UK registered Charity 1197987
KWEST
Kenya Watamu Educational Support Trust
A Charitable Incorporated Organisation
(A company with no liability)
Report and Financial Statements
For the period covering –
06.04.2023 to End of Year 05.04.2024
Charity Number 1197987
UK registered Charity 1197987
Trustees Lesley Churm
CEO and Founder
Christopher Churm Dawn Kay
Our Aims and Objectives
Our charity’s purposes, as set out in our Charitable Incorporated Organisation Constitution whose voting members are its trustees, are to:
- benefit the public in Watamu, Kenya by advancing and developing the education of children in Watamu, Kenya who are socially and economically disadvantaged by providing and resourcing library, learning centres and local schools with books and other educational resources.
Ensuring our work delivers our aims
This review looks at our work since the previous report covering the period from 6[th] April 2023 to 5[th] April 2024 . It looks at our successes, the key activities and the benefits it has brought to this group of people we are set up to help. This review also helps us to ensure our aim, objectives and activities remain focused on our stated purposes. We have referred to guidance contained in the Charity Commissions general guidance on public benefit in particular the trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives they have set.
The Focus of our work
Our main objective for 2022-2023 was to establish the first free Community Library in Watamu, to send more books and to establish a safe and energetic hub of reading activity with literacy support. This we achieved through our library at Richlands and then with the opening of our 2[nd] library at Kenya Wildlife Service at Temple Point, Watamu. This is located approx. 6 miles from Richlands at the furthest point of Watamu and has a very different community.
Prior to charitable status, the trustees, Chris and Lesley had first developed this location with KWS as a Community library. We had 2 shipping containers donated by Hemingways Hotel with Chris and Lesley privately financing footings and other building work necessary to create a library. KWS with Bahari Hai Sea Turtle Conservation completed the ground works and library area. Building delays, due to COVID meant establishing the Richlands site first.
Until January 2024, we operated both libraries with the staff dividing between the two locations. Our main objective was to engage the community in Dongakundu, who are some of the most deprived and lacking any additional educational support and loved too far from Richlands but in walking distance of the KWS site. Working with their local Government
UK registered Charity 1197987
school we were able to inform the children and parents of what we did and how it could help their children’s education, therefore building a regular attendance from this area.
Attendance grew quickly and during the long school break from November 2023- January 2024 we saw numbers of over 100 at each location. This did cause a staffing problem and together with costs of running the library at Richlands we decided to move all our operations to the Temple Point location. For children having to travel from the centre of Watamu and Timboni, we provide free Tuk Tuk transportation with a member of staff meeting and travelling with the children.
Our secondary objective for 2023 was to establish links with more local Kenyan Primary Schools to provide a Schools Outreach Programme that allowed more children access to reading books once a week and dedicated literacy support.
This we achieved and by April 2024 we were regularly providing a Schools Literacy Outreach Programme to 12 schools a week which equated to over 3000 children getting access to reading books and assistance with reading.
During this accounting period, I have established links with Several Primary Schools, Scout and Guiding groups. I have given talks about our work and highlighted the differences in life and education opportunities for children in Kenya. These have been well received and have resulted in many donations of books and some fundraising.
We also managed to attract some UK volunteers to assist with fundraising and raising awareness of what we do. This resulted in us attending local carnivals, coffee mornings, Christmas fayres, local country shows giving talks in schools. This has been a great success and raised funds and books.
How our activities deliver public benefit
Our main activities and who we try to help are described below. All our charitable activities focus on the provision of literacy support and are undertaken to further our charitable purposes for the public benefit.
In 2020 Kenya had an estimated child population of 53% (19 million) with an annual growth of 2.2%. Watamu is a small coastal town with a very high child population and over 30 schools. Employment centres on tourism and retail, with many living a basic day to day existence on £2-3 a day. Literacy amongst adults is low and many parents did not complete education beyond primary level. English is a third language for many in this region but all exams except Swahili are in English. This puts children in this area at a disadvantage in terms of education and economic opportunities.
There are several Government primary schools, which are heavily oversubscribed, and generally attended by children from the poorest families; even then there are still parental costs towards education. Classrooms have inadequate facilities in terms of chairs, tables,
UK registered Charity 1197987
books and other resources such as pens, paper, course books and reading books. It is not uncommon to see one teacher with 80 children.
There are many private schools of differing quality and facilities dependent on parental ability to pay. However, access to reading materials and structured literacy support is limited or non-existent. Children are taught to recognise words and repeat but there is no or little comprehension. This is impacting on their ability to understand what they are reading and has impact across the curriculum.
Kenyan Education is going through a transition to a Competency-based curriculum which includes 7 core competencies; Communication and Collaboration, Critical thinking and problem solving, Creativity and Imagination, Digital Literacy, Learning to Learn, Self-efficacy. These require the ability to read, comprehend, evaluate, create. The schools are not equipped to deliver these programmes and skills without adequate resources and literate children.
Who used and benefited from our services
Our objectives were to support child education and therefore improve literacy, educational and economic outcomes in Watamu by providing a free library, access to reading books and literacy support.
The KWEST library at KWS, Temple Point is in a secure gated compound manned 24/7 by KWS officers. As seen in the photos the books are housed in two converted shipping containers with a covered area between for reading and activities. We also have access to a larger covered area plus a large outside area with shaded areas that we use during school holidays. There is also an adjoining open area for games.
The initial stock of books were donated by the trustees, but following a UK book donation based campaign, we were able to ship thousands of good quality reading books in June 2022 and May 2023. Many came from UK schools who were changing their phonic reader schemes and they were pleased that the old books were having a new life.The shipping company, Najpac, specialises in door-to-door transport, boxing and documentation. We
UK registered Charity 1197987
established a discount on these costs and were very satisfied with the trouble-free service provided. This is a large charity outgoing.
Children using the library have access to reading books of different levels to suit all abilities and ages. Attendance is high and it attracts children from all social and economic backgrounds. On arrival children are welcomed and settled into small, age/reading ability groups and library monitors collect and distribute books This quiet reading time is essential for creating a calming atmosphere and allows the children to read/re-read a book of their choice. The reading assistants circulate between groups providing individual and group support. The focus is on understanding words and stories, retelling, and acting with regular spelling and grammar input. KWEST has provided word games and phonic support materials, paper, pens and crayons creating a vibrant hub of activity.
During school holidays the library and literacy support provides a continuation of learning and keeps the children occupied and off the streets where they are vulnerable to and exposed to bad influences. This is a major benefit to the children, parents and schools. The children who attend regularly demonstrate higher achievements at school and display more confidence in speaking, reading and writing.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
KWEST has engaged with several local Conservation groups who are keen to help educate local children as to the importance of their protected environment in and around the Marine Park. We now work with Bahari Hai, Local Ocean Conservation and the Snake Farm to provide fun and informative environmental education. The feedback we receive from these groups has been extremely positive and supportive of our work and aims.
OUTREACH
To be of greater public benefit KWEST and to reach more children across the community we provide a Schools Outreach Literacy Support Service. Beginning with Watamu Primary, a large Government School, we take books from the library and hold a whole school outdoor literacy hour, known as a Reading Baraza. The immediate success quickly led to 3 additional schools. A measure of our impact has been that by January 2023, through school referrals, we were invited into a further 8 schools, and in January 2024 a further 5 schools requested our service: both Government and private. Over 3000 school children each week get access to reading books and targeted literacy support for 1 hour per week. Heads and teachers report marked improvement in written, spoken and reading skills in the children which is helping them to raise attainment.
Due to logistical problems of reaching some schools in this region, we donate books to these schools and refresh them on a regular basis.
UK registered Charity 1197987
We were approached by a new school in Kilifi town (an hour from Watamu) to help them create a library. Connie visited the school and assessed their situation and they visited our library to learn how we approach reading with children etc and we donated books. We receive regular updates on their progress. This is something we aim to replicate with other schools or regions.
COSTS OF OPERATION
Closing the Richlands library and fully utilising the KWS site has reduced costs.
Transport – For children who live in Timboni and Watamu central and for the support team to get to the schools. The price of fuel and our success has impacted on this cost.
Juice and fruit _ Saturdays and school holidays at the end of library time. We have applied to the Watamu branch of EAWL for a regular charitable contribution to mitigate these costs and we are hopeful of a positive response.
Staff - 4 Literacy Support Workers, for managing the library and providing the Outreach Service. The individuals began as volunteers but to respond to the local need the trustees approved their engagement on a full-time basis. They are not trained teachers but are educated local women who really believe in education for all children and that improving early years literacy is a key to keeping children in school and giving them a brighter future. Lesley has provided them with the core skills of reading using her expertise and knowledge in EFL and Phonics. They continue to develop their own expertise and there are plans for experienced UK teachers to work with the team for 6 weeks over the long summer school break.
Our aim, when funding allows, is to extend our service to more schools and reach more children but this will require employing a second Literacy Support Team, and funds for wages and transport. This requires a major fundraising drive and may not be achieved in the next financial year without additional significant and regular donations.
Our income has come from two main sources; a JustGiving campaign amongst friends and acquaintances and the fundraising activities outlined above. This something we aim to build upon in the next financial year as well as trying to attract larger corporate donations.
Trustees are in regular communication with each other and with individuals in Watamu, which allows for speedier decision making. Two trustees visit the projects twice a year, at their own cost, to ensure all is going well, to visit schools, the library and meet with individuals who support KWEST in Watamu.
Watamu EdueatiOrtaL Support Trust Lesley Churm CEO KWEST
Charity Name No (if any) Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period Period start date Period end date To from 4/6/2023 4/5/2024
Section A Receipts and payments
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
Total funds | Last year | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| to the nearest | £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | |||||
| A1 Receipts | ||||||||||
| OpeningBalance | 3,280 | - | - | 3,280 | - | |||||
| Donations | 6,246 | 500 | - | 6,746 | - | |||||
| Gift Aid | 2,185 | - | - | 2,185 | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) | 11,711 |
500 | - | 12,211 | - |
| Section A Receipts and payments | Section A Receipts and payments | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Receipts OpeningBalance 3,280 Donations 6,246 Gift Aid 2,185 - - - - - 11,711 Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
to the nearest £ Restricted funds |
to the nearest £ Endowment funds |
Total funds to the nearest £ |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|
| OpeningBalance | 3,280 | - 500 - - - - - - 500 |
- - - - - - - - - |
3,280 6,746 2,185 - - - - - 12,211 |
- |
| Donations | 6,246 | - | |||
| Gift Aid | 2,185 | - | |||
| - | - | ||||
| - | - | ||||
| - | - | ||||
| - | - | ||||
| - | - | ||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) | 11,711 |
- | |||
| - - Sub total - Total receipts 11,711 A3 Payments Bank Charges 186 LibraryExpenses inc transport 3,394 Wages(Kenya) 4,364 764 Najpac(shippingBooks) 1,988 Insurance 53 - - - Sub total 10,749 - - Sub total - Total payments 10,749 Net of receipts/(payments) 962 A5 Transfers between funds - A6 Cash funds last year end - Cash funds this year end 962 A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). Printing, Stationary & Fundraising expenses A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
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| 12,211 | |||||
| 500 | - | - | |||
| - - - - - - - - - - |
- - - - - - - - - - |
186 3,394 4,364 764 1,988 53 - - - 10,749 |
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| - | - | 10,749 | - | ||
| 500 - - 500 |
- - - - |
1,462 - - 1,462 |
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| - | |||||
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Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B5 Liabilities B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees |
Details Details Details Details Details Signature Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) |
to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - Agreement Error Agreement Error to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Print Name Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) |
to nearest £ Endowment funds |
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| OK | |||
| to nearest £ Endowment funds |
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| Current value (optional) |
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| When due (optional) |
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| Date of approval |
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