Sainted Roots
**2024** Annual Report
Charity Number: **1184408**
## Contents
|Executive Summary|P 2|
|---|---|
|How We Make A Difference|P 3|
|2024 Delivery Summary|P 4|
|2024 Achievements Summary|P 5|
|The Sainted Roots Theory of Change|P 7|
|Community Champions Programme|P 8|
|Programme Challenges & Lessons Learnt|P12|
|Impact Since Inception|P13|
|2024 Financial Review|P14 - 15|
|Meet The Team|P16 - 17|
1
## Executive Summary
Zimbabwe’s rural communities continue to face challenges, yet the spirit of resilience in Manicaland remains strong. At Sainted Roots, our mission continues to nurture self-reliance, unity, and sustainable growth. We do this by drawing on the strengths already rooted within our communities.
## **Ongoing Drought:**
While the continuing drought has strained agriculture and daily life, communities in Manicaland have shown determination and adaptability. Farmers continue to embrace climate-smart practices, like **diga-u-gute** , seed-saving, and small-scale irrigation to sustain food production. Unlike in past years, the region was largely spared from severe cyclone damage, allowing families to focus their energy on restoring productivity and rebuilding livelihoods.
## **Renewed Hope:**
Across our partner villages, we are witnessing a quiet yet steady renewal of optimism. Through ongoing engagement in Conversation Cafés and the leadership of our Community Champions, families are sharing ideas, supporting one another with resources, and strengthening their livelihoods. The
Champions’ cooperative projects are lifting morale, generating small income streams, and helping communities rebuild confidence and stability.
The year 2024 has shown how Sainted Roots thrives when rooted in service, working hand in hand with communities, thinking longterm, and honouring the earth as a source of life and value. This approach continues to inspire improved farming practices and deeper connections between people and the land.
## **Growth and Local Leadership:**
2024 marked a significant milestone as Sainted Roots was officially registered as a Private Voluntary Organisation (PVO) in Zimbabwe, strengthening our foundation and deepening our commitment to long-term community partnership. Our Champions Program also continued to grow, building local leadership and encouraging participatory governance. These champions are becoming vital voices in shaping development priorities and strengthening trust between communities and local authorities.
At Sainted Roots, we remain devoted to nurturing the strength and potential within every community, helping Zimbabwe not only to endure but to thrive.
Faith Nyabdza - St Francis
## **Co-founder and Chair of Trustees**
2
## How We Make A Difference
## **Objectives**
1. To support sustainable relief of poverty and improvement of living conditions amongst the economically and socially disadvantaged rural communities.
Now registered as a PVO, Sainted Roots continues to work alongside rural communities in **Makoni District, Manicaland Province,** helping them lead their own paths out of poverty through knowledge sharing, collaboration, and local innovation. Our approach remains grounded in community ownership and the belief that lasting change grows from within.
2. To provide support for economic growth and regeneration in the rural communities.
3. To empower the communities to take ownership of finding solutions that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
In 2024, our focus strengthened around the **Community Champions Program** , supporting five dedicated leaders from Shenayeguta, Njanike, Chikuruwo, Mutondoro, and Kamhera.
These champions are building skills in leadership and
**participatory governance,** ensuring that local voices shape our development priorities. Through their guidance, communities are finding renewed confidence, unity, and **sustainable progress** .
## **Activities**
1. We support and provide training to proactive individuals, helping them become Community Champions that have the capacity to uplift their communities.
## **Aim**
The long-term aim of Sainted Roots is to **promote long term sustainable development** in the rural communities of Makoni District, Manicaland Province, with the intention of expanding into the neighboring provinces of Masvingo and Mashonaland East.
2. We work with Agriculture Officers to train and encourage sustainable farming methods to improve harvests, for food and economic stability.
3. We plant fruit and indigenous trees, to enhance biodiversity and to help restore the local environment.
4. We work with consultants to provide training and community counselling to empower and build capacity.
5. We work with local agencies and are committed to safeguarding the most vulnerable members of the communities we serve.
3
## 2024 Delivery Summary
## **Operations Summary**
2024 was another year of ongoing transition for Sainted Roots, as we slowed down operations to reflect, consolidate, and strengthen our foundations. We focused on understanding what participatory governance means in practice for the communities we serve.
In response to the continuing drought and broader social and economic challenges, our efforts centred on capacity building and leadership development through the Community Champions Program. Champions received interpersonal development training to help them continue growing as trusted local leaders.
Building on the success of 2023, we continued hosting Conversation Cafés, creating safe and welcoming spaces for community members to share experiences, express concerns, and collaboratively explore solutions.
Through these initiatives, Sainted Roots strengthened its model of empowerment, supporting communities to lead with confidence, unity, and resilience.
4
## 2024 Achievements Summary
## **Peacebuilding and Community Engagement**
We established _**Zunde raMambo**_ , a traditional welfare system where a portion of each harvest is set aside to support others in times of need. This year, 10×50kg of maize were stored for food and seed security. However, with the failure of food aid
In 2024, peacebuilding remained central to Sainted Roots’ work. We continued Conversation Cafés, including one with the Community Champions to develop personal missions and community visions. These forums strengthened trust, encouraged collaboration, and supported communities in navigating social challenges.
deliveries and the impact of the ongoing drought on local harvests, Sainted Roots stepped in to provide food assistance to the most vulnerable families. We also purchased produce from local farmers to both supplement relief efforts and secure seed for the next planting season, ensuring continued community resilience.
The **Community Champions Programme** grew with five leaders from Shenayeguta, Njanike, Chikuruwo, Mutondoro, Gandanzara, and Kamhera receiving training in leadership, governance, and financial planning. Champions led by example in agriculture and animal husbandry, raising 32 piglets, 230 chickens, and six calves, producing food for their families, trading surplus, and creating four new local jobs. Innovative initiatives included borrowing livestock to support each other’s growth.
The Champions have been central in fostering p **articipatory governance,** as we look to shift the program towards being directed by those on the ground. Through mentorship and peer-learning, they are building a sense of shared responsibility within their communities.
These efforts are laying a **strong foundation** for long-term sustainability. By combining practical agricultural skills, leadership development, and open community dialogue, Sainted Roots is fostering initiatives that will continue to uplift families and communities well into the future, **strengthening social cohesion, diversifying local economic opportunities, and deepening local ownership across Makoni District.**
A **Field Day** attended by 28 community members and the local Agricultural Officer. We celebrated innovation and collaboration, with seed and fertilizer awarded to outstanding and inspirational farming initiatives that are strengthening local resilience and knowledge.
5
## 2024 Achievements Highlights
## _**Achievements Include:**_
- 4no. **Workshops delivered** with Community Champions and the SR Rural Team, including financial planning and mentoring those working with them.
- **1 no. Conversation Café** was held with the Community Champions and members from three villages; Njanike, Shenayaguta, and Murehwa. The event included activities to strengthen personal and community missions and visions, while also reflecting on lessons learned from the collapse of the community farming projects.
- **2 no. Field Days** held with the local Agricultural Officer. Attended by 50-60 people from across the 5 villages.
- **100kg of sweet bean, 100kg of rapoko** (finger millet) purchased for food security and seed
- **6 permanent** and **50 seasonal** jobs created by the Community Champions
- **A total of 30 piglets, 2100 chickens, 20 goats** and **5 calves,** were born and raised by the Community Champions
- **Crop storage and thrashing floo** r for processing harvests buildings works were completed. Built by local builders working with local youths.
- Following our ongoing collaboration with local agencies. Victims of **Gender Based Violence** have been directed to local agencies for support.
- **Zunde raMambo** established with 10x 50kg of maize stored to help those most in need.
- **Toys and clothes donated** to community children.
- **20 liters** of honey produced
6
## Community Champions Programme
Pragramme Outline Definition
7
## Community Champions Program
A summary of the year
The Community Champions Programme empowers local leaders to drive sustainable change in their communities. In 2024, five Champions received leadership training, facilitation, and participatory governance, strengthening their ability to support and mobilise their communities. Champions are also leading by example in agriculture and animal husbandry, producing enough food to support their families, sell surplus, and create both permanent and seasonal local jobs.
Despite challenges from drought and limited water access, two champions achieved successful harvests while the others faced poor yields. All five continue to trade vegetables in their communities and have shown ingenuity in supporting one another. For example, one champion borrowed a female pig for two years to raise and breed, with the promise of returning it pregnant. Through workshops, peer-learning, and Conversation Cafés, champions foster inclusive dialogue and collaborative problem-solving, helping village communities take ownership of their development while strengthening social cohesion and long-term impact.
8
## **Sainted Roots’ Theory of Change**
## Activities Refined
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2
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Nurture Strong Community
Champions
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- Enhanced training for proactive individuals to help them set up their own projects / expand existing projects.
- • Support proactive individuals to become leaders and share learning.
- • Provide resources for projects that align with SR Mission.
- 1 •
- Encourage Personal Growth
- Community wide training on principles of personal growth: Being Proactive.
- Identify potential community champions
- Complete initial assessment of community
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4
Connect Community
Champions to Other Villages
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3
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Support Community Champions To Lead Community Projects
- Encourage regular community meetings.
- Use available communal lands to produce cash & stable food crops Grow and plant fruit and indigenous trees
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Create shared community spaces Improving community infrastructure Ensure Animal Welfare
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-
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- Provide opportunities for / encourage community champions to work with other communities.
- Build a network of communities working together.
9
## Community Champions Programme
Programme Overview as part of the Personal Growth Programme
10
## Community Champions Photos
Community Champions at work farming and raising animals.
Photographs courtesy of African farming Content Creator **She_Africa** . Follow on Youtube: @SheAfrica5933
11
## Programme Challenges
A summary of the challenges faced with delivery/scaling of programmes and improvements that will be made as a result.
## **Challenges**
## **Lessons Learnt**
- **Economic Conditions.** Local currency instability and price fluctuations have continued to pose challenges. Although the new currency, the ZiG, has been introduced, rural communities are often among the last to be informed of such changes leaving them vulnerable to losses during major economic transitions.
- **Prenial Droughts.** The low rainfall of 2023 has significantly affected the 2024 harvest. Our _**Zunde raMambo**_ reserves have been depleted, and restocking will remain a challenge for as long as the drought persists.
- **Marketing Challenges.** Rural farmers continue to face challenges in accessing profitable markets for their produce. Government initiatives, such as the command agriculture program, often undervalue produce, impacting on profits for smallholder farmers.
- **Lack Of Resources.** The ongoing limited availability of farming tools has led to over-reliance on livestock for agricultural work. Additionally, restrictions on seed production and distribution, coupled with the use of bio-engineered seeds, continue to impact local farming practices
- Develop the Community Champions programme further with a focus on community led participatory governance,
- Hold regular Conversation Cafés to get people to communicate more effectively and address social issues early
- Strengthen relationships between village communities, the police, and other agencies to raise awareness of safeguarding issues, relevant laws, and the support services available.
- Install a borehole in each community and promote micro-market gardening to help mitigate the impact of drought on food scarcity.
- Develop Tree planting program and encourage the use of drought farming methods such **diga-u-gute** and **zero-tillage** .
- Develop clearer pathways to market and to improve the profitability of rural farmers.
12
## Impact Since Inception
**Data:** Activities delivered between Nov 2015 - Dec 2024.
School Fees Funded For 175 Children (including 35 orphans), supporting the education provision for 600+ children from surrounding villages
Ongoing support continues for 33 adults living with HIV. _Zunde raMambo_ food and seed where distributed to those most in need.
Working in 6 villages though the Community Champions Program and community farming projects
$45,000 income generated and invested back into the community
40% of villagers surveyed were reported to have access to 3 meals per day & further 54% had access to at least 2 meals per day
Support given to children and vulnerable adults experiencing abuse
20 Hectares of communal land donated to support our work. Some lands not used following the collapse of the community farming programmes
6 villages impacted through training provision
$68,600 Donated to SR programmes and invested in rural communities
50+ seasonal jobs and 6 part time jobs created to support delivery of our work 0ver 70 Tonnes of produce grown Over 3,000 Trees budded & grafted.
13
## 2024 Finance Review
## **2024 Charity Commission Report**
## Sainted Roots – 11844084
For the year ended 31 December 2024
|||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted Funds**|**Endowment Funds**|**Total Funds**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**Funds**||||
|**1. Net Income / (Expenditure)**||||||
|**Income (GBP)**||||||
|**_Donations & Legacies_**||||||
||Donations and Gifts|5,009.04|0.00|0.00|5,009.04|
|Total Donations & Legacies||5,009.04|0.00|0.00|5,009.04|
|**_Other_**||||||
||Bank Interest|4.19|0.00|0.00|4.19|
|Total Other||4.19|0.00|0.00|4.19|
|**Total Income**||5,013.23|0.00|0.00|5,013.23|
|**Expenditure (GBP**||||||
|**_Charitable Activities_**||||||
||Delivery of Charitable Goods & Services|(4,017.89)|0.00|0.00|(4,017.89)|
||Governance Costs|(200.00)|0.00|0.00|(200.00)|
|Total Charitable Activities||(4,217.89)|0.00|0.00|(4,217.89)|
|**_Other_**||||||
||Connectivity, Phone & Data|(225.47)|0.00|0.00|(225.47)|
||IT Software|(568.87)|0.00|0.00|(568.87)|
|Total Other||(794.34)|0.00|0.00|(794.34)|
|**Total Expenditure**||(5,012.23)|0.00|0.00|(5,012.23)|
|**Total Net Income / (Expenditure)**||1.00|0.00|0.00|1.00|
14
## 2024 Finance Review
**2024 Spend Breakdown by Function / Programme**
Sainted Roots - 1184408
For the year ended 31 December 2024
|**Function / Programme**|**Amount (GBP)**|**Amount (GBP)**|
|---|---|---|
|**IT**
Microsoft 365 Software|**794.34**
199.79||
|Phone & Data|50.01||
|Wix-Website Hosting, Design and Domain|288||
|Phone & Data|175.46||
|Xero Accounting Software|81.08||
|**Operations**|**538.36**||
|Transport Expense For Employee|33.34||
|Road Tax|50.85||
|Freelander Vehicle Maintenance
SR PVO Registration Costs
SR PVO Registration Expense|233.34
100
100||
|Transportation-Gates Securing Rural SR HQ|20.83||
|**People**|**1,566.6**||
|Wages|1465.1||
|Christmas Bonus|101.5||
|**Personal Growth**|**1,440.69**||
|Fuel|1067.9||
|Rural Food Donation|126.92||
|Training-Big 5 Champions Programme
Travel Expenses-Training|229.2
16.67||
|**Sustainable Farming**
Rural Food Donation|**672.24**
283.32||
|Cement-Rural Building Project Grain Storage
Garage & Lock-Storage|100
108.33||
|Tractor Hire|120.59||
|Fertiliser Donation|60||
||||
|**Grand Total**|**5,012.23**||
## Programme / Function Spend (Amount)
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£1,566.60
£1,440.69
£794.34
£672.24
£538.36
IT Operations People Personal Growth Sustainable
Farming
13% 16% IT
Operations
11%
People
29%
Personal Growth
31% Sustainable Farming
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15
## Meet The Team
**Think Long Term:** Hope grows where teamwork sows its seeds
## **UK Trustees**
## **Ms. Faith Nyabadza-St Francis**
## Chairperson
Overseeing and organising programs & safegaurding on the ground. Developing structure and capacity building programmes.
## **Zimbabwe Managing Committee**
## **Ms. Faith Nyabadza-St Francis**
Chairperson Retired District Nurse
## **Mrs. Mercy Hatendi**
## **Ms Tendy St Francis**
## Secretary
Accounting, Operational procedures, Architecture & Infrastructure Program, Governance and Reporting
Vice-chairperson: Health Development Practitioner
## **Ms Rumbidzai Chijiri**
Secretary:
## **Ms Chi St Francis**
Teacher/ Professional Development Officer
## Treasurer
Accounting, Operations & IT, Programme Development, Digital marketing, Fundraising, Governance & Reporting
## **UK Board of Advisors**
## **Ms Christina Adetiba**
## **Mr David Nyamurera**
Vice Secretary Provincial Director-National AIDS Council
## **Ms Ruth Tapfumaneyi**
Treasurer: Health Education and Promotion
Operational procedures, Governance and Reporting
## **Other Members**
## **Mrs. Tsitsi Masukume**
Safeguarding advisor.
## **Mr Simon Matsvai**
Sustainable Farming Programme Advisor
## **Ms. Tamuka Chitemere**
General Guidance
## **Stanley Makoni**
Farmer / Rural projects coordinator
## **Mrs. Annette Mashingaidze**
General Guidance
16
## Meet The Team
## **Sainted Roots Rural Team**
## **Mr Stanley Makoni**
Rural Farming Projects Manager
## **Mr Enoch Chibika**
Shenayeguta Farming Projects Supervisor Tree Grafting & Budding
## **Community Champions**
## **Mrs Makoni**
Njanike Village
## **Mr Mbauya**
Shenayaguta Village
## **Mr and Mrs Chikuruwo**
## **Mr Enock Nyabadza**
Assistant Shenayeguta Farming Project Supervisor Construction Projects
ChikuruwoVillage
## **Mr Mutondoro**
Gandanzara / Mutondoro Village
## **Mrs Melodious Gudoricharima**
Homestead Maintenance and Hospitality Supervisor
## **Mr Sandzira**
Jecha Village
## **Mrs Chipo Nyabadza (Mai Tapi)**
Assistant Homestead Maintenance and Hospitality
## **Consultants and Support**
## **Mrs Mashaya**
Agriculture Officer
## **Emmanuel Manyati**
Training and Community Counselling Consultants
17