MEDIARTE
FOUNDATION
ANNUAL REPORT 2024

Annual Report 2024 


## **CONTENT** 

||**CONTENT**|
|---|---|
|**I.**|**Administrative details...................................3**|
||**Address of the principal ofice of the charity.................3**|
||**Names of the trustees.....................................................3**|
|**II. **|**Objectives and activities................................4**|
||**Objectives........................................................................4**|
||**Activities..........................................................................4**|
||1)<br>A library in Marang, Borneo........................................4|
||2)<br>Dance and music project at the Marang Library.........5|
||3)<br>Water flters, Borneo....................................................6|
||4)<br>Traditional shepherd’s instruments, Poland................6|
||5)<br>Medical Clinic, Nepal...................................................7|
||6)<br>“Pad” Project Nepal.....................................................8|
||7)<br>“Ancestral Chest Project” and “ Coast of Craftsmen”|
||projects, Kyrgyzstan............................................................9|
||8)<br>Traditional musical instruments teaching for children,|
||Bolivia................................................................................10|
||9)<br>Cervical Screening Project, Tanzania........................10|
||**Planned activities..........................................................11**|
||1)<br>Medical Clinic, Nepal.................................................11|
||2)<br>“Pad” project, Nepal..................................................11|
||3)<br>Traditional shepherd’s instruments, Poland..............11|
||4)<br>Marang  Library  and  dance  and  music  programme,|
||Borneo................................................................................12|
||5)<br>“Coast of Craftsmen” project, Kyrgyzstan.................12|
||6)<br>Traditional musical instruments teaching for children,|
||Bolivia................................................................................12|
||7)<br>Community medical healthcare, Tanzania.................12|
|**III.Achievements and performance..................13**||
|**IV.**|**Financial review...........................................13**|
|**V. **|**Structure, governance and management....14**|
|**VI.**|**Disclosure section.......................................14**|



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**VII............Funds as a custodian trustee on behalf of others................................................................14 VIII.Declaration................................................14** 

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## **Report of the trustees for the year ended 30[th ] March 2024** 

The trustees present their annual report and financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30[th] March 2024. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity’s Constitution, the Charities Act 2016 and the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities published in 2015. 

## **1) Administrative details** 

Charity Name: MEDyARTE Registration number:1174295 Registration Date:17/8/2017 

## **Address of the principal office of the charity** 

Nower Hayes The Drive Tyrrells Wood Leatherhead KT22 8QW 

## **The names of the trustees** 

Malgorzata Trubshaw – Chairman Cecilia Harrington - Treasurer Tomasz Mazur 

The charity does not have any corporate trustees. The charity does not have ownership of any property. 

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## **2) Objectives and activities** 

## **Objectives** 

MEDyARTE is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. The objects of the CIO as defined in the constitution are: 

- a) the relief of sickness and the preservation of health among people anywhere in the world; 

- b) to  advance  the  education  of  the  public  anywhere  in  the world  (specifically  but  not  exclusively  in  Poland  and  the countries of South America) in the subject of art, crafts and culture by providing financial and other support to art and cultural organisations, projects and exhibitions; and 

- c) the  promotion  of  such  other  purposes  being  exclusively charitable according to the law of England and Wales as the charity trustees may from time to time determine. 

## **Activities** 

## **3) A library in Marang, Borneo** 

This is an ongoing project on Borneo in Indonesia, which started in 2018. 

Following a reconnaissance visit to Borneo at the end of 2017, we have developed a working relationship with a small local nongovernmental organisation (NGO) and with their help we have created a children’s library on the banks of the Ruanga river in Central Kalimantan, which was opened in May 2018. This facility serves not only as a library: it is a form of “educational after school club”. It offers children in impoverished villages access to books but also teaches diverse subjects such as traditional local dance and music, environmental protection and provides health education, as well as giving supplementary teaching on topics covered by the standard school curriculum. This programme, on an ongoing basis, helps to shield children from the (often harmful) temptations  of  the  everyday  world  and  gives  them  unrivalled opportunities. 

Over the period of the last year, there have been many positive developments. The children continued to improve their comprehension skills, overall reading ability and competency in 

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expressing themselves. The introduction of computers has been a particularly important and challenging issue due to the lack of internet service and the cost of the equipment. Nevertheless, the first steps have been taken and we have embarked on a path to empower children with the digital literacy expertise necessary to thrive in the modern age. The support provided aimed to enable them to explore educational resources, communicate effectively and navigate online spaces safely and responsibly. 

From the perspective of environmental education, children were engaged  in  clearing  of  rubbish  from  the  area,  learning  about recycling as well as being engaged in replanting trees on the riverbanks and along the roads. The tree initiative was started in an attempt to counteract the effects of the extractive industry in Kalimantan,  which  has  had  significant  negative  environmental impact causing destabilization of the entire ecosystem by triggering  increased  flooding  and  inducing  unusual  weather patterns. 

The school also developed a working relationship with Palangkaraya Fisheries department and created a program aiming to educate the entire community about sustainable fishing and the importance of preserving the natural resources. 

In collaboration with Regional Police, educational sessions were introduced  to  raise  awareness  about  dangers  of  drug  abuse, looking  to  develop  preventative  strategies  and  encourage  the entire community to engage in the resolution of this problem. Finally, in collaboration with the Health Department, the school organised  educational sessions focusing  on nutrition in an attempt to address a concern about stunted growth in children and malnutrition in the elderly. Regular nurse lead clinics have been initiated to monitor and resolve this issue. 

In consequence of all the above achievements the adult population  has  become  more  aware  and  appreciative  of  the positive impact education is having on their children. This has led to noticeable reduction in the number of children not attending school, as well as a decline in early marriages in the community. 

## **4) Dance and music project at the Marang Library** 

During the visit to Marang Library in summer 2018, the Trustees became  aware  that  the  local  population  was  very  keen  to establish a formal traditional music and dance teaching programme  for  children.  In  the  Kalimantan  area  on  Borneo traditional music and dance have virtually disappeared from daily life and only the oldest inhabitants still have any knowledge of it. The population realises the importance of reviving this knowledge 

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before it is too late, as well as promoting culture and tradition, which could be irreversibly lost. 

MEDyARTE  Charity  has  therefore  purchased  traditional  music instruments, was instrumental in educating, initially, one dance and music teacher and set up a programme for teaching these skills to the children of all ages. The teacher has been travelling with the floating library to all the surrounding villages, as well as providing regular music and dance sessions on the premises of the  library  in  Marang.  This  programme  has  been  extremely successful in rekindling the interest of the younger generation in Indonesian  music  and  dance.  The  intervention  has  been  so effective that a group of the most accomplished children is being frequently  invited  to  other  surrounding  villages  for  various celebrations and official performances, as well as participating in festivals and competitions. 

In  2023-24,  the  MEDyARTE  Foundation  has  sponsored  two further young ladies from the villages to undergo several months’ training with a Dance Academy in Palangkaraya. They are now able to help the other teacher with dance lessons in the libraries and smaller villages accessed by the floating library. The cultural recognition achieved through this programme made a significant impact  on the  functioning  of the  entire  community,  making  it more resilient and supportive towards one another. 

## **5) Water flters, Borneo** 

In 2018, MEDyARTE Charity provided Katimpun, a village of 400 people, with water filters. This intervention was undertaken after the  realisation  that  there  was  a  high  disease  burden  in  the population as a result of lack of sanitation in the village and use of river water for drinking, often without sterilisation. As a result, there has been a 50% reduction in the frequency of diarrhoeal illness in the area according to the data collected by the local healthcare worker. This initiative was accompanied by educational events focussing not only on how to operate filters but also on more general health and well-being issues, such as hand and food hygiene and methods of disease transmission. 

As well as the clear health benefits of the water filters, their introduction brought financial and environmental benefits: 

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villagers no longer needed to buy bottled water, thereby reducing yearly household expenditure by at least 120$ and the volume of single use plastic.  Also,  there was no need  to boil the water, which added additional cost savings. 

Following the great success of the original programme, MEDyARTE Charity decided in 2022 to purchase a further 200 water  filters  for  a  second  village,  Marang,  as  well  as  120 replacement filtration candles for the water filters in Katimpun village. The recent review suggests that filters are being used on a daily basis by all the families, as a result of which the health of the villagers has significantly improved. In addition, the savings made from no need to buy or boil water are being spent on other essential  household  items  improving  the  overall  standard  of living. 

## **6) Traditional shepherd’s instruments, Poland** 

Over the previous years, MEDyARTE Charity funded a variety of traditional musical instruments for a mountaineer’s music school in Poland and facilitated classes for children to learn to play these instruments, which are currently ongoing. These instruments are replicas of historically important instruments that time has almost forgotten,  previously  found  only  in  museums  and  in  private collections of local families. There are only a few people left in Poland who know how to play them and the idea behind this project  is  to  revive  these  forgotten  skills  amongst  the  next generations.  Instruments  were  commissioned  from  the  local artisans. 

The  music  school,  for  which  instruments  have  been  provided, specialises in teaching traditional folklore music, dance and song and is set in the Culture Centre in Zakopane. It is open to all, age 7-20 and charges only a token, very low subscription fee. Children can learn for four years in various chamber groups and orchestras as well as individually, dependent on their level of ability  and  dedication.  Although  the  school  is  non-selective  it manages to accommodate and enthuse all pupils, moreover many students flourish and progress afterwards to mainstream secondary and higher music education. Groups participate in a variety  of  competitions  and  festivals  locally,  nationally  and internationally  with  great  success.  Incredibly,  at  least  50%  of 

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pupils continue to play traditional music for the rest of their lives, both for tourists and for locally organised events. 

The  children  continue  to  approach  music  learning  with  great enthusiasm  and  commitment.  As  a  result,  they  achieve  many awards  and  distinctions  in  music  competitions  all  over  the country. The headmaster and the principal music teacher in the school works tirelessly to maintain a high standard of education and kindle love for the traditional music in the young generation. In 2024, MEDyARTE Foundation reviewed the progress in the school and was impressed by the overall ethos and hard work. As a result, it is committed to continue supporting the school and agreed to purchase further instruments in the forthcoming year. 

## **7) Medical Clinic, Nepal** 

Following the reconnaissance visit in 2019 to the Nar-Phu Valley in Nepal, MEDyARTE Charity took the decision to provide funds for the employment of a Health Assistant and the purchase of medication  and  clinic  equipment  to  allow  the  operation  of  a medical clinic in Nar village. All the provisions were successfully delivered  and  the  clinic  opened  its  doors  to  patients  at  the beginning of November 2019. 

The  village  of  Nar  lies  at  an  altitude  of  4,110m  in  the  north western part of Nepal and has a population of 550 people. In the vicinity there is also a village called Phu, with 350 inhabitants, along with the smaller settlements of Metha, Zunam, Chague and Kang.  The  people  there  have  no  access  to  state  provided healthcare  or  other  basic  services  such  as education,  running water and sanitation. 

It takes more than two and half days on foot to walk from the nearest  town  of  Chame,  along treacherous trails to  reach the villages. Narpas, the local inhabitants, have to carry all supplies, including food and household goods, on their backs. Chame is also the closest place with a state-run medical centre. 

The MEDyARTE clinic building lies on the premises of the Nar Monastery, which is central in the entire valley and is perfectly suited for the purpose. The monk in charge of the monastery is in charge  of  the  entire  project.  He  is  supported  by  a  Health Assistant, who originally comes from the local village of Nar and has just graduated from the University in Kathmandu as a Public Health Specialist. The local government supports the operation of 

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the project. This combination of skills and governing circumstances will hopefully ensure the long-term success of the clinic. 

Since  the  opening  of  the  clinic  there  has  been  significant reduction in morbidity and mortality amongst the local population. We have been lucky to be able to obtain the services of a Heath Assistant, who is keen to continue working in the clinic for a third year running. This offers continuity of care and allows the development of invaluable trust between the medical practitioner and the local population. 

During the visit to the clinic three years previously, it was noted that a significant percentage of patients had been suffering with incapacitating symptoms of gastritis. After three years of planning,  in  October  2022,  one  of  the  Associated  Members alongside the Founder of MEDARTE Charity visited the Nar-Phu Valley  and  led  a  project  involving  population  testing  for  this condition and offering eradication therapy. We tested 400 people in 4 different locations and treated the vast majority of them. It was fascinating but also shocking to find out that close to 90% of the population suffered with Helicobacter infection. 

The findings gathered during the two-week project were presented  in  the  summer  of  2023  at  an international  medical conference in Rotterdam dealing with microbiota related health issues  all  over  the  world.  Additionally,  a  paper  detailing  the findings was submitted to a medical magazine for publication. Hopefully, our work will contribute to a better understanding of pathophysiology and management of this condition and will make a significant difference to all, but in particular deprived communities living at high altitudes. 

MEDyARTE Foundation continues to fund the employment of a health assistant, who resides in the clinic, as well as medication for use in the clinic throughout the year. Additionally, this year we provided funds for the purchase of a generator to be used in emergency situations when the local streams are frozen and the hydro  energy  is  not  available.  This  will  make  a  significant difference to the clinic, as well as the monastery and all patients visiting the facility. 

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## **8) “Pad” Project Nepal** 

Rural Nepal suffers with significant deprivation and lack of basic provisions such as healthcare, sanitation, adequate nutrition and education.  The  majority  of  the  population  in  the  Himalayan regions works as subsistence farmers in the low yielding high altitude  fields.  Despite  long  hours  of  toil,  the  crops  are  not sufficient to sustain their families and certainly not enough to exchange  the  produce  for  more  luxury  items  such as  soap  or other sanitary products. This problem affects everyone negatively, but especially the female part of the population, which struggles to keep clean during menstruation. 

In Nepal, there is a strong taboo attached to menstruation, based around the persistent idea - rooted in religion - that menstruation “pollutes.”  The  practice  of _chhaupadi_ (“seclusion”)  during  a woman’s menstrual cycle persists despite nominal illegality. The practice involves the sequestering of women in sheds separate from their house. It is believed they will otherwise bring their family  bad  luck,  or  ill  health. The  tradition  begins  with  an adolescent girl's first menstrual cycle, during which she remains in the shed for up to fourteen days; afterwards, she must spend the duration of each monthly period in the shed, until she reaches menopause.  Due to lack of sanitary items women either do not use  anything  at  all  or  dirty  rags  during  menstruation.  This commonly can lead to infections or even deaths. 

Our project in the Ghorka region of Nepal is aiming to tackle all of these issues. We provided reusable sanitary wear to all women living in six villages at high altitude. We also organised educational meetings in all of these villages, with the support of the local nurses, to raise health awareness, provide information about hygiene and supply soap to aid achieving this particular goal; to teach about the physiology of the menstrual cycle and contraception, as well as aiming to abolish deeply rooted taboos related to menstruation. 

## **9) “Ancestral Chest Project” and “ Coast of Craftsmen” projects, Kyrgyzstan** 

In 2022, MEDyARTE Charity successfully started a cooperation with the Issyk-Kul Regional State Historical and Cultural Museum in Cholpon-Ata. The project (“Ancestral Chest Project”) involved purchasing glass showcases and stands for the museum with a view  of  displaying  the  museum  collection,  preservation  and protection of cultural heritage and attracting visitors. The aim of 

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the project was an improvement of knowledge of Kyrgyz culture nationally and internationally, and a facilitation of selfidentification  of  the  population  as  bearers  of  a  great  ancient nomadic civilisation heritage, which will help to revive the lost spiritual values and will give an opportunity for the population to be proud of its past. 

Until recently,  the  museum was  in  possession  of  a significant number of items of great historical value, which were unprotected and could not be displayed as a result of lack of facilities. The new display cabinets have significantly improved this situation. This will be further enhanced by a new building, funded by the State, which is planned in the next two years. 

The Foundation made a site visit to the museum in August 2022 to assess, at first hand, progress of the programme. Trustees were impressed to see a great commitment on behalf of the museum director to promote the new art installation, as well as her involvement in actively spreading knowledge and love of Kyrgyz  culture  throughout  the  country.  During  the  visit,  the Founder and one of the Associated Members met and interviewed local artisans, such as craftsmen working with felt, horse hair and other traditional media. They also participated in masterclasses to learn and understand Kyrgyz culture and tradition, both from the perspective of objects used in daily life as well as in a wider sense of the word. 

As a result of this visit, throughout 2023, MEDyARTE Charity has  been  working  together  with  the  Cultural  Museum  in Cholpon-Ata to develop a new programme (“Coast of Craftsmen”),  which  will  further  support  the  artisans  in  the area. The project involved the purchase of several yurts, which will allow, on an ongoing basis, the artisans’ participation in festivals, international gatherings and local art events. It will give them a private space to create and display their products, as well as provide them with an opportunity to offer masterclasses, to both the local Kyrgyz population and tourists interested in learning about the traditional arts and crafts. We hope that, in the longer term, the project will help to rekindle interest in Kyrgyz culture and protect it for the future generations and, in addition, will help the community to feel proud of its cultural heritage. 

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## **10) Traditional musical instruments teaching for children, Bolivia** 

Over the last four years, MEDyARTE Charity has established links with an _Orquesta Experimental de Instrumentos Nativos_ from La Paz  in  Bolivia  and  planned  a  project  together,  which  would involve introducing children in the rural areas to the traditional Bolivian instruments and music. Unfortunately, similarly to many other parts of the world, in Bolivia knowledge of the traditional music and instruments is dying out. The members of _Orquesta Experimental de Instrumentos Nativos_ are skilled and devoted musicians, who are running an orchestra for adults in the capital but were keen to engage in teaching children in other parts of the country.  They  had  already  had  significant  experience  in  this regard  and  had  been  previously  very  successful  in  organising courses for children. 

This project started in March 2023. It provided two workshops for 20 participants each, on a twice weekly basis for an 8 month period, which took place in schools in rural areas outside La Paz. The workshops taught three different instruments: Sikus (panpipes), Tarkas (flutes) and Pinkillos (flutes). The instruments were  supplied  to  all  the  participants  from  a  charitable  fund provided by MEDyARTE. They were commissioned from artisans from the Indigenous Community of Jach’a Walata, known for its tradition in the construction of music instruments. The Charity also covered the cost of the tuition in the workshops. 

Children were encouraged throughout the course to participate in local festivals and celebrations to promote the native music and culture. The first year of this project was a great success. There was  a  considerable  interest  amongst  the  children  and  all  the classes were oversubscribed. The year culminated in two official performances: one in the local area and the other in La Paz. Both the  children  and  the  parents  were  incredibly  proud  of  their achievements.  There  is  an  ongoing  interest  to  continue  this programme  amongst  the  population.  In  response,  MEDyARTE Foundation agreed to fund the next year activities, which started in March 2024. The programme has also been extended to a new location. 

Individuals, who prove to be particularly capable in the long term, will  be  offered  an  opportunity  to  participate  in  the  Youth Orchestra events in La Paz. 

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**11) Cervical Screening Project, Tanzania** Cervical  cancer  is  the  fourth  most  common  cancer  in  women globally, with over 500,000 new cases and 250,000 deaths each year. The burden of cervical cancer is disproportionately high in developing countries, which accounts for 85% of cases worldwide. In Tanzania, cervical cancer is the leading cause of female cancer with a striking 9,772  new cases  and 6,695 deaths  each year. Unlike other cancers, cervical cancer is almost 100% preventable when women receive quality screening and treatment of precancerous  lesions.  The  Tanzanian  Ministry  of  Health  and Social Welfare launched VIA (visual inspection with acetic acid) cervical  cancer  screening  and  cryotherapy  in  over  300  sites nationally  in  2001.  However,  the  number  of  women  screened remains  low  for  multiple  reasons. Firstly,  there  are  limited resources available for this activity.  Secondly, there is a lack of knowledge and understanding of the importance of screening in the population, but also, for many patients, a visit to a clinic, which  can  perform  the  test,  means  many  hours  walking  in extreme heat and dust with a baby strapped to their back and with insufficient supplies of food and water. 

MEDyARTE  Foundation  decided  to  join  forces  with  DCMC,  a Christian  Hospital  in  Dodoma,  to  boost  screening  for  cervical cancer in the rural area outside of the city. The funding provided by the Foundation will allow an increase in the number of nurses employed to provide screening, and also make visits to surrounding  villages  possible,  in  order  to  talk  to  the  village leaders  and  in  public  gatherings  about  the  importance  of  the screening. Additionally, posters and information leaflets will be printed and distributed throughout several communities. 

The Charity Trustees visited the Hospital and the outlying clinics in January 2024 to meet personally all the staff involved in the screening  process  and  responsible  for  the  organisation  of  the project. The project formally started in March 2024. With our programme,  we  are  aiming  to  at  least  double  the  number  of patients screened each month in five community centres. 

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## **Planned activities** 

## **1) Medical Clinic, Nepal** 

In 2024/25, MEDyARTE Charity would like to continue supporting the work of the Nar Clinic through providing funds for employment of a Health Assistant and purchase of medication. 

MEDyARTE Foundation is looking at funding a Dental Camp for the area in April 2025. 

## **2) “Pad” project, Nepal** 

This  project  has  been  undertaken  in  July  2024.  The  official feedback has not  been received as yet  from the  persons responsible for carrying it out on the ground. Providing there are no  concerns,  the  Foundation  plans  to  continue  expanding  the intervention to additional high altitude villages next year. 

## **3) Traditional shepherd’s instruments, Poland** 

We will continue supporting the programme of revival of traditional shepherd’s instruments in the  Polish mountains. Following a review undertaken by the trustees in May 2024, it has been agreed with the culture centre that the Foundation will provide  funds  to  purchase  three  double  bases  to  enhance programmes offered to the children at the music school. 

## **4) Marang  Library  and  dance  and  music  programme, Borneo** 

In view of the satisfactory progress of activities in Marang Library and  effective  cooperation  with  Indonesian  NGO  Ransel  Buku, MEDyARTE Charity would like to provide ongoing support to both programmes. This will include donations towards the employment of the two current teachers, as well as three further months of dance  and  music  education,  followed  by  the  salary  for  the employment of a new teacher. 

The Foundation recognises that progress in educational resources and  strategies,  as  well  as  altering  employer’s  expectations  all over  the  world,  require  from  future  employees  at  least  basic understanding of computer operation. Taking this into account, the  Foundation  decided  to  fund  the  purchase  of  six  laptop computers for use in both Libraries. 

The communities of Petit Katimpun and Marang expressed a desire  to  learn  Eco  Printing  (creating  prints  on  fabric  with 

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locally sourced materials) with a view of employing this skill as a way of raising funds for both villages from the tourist trade. This activity would provide sustainable income from an ecological source. It will be open to young people and adults in the two villages. The Foundation would like to support such a programme in both libraries and will fund the training of 20 participants for a duration of two months, including the cost of all materials. 

## **5) “Coast of Craftsmen” project, Kyrgyzstan** 

The Charity Trustees are planning a visit to Cholpon Ata in the summer of 2024 to review the progress of the project and discuss with the head of the Culture Museum further steps. The decisions concerning the direction of the ongoing projects will be taken following this review. 

## **6) Traditional musical instruments teaching for children,** 

## **Bolivia** 

This programme has proven to be very successful in 2023/24. The Foundation  therefore  decided  to  continue  with  an  ongoing support  and  agreed  to  expand  the  project  to  a  new  location. Moreover, in the previously established location a new group was created at a higher attainment level to allow for progress and aiming at encouraging available talent. 

## **7) Community medical healthcare, Tanzania** 

This project has started in March 2024. It is too early to make any predictions concerning success of the intervention and fulfilment of the expectations. We are collecting data on a monthly basis and the data will be reviewed in March 2025, at which point further decisions will be made concerning continuation of the programme. 

## **8) Achievements and performance** 

MEDyARTE is proud of the progress of all its projects, which has been smooth. The Charity carried out appropriate due diligence checks, signed detailed contracts and received interim monitoring reports from all Partners. 

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In May 2023, two trustees visited libraries funded by the charity on Borneo, in Indonesia. The impact the libraries had on the local communities  was  impressive  and  overwhelming.  Clearly,  the population was in much better health and spirits. The children showed  unwavering  enthusiasm  about  reading,  learning  and keenness to attend the after-school facilities. The adult population was  hugely  appreciative  of  the  opportunities  offered  to  their children but also other activities involving the entire population. The  project  has  caused  a  major  shift  in  the  community’s perception  of  the  importance  of  education.  It  has  reduced significantly  illiteracy,  early  marriage  rate,  drug  abuse  and  is looking to reduce unemployment and poverty. 

In January 2024, two trustees visited the hospital in Dodoma, in Tanzania,  and  finalised  negotiations  relating  to  the  Cervical Screening project. It was a very successful visit as it allowed the trustees to meet all the people who are going to be organising the project on the Tanzanian side, as well as fully understand any obstacles and issues which need to be  taken into consideration. 

Finally, in May 2024, two trustees made a face to face review of the Shepherd’s Instrument Music Project in Zakopane, in Poland. This, yet again, was a very rewarding experience in view of the high level of achievement and commitment of both the teachers and the children in the music school. 

Additionally, the data has been gathered remotely to look at the effectiveness of all the interventions undertaken. There have been significant benefits to the local populations which support and fully engage with the projects. There has been effective cooperation with the organisations which are responsible for the direct running of all projects. 

During the last year, the trustees met twice remotely to review the  progress  of  all  charity  projects,  the  charity’s  financial situation, to consider any arising problems and look into future plans. 

## **9) Financial review** 

At  the  beginning  of  this  year  the  Charity  had  £69,303.49  in reserve. Total expenses equalled £26,134.86. Total income from 

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donations  equalled £20,500.  At  the  end  of  the  financial  year 2023/24 the Charity has in reserve £63,668.63. 

## **10) Structure, governance and management** 

MEDyARTE  is  a  Charitable  Incorporated  Organisation  and  is governed by a Constitution. 

The first charity trustees are as follows: 

- Malgorzata Ewa Trubshaw for so long as she is able and willing to act 

- Tomasz Mazur for a period of four years starting in August 2021 with an option of further extension; and 

Newly appointed trustee 

- Cecilia Harrington for a period of three years. 

Apart  from  the  first  charity  trustees,  every  trustee  will  be appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. 

In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees will have regard to  the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO. 

At six monthly meetings trustees will agree the strategy for the coming months, approve projects, discuss any changes to current policies, review financial plans and identify potential upcoming problems. All trustees give their time freely and do not receive any remuneration. So far trustees have not claimed any travel expenses. 

The charity will be potentially involved in projects with children and does have a Child Protection Policy. The Chair who is a lead on Child Protection will be doing regular yearly updates. 

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## **11) Disclosure section** 

MEDyARTE does not have any disclosures or exemptions from disclosures. 

## **12) Funds  as  a  custodian  trustee  on behalf of others** 

MEDyARTE does not hold any funds as a custodian trustee on behalf of others. 

## **13) Declaration** 

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. 

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