The Beatrice Project
The Beatrice Project
‘Restoring dignity and opportunity to
young women in Zimbabwe’
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 1 November 2019- 31 October 2020
Registered charity number: 1175299
Principal address: 23, Rockleigh Road, Southampton, SO16 7AQ
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The Beatrice Project
CONTENTS
| 1 | Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 3 | Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | General Overview of the Year ............................................................................................................. 3 | |
| 1.2 | Background .......................................................................................................................................... 3 | |
| 1.3 | Objectives and activities ..................................................................................................................... 3 | |
| 1.4 | Structure, Governance and Management .......................................................................................... 4 | |
| 2 | Looking Back Over the Last Year ................................................................................................................ 4 | |
| 2.1 | BP visit to NN ....................................................................................................................................... 4 | |
| 2.1 Training .................................................................................................................................................... 4 | ||
| 2.2 | Sanitary Pads ....................................................................................................................................... 4 | |
| 2.3 | Menstrual Cups ................................................................................................................................... 5 | |
| 2.4 | Reusable and Disposable Pads ............................................................................................................ 5 | |
| 3 | Looking Forward ......................................................................................................................................... 5 | |
| 4 | Financial review .......................................................................................................................................... 6 | |
| 4.1 | Income and Fund Raising .................................................................................................................... 6 | |
| 4.2 | Risk Mitigation Reserves ..................................................................................................................... 6 | |
| 4.3 | Receipts and Payments Accounts for the period Nov 19 to Oct 20 .................................................... 7 | |
| 4.4 | Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period ............................................................... 8 | |
| 5 | The Impact of NN/BP Pre-Covid ................................................................................................................. 9 |
FIGURES
Figure 1: Community Elders in Discussion ......................................................................................................... 4 Figure 2: Social Distancing at a Group Session .................................................................................................. 4 Figure 3: Delighted Girls Receiving Their Pads .................................................................................................. 5 Figure 4: The Presentation of the Sewing Machines ......................................................................................... 5 Figure 5: Income and Expenditure ..................................................................................................................... 7 Figure 6: TBP Assets and Liabilities .................................................................................................................... 8 Figure 7: The Impact of NN/BP .......................................................................................................................... 9
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1 Introduction
1.1 General Overview of the Year
It has been a quieter year for the Beatrice Project (BP), with no visit to Zimbabwe but with continuing progress in some key areas. The political and economic situation continues to bring challenges to our partners in Zimbabwe, Ntombi Nto, (NN). Despite this, the team continues to deliver the project with enthusiasm and dedication.
NN has continued to work with other agencies in Zimbabwe, growing both in confidence and in the scope of their work. Since being recognised by the Gwanda District Council, NN has been able to access school attendance data, though this has obviously been affected by school closures. NN has been approached by several schools for help and the sense of ownership of the project in the rural settlements, particularly by male community leaders, is truly impressive.
Our shared ambition remains to enable underprivileged girls from these rural communities to maximise their potential for finding work and contributing to their communities.
1.2 Background
The Beatrice Project (BP) is a small UK based charity supporting the work of Ntombi Nto (NN), a Zimbabwean registered trust. Ntombi Nto means ‘a wholesome young woman’. The BP began life when it was formally launched by Mrs Joy Khumalo in Zimbabwe in 2015 in partnership with Susan Hutchinson in the UK. This was in response to the concerns of local community and church leaders in the rural areas south of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, about girls dropping out of school because of a lack of affordable sanitary protection. The purpose of the report is to provide information on the background to the BP, its current state and its plans for the future.
1.3 Objectives and activities
The objectives of the BP are:
To advance in life, and relieve the needs of, girls and young women by providing help, advice and resources as a means of:
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a) developing their skills, capacities and capabilities to enable them to participate in society as independent, mature and responsible individuals;
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b) enabling them to continue in their education;
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c) providing education on reproductive health and psychosocial issues;
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d) supporting locally led child protection measures.
A specific group defined by age and gender (menstruating girls) and geographical area (the Gwanda region, some 100km outside Bulawayo) was selected by local elders, school teachers and church leaders and was based on past school attendance and positive attitude towards education. The girl beneficiaries in the pilot group typically walk 5-10 kilometres to attend the distributions of sanitary pads and the workshops where they are also given some food and drink.
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1.4 Structure, Governance and Management
Names of Trustees: Susan Beatrice Hutchinson Dr Karen Rosemary Trewinnard Roger John Snowdon Anthony Andrew Arthur
Governing document Constitution 23.10.18
2 Looking Back Over the Last Year
2.1 BP visit to NN
The planned trip for the early Summer of 2020 had to be cancelled. Regular communication, by phone and email, has supported the continued running of the work.
2.1 Training
Since the team was unable to visit in 2020, no further training has been delivered by BP this year. Work has, however, continued, under Mrs. Joy Khumalo’s guidance. Support and backing has come from TARSC (The Training and Resource Support Centre), from Bonani Medina (Solon Foundation) who works locally with young people, particularly peer educators, and from some of the cultural leaders in the communities. An alternative weekend of training, arranged by NN, ran in August.
Figure 1: Community Elders in Discussion
Figure 2: Social Distancing at a Group Session
2.2 Sanitary Pads
During the year, BP has continued to fund the distribution of sanitary pads at the three initial sites plus an additional school site. Against all odds, the pads continue to be available for sale in Harare, the capital, at a reduced price made available to NN. However, free transportation of the pads from Harare is no longer available to us, so they have to be collected from Harare and taken to the sites by Mrs Joy Khumalo (NN).
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Figure 3: Delighted Girls Receiving Their Pads
2.3 Menstrual Cups
The menstrual cup (now sourced from India) was introduced to the girls and their leaders and adult carers in August 2018. This is still a relatively new concept to the rural communities and its introduction has needed careful and sensitive handling. With the potential to change radically the girls’ experience of menstruation, and solve the three challenges of affordability, hygiene and disposal, the cup is seen by BP as a very realistic alternative to the current means of sanitary protection. There is a gradual but growing desire to use this means of protection.
2.4 Reusable and Disposable Pads
BP is continuing to provide disposable sanitary protection for around 200 girls in the target group. Others are using locally made washable pads and some girls are making their own with sewing machines and start up materials provided by BP.
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Figure 4: The Presentation of the Sewing
Machines
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3 Looking Forward
Plans for 2020-2021 have been impacted by the Covid- 19 pandemic, but BP is supporting and funding the continuing of regular Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) workshops conducted in the local areas by health
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professionals and other qualified or semi-qualified adults. These will begin to include boys as well as girls, using the tried and tested Auntie Stella materials (SRH course materials produced in Zimbabwe by The Training and Resource Support Centre) Additional sewing rooms are planned, in conjunction with textile teaching in schools, whilst, it is hoped, increasing numbers of girls will be successful in their use of the cup, and that numbers using disposable pads will gradually diminish. The Project continues to explore all available methods of sanitary protection and seek sustainable solutions to issues of affordability, hygiene and disposal. We expect to continue our support of NN as they respond to requests from schools to set up similar projects.
4 Financial review
4.1 Income and Fund Raising
We are indebted to Bright Future Trust for their grant of £18,000 for the purchase of a suitable field vehicle for the work in Zimbabwe. We are also grateful for the input and support of Etch, a digital advisory firm specialising in helping businesses grow through the use of digital platforms and marketing.
All other funds have so far been donated or raised through specific fundraising events.
As a charity, we are very fortunate to be supported by a number of regular donors, on whose committed giving we rely for a known amount each month. Regular newsletters, particularly following a trip or at notable times of the year (eg Christmas) give information on the activities, needs and plans of the Trustees and the charity, and these often prompt generous giving.
Other fundraising activities have included:
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December 2019: a Line Dancing group held a Christmas raffle and raised £55
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March 2020: a ‘Come and Sing’ (classical) was held and raised just under £1000. This was led by BBC Singer, Jamie W Hall and the accompanist was Cherith Kingsley-Smith, both of whom gave their services free of charge
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From March one of the founder trustees, Karen Trewinnard, began producing masks and raised in excess of £2500
This money has been used by BP to fund the work of NN.
4.2 Risk Mitigation Reserves
As principal funders of the work undertaken by NN in Zimbabwe, TBP recognises the need to be able to provide the quarterly support grants on a regular and timely basis.
Whilst the trustees wish to see all funds raised by TBP to be transferred to Zimbabwe within as short a time scale as possible, they recognise the need to hold some funds as a reserve to ensure continuity of support.
With quarterly support grants currently around £2,500 the trustees consider that a reserve of £1000 is appropriate at the present time.
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4.3 Receipts and Payments Accounts for the period Nov 19 to Oct 20
Figure 5: Income and Expenditure
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4.4 Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
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Type text here
1.June 2021
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Figure 6: TBP Assets and Liabilities
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5 The Impact of NN/BP Pre-Covid
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Average attendances across 3 schools
100%
90% 2014
80% 2015
70% 2016
60% 2017
50%
2018
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
0 day off 1 day of 2 days off 3 days off 4 days off 5 days off
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Figure 7: The Impact of NN/BP
This exciting graph indicates the provisional records of attendances across the schools for the years 20142018. The attendance figures for girls have improved very dramatically.
We have also received letters from some of the girls telling us how they have been impacted by the project:
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[The] Beatrice [Project] taught us about hygiene and behaviour. As girls we have got vital roles to play in our lives.
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Thank you for the lessons you taught us as girls. You taught us about menstrual hygiene, … to treat ourselves as worthwhile people showing that we are valuable and disciplined.
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As peer educator, I realised that long back we were stranded, life was so difficult to many.
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We feel proud, precious, special and more cherished with you. The care you have for us gives us courage
Declaration:
The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees’ Report.
Signed: S.B Hutchinson ……………………………………………………………………
Signed: K.R.Trewinnard ……………………………………………………………………
Signed: R.J.Snowdon…………………………………………………………………………
Signed: A.A. Arthur ……………………………………………………………………………
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