Being with the Father – Through Him all things were Made. For us and for our Salvation, He Came down from Heaven; by the Power of the Holy Spirit, He Became Incarnate from the Virgin Mary and was Made Man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He Suffered death and was buried. On the third day He Rose again in accordance with the Scriptures. He Ascended into Heaven and is Seated at the Right Hand of the Father. He will Come again in Glory, to Judge the living and the dead and His Kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the LORD, the Giver of Life, Who Proceeds from the Father and the Son. with the Father and the Son He is worshipped and glorified. He has Spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
56 This Statement is still under review as we explore ways of reconciling in it, the Trinitarian and Unitarian persuasions within the Body of Christ.
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Appendix ‘B’
Solace International Financial report for S.T.A.R. ‘22
| Month | In (£) | Out (£) |
|---|---|---|
| December 20 | 50 | 00 |
| January 21 | 997 | 928 |
| February 21 | 595 | 430 |
| March 21 | 1176 | 1228 |
| April 21 | 481 | 589 |
| May 21 | 736 | 663 |
| June 21 | 691 | 101.77 |
| July 21 | 1475 | 1339 |
| August 21 | 1326 | 1232 |
| September 21 | 835 | 976 |
| October | 460 | 540 |
| November | 2072 | 1857 |
| TOTAL | 10,894 | 9,884 |
| GRAND TOTAL (or: £10,894 - £9,884) = £1,010 |
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Appendix ‘C’
Countries where at least one person has benefited from Solace International
| No. | Country | Formal/Informal |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Zimbabwe | Informal |
| 2. | Zambia | Informal |
| 3. | Vietnam | Formal |
| 4. | United States | Informal |
| 5. | United Kingdom | Formal/ Informal |
| 6. | Uganda | Formal/ Informal |
| 7. | Trinidad and Tobago | Informal |
| 8. | Tanzania | Informal |
| 9. | Syria | Informal |
| 10. | St Vincent and Grenadines | Informal |
| 11. | St. Lucia | Formal |
| 12. | Sri Lanka | Formal |
| 13. | South Africa | Formal/ Informal |
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| 14. | Sierra Leone | Informal |
|---|---|---|
| 15. | Rwanda | Formal |
| 16. | Romania | Informal |
| 17. | Portugal | Formal/ Informal |
| 18. | Pakistan | Formal/ Informal |
| 19. | Nigeria | Formal/ Informal |
| 20. | Nepal | Formal |
| 21. | Namibia | Informal |
| 22. | Mozambique | Informal |
| 23. | Morocco | Informal |
| 24. | Malawi | Formal/ Informal |
| 25. | Liberia | Informal |
| 26. | Kenya | Formal/ Informal |
| 27. | Jamaica | Informal |
| 28. | India | Informal |
| 29. | Ghana | Formal/ Informal |
| 30. | France | Informal |
| 31. | Equatorial Guinea | Informal |
| 32. | Congo (Kinshasa) | Formal/ Informal |
| 33. | Cote D’Ivoire | |
| 34. | Cameroun | Formal |
| 35. | Bulgaria | Informal |
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| 36. | Brazil | Informal |
|---|---|---|
| 37. | Botswana | Formal/ Informal |
| 38. | Barbados | Formal |
| 39. | Bangladesh57 | Informal |
| 40. | Angola | Informal |
57 The newest addition to the list as it stood in S.T.A.R. ‘21. The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report (S.T.A.R. ‘22)
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Appendix D
| The Solace Training Programme | The Solace Training Programme |
|---|---|
| Topic | What does it cover? |
| 1. Abuse |
1What is abuse?2Kinds of abuse3Signs and symptoms4 Stereotypes and myths5What to do when a child expresses concerns to you6Consequences of suspected and/or actual child abuse for children and their families7The real victims of abuse8 Consequences of false allegations9Some questions worth asking beforereportingsuspected abuse. |
| 2. Behaviour management Basics |
1Factors which influence behaviour of children and young people;2Guides to effective behaviour management;3Essential skills for effective behaviour management;4Some instances of behaviour which may require effective management skills;5 Issues to consider in dealing with challenging behaviour. |
| 3. Circle Time (CT) |
1What CT is;2Advantages, demerits and applications of CT;3 Where (other than classrooms) can we apply CT?4Ways to make CT (even more) exciting; 5A few things to consider while (or before) making use of CT. |
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| 4. Dealing with bullying |
1What really is bullying?2Myths and facts3Case studies4 Probable causes5Some effects of bullying;6Where bullying takes place;7Do’s and don’ts. |
|---|---|
| 5. Feeling and staying safe on the Internet |
1The greatness of the Internet2How it is especially great for our kids3What’s there to be careful about on the Internet?4How we can help our children stay safe on the Internet5Some cyber myths and facts. |
| 6. Helping your child settle well into a new environment |
1The new environment;2Things your child can do;3Things your child_should_do;4Where you come in;5Myths and facts. |
| 7. The joy of homework (and home [or private] study) |
1Advantages of homework and home study;2Disadvantages3 Some excuses for not doing homework;4Some of the_real_ reasons for not doing homework;5Ways to help our children study or do their homework and enjoy it;6Things to keep_strict_ control of while your child studies;7Things to keep close by while your child studies;8Key questions parents might ask;9 Myths and facts. |
| 8. When things go wrong: How best to deal with your child’s school and other authorities** |
1Why it matters to know this;2What could possibly go wrong? 3The Fifteen-One Method;4Getting the facts straight5 Understanding and working with procedure6The Golden Rule Approach7The value of thanks and praise. |
| 9. Surviving your placement/apprenticeship |
1Why am I here?2What can go wrong?3What will go right (no matter what happens)?4Forces that matter;5The right mien6 Getting it right;7Looking well ahead of here and now. |
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| 10. Stress management |
1Who needs stress? You need it. We do – all of us!2When stress becomes stressful;3How did they manage?4How you too can manage;5Born to conquer – living above it. |
|---|---|
| 11. Team play: Getting the best out of your team |
1Who needs teams anyway?2Identifying your team;3Ideal team v your real team;4Like clockwork: Making the different parts work;5Keeping it that way; 6What I need to be;7And after that? |
| 12. Fussy Eating |
1Who eats fussily?2Why people do it;3Can it be outgrown, tamed, stopped?4Fussy eating myths;5Do’s and don’ts |
| 13. Get a Job – Keep A Job |
1 Why you need a job;2What it takes to get one;3Is your CV right?4Interview tips;5Keeping your job;6If things get hot;7When things go wrong;8Looking ahead – “Learn from the wicked servant”9Getting fired gracefully;10No place for God. **2 ** |
| 14. Enterprise Empowerment |
1Scriptures on Prosperity;2Enterprising Quotes from outside the Scriptures;3Networking and what it does for you;4Seed-sowing: What it really is and what its role is;5 Divine Principles of sowing;6Prosperity’s Divine Keys;7 Getting noticed: the Role of communication and good interpersonal skills;8How to prospect successfully for clients/customers;9Personal qualities you need for success in enterprise;10Traps and pitfalls to avoid11Charting your way: the value of a (good) Business Plan;12How to write a Business Plan13Contents of a good or strong Business Plan 14How best to treat your Business Plan. |
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| 15. Dealing with domestic violence (DV) |
1Defining DV2Why does DV happen?3Challenging the popular narrative4What different cultures think5Why we mustn’t accept DV6What can you do about it?7Intervention is not interfering8The Church’s take9Too good for nonsense. |
|
|---|---|---|
The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report (S.T.A.R. ‘22)
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Appendix E
More peeks into the Solace International and InterSolace Gallery[58]
58 Some of these pictures were also in S.T.A.R. ’21.
The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report (S.T.A.R. ‘22)
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Solace: Walking in the Master’s Footsteps
The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report (S.T.A.R. ‘22)
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Donations to our Food Bank: courtesy of St Mary’s Roman Catholic School , West Croydon
Solace International deeply appreciates these donations of feminine sanitary products from West Croydon’s St Mary’s Roman Catholic Junior School
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I n the beginning… Cross-section of inaugural S.E.E.P. attendees, way back in 2012, Kenya.
Trainees on a combined Solace anti-poverty and domestic violence programme in 2017, Kenya
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In furtherance of the Faith: A call to worship and praise by Solace in Kenya, 2019
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Solace in the Far East: Children supported by the Organisation (courtesy Sister Saral, India)
Solace in the Far East: Other children supported by the Organisation (courtesy Sister Saral, India)
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Praying for peace in Kenya’s General Elections 2022: Advert
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Praying for peace in Kenya’s General Elections 2022: Explaining why
The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report (S.T.A.R. ‘22)
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One of several SPIMs ( Solace Peace Initiative Messages) we shared during Kenya’s 2022 elections
The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report (S.T.A.R. ‘22)
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Another of the SPIMs we sent out during Kenya’s 2022 general elections. Note the multiple translations and captivating yet calming visuals
The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report (S.T.A.R. ‘22)
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Solace often supports beneficiaries with food as needed
Solace gives food support to those in need
The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report (S.T.A.R. ‘22)
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Sometimes what people need is not money or many words, but food. Just food. Solace I always glad to help.
Solace regularly supports beneficiaries with food as needed
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----- Start of picture text -----
Solace shares its expertise with other groups and organisations
----- End of picture text -----
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List of items Solace asks people to Donate towards our work with the needy
The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report (S.T.A.R. ‘22)
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A flier for our fund drive
Another flyer for our fund drive
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Advertising this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM)
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Items from the Solace International Food Bank With A Difference
More items from Solace International’s Food Bank With A Difference
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Other items from the Solace Food Bank With A Difference
Items again from the Solace International Food Bank With A Difference
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Solace Donations: The fight to defeat COVID-19
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Solace donations: Food and clothes parcels for the needy
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Specially wrapped longlife food parcels from Solace
The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report (S.T.A.R. ‘22)
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Solace International: always glad to help with employability
The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report (S.T.A.R. ‘22)
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Solace International, good taste and loveliness make a palatable team!
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Furthering the Christian Faith: Solace International prayer meetings
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JV/Jvi . A Solace training programme The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report IS.T.A.R. '221 pg. 96
Standard text: This is the SEEP’s main textbook (alongside the Holy Bible); it is also used to generate funds for the Organisation
Some of Solace’s fieldworkers
The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report (S.T.A.R. ‘22)
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Faces of the future – faces of hope: Pupils from one of the several schools Solace is supporting
The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report (S.T.A.R. ‘22)
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Collaboration at work:
The Hub, Solace International, H2G, Croydon Council, Brick by Brick…
Spreading the word about other organisations: one of our less publicised strengths
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Solace speaks: Some official statements issued by the Organisation on issues of the day (A)
The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report (S.T.A.R. ‘22)
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Solace speaks:
Some official statements issued by the Organisation on issues of the day (B)
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Solace speaks:
Some official statements issued by the Organisation on issues of the day (C)
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Images from the Solace International Administrative Headquarters in Kenya
The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report (S.T.A.R. ‘22)
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More images from Solace’s international Administrative Headquarters, Kenya
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Some SolAcLLbranded t-shirts The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report IS.T.A.R. '221 pg. 105
Faces from a Solace general meeting
A Solace publicity flier
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----- Start of picture text -----
Solace International communique on the UK Government’s ‘No Jab, No Job’ policy
----- End of picture text -----
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Solace International communique calling on the UK Government to cancel low-income families’ debts to DWP and HMRC
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Solace International communique following the passing of Her late Majesty, the Queen
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Second Solace communique following the Queen’s death
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Solace International: The Glory is God’s – and His Alone.
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Final Word
Solace will early in 2023 – Deo Volente, publish its business plan outlining what we hope to achieve over the next twelve months. As the LORD Permits. a second report later in the year will outline our plans for the next five years. The report will form part of S.TA.R. ‘23.
Our plan highlights our abiding concern for those in need – and our determination to do more. For men and boys. There is a looming but barely noticeable catastrophe in the deliberate disempowerment of males as governments and organisations focus on women and children.
Like we warned in last year’s report, this active discrimination against (and sometimes demonisation of) men, is we believe, laying the unfortunate and dangerous foundations for a more serious problem in the future where men become a new ‘problem’ for governments, etc.
Among the many reasons why a lot of people have been supporting women and families is their belief that in the past men have benefited most from – and/or dominated, the best of the world’s resources, while women and children have been marginalised.
Copious historical-cum-statistical data back this belief, thus justifying actions taken as a result. However, Solace International does not believe that the best solution to the perceived historical dominance by men of the world’s resources is supporting women and children in a way that marginalises men. A persistent and near-universal anti-male support agenda means that in the next few decades – or even years, the world could find itself in a situation where men are greatly disempowered – so Humanity is forced to come up with ways to (re-)empower them.
Evidence in effect suggests that the earlier we start on this looming but avoidable crisis, the better. As such, Solace International is looking to support men as heads of families, as fathers – as well as in dealing with issues such as anger management, domestic violence, child-rearing, etc.
The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report (S.T.A.R. ‘22)
pg. 112
THERE IS NO JOURNEY UPON THIS EARTH THAT A MAN MAY NOT MAKE IF HE SETS HIS HEART TO IT. THERE IS...NOTHING THAT HE CANNOT DO, THERE ARE NO MOUNTAINS HE MAY NOT CLIMB, THERE ARE NO DESERTS HE CANNOT CROSS...AS PROVIDENCE MAY ORDER – Henry Rider Haggard (1856-1925).[59]
59 According to Dos Santos (2019), Sir Henry Rider Haggard was among other things, an agriculturalist, a civil servant, reformer, politician and writer.
The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report (S.T.A.R. ‘22)
pg. 113
Approved by the Solace International Board of Trustees and
Dated Saturday, the seventeenth day of September, in the Year of Our Lord, 2022.
The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report (S.T.A.R. ‘22)
pg. 114
"Let everything that has breath praise the LORD". (Psalm 150:6) nkjv
The 2022 Solace International Trustees Annual Report (S.T.A.R. ‘22)
pg. 115
| Solace International | Solace International | No (if any) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solace International | ||||
| Receipts and payments accounts | CC16a | |||
| For the period from |
01-Oct-19 01-Oct-20 |
Period end date To 30-Sep-21 |
| Section A Receipts and payments | Section A Receipts and payments | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 50 997 595 1,176 481 736 691 1,475 1,326 835 460 2,072 10,894 10,894 - - - 10,894 - 928 430 1,228 589 663 102 1,339 4,605 9,884 - - - 9,884 1,010 1,010 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 460 2,072 50 997 595 1,176 481 736 691 1,475 1,326 835 10,894 21,788 - - - 10,894 - 928 430 1,228 589 663 102 1,339 4,605 9,884 - - - 9,884 1,010 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|
| Dec-20 | 50 | 1,532 | ||||
| Jan-21 | 997 | 540 | ||||
| Feb-21 | 595 | 800 | ||||
| Mar-21 | 1,176 | 1,067 | ||||
| Apr-21 | 481 | 645 | ||||
| May-21 | 736 | 1,101 | ||||
| Jun-21 | 691 | 146 | ||||
| Jul-21 | 1,475 | 706 | ||||
| Aug-21 | 1,326 | 671 | ||||
| Sep-21 | 835 | 1,340 | ||||
| Oct-21 | 460 | 1,909 | ||||
| Nov-21 | 2,072 | 800 | ||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
10,894 10894 |
11,257 11257 |
||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total | - | - | ||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
||||||
| 11,257 | ||||||
Dec-20 |
- | 2,906 | ||||
| Jan-20 | 928 | 1,028 | ||||
| Feb-20 | 430 | 533 | ||||
| Mar-20 | 1,228 | 1,189 | ||||
| Apr-20 | 589 | 578 | ||||
| May-20 | 663 | 663 | ||||
| Jun-20 | 102 | 696 | ||||
| Jul-20 | 1,339 | 1,442 | ||||
| Aug-Nov 2020 | 4,605 | 2,062 | ||||
| **Sub total ** | 9,884 | 11,097 | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases (see table) |
||||||
| , | - | |||||
| - | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | ||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
||||||
| 11,097 | ||||||
| 1,010 | - | - | 1,010 |
160 | ||
| - | - | - | - | |||
| - | - | - | - | |||
| 1,010 | - | - | 1,010 | 160 |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
29/09/2022
1
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of th | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of th | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of th | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B1 Cash funds |
Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details Details Details S. Wamweya Signature N. Lamptey |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - Agreement Error OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name Naina Lamptey Samuel Wamweya |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
|||
| Date of approval |
|||
| N. Lamptey | Naina Lamptey | 22-Sep-21 | |
| S. Wamweya | Samuel Wamweya | 22-Sep-21 |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
29/09/2022
2