2023-03-31-annual-report

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OUR VISION

vision4kids is a Christian based charity with a vision of helping children and young people around the world wherever there is a need to improve the quality of life. In everything we do our aim is to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ and see lives transformed.

We base all our work on four main themes:

Education

Promoting and supporting school projects ensuring children and young people have the correct tools and facilities to receive an education. This can include repair and maintenance, construction and building at local schools; supply of teaching material, uniforms, classroom furniture and teaching aids; provision of school meals, funding for educational programmes and guidance to school management.

Health

vision4kids will aim to support projects for healthcare working with established charities as well as individual cases where certain funds or practical help can be offered. Always working in a way that makes life more comfortable for the child in question. This will include paying for hospital, surgery and medical bills for the children ensuring they receive necessary treatment and continued after care by local experts; large scale medical screening of larger groups (eg: a school) including basic treatment for minor ailments by a local qualified doctor.

Welfare

Throughout the world there are many children without basic shelter, clothing and food. vision4kids will look to provide the necessary materials to improve living conditions and relieve poverty giving a better way of life. This will include helping with home renovations, providing food to the child and their immediate family; relief shelter in times of emergency and ensuring the child has sufficient clothing and footwear for school and home.

Spiritual

As a Christian based charity the main theme in all we seek to do is to promote the Gospel and see children and young people’s lives transformed through the saving power of our Lord Jesus Christ. This will include holding children’s Bible Clubs and Sunday School meetings; provision of Bibles and other Christian literature; Bible study and development/counselling classes; visits to local schools to take RE classes and Scripture Union.

OUR FUNDRAISING

Our fundraising focus this year has been on generating much needed funds for the running of our school and the construction of new classrooms. Through the year, there have been a number of methods used to raise funds for the charity; these include:

Child Sponsorship Programme – We have increased the number of sponsor children to 50. Each child has a sponsor family in the UK who provide a £15 donation per month. This contribution goes in its entirety to benefit the child through payment of their school, exam and sports fees; provision of school uniform, shoes and hygiene products; inclusion in school meals; regular health checks and necessary treatments; a Bible; a sack of maize into the family home at the start of each school term.

Fundraising Events – Through the year we hold a number of events including Concerts, Craft Fairs, Coffee Mornings and Sponsored Walks. These are all great ways of getting people involved and raising funds for the work. We also have volunteers who hold their own event or sponsored activity and donate all the proceeds, which has included a parachute jump.

Street Collections – A long standing method of raising funds is through Street Collections and ‘Bed Pushes’ in local towns and villages. This involves working with the PSNI and Parades Commission to ensure the necessary legal permits are approved and we are fully covered and insured to collect. We have been overwhelmed by the generous response from the local people each time we hold a collection.

Insight Meetings – From time to time the team are invited to speak at various church, school and youth groups. These groups provide a donation to go to the project they are interested in. The vision4kids team are volunteers which ensures 100% of the donation goes to the work amongst the boys and girls.

General Donations – We are so thankful to those supporters who provide donations on a regular, and quite often, a monthly basis. We make full use of the HMRC Gift Aid service which means each donation (where applicable) goes even further. We are thankful to supporters close to vision4kids who cover costs associated with the running of the charity.

We operate a number of income channels including cash, cheque, bank transfer and standing order, Give As You Earn through the workplace, Gift Aid, GASDS, PayPal and online donations through our BT MyDonate account.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

It had been 4 years since my last visit. The Covid pandemic had put a stop to all travel and Kenya, like the rest of the world, was in lockdown. Finally, in November, several of our directors and I headed back to the village we know well, to the children we love. Once again, we were greeted with cheers, smiles, and open arms. It was great to be back.

This visit was an emotional one. I was able to witness the great progress made in our building work, but

what stood out for me was the appreciation and thankfulness of the local families who received our support during Covid lockdown. They had not forgotten the food parcels received, and the teachers appreciated continuing to be paid throughout a time of uncertainty. It is humbling to think that our small charity had such a wide impact across a poor region of Kenya. I was pleased to attend the end of year graduation service. Each class took part through singing or traditional dance, with my favourite being one class’s attempt of Scottish dancing (must be the Ulster Scots in me). Most of all, it was amazing to hear the children sing the hymns and chorus from our Chorus book we printed and took out in 2018. It was clear that the children are taught Scripture and sing the love of God daily.

This year has once again taught me to rely on God regardless of your circumstance. During

the times of Covid we wondered how we could provide for our school family and where the funds would come from – but God provided. And this year as we stepped out in faith for our building work, we wondered where the funds would come from – but God provided. So, we go again – we step out in faith for 23/24. Not in blind faith, but with a faith in God that He will advance His kingdom in Kiambururu, and He will provide for His children. I (we as a team) must be faithful in executing His plan by going into all the world and making disciples.

Irwin Holmes BEM. Chairman and Founding Trustee – vision4kids

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:19

Partnering with Trinity Baptist Church

Over the past four years, we’ve been privileged to work alongside believers from Trinity Baptist Church, located in Nairobi, just over an hour’s drive from Kiambururu. We have enjoyed getting to know Pastor Murungi and Pastor Dominic and their team of workers who are dedicated to sharing the gospel message with the boys and girls of the greater Nairobi area. We have learned much from the various teams who have travelled to Blessed Hill Academy (BHA) to conduct children’s meetings and Bible studies and have enjoyed the friendship and fellowship as we work together to serve our Saviour.

Pastor Dominic oversees the children’s ministry at Trinity Baptist Church. He was saved as a teenager at High School, and although after graduating from university he started a career in pharmaceuticals, he knew God’s call to the ministry, and went on to study at Trinity Pastors College. Pastor Dominic regularly visits Kiambururu to minister to the children. He has conducted assembly meetings and is our guest speaker on graduation and prize day.

Moving into 2023, we plan to commence a new monthly teen Bible Study. Under the guidance of Trinity Baptist Church, both Samson and Pastor Dominic will look to minister to Christian teenagers in the Kiambururu area. They will provide biblical answers to the secular questions and challenges young people face. This is in addition to our Saturday night village meeting which will recommence in January, and the various assemblies and studies conducted during school hours.

As a charity, we recognise the importance of the biblical model of ministry through the local church. We are thankful for God’s leading in this matter and ask that you pray for this partnership; vision4kids focused on the charity aspect as an NGO in Kenya, with Trinity Baptist Church leading on ministry. It is our desire to see the good news of the gospel shared in Kiambururu and the surrounding area, and that boys and girls from our school will memorize Scripture and

learn more about Jesus Christ.

Christmas Bible Camp

Between Christmas and New Year 2021 we held our first Bible Camp organised by Pastor Dominic from Trinity Baptist Church. Early morning, the children registered for a special day of Bible lessons, singing, drawing, and study. After the lockdowns brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, it was great to see over 200 boys and girls come together to learn God’s Word. The team of workers

showed great enthusiasm as they organised the children by age groups and tailored the activities and lessons to suit. It was great to see the love they had for the children of Kiambururu and the desire to tell them about Jesus.

This year we aim to hold a 2-day Bible camp on 28[th] and 29[th] December when the children are off school. Please pray for every aspect of the camp including safety of the children and the workers, and that many children will trust in Christ as their Saviour.

Once again, we are thankful to the team from Trinity Baptist Church who will give up time during their Christmas holidays to conduct the Bible Camp.

Funding Shyline’s Operation

In October one of our class 2 pupils, Shyline, was rushed to hospital after experiencing dizziness. It transpired that a fall and bang to the head resulted in a blood clot. The seriousness of the situation was quickly realised after several scans and x-rays showed that surgery was the only option. The medical team at Kenyatta National Hospital took great care of Shyline as they admitted her for two rounds of surgery. One to drain the fluid in her head, and a second surgery to remove the tumour.

We praise God for the amazing recovery of Shyline. After two weeks in hospital, she returned home with her mother and grandmother. Her family would like to thank those form the UK and Singapore who prayed for Shyline and funded her surgery. In December she will receive physiotherapy to help with her recovery from surgery. Please continue to pray for this lovely little girl.

New Block of 4 Classrooms

This year we commenced construction on our new two-story building consisting of four classrooms, two toilets, and a large store. Due to the gradient of our school site, it was essential to have structural drawings created for the builder to work from. There have been several building collapses in Kenya recently, and we must do all we can to ensure the safety of our pupils by following all local procedures and guidelines before beginning to build. Sometimes this is not easy. Processes in Kenya are very manual and rely on a physical paper trail rather than using electronic documents.

Deep foundations: The biggest job was to clear the site and dig deep enough foundations for a two-story building. At the lower

end of the slope, the foundations were over seven feet deep. All trenches were dug manually, no diggers involved. Blocks marked out the frame of the building and large stones were used to fill the trenches before concrete was used to secure it in place. Steel rebar was used to reinforce the structure before a smooth cement finish left the ground floor ready for the block work.

Employing local builders: Local knowledge is essential to recommend proper construction techniques based on the soil type and content. It also means we are supporting the community by employing local skilled builders and labourers. For this stage alone, we have paid £2,200 in wages to the local workers. At one point, we had over 15 men and women working on site to complete the foundations.

Rising cost of materials: Kiambururu is no different when it comes to the rising cost of materials and fuel. A lower currency exchange rate from the UK to Kenya has also resulted in the current structure costing more than originally planned. We are thankful to have successfully completed phase 1 of this build but await a better exchange rate before sending out more funds for stage 2.

Ground floor complete: The block construction is now complete for the ground floor, and we are ready to fix the first floor slabs. This is an expensive and time-consuming process as the floor must be reinforced with steel rebar to strengthen the structure and ensure it can carry the weight of another floor and the roof. Once again, we will work with local structural engineers to ensure it is completed safely and compliantly.

Building Into 2023

God willing, construction will recommence in early 2023. We continue to raise funds and are thankful to all those who have donated to our building project. A number of the classrooms will be dedicated in memory of vision4kids supporters whose family have donated funds to the classroom build. The loss of a loved one isn’t easy, and we are humbled that supporters would consider leaving a legacy gift or a family making donations in lieu of flowers. It all helps to establish a permanent witness amongst the boys and girls in Kiambururu.

We believe the total cost of this classroom block will be £50,000, although that is dependent on the price of materials, especially steel and blocks. Over the coming months we need to raise £15,000 to complete this block. This will include the first-floor slabs, first floor block work, metal roof support, suitable sheet roof, plastering, plumbing, electricals, toilets, furniture, and blackboards. We look forward to the New Year’s Eve 24-hour sit out and other fundraising events to complete our target. If you’d like to contribute, please get in touch.

Moving into 2023 we hope to announce some very exciting projects. We are thankful to a Northern Ireland businessman and electrical contractor who plans to take a work team to our school to support local Kenya builders with electrical, plumbing, plastering, and joinery work. This will help ease the cost of completing the classrooms. In August, in addition to conducting Bible Clubs with the children, our mission team hope to help with the cleaning, painting, and set-up of the new classrooms.

November Board Visit

It was a long time coming. The pandemic resulted in cancelled trips and zoom calls to keep in touch with Samson and the team in Kiambururu. It was April 2019 since the last UK visitor, but in November, several Board members and friends travelled to Kenya. It was an opportunity to get an update on various projects, hold meetings with Head teacher Julius and his teaching staff, encourage Samson, Fred, Bob and their families, scope out future building and maintenance projects for our Northern Ireland work team, conduct and audit of NGO financials and accounting practices, and hold meetings with Pastor Murungi and Pastor Dominic from Trinity Baptist Church.

Once again, the team were warmly greeted by the children of Blessed Hill Academy. Our visit also coincided with the final day of the school year with a special graduation and prize day service held. The children sang various hymns and choruses, performed some traditional musical items, and quoted Scripture. Pastor Dominic spoke on the text from James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,” and prayed for each class as they finished the year, with classes 6 and 8 about to sit national examinations. The days passed quickly, and we were soon on our way home. We are thankful for a faithful team in Kiambururu who work hard to educate the local children, provide for their physical needs, and have a desire to see children taught God’s Word. We look forward to returning soon.

New Year’s Sit Out 2022

The 2021 New Year’s Eve sit out proved successful with over £7,000 raised through on-line donations and cash in the bucket. It was Stephen’s first year back on the streets of Ballymoney after the nationwide lock down of the previous year. A massive thanks to some friends of the charity who

constructed a shelter for Stephen to use if the weather turned nasty. This year the 24-hour sit out will commence at 9am on Friday 30[th] December and run to 9am on Saturday 31[st] on New Year’s Eve .

Once again, Stephen will be located on Church Street, just outside the old Ulster Bank in Ballymoney. This year’s funds will go towards completing our four new classrooms.

Stephen is mindful that this year is different, “I am so thankful for the generous help and support in previous years. However, this year is going to be more difficult for many families given

the significant cost of living increases. I do not take the donations for granted and appreciate even the smallest amount. I will ensure that every single penny donated goes towards the new classrooms and is spent wisely when it comes to choosing the correct materials at the most costeffective price. Thank you.”

Zoom Prayer Meeting

You are invited to join one of our Zoom prayer meetings through 2023. Every quarter, supporters from around the globe meet online to pray with Samson for the work in Kiambururu. Despite the distance between attendees, we know the presence of God as we pray together. Add the dates below to your diary and register by emailing Rebekah via rebekah@vision4kids.org.

Saturday 25[th] February 2023 @ 10am

Monday 22[nd] May 2023 @ 7:00pm

Saturday 19[th] August 2023 @ 10am

Monday 27[th] November 2023 @ 7:00pm

All meetings at UK local time noted above

Support a Child with a Monthly Donation

We are so thankful for all who support the charity. The foundation to our income is monthly donations. This started via our child sponsorship scheme and has developed into a monthly programme to donate to the running of the school each month. Whether large or small, every contribution provides for the children:

School uniforms and shoes
Cooked meals at school; Uji porridge, maize, beans, rice, & vegetables
Textbooks, bibles, hygiene products, and medicine
Exam fees and Saturday tuition
The running of the school, teacher salaries, cooks and cleaners, repairs
Village meetings, outreach programmes, and other activities

Can you donate monthly? Through 2023 we would love to increase the number of monthly donors for vision4kids. If you can contribute, £15 per month to support a child then please get in touch. All donations can be gift aided.

The best way to donate is by setting up a monthly standing order transfer with your bank. Please ensure you add your name to the notes field so we can identify who is donating. Our bank details are: Name: vision4kids, Bank: Danske Bank, Sort: 95-02-77, Can you support Account Number: 40229652

Can you support Maxwell?

Provide Breakfast for One Year

We are pleased to launch our new porridge mugs priced £10. 100% of the sale price will go towards our food programme at Blessed Hill Academy and each cup sold will provide Uji porridge for one full school year for one of our

pupils. That’s 190 days of porridge when at school. Uji is a

millet-based porridge enjoyed by Kenyan’s young and old, often with added sugar for extra energy.

Why not buy one of our porridge mugs for you to use at home, at work, on picnics, or on walks. Or if you are looking a Christmas gift for someone, why not gift them this mug. Not only can they use it personally, but at the same time you are gifting a child their morning Uji porridge for a year.

We can post your mug out with an extra charge.

Trustees and Directors

2022/23 Trustees and Management Board

Trustee: Mr Stephen Fletcher Trustee: Mr Irwin Holmes Trustee: Mrs Cherith Fletcher

Board of Directors:

Mr Stephen Fletcher (President) Mr Irwin Holmes (Chairman) Mrs Cherith Fletcher Miss Rebekah Bleakley Miss Elaine Campbell Mr Mervyn Glenn Mr Stephen Murray Mrs Rhonda Glenn Mr Stephen Cassells Mr Samson Kangethe

All trustees and directors serve in these capacities on an entirely voluntary basis.

HEAD OFFICE:	88A Finvoy Road, Ballymoney, County Antrim, BT53 7JQ
Tel:	028 2766 7472
Email:	stephen@vision4kids.org
Web site:	www.vision4kids.org
Facebook:	vision4kids
Twitter:	@vision4kids