ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

JANUARY – DECEMBER 2024

AGM AGENDA

1. Welcome / Apologies / Minutes of last AGM (Dawn - Secretary)
2. Annual Report: (Dawn / Mark / George)
3. Present: Project Updates / Videos / Membership /Project Committee Update
4. Annual Accounts & Approval (Mark – Treasurer)
5. Election of Trustees (Dawn)
6. 2024/25 Strategy (Led by Dawn)
7. Year of the Teacher Update (Dawn or Murti if available)
8. Close (Dawn)

ANNUAL REPORT

JANUARY – DECEMBER 2023

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ANNUAL REPORT - CONTENTS

2023 PROJECT UPDATES

• LIBRARIES & LITERACY
• YEAR OF READING

CHARITY UPDATES:

• MEMBERSHIP NUMBERS
• TREASURER’S REPORT
• GOVERNANCE, PEOPLE & ROLES

2024:

• 2024 AGM PROPOSED RE ELECTION OF TRUSTEES
• STRATEGY FOR 2024
• YEAR OF THE TEACHER FOCUS 2024

INTRODUCTION FROM SECRETARY

2023 was the second year of our 2 year small scale education project. Much of the hard work had been done and this was a year to consolidate. The project committee is to be thanked for their keen attention to the details of the projects and budgeting.

The Year of Reading proved to be difficult from a fund raising perspective but our initiative of the coffee book swap inspired two very successful and enjoyable fund raising events.  We chose the Year of the Teacher for our 2024 focus. 

In 2023 we aimed to improve communication by more "story telling" around the lives of individuals in Nekemte. Murti sent us some excellent and vivid accounts of day to day life and, in particular,  the impact of the libraries on students and the positive consequence of employment as a librarian. Our newsletter continues to evolve and be a vital form of communication.

We held our first face to face meeting since Covid in November. This was a great success with much enthusiasm and many ideas for fundraising and engagement. This will be the springboard for more face to face engagements which will enhance our sense of community and catalyse our fundraising.

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In August 2023 we were very sad to hear the news of the passing of  Dick Benn. Dick was treasure of EEL for 15 years and he will be remembered with affection, not just for his dedication to EEL but for his kind and understanding manner, his consideration and thoughtfulness.

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In Nekemte there continued to be huge challenges with  security issues and the bravery and determination of teachers, librarians and our own team is to be credited. Murti has worked tirelessly to ensure the safe and efficient continuation of the work within safe limits and her communication between the team and our project committee has been outstanding and essential.

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I would like to extend sincere thanks and appreciation across the spectrum of EEL. From our members and supporters through to our board of trustees and treasurer, our project committee, our volunteers Lee and David and our Nekemte team working with our teachers, librarians and local communities.  

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Thank you for your continued support. 

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Dawn Swettenham

2023 PROJECT UPDATES:�

2023 was a hugely challenging year because of the political and security situation in and around Nekemte with regular armed conflict around and at times in Nekemte.   

Nekemte was declared (and still is) an area which the FCDO advises against all travel to.

However, EEL is continuing to work with the EECMY CS-DASSC. It puts the security of the team as a total priority but uses local knowledge to identify areas where it is safe.  

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Thank you from the team in Nekemte

1. LIBRARIES �� 

  In 2023, EEL supported 39    primary school libraries:

• 34 librarians were employed (27 Females) in the context of the area where the unemployment rate is 30%. This enabled them to access a monthly income often paying for their studies. 
• 5 librarians were employed by the government (an additional 3 librarians compared to 2 in 2022). The project supports the schools by providing librarian training.
• The libraries had a total average monthly footfall of 17,800 students and an average of 3,042 books were lent each month.

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 2. LITERACY 

• 12 teachers were trained in the teaching of early grade reading from four rural schools .
• We have continued girls’ literacy tutorials in four schools.  This resulted in 63 girls who otherwise were not achieving literacy in mainstream classrooms to reach a minimum word level of literacy and an additional 34 girls to become fluent in reading.
• We supported 20 deaf students in secondary school through additional tutorials on key subjects (English,Maths and Science subjects).

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3. GIRLS’ BIKE PROJECT

• 12 girls from two secondary school were selected to practice cycling.  In addition, three girls from this project took part in regional under 17 cycling competition in June 2023.
• In solo events, they earned 9 silver medals, and in team competitions, they secured a bronze medal individually, totaling 10 medals overall. 

LIBRARIES AND LITERACY

We have planned to extend the project agreement for an additional year, starting in June 2024. Under this we are planning to:

• Support an average of 20,000 students a month to access class libraries
• Employ 34 librarians each year 
• Carry out support visit to disability associations or parent support groups with VSLAs which were set up in previous years.

Once again Annie Bainbridge organized our stall at the Exeter Respect Festival which was well attended

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£1,041 was raised by

Coffee Morning Book Swaps

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• Funds raised were spent on Literacy Tutorials to support children to read

EEL UPDATES: �MEMBERSHIP NUMBERS

CURRENT MEMBERS = 107

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We have focused on inviting friends and followers to sign up to our newsletter.

We hope that this is an easy step towards membership.

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We currently have 147 people signed up to our newsletter.

A big thank you to all our members whose subscriptions help fund our much needed and appreciated projects in and around Nekemte

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We have 2 more members than in 2023 and of course our aim is to increase membership year on year.

The annual fee is £10 single and £15 joint membership. It is easy to subscribe online through our website

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I would also like to thank those who are not members but give their time and energy to the Respect Festival and other fundraising activities

Annie Bainbridge Membership secretary

TREASURER’S REPORT

The trustees have approved the accounts and Emerald Davies will examine our accounts for January to December 2023 in line with financial legislation and submit her report to the Trustees.

Exeter Ethiopia Link has finished 2023 with total funds of £32,119 (2022: £38,204).

We raised a total of £20,042 compared to £26,968 the previous year). This decrease is in part due to reduced funder grants and part due to decreased fundraising. We again carried out a very successful Big Give campaign in which we raised £9106. Money from this is included in both fundraising and donations lines (from our match funders Ethiopia Aid and Enable Ed CIC) of our Statement of Financial Activities. We spent £26,127 of which 91% went as grants out to Ethiopia and 6% as a stipend to our volunteer project manager in Ethiopia

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Currently the accounts for Exeter Ethiopia Link are healthy, with totals of £21,259 in unrestricted funds and £10,860 in restricted funds (£32,119 in total).

By Mark Smith EEL Treasurer.

EEL has finished 2023 with total funds of £32,119

(2022: £38,204).

(See separate Financial Report for detail)

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What’s Next:

Our projects come to an end in June 2024 and given the financial position, trustees took the decision to sign a one year extension project with EECMY CS DASSC with approximate expenditure of £21,500 over the next 12 months.   This will be made up of approximately £18,500 new funding from EEL and £3000 in underspend already sent to our project partner DASSC.   

ANNUAL ACCOUNTS APPROVAL

GOVERNANCE, PEOPLE AND ROLES �OFFICERS:

GOVERNANCE, PEOPLE AND ROLES�TRUSTEES:

�2024/5 STRATEGY

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Our 2023 accounts show a decrease of £6926 in funds raised. As a consequence we are being cautious about our commitment to projects in 2024.  Our core project has been identified as the libraries.  Additional projects will be linked to funds raised.

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1. FOCUS ON FUNDRAISING

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HOW:

1. Encourage monthly donations
2. Identify specific needs which is more inspiring to both potential fundraisers and donors
3. Encourage participation in the fundraising conversation. A lot of people raising a small amount makes a BIG difference.
4. Trustee Cynthia Palmer will co ordinate fundraising ideas together with support from Dawn, David (website and newsletter support) and Lee (social media and advertising design).
5. The Big Give will be repeated in December 2024.

2. SCHOOL LINKING

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Murti has taken over the schools linking programme. She has now produced our first schools newsletter.

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We will be sharing this with our linked schools. 

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The aim is to recruit more schools across the country

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Once we have a school engaged there will be the opportunity for new members and fundraising.

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3. GRANT FUNDS

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We will continue to submit applications for grant funding. 

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Mark Smith has successfully secured one grant for £2000 from the Waterloo Trust

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5.  UNIVERSITIES

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Our trustee Ken is engaging with Exeter University with the aim of organising an event during Fresher's Week.

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We hope to engage students and encourage them to organise a community of interested students to spread the word of EEL, organise  fundraisers and provide some new ideas.

5. NEW TRUSTEES

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We now have vacancies for TWO trustees.

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The recruitment of two active trustees will be a huge help towards steering our charity forward.

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2024 FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN: UPDATE�

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• We know that 78% of teachers use their school libraries every day to support their children and build their own subject knowledge.

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We have chosen the teacher as our fund raising focus for 2024

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The school curriculum has changed and as a result the teachers do not have the appropriate text books to support the children with their learning. This is affecting exam results and transition to high school.

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Text books are vital to the teachers to secure the children’s transition into higher education.

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2024 FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN: UPDATE�

• Every £3 donated (the price of a cup of coffee!) will buy a text book which will be used time and time again to further education. 

Dawn

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£842 donations

£842 match funding

= £1688

= 562 books

2024 FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN: UPDATE�

Dawn

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• £230 raised from selling coffee
• 10 new newsletter sign ups
• Interest in our walk and talk event

2024 FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN: UPDATE�

Dawn

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£1918 raised so far!

Could you organise an event and give the gift of education which will last a lifetime?

• Every £3 donated will buy a text book which will be used time and time again to further education. 

Dawn

Could you support our teachers?

A sponsored event :

• An opportunity to reach a personal goal
• An opportunity to improve your fitness

A coffee morning / book swap or supper:

• An opportunity to meet up with friends

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AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE 

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Could you attend our walk and talk event?

• Meet new people
• Share our community with a friend or family member

Dawn

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Sunday 14^th July at 11am

Meet Annie at the Bridge on Quayside

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SundaySunday