The Chairman, Eric Collet, and the entire Foundation Board are pleased to present the Annual Report for 2025.
2025 business reportActivity report in brief
Editorial
After a year of no travel in 2024, Chairman Eric Collet expressed his delight at meeting up with the Ethiopian team in November 2025 in Addis Ababa. This working seminar provided an opportunity to take stock of achievements, in particular the completion of the four-classroom building at the Chirolaba school, a major project for the sponsored pupils. The main satisfaction lies in the entry of seven baccalaureate students to Debark Polytechnic College, fulfilling the Foundation's mission to train skilled professionals to transform their community. A student accommodation project in Debark is now under consideration.
1. Life of the Foundation
The administrative organisation remained stable in 2025. The Foundation Board, based in Switzerland and made up entirely of volunteers, is made up of Eric Collet (Chairman), Hervé Doulat (Vice-Chairman), Christine Collet (Treasurer), Ignacio Larrain (Secretary) and Guylann Collet (Member). On the ground in Ethiopia, the local team consists of Mihret Mitiku (local representative), Agere Tesfu and Baye Adgo (technicians). Ambassadors in Switzerland also support the Foundation's work.
2. Activities in the field
Due to complex security conditions in the Simien massif, the team was unable to travel to Debark, Sona or Chirolaba. A trip was organised to Addis Ababa from 22 to 27 November 2025, bringing together the Swiss management and the local team. This intense seminar focused on the organisation of work, the monitoring of grant holders, future projects and the equipment of staff.
The highlight of the year was the **inauguration on 1 June 2025 of the four new classrooms at Chirolaba** secondary school. This project, representing an investment of CHF 120,000, brings the total number of classrooms to twelve. It will reduce the average number of pupils per class to 40 and replace the half-day system with full-day classes. Sanitary facilities have also been built.
The sponsorship programme, which has been active since 2021, has enabled some forty students to be educated and housed at Chirolaba under what are now optimal conditions. The major event of 2025 is the entry of seven new students into higher technical education** at Debark Polytechnic College, in addition to the four already at university. In view of this momentum, the Foundation has launched two projects: the construction of a permanent accommodation centre for students at Debark, and the establishment of a formal partnership with Debark Polytechnic College.
3. Financial report
The main commitments for 2025 are :
- Sponsorship project (Chirolaba + University): CHF 32,391
- Construction work at Chirolaba: CHF 35,095
- Donations and maintenance at Sona: CHF 3,820
Total income was CHF 90,623 (mainly donations and sponsorships), compared with CHF 165,675 in 2024. Operating expenses totalled CHF 94,811. The financial year closed with a loss of CHF 4,188 (compared with a profit of CHF 19,543 in 2024), due to the decline in donations and sponsorships and the completion of major works.
4. Plans for 2026
- Definition and construction of the reception structure for Debark students.
- Formalisation of the partnership with Debark Technical College to improve the integration and monitoring of students.
5. Acknowledgements
The Foundation warmly thanks its ambassadors, the Municipality of Montreux, Mendo A.G., the Gertrude Hirtzel Foundation, the local team led by Mihret Mitiku, its partners, and all the sponsors and donors for their unfailing support.
To find out more
Read the 2024 business report
The Facebook page of Debark Polytechnic College.