Brighter Futures Annual Report for Umoja Tanzania Incorporated 2015
Message from the Co-Founder & Director 2015 was a year of growth and development. This was highlighted by our decision to merge with the House of Happiness Children s Home, which expanded our operation to include a total of 20 full time Tanzanian staff. We have been working closely together for a number of years and it made sense for us to work under one umbrella. Several of Umoja s students are housed at the home already and now we just welcome 10 younger children into our programme. We have made significant changes to the programme, based on evaluation, our successes and challenges and lesson learnt. We will now be offering a much longer programme based at our centre, enabling us to ensure a higher quality of education to our young beneficiaries. In addition, this also means we are able to pay closer attention to the social welfare needs of the youth. Our work would not be possible without the generous support of our donors, sponsors and friends. Thank you for sharing with us again this year. I would also like to thank my dedicated Umoja team in Tanzania, we work so well together and you all work so hard, often under challenging circumstances. I believe that we are moving forward together and that the future is very bright for Umoja and us all! If you would like to know more about Umoja, please see our website: www.umoja.com.au. Best wishes for the year ahead, info@umoja.com.au www.umoja.com.au Page 2
Vision: To see young people in Tanzania educated, empowered and living free from poverty, abuse and exploitation. Umoja Tanzania Inc. Annual Report 2015 Mission: Our mission is to provide education and welfare support to the most vulnerable children and young people in Tanzania, empowering them to develop the knowledge and skills needed to create positive change for themselves and the wider community. Constitution & Board Members Umoja Tanzania Incorporated was registered on the 29th July 2009, under the Non-Governmental Organizations Act (2002) with Registration Number (00NGO/000033335) and is operating in accordance with its governing constitution. The Board of Directors oversee Umoja on a voluntary basis and follow the rules of the constitution. Board of Directors: Amani Mandia - Chairperson Caroline Goody - Secretary Isaya Denis - Treasurer Lucy Kiloba - Member Tumaini Joseph - Member (new) Umoja Tanzania Incorporated is partnered with Umoja UK, a registered UK Charity (1136792). Umoja is proud to be a partner for Project J602 Umoja with Global Development Group (ABN 57 102 400 993) Umoja students receive: Health education and care including two meals per day, HIV/AIDS testing and free medical assistance Counselling, social care and career guidance Rights-based gender training, including reproductive health Access to a Crisis Fund and Business Start-up loans Sports leadership and community development training via our partnership with Yes! Tanzania The Programme: Umoja is located in the city of Arusha, northern Tanzania. Since 2009, Umoja has provided an education and support programme to vulnerable young adults and children. Umoja s rights-based approach enables our students to gain control over their lives, improve self-confidence and find meaningful employment. Our innovative holistic programme fosters healthy, safe, engaged young people who are able to learn and thrive. We provide quality teaching, food, access to healthcare including eye tests and HIV testing, careers guidance, psychosocial support, counselling and mediation. Umoja helps these young people every step of the way into employment, to give them the best possible start in their adult lives. Our students graduate as selfsufficient and empowered citizens ready to effect positive change in their own lives and wider society. info@umoja.com.au www.umoja.com.au Page 3
Foundation Programme: Every two years, 50 disadvantaged youths (aged 14-24) join the Foundation Programme after a rigorous selection process based on age, need, motivation and lack of alternative opportunities. The core curriculum consists of English, Life Skills, Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise, I.T., Global Studies and Mathematics. Extra-curricular activities include the arts, sport and after-school clubs where our students gain increased knowledge and confidence. Students develop their skills and talents while we also encourage responsibility, independence and creative thinking. Outplacement Programme: Upon successful graduation from the Foundation Programme, we support our students with ongoing education. Umoja continues to provide mentoring, and financial and wellbeing support, ensuring that students have the best chance to complete their studies. We are constantly improving our Outplacement Programme and are actively establishing new partnerships with quality educational institutions in Tanzania. Current Achievements Education and welfare services provided to over 240 vulnerable youths Intake of 50 young people every two years 70% of students enter vocational training 30% of students re-enrol in secondary school Currently 20% are in higher education 95% of students who have completed their studies are now in fulltime employment Equal numbers of males and females attend Umoja Umoja Staff: Umoja currently employs 20 full time Tanzanian staff. This number has grown with the addition of the House of Happiness, which requires 7 full time staff to manage the home and care for the 13 young residents. In 2015, Umoja recruited two new Tanzanian employees, Huruma Alfred and Sam Mpenzu who are working on our projects with Yes! Tanzania. Huruma is the Project Manager for the 3-year Sport and Sexual Health project we are delivering in partnership with three organisations (Umoja being the lead partner), Palloti Parish, CASEC and Yes! Tanzania. Sam is the Community Sports project leader. Due to her excellent work, Chuki Issa has been promoted to the position of Centre Manager. She is responsible for the day to day management of The Umoja Centre. Umoja continues to receive the support from international volunteers and 2015 was no different. We welcomed volunteers from Canada, UK and Australia, who were assisting us in various capacities including teaching, finance, administration and first aid training. info@umoja.com.au www.umoja.com.au Page 4
Capacity Building Umoja Tanzania Inc. Annual Report 2015 Umoja Tanzania continuously offers training to our staff and beneficiaries. We value both internal and external training opportunities and engage a number of staff and beneficiaries at any one time. Capacity Building Activities undertaken during 2015 include: First Aid Training - facilitated by First Aid Africa. All our staff (including Security Team), students and younger beneficiaries took part in First Aid Training. Their levels of achievement differed, with the younger children gaining a certificate in 'Basic First Aid', through to two of our staff - Chuki and Pascalina being trained to an advanced level and able to train others. Sewing Training - as part of the Social Enterprise development, 2 Umoja staff and 1 graduate, enjoyed 2 days training with a professional tailor / sewing consultant. They learnt new skills and how to make new products. Umoja's Social Worker, Miss Chuki Issa, attended a 5-day Basic Counseling Skills training at the Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. Michael Gombe (Sponsorship Coordinator) - embarked on a degree in Community Development at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. Finance Manager, Pascalina Mmari, received further professional training and guidance from Abida Bashir, a UK volunteer through Accountancy for International Development and started a Bachelor of Business Administration and Accounting at the Open University. Umoja supported our volunteer Grants Officer and UK Trustee, Olivia Davies with the following training: - Raising funds from the European Commission - Donor Networking: creating lasting relationships - Corporate Fundraising - Social Media (Via the Bulldog Trust) info@umoja.com.au www.umoja.com.au Page 5
Activities: Umoja Tanzania Inc. Annual Report 2015 As part of Umoja s strategic development, we made the decision to change the Foundation programme from a one to a two-year course. We firmly believe that the Foundation Course has always brought great benefits to students, above and beyond what they get from other educational establishments, and is paramount to success in Outplacement. Our empowerment programme, and behaviour-changing health and ethics education, can only be stronger after our students receive two years of youth development at the Umoja Centre, rather than one year. Benefits to our students include: A new Advanced class has been formed. The programme includes scheduled classes, independent study (with a focus on improving English writing and speaking), Business and Enterprise activities, tutoring and sports. This allows us to challenge our most able and hardworking students, and they gain confidence through acting as student leaders and representatives in community development activities. Students who progress into the Advanced class are the first to get scholarships to their Outplacement choice, as sponsorship becomes available. Outplacement options at different institutions commence at various times throughout the year. Students move through the Foundation course at their own speed. The most motivated can advance to higher level classes, based on their performance in assessments and teachers recommendations. Our three classes are Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. Umoja can oversee students ongoing personal development: our programme builds confidence and life skills. Advanced level students will take a greater role in student leadership and tutoring, which will boost their self-esteem and leadership skills, while less confident students will receive more individualized tutoring to help them learn and grow. The second year of the course also includes a greater focus on business, entrepreneurship, and social enterprise. This is valuable for students who want to start their own business or other form of self-employment. The two-year course enables students to fully grasp the core curriculum in smaller class sizes, hence with greater contact time with teachers. Students can repeat key topics later on in the course when their English has improved, while there will also be new topics and activities for all, broadening their knowledge and improving their vocabulary, in addition to learning new skills. We have, in just the most recent years, experienced difficulties with the commitment and motivation levels of a minority of our new students. Changing to a two-year Foundation Course is likely to deter potential students who would not value Umoja s holistic programme, and want only to go on to our Outplacement scheme. Through our difficulties with student commitment and behaviour among a few of the 2014 cohort, we have learnt that we need to improve our student recruitment procedures to ensure that we are selecting the students who need and value our Foundation programme the most. A two-year Foundation Course will allow us to have a greater positive impact upon our students lives, behaviours and personal development, and due to the excellent care and teaching quality at Umoja, further info@umoja.com.au www.umoja.com.au Page 6
improve the students chances of success in Outplacement and later life. When we begin intake for the first full Foundation Course (2016) we plan to select 50 of the most vulnerable, disadvantaged, hard-working and committed young people to become students. From an academic point of view, our teachers and Education Adviser have already determined how the two-year course will be implemented and have developed their curricula/syllabuses to make the most of the two years we will have to help our students prepare to succeed in Outplacement, employment and their adult lives. In May of 2015, Umoja Tanzania Incorporated officially merged with the House of Happiness residential care facility. This decision was taken by the Directors and Boards of the two organisations, for several reasons. Since House of Happiness opened in 2011, the two organisations have shared resources such as staff expertise, security team, transport and training opportunities. Several fundraising events have been held jointly, with many supporters interested in both organisations. A number of Umoja students have been helped hugely by the care, support and safe home environment of the House of Happiness. Working more closely with the facility will enable Umoja to see that all the children, including our own students, are given the most nurturing home life possible, which they lacked before receiving the opportunity to move to House of Happiness. Since 2011, we have been working in close partnership towards a shared goal of improving the lives of vulnerable and marginalised children and young people in northern Tanzania. The House of Happiness has become one of Umoja's projects, working under the Umoja umbrella and managed by a combined Board of Directors. This has strengthened the Umoja Board, allowing us a more diverse set of skills and experience. Long-term Umoja Board officer Amani Mandia has accepted the position of Chairperson, due to his commitment to the project and understanding of the importance of our work. Accountant Isaya Denis remains as the Treasurer. Through this merger, greater sharing of resources is possible, and already a benefit has been seen in a reduction of costs for our emergency services bill (security and ambulance), as we are now one organisation. Furthermore, the two organisations can pool efforts to attract greater levels of international support. By joining together, our overall budget increases, allowing Umoja to apply for larger grants. Together we can broaden our international support networks and bring in new sources of funding to offer new services to our young beneficiaries and our community. As Umoja moves forward with our long term plan, we will incorporate residential facilities into our purposebuilt centre. Umoja's vision for the new Centre includes adequate office space, classrooms, kitchen and refectory, sports grounds and extra-curricular spaces, boarding for Umoja students, Social Enterprises, volunteer accommodation, and residential care facilities for vulnerable boys and girls. info@umoja.com.au www.umoja.com.au Page 7
Sustainability of Development Activities Umoja has strived to increase and diversify our donor base. In January we received two grants, from Australia's Direct Aid Program (DAP) and Rotary International. The DAP grant provided vital renovations of our current centre, new office furniture and the creation of a garden. The Rotary grant was given to improve our Social Enterprise project at Umoja. Umoja Tanzania Inc. Annual Report 2015 Umoja has developed the Social Enterprise department, turning our ideas (and trial products) into a viable social business for Umoja. This has been achieved through the support of the District Grant from Rotary International. Materials have been purchased (including fabrics and sewing machines) and training provided by two separate consultants. In January a large variety of Tanzanian fabric (kitenge / kanga) was purchased to enable us to make brighter and more sellable items. Umoja invested in 2 electric sewing machines and 1 over-locker to complement our original peddle sewing machine. We recruited 2 local tailoring consultants, Mwajuma Rajabu and Lodevena Rojas to help with difference phases of this project. Due to this development and training we have been able to increase our variety of products and refine our original products. Umoja now produces: bags, reusable sanitary pads, toy elephants and owls, dresses, hair bands, hats, napkins and table cloths. We sell these products in Tanzania at the Umoja Centre, at Blue Heron which is a cafe / shop in Arusha and online through social media and our website. In addition, many of our products are taken overseas by our supporters for sale in Canada, UK and Australia. The proceeds of which are sent back to assist funding Umoja's programmes. One exciting development is the interest shown in our reusable sanitary pads. Umoja students, alongside our SE trainer, have been making sanitary pads for Umoja's community of women (staff and students) to use. Both genders of students were involved in the making of these pads! In Tanzania many days of school are missed due to a girl not having access to sanitary goods. In addition, we found at Umoja, that those female students who were attending during menstruation, were using rags which then blocked the septic tank, causing financial and environmental issues. These pads are of our own design and development, using locally sourced materials including second hand towels, sheets and agricultural plastic. Due to our success, Umoja has been commissioned to deliver training for the Tanzanian Development Trust. In August our SE Trainer, Evelyn and one Umoja student travelled to Kigoma to train 6 staff from HCF, an organization assisting female prisoners. The HCF staff will then be able to make sanitary pads for sale to support their mission and to issue to female prisoners, who are otherwise not given any sanitary products. Umoja received our first consultancy fee for this work, which has inspired us to develop this programme further. We will look at developing our training and this product in particular as it will help solve a significant problem for girls and women in Tanzania. info@umoja.com.au www.umoja.com.au Page 8
As our Social Enterprise project has grown we have taken the steps to manage the finances and the overall project more effectively. Our Social Enterprise project is now a self-sufficient project with income and expenditure monitored to effectively communicate the successes. In this way not only will we be able to track our successes through income generation but also attract additional outside funding to further develop the project. In 2016, we aim to develop our Social Enterprise by: Training a new group of 50 students in basic sewing Recruiting a business / enterprise volunteer to assist development Increasing our retail outlets in Arusha Developing further products - i.e. school uniforms (for Umoja and other students) Successes and Challenges: Successes Effect on Project Actions Taken to secure the Success In partnership with Yes! Tanzania, Since 2010 we have partnered with a Scottish based charity, we have Yes! Tanzania in a variety of been able to deliver an ongoing (3 capacities and this partnership year) Sports and Sexual Health through our shared vision and Programme targeting youth in team work has developed and Arusha. We have employed two strengthened. additional staff to assist with the sports programmes and delivered a higher quality sports and outreach programme to our Foundation Programme students. 1. Strong partnership with Yes! Tanzania 2. Unrestricted grant secured from the Segal Family Foundation (SFF) This is our first major ongoing funding and has assisted us by providing much needed funds. In addition, SFF are great supporters for the programme in terms of connections, networks and in an advisory capacity. SFF has also assisted us in project development by requesting Umoja reaches mutually agreed milestones each funding period. 3. Student Successes Students have continued to graduate from the Foundation Programme into further education. Two students we granted full scholarships at Secondary School due to their high performance. We now have 3 males and 3 females at university. Currently we have 6 students studying for their A-levels, having successfully completed Form 4. An Australian volunteer, through AVI, secured the SFF grant, through making connections here in Arusha. An Umoja student is successful due to a combination of reasons. Firstly, they are motivated to succeed and work hard to achieve good results. Secondly they gain appropriate support from Umoja to help ensure their success, in terms of academic, social / medical support. info@umoja.com.au www.umoja.com.au Page 9
4. Development of viable Social Enterprise Business Umoja secured a small grant from Rotary (UK) to purchase sewing machines and materials. With those we have made fabric toys, bags and other items for sale in Arusha and internationally. We have also designed and created reusable sanitary pads which have been distributed to our female beneficiaries. Due to the success of this project we were invited to Kigoma, Southern Tanzania, to teach an NGO how to make these pads, which were then in turn, distributed to female prisoners. 5. Strengthened Staff Team Umoja has employed several new and highly skilled staff during the reporting period. Huruma Alfred is the Project Manager for the Sports and Sexual Health Programme (in partnership with Yes! Tanzania) and Chuki Issa is a qualified Social Worker who has been promoted to the role of Centre Manager. In addition, we have focused on continuing to train our graduate staff, enabling them to gain qualifications in their chosen field and add wider skills to the Umoja programme. Before securing a rotary grant, Umoja has been creating toys from recycled donated fabrics, by hand and on one peddle powered machine. We were able to sell these with some success but due to the quality and fabrics, sales were limited. One of our Outplacement students is employed part time to assist with this project, which enables her to gain an income while she studies at university. An increase of funding through our partnerships with Yes! Tanzania and SFF have enabled us to employ more qualified staff. We have also recruited key volunteers who are highly skilled to support and mentor our staff, thus enabling sustainability and continuity. Two of Umoja s Success Stories! Right Fad, now a professional Tour Guide, Left - Lais, a graduate from Hospitality Training info@umoja.com.au www.umoja.com.au Page 10
Difficulties Effect on Project Actions Taken to overcome the Difficulty 1. Lack of project funding Due to a lack of funding, our finances are extremely difficult to We are actively trying to improve this situation by: manage and a great deal of time is spent dealing with institutions and other third partners about Focusing on our communications and project development outstanding bills. We are unable Developing a Strategic Plan to pay our skilled staff the amount that they deserve for the work Embarking on an M&E system they do, thus risking a loss in staff. Umoja lacks resources in terms of books, stationery and the ability Recruiting a long term Grants Manager / Trainer through AVI to carry our maintenance and Recruiting volunteers to repairs to equipment or to the focus on business centre as a whole. development and sponsorship coordination. 2. Outplacement student s poor results A number of our students have either not gained the results needed to continue with their Secondary education or not gained the grades required by Umoja to enter into Secondary School. This has had obviously ramifications for the individual students as it is becoming increasingly important for young people to hold a Form 4 certificate. In addition, having students change direction or leave the programme has wider impacts on Umoja s overall success rates and data and could potentially impact sponsors / donors. During the reporting period we have transformed the Foundation Programme from a one year course to two years. This allows our students to full gain all the benefits we offer at Umoja. Also they have to perform well in the Foundation Programme, both academically and in terms of behaviour to gain the opportunity of joining the Outplacement Programme and gaining a sponsor. We have diversified the number of secondary schools that we deal with, after understanding that various schools suit different students and have different criteria for completion. Left Parents and Guardians take an active part in our Strategic Planning Process info@umoja.com.au www.umoja.com.au Page 11
Status of Funds: 2015 saw an overall increase of project funding of 58% and an increase of expenditure of 57%. This is due to the addition of the House of Happiness project, the expansion of the Yes! Tanzania project, and increase of staff and expansion of the Social Enterprise project. Our Australian donors were our most generous in 2015, with support for Umoja increasing a phenomenal 68%! Australians (through our partners Global Development Group), remain our largest donors, providing Umoja with 45% of our overall income. This is all private donors, sponsors and community fundraising. The income from Umoja UK has increased slightly from 2014 to 2015, however as a total of our overall income the percent has decreased by 7%. Our income from grants has increased in 2015 to 31% of our total income. In 2016 we aim to raised further funds through securing long term grants. Umoja Tanzania Income 2015 318,762,935 TZS Umoja Uk Australia -GDG 31% 1% 5% 1% 4% 13% 45% Canada-YCI International Income- Other Donations Tanzania Social Enterprise Grants Umoja Tanzania Expenses 2015 293,244,926 TZS 1% 2% 0% 23% 10% 2% 3% 0% 12% 48% Operational- Youth & Children Facilities Management Administration Marketing & Advertising Social Enterprise Yes Tanzania Community Development Organizational Development Financial Charges Salaries & Benefits info@umoja.com.au www.umoja.com.au Page 12
How to Support Us: Donations Financial donations are a fundamental part of what keeps Umoja running on a daily basis. These donations are used for a range of needs such as salaries, building maintenance, books, teaching resources, and routine medical check-ups for students. No matter the size, each donation is fully appreciated and put to good use to help us educate and provide for our students. The majority of donations fund the Foundation Programme, while student sponsors fund the Outplacement Programme. However, there are currently gaps in sponsorship numbers, so we use general fundraising to also support students with their ongoing education. Student Sponsorship Once an Umoja student has successfully completed the Foundation Programme, we aim to match each of them with a sponsor whose contribution provides the necessary financial support for the student s tuition. Student sponsorships contribute to the direct and indirect cost of a student s education, including school tuition fees, boarding fees (if applicable) books, stationery and health care. Sponsoring a student costs 25 or $40 AUD/USD per month for a single sponsorship or 50 / $80 per month for a double sponsorship. On-Site Volunteering Umoja is always on the lookout for skilled, motivated volunteers to help us fulfil our mission. Fundraising Community fundraising efforts are of vital importance, as student sponsorships and donations alone do not cover the costs of operating and maintaining The Umoja Centre. Money raised is specifically used to cover such costs as rent, utilities and other capital expenditures like furniture, computers. Fundraising is also essential to support students in Outplacement who do not have sponsors. For more information on how to get involved with Umoja - please see our website: http://www.umoja.com.au/donate.html info@umoja.com.au www.umoja.com.au Page 13
Looking Forward: We are looking forward to a progressive and positive 2016. Our plans include: Monitoring and Evaluating Structure in place Student Recruitment Procedure improvements 50 new vulnerable youth to start the Umoja programme Purchase of land for a sustainable Umoja (see architect s concept plan below) Strengthened partnerships Increased sustainability through diverse funding, increase in sponsorship and expansion of social enterprise scheme. Umoja Tanzania Inc. is a registered NGO in Tanzania (00003335). In the UK we are partnered with Umoja UK, a registered charity (1136792). In Australia, Umoja is proud to be a partner for Project J602 Umoja Centre with Global Development Group (ABN 57 102 400 993), an Australian DFAT approved Non-Government Organization carrying out quality humanitarian projects with approved partners and providing aid to relieve poverty and provide long term solutions. info@umoja.com.au www.umoja.com.au Page 14