The Foundation Board met on 13 April 2025 in Divonne-les-bains. It welcomed Guylann Collet as a new member. Chrystèle Doulat was awarded an Honorary Founding Member certificate. An enlarged Foundation Board approved the 2024 financial year, in particular its accounts and management report. The 2024 activity report, including the work plans for 2025, was the focus of the participants' efforts and was also approved. In keeping with our desire for total transparency, we are publishing it below for the general public and our generous donors in particular.
2024 Activity Report
2024 activity report public light A4A word from the Chairman
Honour to our team! Honour to Mihret, Agere and Baye in this rather special year of 2024. It's the first year since 2015 that we haven't been able to visit the field. The war officially ended in 2022, but tensions on the ground remain high. Many armed groups, drawn from the militias that fought alongside the government army during the Tigray war, have gone underground, living by attack and ransom. The security threat is too great to take the risk of a trip and potential difficulties that would penalise the Foundation's work.
So it's a credit to our team that 2024 was a success on the field. Maintenance work at the Sona school, which was affected by the heavy rains, was carried out efficiently. Pupils and teachers now work there in a calm and caring environment. At Chirolaba, the sponsorship programme reached cruising speed in 2024, with 40 children housed, fed and studying for their A-levels. Also at Chirolaba, the partnership established with the school provided for support from the Foundation through the construction of new classrooms. Now that the budget has been secured, work began in September!
Last but not least, the Foundation Board has not been outdone in taking on its share of the work, albeit from a distance, but just as important. This is demonstrated by the fact that fundraising in 2024 reached a record level of CHF 167,769! The year got off to a great start with Caux's second charity evening. It's a testament to the strength of our organisation that every franc or euro invested in the education of the children of Simien is a sound, long-term investment. Thank you for supporting us in this mission!
Eric Collet - Chairman
In brief
🎯 General context
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The year 2024 was marked by the fact that volunteer members were unable to travel to Ethiopia because of the continuing insecurity following the war in Tigray.
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Despite this, the activities were successfully carried out by the local team led by Mihret Mitiku.
🏫 Activities in the field
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Sona school :
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Repair of the water catchment system damaged by the rain, in collaboration with the local authorities (cost: CHF 8,755).
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Chirolaba :
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Dormitory extension Able to accommodate 40 children under good conditions (compared with the original 10 in 2021).
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Construction of 4 classrooms The new building, with sanitary facilities, will be launched in September 2024 to provide a better reception for 1,800 pupils.
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Local pride : the first Sona student to graduate from university (Gize Abetew), and 3 others studying at university.
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💰 Finance
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Record collections CHF 167,769 (compared with CHF 83,979 in 2023).
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Main expenditure :
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Construction at Chirolaba: CHF 81,417
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Sponsorships: CHF 29,077
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Repairs to Sona: CHF 8,755
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Net income CHF +19,543
🎯 Targets for 2025
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Completing the new classrooms and toilets for Chirolaba.
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Develop an agri-environmental pillar at Sona (orchard, vegetable garden, tree planting).
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Set up an experimental nursery class at Sona with teacher training by Debark University.
🙏 Acknowledgements
The Foundation would like to express its gratitude to its partners, donors, ambassadors and volunteers for their ongoing commitment.