Life Skill Project International Annual Report 2022
2022 continued to be a challenging year, just like 2021. The slow recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis in the UK made fundraising activities difficult and less productive. The volatility of the political system in Pakistan compounded the situation. Furthermore, the IMF saved Pakistan from becoming a financial defaulter, raising inflation by over 30%, which meant low income and high expenses, bringing LSPI to its all-time economic low. Yet, by the grace of God, the generosity of our donors and the efforts of our fundraisers, we were able to continue to provide all that our students and staff needed to continue the learning.
Both of our currently running centres were due to complete two years of training and closed with a certificate award ceremony in late 2021. But, because of the lack of face-to-face contact in 2021, the practical nature of the training and the lack of online facilities and equipment, it was not possible to offer online classes; the students could not complete the whole syllabus, so the length of the course duration had to be extended by six months to allow the students to finish their entire two years. Both centres (Village Sehansra Goraya Sark Waly Basty Gujranwala and Village Ghwand near the Pak-Indian Border) completed the training course and held the certificate ceremonies in September 2022.
LSPI Trustees had already received proposals for a couple of new centres in village Gamman, which is on the Pak-Indian border and from village Hair, where we started our first-ever centre in 2011. The trustees considered if they could financially support the two centres in the future and, despite the challenges, felt confident to be able to do so. The board of trustees decided not to have a gap between centres and opening new ones as a delay might mean we lose good staff. They recognised that it would be wise to continue with two centres, but this meant more successful fundraising was needed. The great need also influenced the decision because the families were very keen and were already asking when the next centres would be opened, and their daughters could attend.
It was hoped that 2023 would bring new fundraising opportunities as things returned to normal after the challenges of the last three years. We continue to use social media for publicity and to promote our charity, and the Life Skill Project International website (www.lifeskillprojectinternational.org) is also a source of our online presence.
Mrs Mussarat Iqbal, our founder and chair and The Rev Jackie Bullen, our treasurer, thanked the trustees and donors for their commitment, passion, hard work and support for Like Skill Project International, which enables us to help the disadvantaged, underprivileged, marginalised and poor girls gain skills and basic literacy to empower them to be independent and employable. 187 girls and young women have completed the training in 7 centres (Hair, Chathan Wala, Tatlay, Ghawind, Asal Guruke, and twice in Sehansra Gorraya Gujranwala), some of whom now have their own home-based small business. A further 55 girls are attending in two centres (Gaman and Hair). We are grateful to our dedicated and hardworking staff in Pakistan, without whom this success is impossible, and praise God for giving us such a passionate team who carry out our vision and plans.
We look ahead to 2023 with the hope that God’s gracious providence and generosity of our donors will enable us to continue the excellent work of making a positive difference to create a respectful society where women play a vital and equal role.
Life Skill Project International
Accounts Summary 2022
| Balance Brought forward 1st January 2022 Add: Receipts Regular Donations 1,832.00 Individual Donations 570.00 Fundraising 1,405.86 3,807.86 Less: Payments Centre Exp 4,096.94 Other costs 469.60 4,566.54 Balance as at 31st December 2022 Balance per bank statement 31st December 2022 Prepared by Jackie Bullen Independent examiner Jackie Last |
2,988.63 2,229.95 2,229.95 |
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