2021-12-31-accounts - Asra Hawariat School Fund

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Asra Hawariat School Report 2021/22

The Asra Hawariat School in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is a non-fee paying, non-religious and non-political voluntary organization working with those children and families who could not otherwise afford to get an education. This last year has been tough. The school was closed for 8 months during the initial stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the lockdown a programme of home learning through the use of worksheets (computer-based learning obviously being impossible) was introduced. The extensive and enthusiastic involvement of teachers, parents and older siblings added to the success of the home-schooling programme. The Ministry of Education acknowledged this initiative as an example of good practice for State schools to emulate.

The school has been fully operational during the calendar year 2021 - children have their temperature taken as they arrive, hand sanitizer is available in each classroom, and all children wear masks, supplied by the school.

The whole school community was delighted in October to be awarded a magnificent trophy for being the best in Addis Ababa, based on evaluation reports and exam results over the previous four years.

The death of our founder

Of course, the major event of this past year has been the death on May 8[th] of our founder, Asfaw Yemiru. His vision and charisma were a profound inspiration to generations of children: he changed the lives of so many. Obituaries to him appeared in the international media and can be found on our website.

Obviously, this has been a huge loss, but the team (led by his widow Senayet) who have been largely running the school during the previous decade are continuing his good work. Through them Asfaw’s vision and inspiration live on.

How it all began

The school began in 1961 when Asfaw Yemiru, the founder, was a 9[th] grade student at the British Council-run General Wingate School. When his classes were over Asfaw started to teach local street children under a tree in the local Church yard; the children were fed on left-over food from Wingate, and they slept in the Church yard. This was put on a more permanent footing in 1961, owing to a grant of land from the thenemperor Haile Selassie – and the children were able to sleep under cover, on shelves at the side of the classrooms.

In 1965, when the number of students had reached 1000, the school was officially recognized by the Ministry of Education. Since then the school, in addition to its core educational work, has run a number of additional humanitarian projects: an orphanage; Child and Family Aid, including fostering children with local families; a vocational farm; a feeding centre for malnourished children; a kindergarten and various training programmes. Since its foundation, it has reached and helped over 120,000 of the poorest citizens of Ethiopia’s capital city. The school runs two campuses in the west of the city, one for grades 1-4 and the other for grades 5-8.

The Asra Hawariat School Fund (Registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales, Number 325121) currently provides over 90% of the school’s funding.

The School

The school currently has 846 students, 448 of whom are girls. Priority is given to those children who have lost one or both of their parents; next, to children whose lives are seriously disrupted by poverty and who would find even the limited costs of a state education (uniform, books, stationery etc) beyond them. Prospective students are screened by a committee comprising the school principal, social workers and selected representatives of parents whose children are already at the school. Once they are accepted, the children are provided with a completely free education with some material support for the neediest children.

The school’s bias in favour of girls is deliberate as the school believes strongly that female education is vital to social stability and economic growth – as has been borne out by countless studies from many parts of the world. The school has also put more emphasis on the teaching of English, right from year 1, as well as allowing more curriculum time to science and maths.

Our teaching staff, of whom there are 47, is a mix of older and experienced teachers, and younger ones, many of whom have come through the Asra Hawariat School themselves. In-service training is ongoing.

Health service

The school health service aims at prevention rather than cure, offering advice on basic hygiene. It also offers a first aid facility.

Child and Family Aid

This is one of the programmes that has been stopped since Asfaw died. Most of the children attending the school are from poor families, and it was getting increasingly difficult to select a few families from their number.

School Clubs

There are several lively and educational school clubs, including Health and Sanitation Club, Literature Drama and Music, Girls’ Club, Sports and Arts, Civics, Environmental Protection and Beautification, Mini-media. These are gradually getting going again after Covid disruption.

Alumni

One of the highlights of the past few years has been the increasing role played by some of the school’s alumni, who have been contributing books for the school library, equipment for science classes, and clothes for those worst affected by the pandemic. They have also organized a blood donation session at the school. Some of their number take additional science classes on a Saturday morning.

Agriculture

The school farm was one of Asfaw’s personal interests, and his illness and passing have meant that there is only a small plot now operational for student demonstration purposes. .

Funding

The school budget for 2021/2 means that the Fund is now committed to sending £8,000 monthly out to the school. This amount is down on recent years, largely as a result of school closures and a favourable exchange rate. We are currently factoring in the additional costs of Covid 19 prevention measures and the additional nursing staff. For a small charity, this represents a huge undertaking. Last year, as you will see from the attached accounts, we were remarkably successful, despite the pandemic. However we cannot afford to relax, especially as we do need to have a cushion of at least 6 months expenditure in order to provide security for the school. Donor’s generosity during 2021 has been amazing, so we can currently maintain our support at the level, and with the security, required.

Thanks

Thanks are due, once again, to our Accountants, David Harrison & Co, Chartered Accountants, Belfast who prepare our accounts without charge.

And not least, thanks to all our supporters, whose remarkable generosity in difficult economic times has ensured another good year, and who have helped turn so many dreams into reality.

Asra Hawariat School Fund

(England and Wales registered Charity 325121) 2 Woodland Avenue

Helen’s Bay

Bangor Co. Down BT19 1TX Tel: +44 (0)28 9185 3601 Northern Ireland Website: www.asrahawariatschool.org U.K. Email: asrahawariat@btinternet.com 6

The Asra Hawariat School Fund

Income & Expenditure Account for the year ended 31 December 2021

INCOME EXPENSES Travel Bank charges National Council of Voluntary Organisations Fundraising consultancy Printing & stationery LEI registration Good Thinking Design NET INCOME TRANSFERRED TO ASRA HAWARIAT SCHOOL EXCESS OF INCOME OVER EXPENDITURE BALANCE BROUGHT FORWARD BALANCE CARRIED FORWARD The Asra Hawariat School Fund Detailed Income for the year ended 31 December 2021 Total Corporate, School, Trust	2021 £ 206,632 0 0 0 0 0 70 181 251 206,381 109,600 96,781 93,086 189,867 2021 £ 75,173	2020 £ 99,218
		849 250 169 450 176 0 0
		1,894
		97,324 126,000
		-28,676 121,762
		93,086
		2020 £ 14,982

and Church Income Other Income From Friends Tax Reclaimed from HMRC Bank Interest Received Total Income for the Year The Asra Hawariat School Fund Balance Sheet at 31 December 2021	111,310 20,118 31 206,632	73,106 11,035 95
		99,218

CURRENT ASSETS 30 Day Business Reserve Account Bank Current Account Income Tax Recoverable CAPITAL Income & Expenditure Account	2021 £ 155,025 14,724 20,118 189,867 189,867	2020 £ 75,013 7,048 11,035
		93,096
		93,086

Rev T Kinahan Trustee

Mr R Cloke Trustee

Independent Accountant’s Report

Report to the trustees

Responsibilities and basis of report

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Asra Hawariat School Fund for the year ended 31 December 2021.

As the trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters Accountants Report have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

David Harrison & Co Chartered Accountants 430 Upper Newtownards Road Belfast BT4 3GY 19 February 2022