LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY!

Transcription

1 LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY! ANNUAL REPORT 2015 Van Doorn Foundation P.O. Box AH Nijmegen The Netherlands w e vandoornstichting@gmail.com f t

2 Learning opportunity for everybody! The mission of the Van Doorn Foundation is to enable vulnerable and disadvantaged young people in third-world countries to attend education programs in order to increase their chances to find jobs and to provide for themselves and their families. What have we achieved in 2015 and how did we do it? We are pleased to provide you in this report a summary of the achievements by the Van Doorn Foundation. We will take you through the following topics: Results individual study funding o Trends in awarded scholarships Results project funding Policy and strategy o Communication strategy o Fundraising strategy o Board composition Finance o Statement of Income and Expenses o Balance sheet as at 31 December 2015 Van Doorn Foundation 2

3 Results individual study funding Examination. Dear sponsor, I have finalized my fourth year exams. I am now waiting for the results expected next year 2016 February. Pray for me to pass and I will let you know. Thanks for your assistance. God bless. 18-year-old girl from Nakuru, Kenya (was doing her high school finals in November 2015 The Van Doorn Foundation gives meaning to its mission by funding education of young people aged 12 to 25 years who live in developing countries and who will not be able to study without financial donations. Practically, this often is the case with orphans or children growing up in a single parent household. In 2015 the Foundation received 215 applications for study funding, with traditionally most from Kenya. On an annual basis we make available an amount of EUR 10,000.- from our own resources for individual study funding, that allows paying education for about 30 to 40 students. Our aim is to continue in the coming years to spend EUR 10,000.- on study funding, plus any amount we receive in donations for individual study funding. As many as 208 applications could not be honoured because the number of applications exceeded the available budget substantially. Moreover, not all applicants met the criteria set by the Foundation in order to qualify for a scholarship (e.g. age, study cost, incomplete information and the like). The large number of applications has prompted the board of the Foundation to tighten the selection criteria; applications for vocational training henceforth be given priority, as well as applications for funding an entire study (instead of a part). An application made halfway through the study must be able to clarify who has paid the first part and why financial assistance is now required. Furthermore, the time at which applications are processed has been modified: In May we consider applications for studies beginning in September of that year, in September for studies beginning in January of the following year. Students should thus submit their application at least 3 months before the start of a study. All changes are mentioned on the Van Doorn Foundation website and on the application form. Van Doorn Foundation 3

4 26 students are expected to continue with their studies in Trends in awarded scholarships Van Doorn Foundation finances preferably secondary and higher professional education (and only in exceptional circumstances a university education). Research and experience has shown that people with a general university education often only find a job if they also have a network. Those obtaining scholarships from the Foundation generally don t have such a network. The job prospects for people with secondary or higher professional education on the other hand is virtually guaranteed and we want to use our (limited) financial resources as efficient as possible. Since the Foundation has made this policy decision this is clearly reflected in the distribution of awarded scholarships: I live in Kisumu city in Nyanza Kenya. Unfortunately, I have no father nor mother I was born of a single parent and my mother passed on when I was eight years old. I was brought up by my grandmother up to now. She took me to nursery, primary and secondary schools. I sincerely thank you Van Doorn Foundation which sponsored me through my collage where I was doing mechanics grade 2 of which I successfully completed. I did the government trade test of which I am still waiting for the results.[ ] Thank you and may God be with you have a blessed Christmas as the year ends. Yours sincerely, Victor Ochango Ambeba. Van Doorn Foundation 4

5 Results project funding The Foundation supports local organizations with educational goals, wishing to carry out small projects to improve educational opportunities for vulnerable and disadvantaged young people, but lack sufficient financial resources. The Foundation s support may include: a financial contribution (e.g. for the building or adjusting of facilities, the purchase of furniture, machines, equipment, the training of trainers etc.); the provision of advice and coaching (making a policy plan, business plan, training modules, financial administration and management of the institution) and the provision of equipment (e.g. tools or furniture). For this purpose, the Foundation also explores possibilities to work together with micro-credit organizations and to encourage young people that with the Foundation support obtained vocational qualification, to get access to small credits to start up their own businesses and to work together with organizations that can provide secondary vocational training institutions access to (used) tools and machines. LOSUP Greenhouse project in Lambwe Valley in Kenya Teaching orphans farming skills, which they would have otherwise learned from their parents. In addition the revenues from the greenhouses provides for the livelihood of the orphans. Projects completed in 2015 (started in 2014): 3 MULEBA Vocational Training Centre in Mwanza, Tanzania A vocational training centre with computer courses and tailor courses has been established for vulnerable young people from the Buhongwa district. C4H Apprenticeship Programme in Koforidua, Ghana Internships are sought for unemployed, enthusiastic and talented young adults in small companies and learning materials / tools made available. During these internships they learn a trade, and supported by a microcredit - can than start their own business. The Van Doorn Foundation provided also in 2015 assistance to a number of organizations in carrying out institutional analysis, drafting policies and improving financial administration and management. Sorting out these issues is a pre-condition for the Foundation to proceed with any financial assistance to these organizations or projects. Van Doorn Foundation 5

6 In 2015 some changes have been made to the application process. More information is now being asked on the applicant organization (previously the Foundation asked for this information after an application was submitted). These changes have reduced the number of applications. Of the 21 applications, 17 were not considered. Partly because the Foundation, out of capacity considerations, cannot and does not want to support more than four projects at once, and partly because for many organizations carrying out the institutional analysis and drafting a sound business plan constituted a too big stumbling block. Projects started in 2015 (to be completed in 2016): 4 GAAS-Mali education for girls project in Noukoula, Mali ACT-Mara Vocational Training Centre at the Safe House Completion of the school, provision of water and sanitation in Mugumu, Tanzania and introducing horticulture for parents to provide for an Girls running away from home to escape gender-based additional income and an incentive to send their daughters violence learn a trade here and subsequently able to provide to school. for their own livelihood. Expansion of TA-CRUSADE vocational training centre in Nakifuma, Uganda Training for unemployed youth in hairdressing, cooking, catering, metalworking, computer applications and maintenance. Napo Nawa Bala elementary school in Solor, Indonesia Refurbishing and furnishing of an elementary school in a remote area in eastern Flores, so that also there children can go to school. To support and provide guidance to the local organizations, our treasurer visited in 2015 Kenya (LOSUP), Tanzania (MULEBA and ACT Mara) and Uganda (TA-CRUSADE). In 2015, the fund-raising was launched for three projects. As soon as sufficient funds have been collected, these projects will be started or carried out in Van Doorn Foundation 6

7 Projects for which fundraising started in 2015: 3 Expanding Vocational Training Centre in Mugumu, Tanzania Abused young women and girls who because of circumstances have to stay in the Safe House in Mugumu will practice the skills they have learned in the training centre, so they will be able to set up their own workshop and generate their own income. Expanding Vocational Training Centre in Shinyanga, Tanzania The Ebeneza Group has a vocational training centre in the Ndala ward of the municipality of Shinyanga that offers sewing classes to adolescent girls, and computer courses to both boys and girls. Because of the demand for carpenters, cabinetmakers and metal workers the Ebeneza Group intends to add training in woodwork and metalwork. Vocational Training for street children in Dagoretti Corner, Nairobi, Kenya This project concerns renovating and expanding a trade school for street children in Nairobi. The Levozy Self Help Group trains there about 50 street children to become car mechanic, electrician, tailors, as well as knitting and embroidery skills. For more information on these projects visit our website Project Country Estimated Donations Spent Status end 2015 Cost in 2015 in LAMBWE horticulture training and production centre in Homa Bay Kenya 8,820 3,920 1,284 Completed 2. MULEBA vocational training centre in Mwanza Tanzania 8, Completed 3. C4H apprenticeship programme in Koforidua Ghana Completed 4. SIDO batik training for disabled women in Mwanza Tanzania Completed 5. GAAS-Mali school in Noukoula - extra classrooms and furniture - water, sanitation and greenhouse Mali 11,600 13,400 7,951 9,880 5,634 9,652 In progress (2015) In progress (2015) 6. ACT Mara in Mugumu - vocational training centre - vocational training workshop Tanzania 4,300 13,900 4,200 13,900 4,300 0 Completed Planned for TA-CRUSADE training centre in Nakifuma Uganda 7,850 4,321 4,520 In progress (2015) 8. Napo Nawa Bala elementary school on Solor island, East Flores Indonesia 4,200 2,808 2,424 In progress (2015) 9. EBENEZA vocational training centre in Shinyanga Tanzania 8, Fundraising 10. LEVOZY vocational training centre for street children in Nairobi Kenya 4,500 4,500 0 Planned for 2016 Received not yet allocated / not yet spent donations 26,071 16,317 Total 78,201 45,106 Van Doorn Foundation 7

8 Policy and strategy No substantial changes have in 2015 been made with respect to the policy for the period The phasing-out of collective applications by schools for individual scholarships started in 2014 and continued steadily. The Foundation focuses in accordance with its policy primarily on applications from East and West Africa. The board will review the policy during the first board meeting of In the course of 2016 a next policy plan (for the period ) will be drawn up. Communication strategy The website plays an important role in communicating with interested parties, beneficiaries, intermediaries, sponsors and volunteers, because through it they can easily get in touch with the Foundation and keep abreast of the activities of the Foundation. The twice-yearly newsletter and the Van Doorn Foundation Facebook account play also an important role. A Facebook ad action, at the end of 2015, has led to a substantial increase in the number of followers. It is important to hold the attention of these people in 2016 so that they actively contribute to increasing the awareness of the Foundation, and - preferably - will contribute to the fundraising. The use of Twitter has been put through in 2015, but does not yet deliver much response. Personal contacts and a personal approach and remains the key in the Foundation's strategy to achieve its communication objectives. Fundraising strategy Early based on the fundraising strategy for a fund raising action plan for 2015 has been prepared and approved by the board. This plan has given more clarity and guidance to the implementation of the fundraising activities, with the result that the target was more than achieved for fundraising in 2015 (see Finance). The plan aimed at achieving with a minimal effort, a maximum possible efficiency, in particular by focusing on sponsorship by major partners (such as Rabobank / Share4More, Transpetrol, and the like) rather than on small, labour-intensive activities and events. The Foundation implemented several fundraising activities in Some for specific projects, others to increase more brand-awareness of the Foundation: YouBeDo.com BookDifferent.com Postcards sales Facebook ad Buy books = donating Booking hotel = donating 5 watercolour school benches for Solor EUR 7.50 Van Doorn Foundation 8

9 Jubilee Action TA-CRUSADE Spring Market School De Company Film Restaurant sponsor activities To mark 40 years of service Toekomst in Ede By sponsor in Nijmegen for LOSUP Board Composition Since 1 September 2014 the board consist of the following members: 1. Petra Sutmuller (chairperson) 2. Paul Sutmuller (treasurer) 3. Bram Meij (secretary) 4. Romy Mallek 5. Marieke Meij 6. Kitty van Woezik And the board is assisted by the following advisors: 1. Ton Slinger (advisor school management) 2. Marjan Schaapman (communication advisor) 3. Leo Kranendonk (financial advisor) The Foundation basically has no overhead; board members, advisors, notaries, accountants, local contact persons, etc. work as volunteers without compensation; they receive no pay or compensation for services rendered. Work visits to projects abroad, fundraising activities and the development of promotional material are paid by the board member from their own resources or by sponsors. Accordingly also in 2015 no compensations were made. Finance All revenues of the Foundation - consisting mainly of grants, donations and other gifts (such as inheritances and legacies) - are used for the primary purpose; financing the (vocational) training of disadvantaged and vulnerable young people in developing countries or financing small projects for (improving) education of these young people. In 2015 the Foundation received, 81,033.- in donations and in interest. The Foundation paid in 2015 a total of 12,786.- for study funding, spent and committed 57,892.- on small projects, and for bank, post box and web hosting charges. The total expenditure in 2015 of 58,560.- has doubled (197%) compared to 2014 ( 29,655.-) while the Foundation capital increased with 22, Van Doorn Foundation 9

10 Statement of Income and Expenses Income Donations Study-funding related donations 2, ,012.- Project-funding related donations 78, ,884.- General donations / rounding , ,896.- Income from interest Total Income 81, ,573.- Expenses Destined for objectives Study-funding 12, ,079.- Project-funding o Renovation Outering High School 0.- 1,556.- o HCF training centre o LOSUP greenhouse / horticulture 1, ,538.- o MULEBA training centre ,165.- o C4H apprenticeship program o GAAS-Mali greenhouse / classrooms 15, o ACT MARA Safe House training centre 4, o SIDO disabled training centre o Napo Bala Nawa elementary school 2, o TA CRUSADE training centre 4, o Reservations for projects 16,317.- (1,998.-) 57, ,961.- Other general Management cost Newsletters and reporting Other costs (bank, post box, webhosting) Total Expenses 58, ,655.- Result 22, ,918.- Balance sheet at 31 December Active Current assets Liquid assets o Balance foundation s current account 53, ,449.- o Balance foundation s deposit account 65, , , ,136.- Passive Foundation capital Foundation capital 96, ,539.- Current liabilities Allocated to projects 21, , , , Board members do not receive a remuneration or reimbursement of travel- or accommodation-costs, even for work visits. 2 Newsletters and reports are prepared for free and distributed digitally Van Doorn Foundation 10