## **Contents** ## 1. Introduction ## 2. Background and Context ## 3. Achievement and Performance - 3.1 In Ethiopia 3.2 Outside Ethiopia ## 4. Financial Review ## 5. Change Agenda and Concluding Remarks ## 6. Declaration ## **Appendices** - A Reference and Administration - B Structure, Governance and Management - C Principles, Objectives and Activities overview Saltergate Children’s Home, Ethiopia – _giving hope, transforming lives_ 62 Rhodesia Road, Brampton, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S40 3AL Tel: 077 899 75460 Email: kevinjosephmorley@yahoo.co.uk http://saltergatechildrenshome.org/ Registered Charity in England and Wales No. 1175880 ## **Trustees’ Annual Report** ## **1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022** ## **1. Introduction – 7[th] Anniversary Report** With the fighting concentrated in the north of Ethiopia the tension receded in the capital and the Foreign Office amended its advice from ‘don’t go’ to ‘only go for essential business.’ As such we were able to resume in-country inspections and trustees representing the charity flew to Ethiopia in April 2022. With 109 children, 9 volunteers, 100 chickens and our pregnant cow to visit we had a full schedule. All are doing well and we are working up many of the ideas we discussed into projects that will help families to independence, improve the quality of life for the children and enable us to care for even more boys and girls. Since our foundation in 2015 we have increased the number we care for and the current figure of 109 children includes an increase of 45 boys and girls over the past year. Actually with the continued support of highly valued donors many have become independent and others are now not children but have grown into young adults. Their stories will be covered in this report as their achievements are the charity’s achievements. Throughout 2021/22 we have consistently applied our guiding principles to house families in separate homes and only care for children who are with a family member – usually a widowed mother. And as always every penny donated goes to providing food, clothes, housing, healthcare, education and a route to independence for the children we support. Whilst remaining true to our principles we are pleased to highlight in this report progression in our operation that reflects the outcome of deliberations in three key areas: - The **support for refugees** fleeing from the war in Ethiopia. The substantial growth in the number of children we now care for has primarily been driven by our willingness to respond positively when war widows with young families have needed help. - The purchase of livestock which has made tangible our aim to see a **return on investment** not in financial terms but in terms of children supported. i.e. egg sales generate income which has enabled us to support more children. - The **natural evolution of SCH communities** . Individual families we have supported – some for 7 years – have come together in different parts of the city and formed friendships and support networks. In addition to help from us they help each other which can only be beneficial for all concerned. The progress of Saltergate Children’s Home, Ethiopia and, more importantly, the livelihoods of the families we care for is built on the loyalty of our donors and the dedication of our volunteers in Ethiopia. In addition to benevolent and steadfastly loyal people supporting our work on an individual basis we have benefited from and are grateful for the encouragement of members of a growing number of organisations: - Barclays Bank, St Peters Street, Derby - BBC Radio Derby - BBC Radio Sheffield - Belle Vie - Chesterfield - Brimington Women’s Group - Cardiff Progress Team, Australia - Chesterfield Library - Chesterfield Methodist Church Ladies Group - Connelly Court residents - Copy and Print, Chesterfield - Cumbria Overseas Aid Trust - Derbyshire Libraries, Matlock - Dore and Totley United Reformed Church - Elastic FM - Grassmoor Women’s Institute - Halesowen Stitch Club, West Midlands - Imperial Voice Radio, Bath - Jenny Meadows Yoga Club - Loundsley Green Mothers’ Union - Max Spielmann – Tesco and Chesterfield outlets - Milestone Financial Planning - Mitcham Mothers’ Union - Quinton Methodist Church, Birmingham - Reflections magazine - ROE Developments (UK) Ltd - S40 magazine - Salem Chapel, Wingerworth - Sheffield Hallam University - Staveley Seniors Group - Storrs Electrical Ltd - St Paul’s Church, Hasland - St Peter & St Paul – Mitcham Parish Church, London - St Thomas’ Church, Brampton - Sutton African and Caribbean Cultural Organisation, London - The 50+ Inspired Group - The Co-operative Social Group - The Derbyshire Times - The Inner Wheel Club of Clay Cross - The Oddfellows, Chesterfield - The Ragged School, Chesterfield - The Rotary Club of Addis Ababa - The Rotary Club of Bolsover - The Rotary Club of Bradford Blaize - The Rotary Club of Chesterfield - The Rotary Club of York Ainsty - Treasure Trove Fairs - TWIST magazine ## **On behalf of the trustees, volunteers and children of Saltergate Children’s Home, Ethiopia – thank you.** ## **2. Background and Context** - _the acronym ‘SCH’ in the text refers to Saltergate Children’s Home, Ethiopia_ During our inspection we were asked if we could help Rakeb. Dad took one look at Rakeb when she was born and left. That was six years ago and he hasn’t been seen since. Rakeb is blind, paralysed from the neck down and fluid is building up in her brain to dangerous levels. Mama Zanesh cares for Rakeb alone. She is alone because her family and neighbours have ostracised them. They are abused and even attacked - - ‘evil spirits have been at work here.’ And because no one will help Zanesh has to leave Rakeb alone for four hours every day so that she can clean houses and earn something for them to survive. There must be a place under the sun where the only response to this situation is ‘how can we help?’ The trustees, volunteers and friends of Saltergate Children’s Home, Ethiopia work to be in that place and give Zanesh, Rakeb and all the families we care for someone to turn to. As set out in the governing document and registered with the Charity Commission the charity’s activities are based on: - (i) The relief of poverty and sickness and - (ii) The advancement of education - … of homeless, disadvantaged and needy children in Ethiopia. The charity has strategies to promote health and well-being and families are supported into accommodation, education and employment. Overall the charity helps needy children recognise and fulfil their dreams and aspirations. We are developing a model which seeks to redefine the term ‘children’s home.’ Forget a big building packed with hollow-eyed, malnourished children where boys and girls are labelled and abuse is a feature of daily life. All the children we care for are with a family member - usually a young widowed Mum or a Grandparent where both parents have died – and all are housed in separate homes. To the onlooker they look no different to ‘the family next door’ and this is our aim. However, even though this approach minimises possible safeguarding issues, we never forget that we are caring for vulnerable people and vigilance in this area is integral to the work. The beauty of this approach to housing is that we have no upper limit, no capacity issues. We don’t turn children away on the basis that ‘our building is full.’ We are constrained only by the amount of donations we receive from kind supporters. Simply put – the more donations we receive the more children we can take off the streets. And yet, our target for families needing help is zero. At first reading this appears to be a paradox but is clarified by the theme covered in this section – the Drive to Independence. Ultimately we strive to help all the children we support to stand on their own two feet and we look forward to that affirming declaration – ‘thank you for all you have done for us but we are self-sufficient now. Please use the funds to help others in need.’ As the reach of SCH grows it is necessary to have focus on vital key themes to determine priorities and inform decision-making. The following are shaping current direction: ## **Focus 1 of 3 – the Drive to Independence** Once a family has food in their bellies, clothes on their backs and a roof over their heads our attention shifts and the future direction is then informed by the response to two questions – ‘What can YOU do to stand on your own two feet?’ and ‘Once you are self-sufficient what can YOU do to help others?’ We are delighted that many of the families we support have responded positively to this blunt approach and this is evidenced in Tgsti’s shop and Fasica’s machine room – see Achievements in Ethiopia section. During 2021/22 we have given our decision-making sharper focus along these lines and grants have been awarded on the basis that other children be supported by initiatives. For example funds for the purchase of chickens were granted providing that two other children – Nathan and Eldiyana – would also be supported by income from egg sales. ## **Focus 2 of 3 – Partnership** The trustees cannot work in isolation – we are not doctors, government officials or school principals and neither are our team of volunteers. As such we work hard in Ethiopia to build the necessary close relations with hospitals, local and national government departments and schools and universities so that children have a support structure they can rely on. These partners include CURE hospital, the Fistula hospital, the Ethiopian Women with Disabilities National Association, the German Church School, Admas University and numerous local kebede (government departments). We continuously seek to build this network and, besides having access to valuable contacts for the children, these organisations have also been rewarded by partnering with SCH. ## **Focus 3 of 3 - The War in Ethiopia** As a charity working with children in Ethiopia we cannot ignore the ongoing conflict that broke out in November 2020. The UN, WHO and NGOs and charities are struggling to get into the war zone. We have family who are living – and dying – there and through them had access to the communications and banking systems. We worked to establish SCH safe houses and started to care for a widowed Mum and her young son. Our aim was to extend our operation in Tigray as the scale of the catastrophe becomes apparent but, for now, we have also lost contact with the communities in the war-zone as the government lockdown on communications has tightened. Looking to refocus our efforts the decision was made to support refugees fleeing from the conflict. Naturally, as the fighting intensified in the north thousands of refugees made their way to the capital where we operate. The support for young war-widows and their children is the primary reason for the increase in the number of families we support. One day the horror that is unfolding in Tigray will hit the television screens. We are a small charity but we are uniquely-placed to play our part. ## **3. Achievement and Performance** ## **3.1 In Ethiopia** As referred to in the Introduction we now care for 109 children, an increase of 45 over the past year. 47 families with a total of 75 children are supported with regular monthly allowances to cover basic needs, housing and education. A further 27 children have received one-off payments in September to cover the annual school registration fee and any medical expenses have been covered. These children are in families that have progressed to a level of self-sufficiency but we keep in touch and are always there to turn to if needed. And, having invested in a small poultry farm, 7 children now receive regular allowances from income generated by egg sales. Of the 109 children we support there are 64 girls and 45 boys. All the children are in accommodation and all the over-5s are in education. The trustees have updated their stepwise approach to caring for a child on the road to independence and, with our support for children escaping from the war zone, it is clear that a first step – the security of the child – needs to take priority. **----- Start of picture text -----**
1. Security
2. Food and clothing
7. Return
6. Independence 3. Healthcare
4. Accommodation
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## **Security in the War-Zone** Following years of disagreement between the leaders of the Tigray region in Ethiopia (TPLF) and the federal government this escalated to military conflict. After several postponements of the country’s election due to the spread of covid-19 the TPLF refused to recognise the legitimacy of the central government and in mid-2020 went ahead with its own regional elections. Following this exercise relations between federal and regional representatives deteriorated further and in November the TPLF attacked the Ethiopian government’s military bases in their region. Full-scale conflict ensued and the TPLF were driven out of the main cities into the mountains where they have regrouped. The situation is further complicated by the Eritrean army which is fighting on the Ethiopian government’s side, 60,000 refugees fleeing into Sudan and the reduction of Ethiopia’s defence forces in Somalia. The Ethiopian government has imposed a blackout on communications to/from the conflict zone and as such the impact of the fighting has not been widely publicised around the world. The 2021 G7 summit did issue a statement that a) a ceasefire should be declared b) Eritrean soldiers should leave Ethiopia immediately and c) Aid agencies should be allowed free passage to all areas of Tigray to deal with what has been officially described as a ‘catastrophic’ and ‘emergency’ situation. The perception of Ethiopia and its people around the world has been shaped by the newsreel footage of the 1980s when famine in parts of the country led to over 1 million deaths. The remarkable development and economic growth – approximately 10% per annum since the turn of the century has been less well-publicised. The average annual income per person in 2000 was $100, in 2019 it was $850 (Source: World Bank Gross National Income per capita). Child mortality has reduced from 240 per 1,000 births in 1970 to 50 per 1,000 in 2019. This improving state of affairs has received little attention in the media. The current situation in Ethiopia clearly threatens the overall improving picture in the country. As for the conflict verifiable information is sporadic and contested. This plus the attention of the world being focused on the challenges raised by the pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine has meant that what is happening in Tigray is not widely known. During responses to an urgent question raised in the House of Commons (15 June 2021) it was reported by the Foreign Office minister that 350,000 people (since revised to 400,000) were now living in famine conditions in Ethiopia - level IPC 5 (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification) which is the highest category. In simple terms people, and many of these are children, are starving to death. Atrocities have been reported by the United Nations including the massacre of innocent civilians, use of hunger as a weapon of war and high levels of sexual violence against women. Chillingly, 300,000 children are expected to die as the situation deteriorates further. The United Nations, International Aid agencies and charities have struggled to get into the conflict zone – SCH trustees have family who are actually living in Tigray and the news from them is dire with many accounts of horrific acts including rape, starvation and countless children being orphaned. Since we were founded in 2015 we have provided food, clothing, accommodation, healthcare and access to education for a growing number of children. Further, we have supported children’s guardians – usually widowed mothers – to self-sufficiency. We are now seeking to extend our remit and focus on a critical consideration that needs to be addressed before any of these steps to independent can take place – that of a child’s safety, in particular in a country at war. Clearly the greater the need the greater the risks and these risks are being managed throughout the twists and turns of the conflict. Extensive work has been undertaken since the beginning of 2021 to ensure that we have safe houses and a robust process to ensure that funds are only used to further the charity’s purposes. Due diligence is, of course, even more critical in conflict areas. Our attempts to support children in the war-zone were postponed when we lost contact with family members in Tigray and our focus changed to helping refugees who had fled the conflict. Many families have made their way to Addis Ababa having escaped from the Tigray region and it has been directly due to loyal supporters of the charity that we have the organisation, funds and volunteers in place to respond and help some of these children. Young, widowed Mums Zemeda, Leteberhane, Kasu, Letay and Bertekan crossed the treacherous 250 miles to the capital with their children not knowing what they would find. They found us and we agreed to support them. Food, clothing and healthcare have been provided and the school-age children are all in the classroom. We monitor the situation in Tigray on a daily basis and look forward to establishing communication links with our people in the region. Our support for families who are suffering in the war will be reassessed once information is available. ## **Health** ## **Covid-19** According to official statistics there have been just under half a million cases of covid-19 with nearly 8,000 deaths. Although the numbers are relatively low when compared with the UK there are clearly questions regarding the reliability of the data with few figures collected outside the capital where there is little access to healthcare. The phrase ‘everyone on the street is coughing’ has been used many times over the past year when we have called Tsege, Mahraig and Dibabe. Two of the key factors which have seen covid-19 result in hospitalisation and death have been age and obesity. The UK has an aging population – average over 45 years old. Ethiopia’s median age is under 20 years and with little obesity it may be that these are reasons why the death rate seems to be comparatively low. In terms of protection SCH is fortunate in that we have already provided sewing machines to Fasica and Feven, two of our young widowed Mums, and they have turned their hand to making masks. We have also ensured that all our volunteers and families have sanitizer as clean water is not always readily available. The first shipment of 2.2 million doses was administered last year after the AstraZeneca vaccines produced by Serum Institute of India arrived in Ethiopia in March 2021 through the COVAX scheme. Doctors, nurses and hospital support staff were given priority to receive the vaccine and at time of writing 25 million people in Ethiopia have now received the vaccine with 21 million fully vaccinated. We continue to build and strengthen partnerships with government officials, doctors and teachers and there are many examples where the children and their families have benefited. ## **CURE Hospital - Abduro** Dr Tim is a surgeon at the CURE hospital. A Londoner he graduated in Sheffield before relocating to Addis Ababa with his family. Children from many countries in East Africa are referred to him and several of the children we care for have benefited from his expertise including Kalkidan who had a corset fitted to arrest her spinal curvature. Abduro was born with severe bilateral club foot. Now 17 years old he has never walked and we agreed to care for him in March 2021. Dr Tim has since performed two operations on Abduro and both went well. Following this fixators were attached to Abduro and were adjusted every day to straighten his feet. Abduro took his first steps in September on what was a special day. Since then Dr Tim has made minor adjustments and Abduro is getting stronger and more mobile every day and is back in his village near Sheshemane. We are working with Chaltu from the hospital Mission Committee to assess how we can support Abduro and his siblings long-term. In line with the way we work we don’t just provide funding for a hospital treatment then walk away. Abduro’s father died four years ago leaving a widow and four more children all younger than Abduro. We want to help the whole family and look forward to the Mission Committee’s proposals. ## **Fistula Hospital – Elinor** Following our initial visit to the Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia and subsequent meetings with the hospital’s trustees we have been pleased to see our working relationship bear fruit during 2021. Long, obstructed labour in rural villages with no midwife in attendance and the nearest hospital hundreds of miles away leads to thousands of stillborn babies and extensive damage to women. On top of the grief a young girl, usually in her teens, has such internal injuries that she completely loses control of her faeces and urine – for life. Her husband leaves her, the village women shun her, she is abandoned in shame. She will spend the rest of her life alone and in misery with the stench of her own body a constant reminder of the hopelessness of her predicament. But actually there is hope. Since the 1950s gynaecologists have worked tirelessly to establish fistula hospitals in Ethiopia and tens of thousands of women have been repaired with life-changing surgery and they have been able to go home and experience a normal life. We are pleased to have been able to contribute in a small way to the work of this hospital and that today Elinor is cured. As with Abduro we are not satisfied to leave it at that and we shall be working with the aftercare specialists to ensure that Elinor has every chance to build an independent life. ## **Petros Hospital – Bisrat and Lhul** ‘Bisrat has a burst appendix – can you help?’ … ‘Yes, get him to hospital.’ Appendix removed, infection controlled and a smile back on Bisrat’s face. We registered Bisrat in school in September and he is doing well. Our Lemlem phoned with this plea earlier this year and immediate attention was clearly needed. This was our first introduction to Bisrat who is a little boy now 7 years old. Following the initial emergency we discovered that Bisrat’s widowed Mum Genet also has another son. Lhul is a couple of years younger than Bisrat and has hydrocephalus. We have had some success treating this condition in Helen Fantahun when Prof. Tony fitted a shunt to drain dangerous build-up of fluid in her brain. Initial assessments are underway and we shall work to a successful outcome for Lhul. ## **Kalkidan** Kalkidan was one of the first children we started to care for and she and Mum Bertekan are doing great. Back in 2016 when we visited them they were in a sorry state. A malnourished Kalkidan has spinal muscular atrophy and the likelihood was she would be bed-ridden for life. She slept in a place with Mum that was just big enough for the bed and lived on handouts. 2021 – Kalkidan has a wheelchair (and corset from Dr Tim) attends physiotherapy sessions, is well-nourished and is getting great results in school. She looks unrecognisable from the little scrap we first met. And this year the government started to give free school meals to the poor so more dinner ladies required. This led to a job for Bertekan at Kalkidan’s school so she is also on-site to help her daughter with her toilet needs. ## **Soliyana, Heren and Hananiya** Five years ago Tigist had just left her job in a builder’s merchant’s office as she was 8 months pregnant. Her husband worked on the site and they were looking forward to welcoming their first child. To the couple’s surprise Tigist gave birth to triplets - Soliyana, Heren and Hananiya. All three babies were born blind. Tigist devoted her time to bringing up her family then another shock when her husband was diagnosed with cancer. He died in December 2020. With no income Tigist needed help so we helped. The children have been accepted at the German Church School where the Principal tells us ‘they get trampled on quite a lot but they are doing fine.’ (Apparently getting ‘trampled on’ is a common occurrence in a room full of boisterous blind children.) Their favourite subject is music and particularly singing – we have the video. Following his teacher’s recommendation we referred Heren to hospital for assessment. The doctor told us ‘this boy is autistic as well as blind and will never learn anything – don’t waste your time with him anymore.’ Well that’s it then Heren, the doctor says we’ve got to dump you on the street. No chance. This beautiful boy will grow up surrounded by all the love in the world – and then some. With the triplets in school we turned our attention to Mum who was keen to work. We have provided her with a computer and paid for a maid to care for the triplets. This enabled Tigist to look for work and she has found employment in a local office. We can’t bring Dad back but this family has hope again. ## **Education** Many children across East Africa miss school. They have to plough fields, fetch the water, help on the market. Some have to learn how to handle a Kalashnikov. None of this applies to the children we care for and all the school age children in Addis Ababa are in the classroom. (Matyas is still in the war zone and the immediate security issues are taking priority.) A key first step to independence is education and we are pleased that we have registered all the children in school. This is our largest one-off outlay per year and in September 2021 we covered fees totalling £1,600. Noted that with the significant increase in the number of school-age children cared for post-September 2021 it is estimated that this figure will double for 2022/23 and beyond. In terms of results we continue to see children making the most of the opportunity they have been given and their school reports reflect their achievements. In a year when schools have been closed for months during lockdown, over a similar timespan to the UK, we have provided stationery and books to ensure that learning has not been disrupted. And the stars continue to shine. Fekir had shown exceptional ability so we organised a transfer to a higher-performing school where her potential has already been recognised. Jitu and Gebrella have also excelled and we are particularly pleased to see Yordanos performing well. Yordanos had been born on the rubbish tip in Addis Ababa and had known no other life. After agreeing to help we found a place for Mum Meskerem and her children and Yordanos started school in September 2019. Little sister Rediat has followed in her footsteps and joined Yordanos in September 2021. Yeshume is going to be a special needs teacher. Severely sightimpaired from birth she was an outcast in her village. She found her way to the capital and after suffering every abuse imaginable discovered the Ethiopian Women with Disabilities National Association. They contacted us and we have supported Yeshume ever since. Now a young adult we helped her enrol to Kotobe College where she is furthering her ambition to teach. We have ensured that she has all the audio equipment necessary to further her education and she will graduate in July 2022. Beyond that we see a successful transition to employment and look forward to seeing her working in the classroom. Danait and Delina used to be petrol-sniffers. In Addis Ababa gangs of children hang around outside fuel stations clutching dirty rags. When a motorist spills a drop or two the children eagerly rush to mop it up and breathe the fumes. ‘It takes away the pain.’ This is the kind of thing children in extreme poverty do to combat the feelings of hopelessness. Neglected children leads to neglected tragedy. Four years on and last September Danait (Marketing) and Delina (Accountancy) donned their graduation robes and left Admas University. We have supported these girls into the workplace and in Danait’s case to self-sufficiency. Early in 2022 we received that phone call that is music to our ears – ‘Thank you for everything you have done for me but I can stand on my own two feet now.’ Delina is continuing her studies on a master’s degree programme which is great. Her part-time job helps and we are on hand to help her keep on track. Clearly the benefits of the girls’ education will benefit both their families. Only a few years ago Danait and her Mum and two younger brothers were on the point of eviction following the death of her father. Delina’s parents both died after contracting AIDS (Delina is HIV+ but the course of antiretrovirals we organised are keeping the disease in check.) so she lives with her elderly Grandma Mana. Granny Mana couldn’t be more pleased with her granddaughter’s achievements. The wider benefit of supporting these two girls from initially horrific circumstances through secondary school and then university is that they can show what is possible no matter the challenges and we have three more children – Mehat, Halyeka and Melat – aiming to enrol at university in the next year. ‘If Danait and Delina can do it so can you’ - and the petrol-sniffing is a distant memory. ## **The Drive to Independence** We don’t dwell on the circumstances that we find desperate families in, the challenges which tell us what needs to be done. Our focus is on what can be done to transform a child’s life often with very little in terms of funding and often in a relatively short space of time. We do not impose our ideas on what we think folks should do – we engage, listen and look for energy and initiative. Beyond that we support families on their path to self-sufficiency and this approach has led to independence and hope for the future. The Drive to Independence has seen the initiatives embraced by our families extending in number, reach and diversity. As follows: ## **Chadwick Farm** Following a generous donation from one of our long-term supporters we have invested in two cows and a hundred chickens and income is being generated from sales of milk and eggs. This in turn has enabled us to care for more children and Nuhamin, Kristina, Meba, Soliyana, Yostina, Nathan and Eldiyan are fully supported by this initiative. This is a classic example of our desire to see a return on investment not in financial terms but in increasing numbers of children we can help. The trustees have seen the farm in operation and can confirm that high standards are being maintained. In addition to food and income there will also be employment opportunities for some of our children as the farm expands. ## **Sewing Machinists** At 18 years old Fasica lost her husband and she was disabled for life in an explosion at the factory where they worked. After the birth of her daughter Beselot they spent their days at the roadside begging. After being introduced to this little family by our friends at the Ethiopian Women with Disabilities National Association we organised splints for Fasica’s legs and registered Beselot in school – she is doing well. Last year we agreed to fund a training course so that Fasica could earn income as a sewing machinist. Kind donors provided the sewing machine and she was soon up and running making clothes, bedspreads and curtains. During the lockdown she started to make face masks for hospitals and, with a little help from budding machinist Beselot, we have high hopes for their future. Widowed, maimed – life reclaimed. Feven’s husband died after contracting AIDS and Feven is HIV+ with a son Bamlak. Bed-ridden when we first met the antiretrovirals had a dramatic effect and soon we were talking with Feven about her future. (By this time we had enrolled Bamlak at school and he is proving to be one of our stars.) Feven had been employed as a machinist prior to getting sick so once we had given her the equipment – again thanks to kind donors – she was soon making clothes for customers. And this year has seen a further upturn in fortunes. The Ethiopian government’s initiative to provide poor children with school uniforms has led to a need to recruit more machinists and Feven has successfully applied for a post in one of their factories. Just needed a chance. The Yorkits project is an initiative of The Rotary Club of York Ainsty. In developing countries girls miss out on education every month during their periods. Good folks in Yorkshire work to templates making feminine hygiene products and these are sent to Pakistan, Nepal, Kenya and many other countries so that menstruation does not impact negatively on a girl’s life. With Fasica and Feven we can take the Yorkits project a step further and produce the items in-country. The templates and instructions have been sent to the two ladies and the first consignment of washable sanitary towels was sent to teachers for distribution in school in June 2021. It took 3 weeks from initial approach to delivery. The Rotarians had the idea, we had the workforce, machines and energy – happy union. And Aynalum is a new member of the sewing machine team. A refugee of the war she found her way to the city and we were asked to help. Discovering that she had been a machinist before the war started led to supplying her with a sewing machine and she has joined Fasika and Feven making clothes, curtains and bedding. The path to self-sufficiency lies ahead. ## **Shops and Market Stalls** Since 2019 we have supported young widowed mothers to set up market stalls selling vegetables and pots and pans. Aynalum (Muna and Mehat’s Mum) and Meskerem (Yordanos, Rediat and Makbel’s Mum) have done particularly well. Building on this we have contacted local government officials and been granted rent-free premises to open shops. Discarded and second-hand clothes are sent to Ethiopia in shipping containers and the government grant licences to the poor to sell them and earn an income. Kasye (Bereket and Habtom’s Dad) now has his licence and is a regular at the distribution centre. Tgist (Fekir’s Mum), Asmeret (Sharon’s Mum) and Berhane (Eldana and Makbel’s Mum) have yet to be given licences but this has not held them up as donors have supported these ladies with funds to set up in business with their first stock. Over time it is clear that these shops could be an outlet for the clothes that Fasica, Feven and Aynalum produce with their sewing machines. Letay is another of the young widows whose husband was killed in the war. We have provided her with the means to set up a market stall and she is working hard to provide for her children. Abraha and Filimon are giving Mum a hand when not in school. It is only a few months since they escaped from the conflict but already they have hope for the future. ## **Cafes and Food Outlets** In addition to selling clothes we have also supported Kasye to open a café where he sells tea, coffee and soft drinks. Sons Bereket and Habtom were on hand during lockdown to serve customers. And Mebrat (Yabsera’s Mum) has extended this idea. Our volunteers found Mebrat a pitch in one of the shopping malls in Addis Ababa where she sells traditional Ethiopian coffee. Mebrat has agreed terms with the owner of the shop she sits outside with her coffee pot to use his electricity. (The shopping mall is in one of the more affluent areas of the city and power is supplied.) As customers sit drinking Mebrat allows them to charge their mobile phones for a small fee and takings from coffee sales are supplemented. And we have opened our first chip shop in Ethiopia. Mahraig got the fryer, Mama Asmeret is cooking and daughter Sharon was first in the queue. ## **Cooking and Water Provision** Mgogos (cookers) have been provided for Berhane (Eldana and Makbel’s Mum) and Tsege Alemayoh (Danait, Abel and Melkyas’ Mum). Both ladies have built customer bases in their local communities and have regular orders for injera (bread). One of the advantages of supporting families across the city is that Berhane and Tsege Alemayoh don’t live in the same district so don’t compete for the same customers. We have also supplied Betiel (Frei’s Mum) with a fryer and she is often seen at the street corner selling chips (crisps) and maize to passers-by. And - a real flash of inspiration from Robuma. This boy was born without arms but is very capable – his exploits with the karate club where we funded his enrolment are evidence of that. Robuma and his Mum live outside the city and the local well regularly dries up. When this happens Robuma has a difficult trek to fetch water. Local church leaders looked kindly on our application for funds to have water piped into Robuma’s place and the work was completed this year. Seeing an opportunity Mum and Robuma have gone into the water selling business and the local community has benefited by having water ‘on tap.’ ## **Hairdressing** As referred to we have increased our numbers during 2021/22 primarily due to supporting refugees from the civil war. These are young widows with – as in Kasu’s case - up to five children. We have encouraged these women to work together and form a supportive community. Zemeda has established herself as the natural leader of the group and she has shown great initiative. We agreed to support her idea to set up a hairdressing business and she now has the equipment to serve customers in the community. This is an area we have had success in as we arranged for Natsinet – Amen’s mother - to be trained as a hairdresser in 2017 and she has earned a steady income over the years. ## **Bee Keeping** Abraham and his little son visited us when we were in Ethiopia. They had no income and were living on handouts. During discussions the idea for Abraham to sell honey was raised. Abraham’s birthplace is a village north of Addis Ababa and bees are common in that area. An initial grant was provided for Abraham to travel to his village, collect the wild honey or buy it from villagers then return to the city and sell it for a profit. We also encouraged Abraham to open a bank account and Dibabe went with him. Many Ethiopians have never been into a bank so this was a breakthrough leading to saving for the future, budgeting and aspects of general money management that are alien to many people living hand to mouth across the country. Accounts are now opened as a matter of course when we agree to help families and this has the added benefit of easier allowance distribution for our volunteers via bank transfer. ## **Jobs and Training** We are constantly on the lookout for jobs for the parents and guardians of the children we support. In Addis Ababa many ladies are seen sweeping the streets with a giant palm leaf, basic work but it is a start and has the advantage of pre-school children being able to accompany Mum. Taike (Absera, Kalkidan and Kenyan’s Mum) and Meskerem (Yordanos, Rediat and Makbel’s Mum) are up early each morning keeping the city tidy. We have also found cleaning jobs for Mums, not forgetting Bertekan’s dinner lady post already mentioned in the section on Health. Training is another route to employment, income and independence and Natsinet (Amen’s Mum) continues to cut and blow-dry hair in her place. We have cared for Natsinet and Amen – who was a baby back in 2016 – after we found her when she had been attacked in the street. After her discharge from hospital we funded her training and the value of that has been long-term. Amen is now a schoolboy and is very proud of Mum. Muna failed his driving test. No problem – he is back behind the wheel and determined to pass next time. In the meantime he continues to work as a bus conductor and is well placed to get a driving job when he gets his licence. As a caring charity we do not want to create dependency and work towards the day when the families we support contact us to say ‘thank you for everything but we can stand on our own two feet now – please use the money you send us to help others.’ ## **3.2 Outside Ethiopia** The UK-based team have delivered a programme of online and face-toface presentations and the awareness of the charity’s work continues to grow. Income has continued its trend of increasing year on year which has led directly to enabling the charity to care for more children, improving the quality of care and ensuring that we are in a position to respond to emergencies as they arise. Saltergate Children’s Home, Ethiopia is one of the charities supported by St Paul’s Church, Hasland and we are grateful for all that the congregation do for our children. We are also wonderfully supported by St Thomas’ church, Brampton. Danait and Delina continue to benefit by having access to the computers provided by the Mission Committee and they expressed their gratitude at their university graduation ceremony. And we are honoured that residents of Bradbury Close, Wingerworth - many of whom belong to the Salem Chapel – continue to support SCH following their open air carol service for us in 2020. At Christmas we were also grateful for the many orders for our festive cards which this year featured baby Rebecca. And - the SCH Christmas Tree is a regular feature in December and appreciated by visitors to the churches. As covered here presentations are used to communicate the progress of the charity and we have built lasting relations with altruistic people and organisations. We are particularly pleased that new audiences in London have shown appreciation for our work. In September 2021 the trustees worked with United Nations representatives to promote the charity to the congregation of the Parish Church of Mitcham. It is a pleasure to visit and talk about the transformed lives of the children. Further, we are grateful for the perceptive feedback received and this has directly fed into our thinking as we have developed strategies and objectives and moved beyond our fledgling charity days. Articles promoting our work have also been included in local and national publications and radio interviews have also featured. These have led to a measurable increase in support. All the means of raising awareness are rewarding in that people have naturally been drawn to the stories of how children from horrific backgrounds have had their lives transformed and, of course, as the children grow the stories are progressive. There is genuine interest in Eldana’s success at school, Robuma’s developing expertise at karate and Gebrella’s new-found mobility in her wheelchair. The publications and radio stations which have featured Saltergate Children’s Home, Ethiopia are: - Reflections - Kaleidoscope – Sutton African Caribbean Cultural Organisation - TWIST - S40 - The Derbyshire Times - Lichgate News, St Paul’s church - Ploughshare, St Thomas’ church - BBC Radio Derby - BBC Radio Sheffield - Spire Radio - Imperial Voice Radio - Elastic FM - Sheffield Hallam University Alumni Newsletter The 2021 London Marathon was one of the biggest ever held on the planet with 40,000 runners on the streets of London and many more running a virtual London marathon in countries all over the world. Entries included elite champions Ashete Bekere (Ethiopia), Sara Hall (USA), Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) and best of all Jo Heath (Chesterfield). After 5 years of applying SCH were rewarded with a charity entry and Jo took her place at the start on Sunday 3 October. ‘Jo ran for the children!’ And the baton has been picked up by more enthusiastic competitors. Alysha Bradley and Paul Chell have successfully competed in the Vitality London 10,000 and Zoe Burrows actually won the ladies over-40s Ladybower Trail Marathon. Wonderful effort by all and tonight there are children in Ethiopia sleeping with a roof over their heads paid for as a direct result of these heroes. And it doesn’t stop there – William Treves has entered the September Big Half marathon in London and Beth Waller is going to conquer Ben Nevis for the children this summer – champions all. During 2021/22 the reach of Saltergate Children’s Home, Ethiopia has continued to extend to countries around the world. In addition to supporters in Australia, Denmark, France, Italy and several states across the USA we now have friends in Brazil who have a keen interest in our work. Kind donors have also increased in number in towns and cities in the UK and we are delighted with the response to our work by groups of friends in London and Derby who have taken up the cause and are increasingly involved in the promotion of the charity’s work. Although still available to purchase on Amazon our book ‘Inside Eritrea – A Volunteer in East Africa’ is now primarily gifted to interested parties as a means of providing information about the background to founding the charity. Book signing events have taken place and the book is now on the shelves of Chesterfield library. If you would like a copy please get in touch. Further, a retired police officer who has written about his experience advising the Ethiopian Police Force has kindly agreed to donate a proportion of sales to the charity. His book is called ‘British Bobby on International Beat’ and is available from the author at john.bown@w3z.co.uk. ## **4. Financial Review** A simple truth is always to the fore as the trustees look to support children and work to help them secure their future: ## _**It is kind and loyal donors who give our volunteers the means to feed, house and educate the children we care for and we can do nothing without their support.**_ The quality of life and the number of children we can support is directly proportional to the donations received and at a time when many charities are struggling and even asking the government for help we are grateful that our supporters have increased in number and that long-standing regular donors have increased the amount they give. As such 45 more children are not sleeping in the gutter tonight, scavenging on the rubbish tip for food and wondering why they will never see the inside of a classroom. The cost of supporting a child including food and schooling is **£20 a month.** During 2021/22 our families have also benefited from significant one-off donations that we have used to award grants to widowed Mums, cover emergency medical costs and pay the annual school fees. School registration is our largest one-off expenditure and is due in September each year – currently totalling **£3,000 pa** . As Danait and Delina graduate, Tgsti builds her retail business and Muna leaves school and starts to earn an income driving minibuses the time is approaching when they will become independent and regular financial support from us will not be necessary. This will release funds to take on other children and a ‘conveyor belt’ approach will start to evolve. However, we will always maintain relations with children and guardians previously supported as emergencies happen and we will always be someone they can turn to in times of hardship. As our purposes are centred on children our support for families has to be long-term – we don’t drop a coin in their hand and walk away. We want to see Rebecca and Caleb at university in 2038 (if that is their ambition), Fekir a practicing surgeon (if she still wants to make that dream reality) and Abduro able to provide for his younger siblings. As such the trustees are building reserves that support these children as they grow without them having any fear of being on the street again. Based on current operating levels the charity has sufficient reserves to cover expenditure in Ethiopia and satisfy the aforementioned long-term aims for the children we care for and we shall be working to increase the number of children who can benefit in this way. Broadly the charity continues to operate on a prudent basis of: Regular funds in e.g. standing orders = Regular allowances paid and One-off donations = One-off payments made e.g. medical emergencies, grants, annual school registration fees. Noted also that with the purchase of cash-generating livestock we now have the means to commute reserves into regular income. For example, a cow acquired for £1,000 can bring in sufficient funds every month via milk sales to support two more children. This without the need for increased regular expenditure from the charity. We continue to use only registered banking systems for investment and money transfer. As advised by the UK International Charity Engagement Team we never use cash couriers. Noted that no funds are materially in deficit. For further financial information please visit the Charity Commission website. ## **5. Change Agenda and Concluding Remarks** The three main areas outlined in the introduction to this report and detailed in the text will continue to provide the framework for objectives going forward. That is: - **Support for refugees fleeing from the war** - **Return on investment in terms of children supported** - **The natural evolution of and support for SCH communities** Saltergate Children’s Home, Ethiopia will continue to deliver on its purposes to cover the medical, housing and educational needs of disadvantaged children in Ethiopia. We are keen that our support helps to build confidence and capability and leads to the independence of the families we care for as they escape from the generation to generation poverty trap. The issue of children progressing beyond secondary education is regularly addressed as we support young people through the transition to higher or further education, employment and selfsufficiency. Possible routes to independence will also be regularly assessed with the children’s guardians. If a widowed Mum can earn income the whole family benefits. The equipment, knowledge and expertise are important but the real find is the energy, commitment and desire to succeed for the benefit of her children. That is the inner strength that doesn’t choose to walk away when challenges arise but works to find the solution in the midst of famine, disease and war. As covered in our report **this drive to independence will be a recurring consideration giving focus to our energy and informing our decision-making.** At time of writing there are 400,000 people living and dying in the famine in Ethiopia and a further 1.8 million people are on the brink of starvation. Thousands have been killed and over 6 million have been internally displaced. As a small charity we cannot change the world but we can make a world of difference to some of the children who are suffering through no fault of their own. The conflict and the fallout from the conflict will play out over the coming months and years and we will be working with our volunteers to continue playing our part. The thread running throughout this report highlights the critical factor underpinning everything we have done since foundation in 2015. That is the need to build, innovate and deliver as partners while maintaining our identity and operating independently. Whether it be with donors around the world, the Charity Commission in the UK or volunteers, doctors, employers and government departments in Ethiopia our growing network of friends is helping to turn aspirations into reality. The question 'who can we work with to transform this child's life?, will be raised time and again and we look forward to working even closer with existing partners and forging links with new partners for the benefit of vulnerable and needy children, their families and the communities they live in. Although our change agenda Is progressive and demanding our touchstone is summarised in one constant question and guides everything we do - 'if this child was your own what would you do?, 6. Declaration Independent Examiner h*vIM6 l£ffjiAé Signature Date Chair of Trustees Signature Date ## **Appendices** ## **Appendix A - Reference and Administration** Charity Name: Saltergate Children’s Home, Ethiopia Registered Charity Number: 1175880 Charity’s Address: 62 Rhodesia Road, Brampton, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S40 3AL United Kingdom ## M: (+44) 077 899 75460 ## E: kevinjosephmorley@yahoo.co.uk ## **Charity Trustees** 1. Michelle Marie Guthrie 2. Rebecca Thomas 3. Genet Morley 4. David Levick 5. Kevin Morley (Chair) The body entitled to appoint trustees are the current board of charity trustees. ## **Names of the trustees for the charity e.g. Custodian Trustees** None ## **Names and addresses of advisers** None ## **Name of Chief Executive or names of senior staff members** None ## **Appendix B - Structure, Governance and Management** ## **Description of the charity’s trusts** Type of Governing Document: Constitution adopted 21 June 2015. How the charity is constituted: Unincorporated Association. Trustee selection method: Trustees are appointed or re-appointed annually at the Annual General Meeting by existing trustees. ## **Additional Governance Issues** At induction trustees are referred to the Charity Commission guidance and the charity’s policies in particular regarding safeguarding. All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no remuneration or other benefits. ## **Appendix C – Principles, Objectives and Activities** Since foundation the trustees have worked hard to ensure that we can support children long-term ultimately to self-sufficiency. As such the decision-making process has to be consistent over time, support agreed programmes and lead to transformational change. We operate in a dynamic environment and regular contact with volunteers in Ethiopia is apparent on a daily basis. When dealing with the many requests and challenges the following list of guiding principles acts as a reference: - SCH supports children who are with a family member. This ensures that safeguarding concerns are minimised and no one associated with the charity is ever alone with a child. Typically the children live with a grandmother or aunt having become orphaned. In other cases the father has died and income has ceased. Young widowed mothers with children are a common sight begging in Ethiopia. - SCH is not structured along the lines of a single large building filled with children. Historically this approach has been shown to have serious flaws even in developed countries. Instead the children live in separate small houses across Addis Ababa. Usually the house comprises only a single room but it is a start and it is off the street. - The charity is pleased to report that, although the number of children cared for has increased, we continue to oversee a very personal operation. We know if Gebrella is doing well in school, we know how Abduro’s operation has gone, we know what Bamlak has had for breakfast. When the trustees are not in Ethiopia our volunteers maintain close relations with all the families supported and daily contact with the trustees ensures that progress can be monitored and issues resolved in a timely and effective manner. - The need to strive for _whole family_ independence has been accepted as a valuable way forward. For example, if we provide a young widowed mother with a sewing machine to earn an income mending clothes then her children also benefit. This releases funds to support other families, reduces dependency and results in heightened self-esteem. - Greater focus on partnership working is seen as an important step in being able to support children effectively and SCH has already benefited from working closely with hospitals and other charities in Addis Ababa. - And – as always – every penny donated goes directly to the food, clothing, housing, healthcare and education for the children. All SCH overheads and running costs from payment of money transfer charges from the UK to Ethiopia to the cost of flights to Addis Ababa are met by the trustees. Donors contributions are highly valued and do not disappear down a black hole. It is seen as vital that a donor knows what a world of difference they have made to a child’s life. The main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to the charity’s objects and with due regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission are in accordance with the strategies: ## **1. Management** Overall management of the charity has ensured that a legal framework is adhered to, the planning cycle is robust and the vision is being delivered in accordance with the agreed strategies. ## **2. Promotion and Fund Raising** The charity is promoted worldwide, awareness is raised and a network of individuals and partner organisations which are mutually beneficial and have developed into a supportive community is being built. ICT is used wherever possible to promote and secure the charity. Homes are supported by raising funds by any legal means, approaching organisations and individuals and promoting events and initiatives. Donors and Friends of Saltergate Children’s Home, Ethiopia are highly valued for their essential contribution. ## **3. Cost Reduction** Effort has been expended to ensure that costs are on a variable basis wherever possible and opportunities are continuously sought to drive costs down. ## **4. Partnership** We have built relations with government departments and other organisations and charities – bodies that the charity can work with in partnership to deliver the vision. ## **5. Care in Ethiopia** We research, deploy and deliver on care, accommodation, medical facilities/expertise and appropriate educational establishments. Regular payments have been made to families and one-off payments are made in response to requests for healthcare and educational supplies. Children have been referred for vaccinations in accordance with the programme available in Ethiopia and the cost of physiotherapy and dietary supplements has been covered. ## **6. Growth in Ethiopia** We grow secure, sustainable homes as driven by the charity’s available resources which are legally-based. We have built a supportive family community and gender balance of the total number of children we care for is continuously addressed. The value of the charity’s work to the children it supports can be measured in terms of: - Provision of basic needs e.g. food, clothing - Families in accommodation - Children in school and results in school - Children receiving necessary healthcare - Adults in training - Families becoming self-sufficient - Level of Return **The trustees confirm that they have had regard to Charity Commission guidance on Public Benefit when planning the charity’s activities at the trustee meetings.** Charity Commission for England and Wales Receipts and Payments Accounts Charity Name: Saltergate Children's Home, Ethiopia Charity Number: 1175880 For the period from: 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 Section A- Receipts and payments A1 Receipts Unrestrlcted Funds Restrlctgd Funds Endowmonl Funds Total Fund8 Last year Donatlons Ilndlvlduals) 14704 14704 13383 Oonatlon8 IOryanl$atlon$ 10861 10861 8327 Donatlons (Trusteesl 1579 1579 2099 Fund Ra181ng Events 5CEO 5060 Gift Aid Receipts 2018 2018 880 Sub Total 34222 34222 24689 A2 Asset and Investment sales Total Receipts 34222 34222 24689 020922 A3 Payments Unrestrlcted Funds Restrict Funds Endowment Funds Total Funds Last Year Payments made to Ethiopia 15340 15340 14594 Prlntlng, statlonery postage 1579 1579 2099 Travel & Subslst•nco Sub Totsl 16919 16919 16693 A4 Asset and Investment purchases Total Payments 16919 16919 16693 Net of Receiptsl Payments 17303 17303 7996 AS Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end 26355 26355 Cash funds thls year end 43658 43658 020922 Section B - Statement of Assets and Liabilities at the end of the period B1 Cash Funds Detal Unreslrl¢tfrd Funds Restrfcted Funds Endowment Funds Total cash fund¥ (brt from receipt and payment accounts) 43658 B2 Other Monetary Assets Deta518 Unrostrkted Funds Rostrlcted Funds Endowment Funds B3 Investment Assets D￿•113 Fund to whlch asset belongs Co81 Current Value B4 Assets retained for the charity's own use Details Fund to whlch assel belong6 Current Value 020922 B5 Liabilities Details Fund to which Ilability relates Amount Due When Due Signed by one trustee on behalf of all the trustses Signature Print Name Date of Approval /2,£4 Kevin Morley 2 Juty 2022 Fom18t based on The Charity Commission template March 2012." New fonn8t January 2017 020922 Charity Commission for England and Wales Receipts and Payments Accounts Charity Name: Saltergate Children's Home, Ethiopia Charity Number: 1175880 For the period from: 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 Independent Examiner's Report I hereby declare that on Thursday 14 July 2022 the following evidence pertaining to the Saltergate Children's Home, Ethiopia accounts were made available to me: Receipts and Payments Accounts Bank Statements Receipts International Transfer documents I confirm that the income and expenditure shown in the accounts for 2021122 are a true and accurate record of receipts and payments. Signed Janine Lemire - Independent Examiner Date 030922