International Relief & Friendship Foundation Annual Report 2013

Message From the Director developing the website Regretfully, two of our trustees, Rob- Dear Friends, ert Williamson and Aftikhar Ahmed, have Happy New Year from all the team at stepped down from their role as trustees. We IRFF. 2013 was a good year for IRFF UK. We would like to thank them both for their gen- were able to develop our projects, to initiate erous support, in particular for their tireless a few new projects and welcomed new volun- work in organising and developing the annual teers to our team. In particular we are grate- Ambassadors for Peace African Tour for the ful to Diana Fischer, from Germany, who af- past four years. ter graduating from nursing college decided We would like to express our thanks to to spend three months working with IRFF in all of you who have supported us in so many Zambia, and Patrick German, who is study- ways throughout the past year. In particular to ing international development at SOAS, and those who are sponsoring a child or teacher is providing valuable administrative support. at Destiny Junior School, those who partici- We would also like to welcome Rev. Marshall pated in the third annual pilgrimage for Af- de Souza. He will be focusing most of his en- rica, those who gave so generously towards ergy on raising funds for our various projects; the Philippines Appeal, and for all of you who he comes to IRFF with a wealth of experience were able to donate clothing, bric-a-brac, etc. working with service projects around the to the Tricycle Charity Shop. world and is himself the founder and chair of We hope you enjoy reading this report trustees for WAIT UK. Markus Thonett has about our activities and that we can keep you also joined IRFF UK; he has already been pro- well informed about our progress in 2014. viding a lot of support for the running of the Thank you again for your interest and support. Tricycle Charity Shop over the past two years and will assist Rev. Marshall. Thanks also to On behalf of the IRFF team, Sonja Read who will be our IRFF UK repre- Ashley Crosthwaite sentative in Paris and assist Patrick and Selina 1

Uganda rently there are 27 child sponsors and 3 teacher sponsors, therefore one goal for 2014 is to find IRFF – UK has been working in Uganda since sponsors for all 80 children and 7 staff members. 1998. In the past seven years we have become The other two main goals are to construct an all more and more active in this country, working weather kitchen and to purchase the adjacent with the national police academy, the health de- land to provide a play area for the children and partment, and many schools. Below is a project a kitchen garden as well as constructing a new by project report of activities in 2013. classroom block in the future.

WAIT Uganda Mobile Medical Team (MMT)

WAIT Uganda is a project of IRFF. The overall IRFF, supported by the WAIT team, did commu- goal of WAIT is the eradication of HIV/AIDS. nity service in 21 different locations of Uganda WAIT Uganda works closely with IRFF in a num- promoting health, and empowering villages in ber of ways. There are currently approximately income generating activities through sustainable 2000 WAIT members. agriculture. This included removing jiggers (par- Mobile Medical Team (MMT) (See Below) asites) from children’s feet and hands at 5 schools 2013 was the third year of WAIT –Uganda work- and in 12 communities in Iganga and Masaka ing in cooperation with the national police, mak- districts. Over 2300 people were attended to, 250 ing regular visits to the national police academy pairs of shoes were given to those whose parasites in Masindi to educate the officers and cadets were removed. IRFF UK currently sends a small about how to avoid HIV infection. monthly budget for this project. The local gov- As of December 2013 there are WAIT clubs in 30 ernments, local churches and leaders have invit- schools, mainly in Kampala, Masaka, and Jinja ed us to their communities indicating how great- districts. ly our services are required. Marshall de Souza, In 2013 WAIT members volunteered in various a member of the IRFF working board, has just capacities, such as helping with agriculture, roof completed a case for support for this project out- repairs, supporting schools in general mainte- lining all the requirements necessary to eradicate nance as well as education. the problem of jiggers from several districts over A team of seven volunteers travelled to Kenya in the next five years (more information available July to initiate WAIT activities in several schools on the IRFF UK website). around Nairobi as well as in Kabera. More than 20 youth groups attended a WAIT convention and partnerships were made with Karen South School, UN Habitat, Kabera and others.

Destiny Junior School

Early in 2013 doors and windows were fitted to all classrooms and the school office. Also in June 2013, after many delays, the well was complet- ed. In July 2013 the school library was opened. Destiny school is funded through a sponsorship program; sponsors support either a pupil for £10 per month or a teacher for £30 per month. Cur- rently the teachers do not receive a full salary but are supported as much as possible and the chil- dren receive basic medicine, shoes and a nutri- tious meal once per day as well as schooling. Cur- 2

Some of Our Partners out doors and windows and all the rooms need plastering and painting. IRFF UK also supplied In 2013 IRFF gave support to Butale Mixed Pri- seeds, medicines, computer equipment, books mary school, in Masaka district by helping in the and fabrics. The community was able to send one completion of new latrines as the old latrines had representative to south Sudan for six months to collapsed in 2012. The children were without any teach dressmaking skills. toilet facilities for a year. Volunteers visited the school twice to remove jiggers from pupils, give Other Activities shoes, and advise about agricultural development and hygiene. In July 2013, a joint IRFF/WAIT team visited IRFF supported Kigulu Prime Academy in 2013 Masaka prison and gave a talk about how to avoid by making several visits and eradicating jiggers HIV infection and find value in life, even in the from the school. Help was also given in the com- prison environment; the WAIT team also per- pletion of the school kitchen and a solar system formed there. IRFF could give a donation of soap was installed to improve school security. When for all the prisoners. working in Iganga district the MMT used the In several communities in Masaka district IRFF school as their home. volunteers supported several elderly residents as well as young children by providing school KABUUMA COMMUNITY fees, removing jiggers, cleaning homes, building raised beds, and bringing vital supplies. Through The Kabuuma Joint Family Association is sup- funding from IRFF UK one lady was able to pay ported by IRFF UK in a number of ways. In 2013 her hospital fees and have a successful operation one door and window was completed for the com- removing a cancerous tumor from her womb. munity center. That room now serves the sewing In 2013 two youth leaders were provided with machine project. There are still two rooms with- scholarships for higher education.

Kenya team pledged to support UN Habitat, and to establish a formal partnership with them. The team performed Thanks to all the supporters of the Concert for Af- in front of the UN Habitat building to the great de- rica and the Annual Pilgrimage (this year all the light of the local community. funds raised went towards launching WAIT Kenya). We were able to send a team of four volunteers from The combined Kenya, Uganda, and UK team bond- WAIT UK and a team of seven from IRFF/WAIT ed together through serving the local community. Uganda. The teams arrived on July 1st and for the For example, 21 fruit trees were planted at Sasamoto first few days did team building exercises, training in Farm. The director of IRFF Uganda could give valu- dance and breakdance together, and visiting the Nai- able guidance to the project manager. A donation of robi Wildlife Park. WAIT gave presentations at four $1000 was given for the purpose of building a chicken schools and held a WAIT convention at the end of the house and also to provide funding for the purchase of week, at which twenty different youth groups were 300 birds. represented. Also WAIT visited Kabira-Soweto, part of the largest slum district in the world. A meeting In December, IRFF UK provided funding for the di- was held with UN Habitat in which we could learn rector of WAIT Uganda to visit Nairobi to liaise with much about the situation of the residents. The WAIT the newly formed WAIT/IRFF volunteer group.

Zambia ent as there is no clear economic model. A clear structure for supporting the school needs to be installed as well as accountability. 1. WAIT 4. Partnership with Doors of Hope, Zambia. Due to the efforts of Diana Fischer the WAIT project made great strides during the latter part The friendship with Sven Andersson has grown of the year. More than 12 schools have been in- over the past few years and in September IR- troduced to WAIT and a workshop was held for FF-UK signed a formal agreement as partners 40 participants in December explaining the goals with Doors of Hope Zambia, a locally registered of the project (protecting young people from charity. The office of Doors of Hope is adjacent to HIV infection). During the seminar youth lead- Mackenzie school, at the heart of Mackenzie com- ers could understand more deeply the desperate munity, a poor rural township about 40 minutes need for role models amongst young people; such drive out of Ndola. Doors of Hope have helped role models literally save lives. the school over the years and have set up several cooperative projects, including wood and metal 2. Barlastone Park School, Lusaka. workshops, micro financing for local businesses to get started etc. Together we have embarked on The school is supported mainly by payment of the development of a local health clinic, still in school fees as well as donations of materials and the early stages. Through the partnership we will funds from IRFF UK and Sweden. In 2013 sever- also help to revive Mackenzie school by building al computers were donated and funds were giv- new toilets and creating a viable economic struc- en by both countries towards refurbishment of ture. Since the partnership was formed IRFF-UK the boys’ toilets, which were in a state of disre- could already provide funding for sustainable ag- pair during our visit in June. The school is now riculture in the community; a large area of waste- 30 years old and continues to gain good results land was cleared, ploughed and 5000 cabbages in national examinations. Funding, especially for planted as a way of funding the project locally. improvements to the infrastructure, is a problem, partly because not all pupils’ families pay the fee 5. Ideal Family Clinic, Lusaka. on time or in some cases they cannot pay at all. The local clinic was initiated by IRFF-UK in 3. Mackenzie Community School, Ndola re- 2012. The clinic treats local residents in Twike- gion. tane community . It is still in the early stages of development. Despite not yet being registered The school, originally built by IRFF with inter- 100’s of people have been treated, and since the national cooperation, is now entering its 14th director Mrs Eunice Sanfo is a midwife, several year. The visit in June highlighted some of the babies have been delivered and even some moth- difficulties currently being faced. There are only 4 ers’ and babies’ lives have been saved. During teachers and one school keeper for 200 children, 2013 IRFF-UK sent basic medicines, a micro- toilets are in disrepair and are unhygienic, nutri- scope and other equipment. Whilst visiting in tion continues to be a serious concern and there June also many reading spectacles were given out is no provision for basic 1st aid or medicines. at the clinic ( thanks to friends ‘Eyes on Africa’’ IRFF-UK and IRFF Sweden were able to bring USA) and further equipment donated. Again in a large amount of school supplies on their an- conjunction with IRFF Sweden, Eunice was do- nual visit in June, including notebooks, pencils, nated sufficient funding for a poultry project at paper, chalk, erasers, maths sets etc. Each of the the back of the clinic, which is already generating children could receive a treat as well. IRFF needs much needed funds for the daily upkeep. to consider whether the school is viable at pres-

Cameroon North Korea. Two containers of medical equip- ment have been sent but we are in urgent need of verification and accountability at the point of Partnership with LUKMEF, Cameroon delivery. These are absolutely essential for us to continue supporting the project. IRFF-UK has been supporting the sustainable agriculture projects delivered by LUKMEF in After disaster struck the Phillipines Dr. Simon Cameroon since 2012. Many women have been Rosselli initiated a fundraising appeal through helped through their initiatives. IRFF-UK and a concert and variety evening was held in November. We have £2700 which will be given to one of the most active NGOs working South Africa over there. We are waiting to receive an action plan from one charity before sending this money. 1. Haven of Hope clinic Thanks again to Simon and to the local Filipino Since 2010 IRFF has supported the clinic with community and all who supported the initiative. small donations of medicines, plasters and some In 2014 we would like to host another event as it funding, whenever possible. In 2013 a box was will be a very long time that help will continue to sent and a small donation given. The clinic treats be needed in the Phillipines. several hundred patients in the Cape flats area of Cape Town. The Tricycle Charity shop continues to give val- uable support for all IRFF projects and partner- 2. WAIT-SA ships; thanks again to all the management and WAIT-SA has been supported by IRFF-UK since staff, many of whom are fellow volunteers. volunteers first initiated activities in 2010, meet- ing many project partners, such as ‘Make us Lastly I want to mention again all those who took Models’, a youth dance group promoting ethical some part in the 3rd annual pilgrimage to save and responsible relationships. In 2013 WAIT-SA lives in Africa, including putting us up for the was able to perform together with several youth night, dressing wounds and providing transport groups and schools during their visit in support . Thank you. The 4th annual pilgrimage will take of WAIT-Zambia. place during May Bank holiday time; it’s almost time to start the training regime! Activities in the United Kingdom We wish you peace, health and prosperity in 2014. Most of IRFF’s activities in the UK are to pro- mote both interest and funding for our projects For more information on our projects and partnerships abroad. The IRFF volunteers are deeply grateful to all the people who supported please visit our website: various events through 2013. www.irff-uk.org Special thanks to WFWP-UK and South London for helping to raise funds and to UPF South Lon- don for partnering IRFF in educational programs or contact us at: highlighting the human rights situation in North Korea. In 2013 IRFF-UK donated a printer to the IRFFUK, 2A Haslemere Road, FreeNK news. We are looking forward to deepen- ing friendship with our local North Korean resi- Thornton Heath, Surrey, dents, numbering over 400. CR7 7BE In 2013 IRFF-UK has been helping to coordinate the equipping of Nampo childrens’ hospital in 5