CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
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Welcome to The Martin Chambers Ecuador Trust annual report and accounts for the period October 2024 until September 2025.
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This was the first full financial period without our founder and past Chairman, Father Martin Chambers. He is still sadly missed.
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In the past year, three new Trustees were appointed — Suzy Hollywood, Carly McCaig and David Ross. All three have contributed enormously to the Trust in such a short space of time. We now have ten trustees. The Trust’s support to Ecuador this year was as follows: e Payment of school fees of the poorest children in Sagrada Familia School in Nueva Prosperina, Guayaquil
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e Payment of school fees for the poorest children and supporting the established food programme for the children in Dr. Luis Arzube School in Nueva Prosperina, Guayaquil
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e Assistance for the people who were devastated by the 2016 earthquake in the area around Portoviejo
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e Funded the building of a new bamboo house for a needy family who have been well known to the Trust for many years
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When money is transferred to the Guayaquil Schools, it is transferred initially to the Education Department of the Archdiocese of Guayaquil who in turn transfer the agreed funds to each school.
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When money is transferred to the earthquake zone around Portoviejo, it is sent directly to the account of the Archdiocese of Portoviejo. The Archdiocese then In turn, distribute the funds as directed by the Irust. In terms of fundraising, many events have taken place this financial period. The Trust is indebted to all those who raised money throughout the period and those who supported all the
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fundraisers. The Ecuador Trust 200 Club continues to be extremely successful. This brings in a steady income every month for which the Trust is grateful. At present we have 198 members.
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Towards the end of the last financial period, the Trustees decided to order a reprint of Fr Martin’s book ‘Walking with the Poor’, which raised funds for the Trust. One thousand copies were printed, and almost all have now been sold.
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The Trust is looking forward to the forthcoming year and will continue to raise money through a variety of activities to support the legacy which Father Martin built in Ecuador. We are currently investigating the possibility of one or two of the Trustees visiting Ecuador in the forthcoming year
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to see first-hand the projects which recent fundraising has supported in the last three years since Father Martin last visited and to explore further avenues of future Support. Francis Chambers, Chairman & Trustee 17/12/2025 J bobe