2025-06-30-accounts - The Roof of Africa (SCIO)

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The Roof of Africa (SCIO) Trustees’ Annual Report 30[th] June 2024 to 29[th] June 2025

Charity contact information

The Roof of Africa SCIO

Scottish Charity Number: SC047518

15 Dovecot, Kings Knowe, Edinburgh

EH14 2LU

07776413137

info@theroofofafrica.org

www.theroofofafrica.com

Charity Founder and Trustees

Genuine Mwasha – Founder and Trustee

Donna Charway – Trustee (Secretary)

Clive MacLaren - Trustee

Olawunmi Samuel Animashaun Treasurer -Trustee

Fleur Heming Trustee

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Objectives and activities

The organisation’s purposes are:

To use the UN convention on the rights of the chid to guide activities in disadvantaged areas of Tanzania, to improve the lives of children and their families.
To make education as accessible as possible for children of all ages by running schools, activities, sports and clubs in impoverished areas.
To support adult learning and the transition of Tanzanian students from school to Higher Education
To support families in the community to help break the cycle of poverty
To use guidance from the Scottish Government to structure teaching, including ‘Getting It Right For Every Child’
To expand on activities away from education in an effort to relieve poverty in a sustainable manner

The charity’s principal activity is the operation of a pre- and primary school in Sonu and an early learning and nursery school in Bomang’ombe, together with the development of early-stage pre- and primary schools in Maasai land and Nkwansira-Kyuu, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. The charity also continues to strengthen its relationship with the local community and provide support to pupils’ families and the wider community.

During the year, the charity’s focus has been on supporting pupils in their examination preparation, continuing to provide food assistance to families in need, and enhancing child protection training for both staff and the wider community.

The charity’s objectives for the year were as follows:

To maintain fundraising efforts sufficient to cover the school’s operational costs, thereby sustaining the provision wider access to education and two daily meals per pupil.
To complete the construction of classrooms 6 and 7 by the end of 2025, thereby enabling the intake of a new class.

To support pupils in undertaking nationally recognised examinations for the first time, affording them the opportunity to secure entry to secondary school.
To finalise community projects initiated in the prior year and to continue raising funds to address ongoing community needs.
To expand the sponsorship scheme so as to increase the number of children and families receiving support.
To complete the Bomang’ombe Early Learning and Nursery Unit, with the aim of broadening access to education for underprivileged children.
To initiate construction of two new schools in the most impoverished communities beyond Sonu village: one in Maasai land to extend educational access to the pastoralist Maasai tribe and to challenge entrenched taboos against schooling; the other to serve the villages and communities of Nkwansira-Kyuu.

We have continued to be humbled by the generosity of our supporters and are pleased to say that the objectives were met, as will be described in ‘Achievements and Performance’.

During the year, two new trustees were appointed following the resignations of Freda Mwasha and Joanna MacKenzie. Freda stepped down due to increased responsibilities in caring for her five children alongside her full-time university role, while Johanna resigned to accommodate the expanded demands of her college teaching position. The charity extends its sincere thanks to both for their invaluable time, energy, and significant contributions to its success to date.

Structure, governance and management

Type of governing document

SCIO Constitution (Single Tier)

Achievements and performance

Highlights this year include:

With a grant from the Ashworth Trust, supplemented by funds raised by the charity, we completed the rebuild of one student’s unsafe house (initiated the previous year), installed plumbing systems in two students’ homes, and provided safe toilet facilities for two additional families. These interventions have profoundly enhanced the quality of life for the students and their families, for which we are deeply grateful.
In September 2024, our first 22 senior pupils sat the Standard 7 National Examination set by the National Examinations Council of Tanzania, marking the culmination of primary education. All 22 pupils achieved outstanding results (Grades A and B), placing Roof of Africa Pre- and Primary School in the top 1% of best-performing pre- and primary schools at district, regional, and national levels. This was the school’s inaugural participation, and we aim to sustain this excellence.
Additionally, 33 pupils sat the Standard Four National Assessment (SFNA), achieving predominantly Grades A and B with minimal Cs, again ranking the school in the top 1% at district and regional levels.
The Christmas appeal proved successful, enabling 245 pupils to receive small gifts and enjoy a Christmas party, alongside thank-you gifts for teachers and food parcels for 125 families in need.
The Sonu community generously contributed sand, bricks, cement, and labour to complete two additional classrooms, bringing the total to seven; three classrooms and an office remain, enhancing school management capabilities.

In May 2024, Tanzanian staff participated in a wellbeing day, including a shared meal and certificates of appreciation for their exceptional dedication, particularly in preparing pupils for national examinations.
The Bomang’ombe Early Learning and Nursery Unit was successfully completed.
Construction of essential infrastructure commenced for new preand primary schools in Maasai Land and Nkwansira-Kyuu, with local communities actively contributing labour and site preparation in hopeful anticipation of expanded educational access.
The fruit tree garden project expanded, with seedlings distributed to community members to promote tree planting on Mount Kilimanjaro’s slopes, aiding environmental conservation and protection against seasonal fires and climate impacts.
We have been able to provide education access to 300 children, provided two meals a day ,as well as provided employment to 25 staffs ,19 of who a teachers and Teaching supporters whereas 6 are non-teaching staff.

Partnerships

Our partnership with Haus of Conservation. As part of this partnership, Haus of Conservation fundraised to provide environmental and conservation ongoing sponsorship as well as:

Fundraising for Roof of Africa through online classes and events.
Developing a wellbeing package focused on acceptance and self-belief to be delivered to the pupils at the Roof of Africa school.
Developing an education programme around animal and environmental conservation to be delivered at the school.

Fundraising for a fruit tree garden to help feed the children at the school and their families.

We are delighted to be working with this wonderful organisation which has such a similar ethos to ourselves and has already given us so much support this year.

Financial review

Statement of the charity’s policy on reserves

As the charity is still growing, our current policy of reserves is 1 month’s expenses. When possible, we aim to increase reserves to 3 months.

Future plans

Looking ahead, the charity will prioritise the following initiatives:

Completing the remaining classrooms and constructing a dining room as part of the ongoing school build in Sonu.
We are launching a fundraising campaign to construct two dormitories: one for girls and one for boys to provide safe accommodation for students travelling from remote areas or those without stable homes to return to during school terms. In the Kilimanjaro region, abject poverty affects over 40% of rural households on Mount Kilimanjaro's slopes, where families often lack basic necessities like food, clean water, and shelter; children, particularly girls, face heightened risks of early marriage, dropout rates exceeding 30%, and limited access to pre and primary education without boarding facilities. These dormitories will safeguard vulnerable students, boost attendance and academic performance, and empower girls to overcome cultural barriers to education, aligning with our mission to break poverty cycles through sustained schooling.
Expanding the fruit tree garden project in partnership with Haus of Conservation, targeting the planting of 3,075 trees around our schools and surrounding communities on Mount Kilimanjaro. This initiative aims to protect the mountain from fires and adverse climate effects—threats that exacerbate poverty and health risks;while providing sustainable nutrition for children and families and supporting environmental conservation.
Introducing livestock (chickens, goats, and rabbits) to teach pupils animal husbandry and establish an additional sustainable food source for the school.
Building on the successful completion of the Bomang’ombe Early Learning and Nursery Unit—now serving 63 children—by extending educational access to underprivileged children in additional communities beyond Sonu.
Advancing construction of new pre- and primary schools in Maasai Land and Nkwansira-Kyuu, with full completion targeted

within three years to offer educational opportunities to these impoverished regions.

Upon completion of all school projects, widening access to education for 1,000 students living in abject poverty.
Establishing a child reunification home to safely return orphans and street children to their families, serving as a temporary safe haven with an annual target of reunifying 200 children, in line with our belief that every child belongs in the care of loving parents.
Launching a youth skills training hub to equip 500 young people annually with employable skills and entrepreneurial capabilities.

Declaration

Signed on behalf of the charity trustees:

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Genuine Mwasha Print name Pp Trustee Designation PO 30/3/2026 Date Po