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A chance to learn, a chance in life

2014: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Children in Crisis206-208 Stewart’s Road London SW8 4UB

Telephone 020 7627 1040Fax 020 7627 1050

E-mail info@childrenincrisis.orgWebsite www.childrenincrisis.org

Founder and Life PresidentSarah, Duchess of York

Registered office as addressUK Reg Charity No. 1020488Company No. 2815817

Events derail the best of plans and it takes experience and commitment to get them back on track quickly. Such has been the case for a large part of Children in Crisis’ work in West Africa. In Liberia our ‘Our Words Library’ materials were poised to go nationwide in the national literacy campaign. We were preparing to expand our vocational training in Rivercess so that every young woman who needed it would be able to access training to improve their livelihoods. In Sierra Leone, a second phase of our Rural Education Programme was to test the sustainability of our approach and lay the ground for scale-up. Our dear friends in the disability organisation WESOFOD were due to start the construction of a much needed rehabilitation centre and home for children with disabilities.

But then Ebola struck. We were so very proud at how quickly our partners, staff and trustees responded: first with humanity to play our part in protecting people and halting the spread of the

disease; second as child rights champions to address the hidden crisis of disrupted education and child vulnerability, and; third as professionals to ensure we will be ready to resume our original plans as soon as possible. We have also been deeply impressed at the understanding of our donors. They have been so supportive of a flexible approach that adapts to the new reality on the ground. One in particular told us, “this is the time we must step up support to West Africa, and not be scared off”. We could not agree more.

Thank you

Sarah, Duchess of York, Founder and Life President

Alasdair Haynes Chairman

A message from our Founder and our Chairman

With the backing of our incredible supporters, the majority of what we do focuses on ensuring that these children get a quality primary school education. Much of our work is in remote, rural, conflict-affected areas, often beyond the reach and support of government or other organisations.

These are difficult to reach places, where a relatively small contribution can make the world of difference.

The help that our supporters provide does not stop at the school gates. We listen to and work with communities and parents to ensure that the manifold problems that go hand in hand with

poverty and conflict are tackled, problems which might otherwise mean that children are not kept safe and healthy, or never make it to school in the first place.

We pay particular attention to helping those who face discrimination. Whether because of gender, ethnicity, disability or other factors.

In this way we stay true to our commitment, and to our supporters’ wishes of ensuring that these young, vulnerable people are educated, cared for and protected.

Every child deserves a fair chance in lifeThe well-being and care of vulnerable children is at the heart of Children in Crisis’ work.

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Focus on:

Solid foundationsFew of us could imagine coping almost entirely by ourselves; having to provide absolutely everything for our family and our children.

Few of us want to imagine it, which is why it is such a gripping scenario in countless ‘end-of-civilisation’ movies. From what I have seen during my working life, a big burden lands on the children. No running water means walking through the bush barefoot to fetch it. Whilst visiting our work, I have joked with children about snakes, but everyone knows a child who has been bitten and died.

The same goes for coping without power and fetching firewood. Parents do what they can to build a school and persuade anyone half-literate to be a teacher. But the wind and rain rips and dissolves the school every year, and the children suffer from awful lessons and regular frustrated beatings. Perhaps it is a mercy when your parents take you out of school and into the fields to work? At least then you may be able to help cut the duration of the three hungry months every year when the annual crop runs out.

Children do cope, and smile and weep, hope and despair, laugh and fool around, because children are the same the world over. But they will always be desperately vulnerable to shocks, and without support they will never break the cycle of poverty passed on by their parents.

Replace the State or empower communities?Where Children in Crisis chooses to work it is unlikely that the State will be in a position to fulfil children's educational obligations for many years to come. In the meantime, lasting change either means stepping-in to replace the State (and what guarantees would children have that you won't just up and leave when the money dries up?) or working with parents and communities to radically improve what they can carry forward and maintain themselves.

A family participates in one of the Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) set up by Children in Crisis/EMI in DR Congo. There are huge benefits to these VSLAs, such as parents being able to pay for uniforms and books for their children. In this way, other improvements that Children in Crisis provides (such as newly constructed schools) will be so much more effective.

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It should not be underestimated what people locally need to be able to achieve in a sustained way. Building a school is almost easy by comparison. To fully support their children’s learning, parents and communities will need to build committee and monitoring skills to keep the head teachers and teachers accountable and delivering; negotiation skills need to be built to secure resources from the State where they exist; parents may need to learn to read, write, and account financially; income will need to be built for families and the school as a whole; a professional teaching ethic will need building and values to support the most needy and left-out. These are the foundations for an effective school.

One year does bring benefitsWithout solid foundations, the things that Children in Crisis provides that communities cannot, such as teacher training and improved infrastructure will be built upon sand. I have walked through the crumbling walls of so many schools built by others that have failed because these foundations have been treated as after-thoughts, or sequenced inappropriately before communities were receptive and ready.

Building good foundations and doing the appropriate thing at the right time implies long-term commitment: listening, learning and solving problems together.

When Children in Crisis says that we stay with communities for as long as it takes, it means as long as it takes to overcome obstacles, build their capability, and lay the foundations for long-lasting change. Any one project intervention may only last one year – and certainly delivers benefits in that year, but it takes place within the context of being with communities for much longer.

Koy Thomson Chief Executive

Where Children in Crisis works, families have to cope almost entirely by themselves. A big burden lands on the children; walking to fetch water or working in the fields to help fend off hunger.

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2014 A year in numbers

97% the average mark achieved by

Jameela in her recent grade 5 exams in Afghanistan. This is a girl who in her own words “had never studied before and didn’t even know how

to use a pen” when she came to us three years ago.

34,200 people given access to

hygiene stations, helping to prevent the spread

of Ebola.

17,163children who are suffering the effects of conflict and poverty,

helped by Children in Crisis and our supporters in 2014.

496women were members of our Village

Savings and Loans Associations. As well as paying for essentials such

as school uniforms or textbooks, the money saved can give essential

support to vulnerable families in times of emergency.

6schools built or refurbished,

giving hundreds of bright and enthusiastic children in

conflict-affected countries the safer and drier classrooms

they undoubtedly deserve.

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Bizimana

My name is Bizimana, I am

the eldest boy in my family. My favourite things are eating, working (I look after the cows and fetch water with my friends) and going to school. I have three close friends, two boys and one girl. With my male friends, we look after the cows together. With my female friend, we go and fetch water together.

I also play football and am part of a team. We are currently looking to buy

a ball as the old one burst. Each team member has contributed some manioc grain to sell and now we have enough money to go to the local town and buy another ball!

My favourite subject at school is biology. I didn’t used to like it when the cows spent the night in the old run-down school though, as they used to destroy everything. I like it best that my

teacher is now really kind and teaches us lots. During my early years at school, I was punished by my teachers using the stick. But this all changed from the 3rd year onwards [following Children in Crisis/EMI’s teacher training].

I want to continue with my studies and then I want to marry. I have a dream to either become a teacher or a doctor so that I can help people here. I want to see the area modernised. I want a road so that cars and motorbikes can arrive easily. I want a hospital so sick people don’t have to travel all the way to Baraka or Uvira to be helped. For the rest of DR Congo, I want there to be lots of cows, goats and sheep!

In 2014, Children in Crisis and our local partner NGO EMI, were able to open a new school for Bora Community, high on the remote Plateau of eastern DR Congo. This new school has made such a difference to the children’s lives. It replaced an old, leaky and draughty structure. The children now sit at new desks, protected from the often cold and wet climate of the Plateau by a proper roof, windows and doors. They are taught well by teachers who have been trained by Children in Crisis. Thank you to Children in Crisis' supporters for making all of this possible. We’d like you to meet Bizimana, one of the children who have benefitted from your generosity in 2014…

Bizimana’s new school keeps him and his classmates safe and dry, whilst its solid doors also keep the cows out of his classroom!

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Sierra Leone

Afghanistan

Burundi

Democratic Republic of Congo

Liberia

Where we workWhy these countries?Though perhaps geographically quite far apart, what links the countries marked on this map are poverty and conflict. Within each country, adults and children are suffering the effects of wars over which they have had little say or control. Look at the United Nations’ Human Development Index (a strong measure of the world’s nations' levels of poverty) and you will find that all five of these countries fall within the bottom 10% (with DR Congo and Sierra Leone second and fifth from poorest respectively). Children in Crisis believes that if we can help give children education, care and protection, they will grow up to build better futures for themselves, their own children and their countries.

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Sierra Leone

Afghanistan

Burundi

Children's voices - AfghanistanIn November 2014, as London prepared to host an international conference on the future of Afghanistan, Children in Crisis wanted to make sure that young Afghan voices were heard. We spoke with the children who we work with at our Community Based Education Centres in Kabul. We asked these kids, who are the future of Afghanistan, what their hopes and expectations are. These are the children’s voices:

“Children should not be in crisis. We should not hear even a

sound of explosion.” “Peace should be brought and

people should live in peace because the people of Afghanistan

are tired from war.” “I want to see all people have

their own home. I want to see security, electricity and a literate community.”

“I don’t want people be jobless, children should be given compassion and there should

be strong Afghan girls. Needy people should be supported and we want a good president. ”

“I want peace and security. I want from our president to build schools for poor children.

I want to be a teacher and teach poor children and not see any illiterate Afghans.”

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Afghanistan2014: Highlights and challenges 2014 has been a momentous year in Afghanistan with the first peaceful transfer of power in recent times. International forces are withdrawing and the NATO mission has come to an end. However, amidst these political changes the majority of Afghans still live in dire circumstances and the need for support is greater than ever.

In the last year Children in Crisis continued to focus on child protection and education – working to create a safer environment for some of the most vulnerable children in the country and to target the root causes of poverty.

Community Based Education Centres (CBECs) In 2014 our CBEC project continued to provide schooling for children and women who have been denied their right to education. Currently less than half of children attend school in Afghanistan, and the situation is particularly

bad for girls. By February 2015 our five CBECs will have given a full primary education to another 279 children – offering the chance of a life not restricted by poverty.

The education centres are located directly within communities, meaning that children do not have to make long and dangerous journeys, simply to get to school. Children in Crisis works closely with community elders and with families to encourage them to send their daughters to our classes. We organise savings and loan groups to reduce the dependency of families on their children’s labour, provide literacy and tailoring programmes to women, empowering them to be independent. We also deliver community training on health, child protection, and collective action. Together these programmes offer a genuine chance for children and families to break out of poverty.

One major challenge in 2014 – and one which becomes ever more pressing as international attention shifts away from Afghanistan

Thanks to Children in Crisis’ incredible supporters, 191 Girls and 88 Boys are set to complete a full primary education by February 2015. Our challenge in 2015 is to secure enough support to keep these centres open for other out-of-school children who desperately want to learn.

The children that we work with in our Juvenile Justice project are often suffering from trauma, abuse, and may have been denied access to even the most basic of human rights. Building trust with these children requires long term commitment.

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279 Children (191 Girls and 88 Boys) now in Grade 6 at our education centres, set to complete a full primary education by February 2015.

620 women received literacy and vocational training at our five CBECs.

84 children in juvenile prisons given education and training.

350 children given access to justice; receiving legal and social care when in conflict with the law.

2014 in numbers – Afghanistan:

– has been to secure support to protect the future of the CBECs. I would like to give my sincere thanks to all of Children in Crisis’ supporters who have helped to run our CBECs until now. We will work just as hard in 2015 to keep these incredibly effective education centres open for other children and women who desperately want an education.

Juvenile justiceChildren in Crisis is now one of the main organisations working on the protection of children in conflict with the law in Afghanistan. As a partner of the US State Department and Unicef, we have been able to have a significant impact on the justice system – reducing the number of children wrongfully being detained and improving conditions and protection services for those within the legal system.

By providing training and mentoring to social workers, we have assisted in the design and delivery of the first course in Social Work at the University of Kabul, and have helped develop a system for referrals and case management of children in conflict with the

law. More than this, Children in Crisis has been helping to improve the chances of children who have been incarcerated, often for petty crimes and who are detained in sometimes shocking conditions. In 2014 we provided education and vocational training to these children, made sure that their families were able to visit regularly, supported their case through the court system, and made sure they were reintegrated on release.

This is difficult work. These children are often suffering from trauma, abuse, and may have been denied access to even the most basic of human rights. Building trust with these children requires long term commitment – something Children in Crisis prides itself on. From the days of running secret schools under the Taliban regime to now delivering a full primary education to some of the country’s most vulnerable children, our strength is in our promise to work with those in need, for as long as it takes.

Peter Simms Programme Manager

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Focus on:

The power of a teacher Children in Crisis has been working with teachers for over 14 years and in 2014 especially we have seen these teachers do incredible things, far exceeding their roles. It has become ever more apparent that the power and importance of a trained teacher extends far beyond the classroom.

On the front lineIn Sierra Leone and Liberia, Ebola has had a devastating impact on life, on children’s learning, and on the capacity of families to

earn a living and purchase food. As part of the Ebola response, teachers were called upon to help mobilise communities and raise awareness of the disease. September 2014 in Sierra Leone saw the government implement a three-day lockdown, requiring citizens to stay in their homes whilst Ebola cases were identified. It was during this time that teachers, including many trained by Children in Crisis, were on the front line. They travelled from house-to-house, educating people on the signs and symptoms of this terrible disease and on how to prevent its spread. They were

Our teachers in DR Congo play a vital role as peace-builders. They are trained to develop children’s communication skills through play, to encourage girls and boys from different communities to mix, and to facilitate the peaceful resolution of problems.

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Focus on:

The power of a teacher a brave and vital force which made sure that potentially life-saving Ebola messages were shared far and wide.

Advocates & role modelsIt is not just in times of immediate crisis that Children in Crisis sees teachers doing extraordinary things for their communities. At our Community Based Education Centres (CBECs) in Kabul, where almost all of our staff are women, the time that the teachers spend outside of the classroom can be just as vital to their pupils’ futures as those worked within in it.

By spending time out in the community, the CBEC teachers are able passionately and sensitively to deliver messages on the right of all children to education. The high number of out-of-school girls in Afghanistan means that much of this time is spent encouraging parents to allow their daughters to come to the education classes offered by the CBECs. This is something that they do with considerable success – 68% of children attending the accelerated learning classes offered at the centres are girls.

The teachers will also visit a child’s house when they have missed a class and follow up on cases where children have been prevented from attending the CBEC classes at all. They work hard to gain the consent and support of religious and community leaders, some of whom are initially opposed to the education of women. These teachers are often the only employed women within their community and so provide an important role model to girls and young women. They are pushing back against negative views of girls’ education and proving that women are just as capable and have the same capacity to learn, work, teach and lead.

Peace-buildersJust like here in the UK, school is not just a place of ABCs and 123s; it is a place where children learn to trust their neighbours, to accept and embrace differences. This is especially true on the

High Plateau of South Kivu, eastern DR Congo, where schools are one of the few places that children from different communities meet. Historically these communities have been fractured and relations have been tense; a legacy of the conflict that devastated the region. Our teachers are trained to develop children’s communication skills through play, to encourage girls and boys from different communities to mix, to facilitate the peaceful resolution of problems and to encourage positive behaviour rather than punitive, negative behaviour.

When we ask children about their futures so many say they want to be teachers. Training a teacher is a long-term investment; they reach thousands of children within the span of their career, they inspire and lead, they shape the future of the child and often sit at the heart of a community. We at Children in Crisis want to say thank you to our supporters for helping us to train such dedicated professionals whose inspiration and support extends far beyond the classroom.

Jessica Weir Programme Support Officer

The teachers at Children in Crisis' Community Based Education Centres play a vital role outside of the classroom. By regularly spending time out in the community, they are able to advocate for girls to be educated as well as act as visible role models. They show that women are just as capable and have the same capacity to learn, work, teach and lead.

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However, we would be doing a disservice to our colleagues and the teachers, parents and children with whom we work if we failed to celebrate the gains that were made in 2014. Gains which Children in Crisis hopes will make schools and communities that bit more resilient to the shock of the Ebola outbreak, and better able to recover when it finally does come to an end.

Better primary school educationTo celebrate the incredible work undertaken in 2014, I must start by noting the completion of our three-year Reviving Primary Education Programme, which we have been implementing with our long-term local partner NGO, FAWE Sierra Leone.

In 2014, the programme targeted 21 schools in the isolated and rural district of Kambia. We reached out to 5,899 children with improved teaching and more child-friendly schooling, ensuring schools are safe and accessible for all. When we visited these schools in March we found that 61.4% of teachers were using child-centred teaching techniques (as opposed to only teaching by rote), an increase from just 3.8% who were observed to be doing so before our intervention.

In line with our commitment to assess and learn from our work, we commissioned an independent evaluation of this programme in May 2014. The independent evaluator’s findings in the report were incredibly encouraging:

Sierra Leone2014: Highlights and challenges There is no denying that the Ebola outbreak has had a huge impact on the people of Sierra Leone and therefore Children in Crisis’ work in the country. As I write, the outbreak continues to worsen, taking more lives and denying millions of people their jobs, their healthcare for non-Ebola related matters and their schooling. As one parent so elegantly put it 'The simple fact about the Ebola crisis is [that it is] a killer of not only life, but our children’s education and future’.

Children in Crisis and FAWE have

made impressive progress in achieving project milestones in all

three years of [the project]

Children in Crisis’ interventions are cost-effective and deliver

value for money

2014 saw the completion of our three-year Reviving Primary Education Programme, which has brought improved teaching and more child-friendly schooling to thousands of children.

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Supporting children with disabilitiesChildren in Crisis also made strides in our work with local partner NGO, Welfare Society for the Disabled (WESOFOD) in 2014. WESOFOD cares for disabled children who have been rejected by their families and communities. Thanks to our generous supporters we are now in a position to build a new home for these bright and enthusiastic young boys and girls, which will ensure that they are safe, secure and have access to their basic needs. Sadly the outbreak of Ebola has put this construction on hold, meaning that the children are continuing to live in a shelter which is not fit for purpose. We are ready to commence construction as soon as we are able, which is giving the children great hope.

Our Ebola responseThough Children in Crisis is not primarily a health-focused charity, we have absolutely made the most of our relationships and reputation to support the people with whom we work to stay safe from Ebola.

We have helped FAWE and WESOFOD to distribute hygiene kits, reaching approximately 22,500 people with hand-washing points within communities and at the homes of people with disabilities. Improved hand-washing not only defends against the spread of Ebola, but also against outbreaks of other waterborne diseases such as Cholera.

Furthermore, we have supported both organisations to broadcast Ebola-related messages over local radio, providing a trusted and respected source of advice at a time when faith in the healthcare system is imperative.

We are currently working closely with Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Education and other key education actors. Together we are identifying ways to ensure that children will be provided with the best and most appropriate support available for their learning in 2015, whilst schools remain closed due to Ebola.

Amanda Jones Programme Manager

15,005 children taught in 2014 by teachers trained by Children in Crisis through the Reviving Primary Education Programme.

13 children with disabilities, abandoned by their families and communities, given the hope and excitement of a new and accessible home.

22,500 people reached with hand-washing points, helping to keep them safer from the spread of Ebola.

2014 in numbers – Sierra Leone:

Members of the Welfare Society for the Disabled (WESOFOD) contributed to the Ebola response by manufacturing hand-washing buckets with faucets.

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Focus on:

Lock-down diary

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Fatu’s diaryFatu is a bright, and friendly girl*. She is a reserved character, not quite shy, but she certainly seems comfortable to allow her friends to take the limelight, whilst she contentedly looks on. When the light is shone on Fatu though, if she’s asked for her opinion or encouraged to speak, every word is poignant and thoughtful.

Fatu lives with other children with disabilities, in a home run by Children in Crisis’ local partner NGO, Welfare Society for the Disabled (WESOFOD). These are children who have been rejected by their families and so the home offers them an opportunity to have food and shelter, go to mainstream school and interact and contribute to their community. Without the home they would most likely be left to a life of begging on the street.

In September 2014, with the Ebola outbreak showing no sign of abating, the Government of Sierra Leone declared a three-day lock-down, during which Fatu and her friends had to remain within the WESOFOD home. During this time Fatu wrote a diary, describing how Ebola is affecting her. Fatu has kindly shared this with us which you can read on the page opposite (her real name has been removed). We hope that it serves as a demonstration of the humanity behind the disease.

With the outbreak of Ebola, and the ensuing closure of schools and markets, it quickly became very difficult for WESOFOD to care for Fatu and the other children as they would wish to. Children in Crisis’ close working relationship with WESOFOD enabled us to

recognise this pressure and strain almost immediately.

We acted fast. We provided support to WESOFOD to continue to buy food, and to provide tutors to the children so that they would not fall behind in their education whilst schools are not open. WESOFOD has also prioritised entertainment for the children, to help distract them from the fear of the outbreak.

Ebola still has a terrible grip on Sierra Leone, but with the incredible support that Children in Crisis receives, we are able to help, care, protect and continue to educate Fatu and her friends. Thank you for making this possible.

Fatu (the girl in the back row of children, looking to her right) with her friends and carers from WESOFOD. This photo was taken in happier times, before the 2014 Ebola outbreak.

*Fatu's name has been changed in line with Children in Crisis’ child protection policy.15

Democratic Republic of Congo2014: Highlights and challenges

Education for children from the PlateauJune 2014 saw a milestone reached with the completion of the second phase of Children in Crisis’ wide-reaching education programme. The programme has trained teachers to give children quality primary school lessons, whilst also creating a network of strong and responsible school head teachers. By training parent teacher associations, we have ensured that, with little outside help reaching the remote schools of the Plateau, they receive the support and accountability needed from parents.

What a wonderful journey this

programme has been. An independent external evaluation (conducted in May 2014) judged that over the last seven years

– working in partnership with local NGO Eben Ezer Ministry International (EMI) – Children in Crisis has played a substantial role in reviving a badly damaged primary education system for the children of the Plateau's remote and conflict-scarred communities.

July saw the start of an extension year of this programme, working with 18 schools in an area that until quite recently had been too insecure. The situation has improved over the last three years and our team has received numerous requests from schools for training. We were glad to be able to answer them.

Our strong and effective relationship with the communities of eastern DR Congo continued in 2014, meaning improved education and life-chances for children in this remote and often overlooked region. Our highly successful programme was extended into new territories, previously too insecure to work within. We continued to construct and repair schools in partnership with parents, whilst an exciting savings and loans pilot project also got underway.

We are no longer

afraid. We go to school in peace knowing that our teacher will look after us for the whole

day and will do their best to help us understand our studies.

Nadiama Nadine, a grade 5 pupil at Kahusi Primary School.

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School buildingThis programme, now in its second year, is continuing very well and April 2014 saw the inauguration of Bora and Rutigita Primary Schools. A further three schools are being constructed or refurbished over the course of 2014-15, with Mushegereza Primary School completed in December 2014. Given the deplorable state of the majority of school buildings on the Plateau, children and communities alike see schools rebuilt or refurbished through this programme as beacons of learning and success. Children are happier and more motivated due to comfortable, warm and dry classrooms, and this is mirrored by their teachers’ and parents’ feelings.

Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs)Pamoja (Kiswahili for ‘together’) is a 12-month pilot project that started in April 2014. There are no banks on the Plateau and people struggle to plan beyond the immediate future. They often have no means to pay for larger costs such as medical fees or school expenses; even covering their family’s basic food

and shelter needs sometimes proves difficult. VSLAs are a structured and well-supported approach

that see groups of 20 – 30 community members save regularly together and

then access loans from these savings. We have established 30 VSLAs on the Plateau, with 68% membership

being female. This is especially important, as women continue to

be highly discriminated against in this region; seven months into the project, many state how they are now valued by their husbands as they can contribute financially to their family’s needs. There are many other benefits that members have told us about – a sense of pride in earning money for savings, overcoming community feuds, being able to pay for uniforms and books for their children – to name but a few.

Amy Parker Programme Manager

Children outside their newly refurbished Rutigita Primary School. We are now just £38,000 away from having the funds in place to commence the work on the three additional schools in 2015.

Tuhimisane VSLA in Muhanga village, Katobo, is one of 30 which Children in Crisis/ EMI have established. The larger majority of members are women and savings can be used to help pay for medical fees, school costs and even families’ basic food and shelter needs in emergencies.

695 women and men in 30 VSLA groups saving regularly and accessing small credits.

15,527 girls and boys receiving an improved quality of primary education.

A 19% increase in the number of girls attending primary school across 50 schools.

441 boys and girls studying in comfortable, dry classrooms in two schools built this year.

2014 in numbers – DR Congo:

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Focus on:

No quick fixes

Sarah Rowse, Director of Programmes, talks DR Congo Let me take you back to 2005 and the first time I visited the remote village of Gitigarawa on the Plateau in South Kivu, eastern DR Congo. I had travelled there to assess the needs and priorities of children and communities from this war-affected, forgotten region, and to make recommendations to Children in Crisis’ Board of Trustees as to whether we should begin a new programme in this region.

The winding journey up the mountain to Gitigarawa was tense, with frequent road blocks manned by heavily armed soldiers. At every road block, people were being manhandled; their agricultural produce taken from them as a form of ‘tax’ by the local soldiers. In the eyes of the women, I could see how ground-down they were – powerless in the face of men with guns.

At Gitigarawa itself, nestled on the mountainside, the first community meeting we held was packed. It was at this meeting,

attended solely by men, that I got my first insight into the spirit of a local population determined to plan for a better tomorrow. With a tentative national peace declared some two years earlier, but with militia still active across the Plateau, returning populations were sick of conflict and desperate for a return to normality. Children’s education was named a priority in meeting after meeting. I also got an insight into some of the societal dysfunctions that existed, namely the deep mistrust between tribes and the extreme marginalisation of women and girls. After some gentle cajoling, I did get to speak with women on this trip, and heard their powerful testimonies, their hopes for a better future, and a longed-for return to peace.

On my return to the UK it was agreed that help was needed in eastern DR Congo, and so the journey began. By 2007 we had launched the first year of what has become an inspiring seven year education programme with local partner, Eben Ezer Ministry International (EMI). The purpose of this programme has been to improve the education opportunities of primary school-aged

Sustainable development takes

time, it’s not about quick fixes, but if you’re prepared to work with people, not for them, listen, respect and commit to the long term, it’s worth it...

Gitigarawa’s old school. Back in 2005 the education system in this war-affected, forgotten region was close to collapse. The children deserved better than this.

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children across the region. It has been an ambitious undertaking, delivered in stages, gradually and over time. Teacher training and school building have been accompanied by school management training and the establishment of teacher support networks. Whilst creative, grassroots community awareness-raising on women’s and children’s rights have led to the recent piloting of village savings and loan schemes, designed principally to empower women. All the while, activities have been delivered against a backdrop of post-conflict recovery and complex inter-community/ inter-tribal dynamics.

Earlier this year, an external evaluation of the education programme found that it has become a reference point for change and is held up as the reason for the steady and significant development taking place in the region. The external evaluation went on to state that EMI/Children in Crisis have played a substantial part in reorganising and reviving a deeply dysfunctional primary education system by raising general standards for teachers, by giving a sense of responsibility to school directors and by getting parents more involved… but that, inevitably, there is more still to do.

I take some considerable pride in the findings of this evaluation, especially when I reflect back to that very first trip to Gitigarawa and the problems that abounded. Most of all, I take pride in the careful, considered approach that Children in Crisis and our partners have taken over the years and will continue to take. The challenges of post-conflict recovery and development are multiple and complex. War affects children long after the fighting has stopped. Neighbours that once lived peacefully together are divided; resources that once were shared, are fought over; trust takes time to rebuild.

Working side-by-side, with people, rather than for people, also takes time, is difficult, frustrating and can be one step forward and two steps back – but worth it in the long run. The changes that can be observed at Gitigarawa are testament to this and a testament to each and every one of Children in Crisis’ supporters whose faith and commitment to our work enable us to deliver lasting, meaningful improvements to children’s lives.

By gaining the trust and respect of Plateau communities we have been able to work to change attitudes towards girls’ and women’s rights. These women are helping to construct a new school for their children, efforts which empowered them – giving them a greater say in decision-making.

Gitigarawa’s school today. A recent external evaluation stated that EMI/Children in Crisis have played a substantial part in reorganising and reviving a deeply dysfunctional primary education system on the Plateau. It is thanks to the commitment of our incredible supporters that we have been able to deliver lasting, meaningful improvements to children’s lives.

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Burundi2014: Highlights and challenges

The fragile existence of the Batwa peopleThe Batwa of Burundi are a marginalised people in an already struggling country, in which a shocking 70% of people suffer from malnutrition. The poverty and extreme lack of educational or vocational opportunities afforded to Batwa adults ultimately hits their children the hardest – it is estimated that up to 50% of Batwa children die before their fifth birthday.

From experience gained in other post-conflict countries in which Children in Crisis has worked, we know that the best way to help the Batwa children will be to support their parents to earn money and build safer homes for their families. Our work in Burundi in 2014 has therefore focused on enabling a Community Vocational and Training Centre (CVTC) to be built, which will be a hub of vocational training, apprenticeships and literacy courses.

Championing local skills & materialsArchitects working pro bono on the design of the CVTC have developed some excellent initial models which were presented to community members and authorities when we travelled to Burundi in March 2014. These designs focus on clusters of small workshops, a larger community hall and open space for training, as well as market gardens, all built using environmentally-friendly construction methods. A key feature of the centre is that apprentices from local communities will help build the CVTC using locally available materials. They will learn the best methods and

2014 has been a challenging year for our work in Burundi. We have continued to build up our strong partnerships with local authorities and the Batwa communities in Gasorwe; so much so that the authorities have given us a fantastic piece of land for the planned Community Vocational and Training Centre (CVTC).

It is estimated that up to 50% of Batwa children die before reaching their fifth birthday. The cramped, smoky, often damp banana-leaf and mud huts of the Batwa are a contributing factor to poor health. Vocational training offered by Children in Crisis will include construction apprenticeships, leading to better homes for the Batwa children.

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technologies to ensure high-quality, sustainable and environmentally- friendly constructions. The apprentices will then be able to use these same methods to construct safer homes for their families as well as other commercial and public buildings.

Helping children by supporting parentsOur March 2014 visit also helped to shape the ways in which we will use the CVTC to help Batwa families. These include offering training courses in bread-making and soap-making as well as construction, ceramics and carpentry courses. Other requests from the community for vehicle maintenance, electrician and IT courses are also being considered. Many adults in the area have never had the opportunity to go to school and so find they are blocked from accessing information and services that they are entitled to. We will therefore also be providing adult education classes focussing on literacy, numeracy, business and life skills.

Youth-led health groups will research and promote public health initiatives. Health issues have been consistently raised as a heavy burden on family finances and young people are in the perfect position to work together to look at lessening this burden through

proactive campaigns and initiatives. Finally, we will be working with groups on establishing Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs). Our pilot VSLA project currently running in DR Congo has proven that even extremely low-income families are capable of saving and that the other benefits of being a part of a savings group are huge. Community cohesion, the position of women in the family as well as the community, and the ability to make money through petty trade and agriculture are all improved.

Stress and worry are significantly decreased.

Our biggest challenge in 2014The biggest challenge has been to raise funds for this project. Sadly, despite being one of the poorest and most fragile countries in the world, Burundi does not seem to feature as a priority in the agenda of the international community. The good news is that we now have sufficient support to start building the centre in the spring of 2015 which will be the springboard for the longer-term programme. As always, we will be working our very hardest in 2015 to raise funds needed for the continuation of our work in Burundi.

Amy Parker Programme Manager

A draft architectural plan of the innovative Community Vocational and Training Centre. Local, sustainable construction techniques and materials will be prioritised, leading to the reinvigoration of declining skills such as ceramic pottery (e.g. in the production of floor tiles).

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Liberia2014: Highlights and challenges

Promoting literacy through child-led storiesFor children in Rivercess, primary school often represents their one chance in life to learn to read and write. Sadly, due to the many challenges within Liberia’s post-conflict education system, most schools do not have reading materials for children to use in their lessons. Few children leave primary school with a functional level of literacy, cutting them off from a world of information and possibility.

In 2014, in partnership with In Place of War, we employed an innovative approach to address the serious lack of reading materials in schools. We engaged 300 children in story-making theatre, where children worked together to create their own stories. Together with additional stories from community elders

and Liberian writers, the children’s stories have formed ‘Our Words Libraries’ in 15 schools. The collection of over 215 child-friendly, locally relevant stories is now providing 3,040 children with the materials they need to learn to read and write.

Empowering parents through adult educationIn 2014 we continued to implement our Vocational Training Programme, empowering vulnerable women in rural communities across Rivercess to improve their livelihoods and create a better life for themselves and their children. This year, women benefitted from soap-making and pastry courses, as well as classes in literacy, numeracy, life skills and business skills.

These classes contribute greatly to women’s empowerment and provide critical skills for life. From keeping records as part of their businesses, to voting, reading medicine bottles and helping children with homework – basic literacy and numeracy has life-changing benefits for women and their families.

In 2014, we continued to work with our experienced and dedicated local partner NGO, FAWE Liberia, to reach remote communities in the rural county of Rivercess. Despite challenges posed by the Ebola crisis, we continued to support vulnerable children and their families, and are committed to doing so throughout 2015 and beyond.

“For me, I am really happy for the hand pump Children in Crisis/FAWE brought us. We used to drink brown water in this town, and the water used to taste very bad and make our stomachs pain [hurt] and make us sick. Today we have a hand pump to drink good clean water and to even wash our uniforms. Among all the things, that is what I am really, really happy for!”

Serina Doe a student of Rockcess Public School.

Through story-making theatre, 300 children were able to make their own, locally-relevant stories. These now make up part of the Our Words Libraries which are providing thousands of children with desperately-needed reading materials.

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Sadly, these classes were interrupted by the Ebola crisis. However, we will resume the courses as soon as possible in 2015.

School rehabilitation, water and sanitationIn 2014 we successfully completed our School Rehabilitation, Water and Sanitation Project within four rural communities in Rivercess. The project rehabilitated four schools as well as constructing latrines and water points. Our aims were to improve learning environments for children in these schools and to reduce the incidence and impact of common diseases linked to poor sanitation and unclean drinking water.

All the evidence so far confirms that our intervention is having a very positive effect. At the start of the project, 60% of children across the four communities had missed school due to illness, but by the end of the project, this was significantly reduced to just 20%. We will continue to build on this success into 2015, reaching more schools in Rivercess.

Ebola prevention and responseLiberia has been seriously affected by the Ebola outbreak which has spread across West Africa. Neccessary measures to control the spread of Ebola, such as the closure of schools and markets, are having a devastating impact. Children are missing out on education, and families are struggling to earn an income and buy food.

During this challenging time, Children in Crisis and FAWE Liberia continued to support vulnerable communities, using our expertise in education and community mobilisation to help stem the spread of the virus and empower communities to better protect themselves.

We worked with government ministries to produce flyers, posters and radio programmes. We also conducted awareness-raising in

39 communities. Messages focused on how to prevent the spread of the disease; what to do if an Ebola case is suspected in the community; and non-stigmatisation of Ebola patients and survivors.

To ensure communities were able to put these messages into practice, we also distributed hygiene materials such as buckets, chlorine and soap – reaching 11,700 people in Rivercess.

The determination and dedication of our local teams during this crisis has been truly inspiring, and has enabled us to continue to reach the most vulnerable communities.

Charlotte Morgan-Fallah Programme Manager

3,040 children in 15 schools benefitted from durable, laminated ‘Our Words Libraries’.

11,700 people were supported with Ebola prevention and response materials, including hygiene kits.

2014 in numbers – Liberia:

Women read Ebola awareness and prevention materials produced by Children in Crisis/FAWE. We also distributed hygiene materials such as buckets, chlorine and soap, reaching 11,700 people.

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The financial year ending 31st March 2014 saw a drop in Children in Crisis’ income of 8% as the ending of some multi-year contracts, increased competition for limited funding streams along with tougher economic conditions impacted on our income for the year. However by the planned use of unrestricted reserves we were able to increase our spend on charitable activities by 4% to £2m, with increased programme spend in all countries except Afghanistan which had had an exceptionally active 2013.

The cost of generating funds increased slightly as a percentage of income as we restructured the fundraising team and adapted the mix of fundraising channels to provide the necessary framework to retain existing funders and to grow income for the longer term needs of the communities we work with.

There was a reduction in our unrestricted funds during the year, as income dipped and expenditure increased to ensure continuance of programmes in country as well as to build the infrastructure for future development. We recruited a new Finance Director towards the end on the period, and believe that with increased visibility and control we continue to be in a strong and stable financial position despite the challenging economic times, and well equipped to move forward in 2014-15.

In the summer of 2014 we celebrated our 21st Anniversary with a series of fund raising events. These generated much-needed unrestricted income, as Ebola struck in Liberia and Sierra Leone in Autumn 2014, halting our on-going programmes in country and necessitating that our efforts be redirected to deal with Ebola-response activities.

Financial information

Events 6.2%

Challenges 4.5%

Community 0.9%

Individual Giving & Major Donors 22.0%

Legacies 0.2%

Corporates 7.4%

Trusts & Foundations 24.9%

Contracts for operational programmes 33.7%

Investments & Other 0.2%

Afghanistan 18.3%

Burundi 0.3%

DR Congo 22.5%

Liberia 20.4%

Sierra Leone 15.5%

Other programme costs 1.9%

Cost of generating voluntary income 18.3%

Cost of events 1.3%

Governance 1.5%

£2,481,064 Annual Expenditure March 2014

£2,156,555 Annual Income March 2014

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Income 2014 2013

Events £133,667 £162,652Challenges £96,717 £92,034Community £19,493 £66,789Individual Giving & Major Donors £474,737 £490,127

Legacies £3,500 £39,656Corporates £159,209 £27,017Trusts & Foundations £537,477 £726,937Contracts for operational programmes £728,350 £740,476

Investments & Other £3,405 £7,765Total Income £2,156,555 £2,353,453

Expenditure 2014 2013

Cost of Charitable activities in:Afghanistan £453,647 £775,098Burundi £8,403 £8,375DR Congo £556,858 £401,958Liberia £506,362 £369,010Sierra Leone £385,036 £275,826Other programme costs £47,504 £46,500

Cost of generating voluntary income £454,318 £424,157

Cost of events £31,783 £51,997Governance £37,153 £35,623Total Expenditure £2,481,064 £2,388,544

Net Income -£324,509 -£35,091Gain/loss on investments -£197 £571Total funds brought forward £1,418,153 £1,452,673Total funds carried forward £1,093,447 £1,418,153

ReservesRestricted Reserves £757,016 £983,460Unrestricted Reserves £336,431 £434,693Total Reserves £1,093,447 £1,418,153

Statement of Financial Activities - 31st March 2014

If you would like to read a full copy of Children in Crisis’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st March 2014, then these are available on our website.

Please visit www.childrenincrisis.org/about-us/financial-information

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Good companyChildren in Crisis was delighted to be selected as Usborne Publishing’s Charity of the Year for the 2014/15 financial year. Throughout the partnership, the Usborne team have gone above and beyond to raise money at every opportunity, helping us to give vulnerable children a better start in life.

James MacLaine, Editor and Charity Committee Member at Usborne Publishing, tells us why they chose to support Children in Crisis:

"The staff of Usborne Publishing have been delighted to support Children in Crisis throughout 2014. We have been inspired by their work to pursue a variety of fundraising initiatives. These have included bake sales, quizzes, competitions and lunchtime walks that have raised money and brought us closer together. And it is

thanks to Children in Crisis too that some of our intrepid colleagues were able to take places in the RideLondon cycling event in August and the Royal Parks Half Marathon in October.

Along the way, we could not have been better supported by the team at Children in Crisis. They have been ever ready to help with information and resources whenever required. Their friendly dedication has made our fundraising all the easier. Thank you from all of us."

Children in Crisis is so grateful to have such an enthusiastic and creative partner in Usborne Publishing. We would like to extend a huge thank you to all of their employees for their support and innovative fundraising ideas.

Usborne Publishing & Children in Crisis in 2014/15

Usborne staff raised money by taking part in our School Run event.

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Is your company looking to support a good cause in 2015?There are so many ways that you and your company can get involved and support Children in Crisis. Our Corporate Fundraising Team are ready to get to know you and your business so that together, we can build a tailored programme of fundraising activities that fits your company’s needs and ambitions. Here are just a few ideas of ways in which you could raise valuable support for our work.

Charity of the year –

12 months of exciting bespoke fundraising activities to suit your

company’s size, staff and available resources.

Sponsored challenge events –

Run, cycle, swim or walk for us – we will support you every step/pedal/lap of the

way, with training advice and fundraising tips.

Cause related marketing –

Donate a percentage of the profits from the sale

of your product or service.Payroll

giving – donate from your salary and receive

immediate tax relief.

Support a project –

Help Children in Crisis achieve its mission

through direct project investment.

Gifts in kind –

Donate your products as prizes

for our events.

The School Run – Our exclusive fundraising

team challenge: raise money by collectively walking, running,

cycling or swimming the distance from your workplace

to one of our schools in Africa or Asia.

Our Corporate Fundraising Team are waiting to inspire you – please do get in touch today. You can contact Laura Colgan on: Laurac@childrenincrisis.org / 020 7627 1040

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A R Harding Charitable Trust

Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable Settlement

Allsave Limited

Ardwick Trust

Argus Media Ltd

Arihant Charitable Trust

Barclays PLC

BATS Chi-X Europe

BGC Partners

Bliss Family Charity

Bloomberg

BP Foundation

British and Foreign School Society

Broad Cairn Foundation

Bryan Guinness Charitable Trust

Buzzacott

Calastone

Chilcomb Wealth Ltd

Children In Crisis (Italy)

Chillag Family Charitable Trust

Clark Charitable Trust

Claviga

Comic Relief

De La Rue Charitable Trust

DFID – Department for International Development

European Union

Evan Cornish Foundation

F G Roberts Charitable Trust

Finexeo UK Ltd

Fishborn Trust

Flexeye Ltd

Forrest-Hill Charitable Trust

Fresh Leaf Charitable Foundation

Gilbert and Eileen Edgar Foundation

Gosling Foundation Limited

Guernsey Overseas Aid Commission

H. E. and E. L. Botteley Charitable Settlement

Hewer Charitable Trust

Haughton International Fairs

Hudson Charitable Trust

Ian Askew Trust

IFDS UK

J Liddell-Simpson's Charitable Trust

Jan Beth Warner Revocable Trust

Kans and Kandy (Wholesale) Charitable Trust

Lewis Ward Trust

Lismore Trust

Madeline Mabey Trust

Maidenwell Charitable Trust

Marr-Munning Trust

Medicor Foundation

Miss E M Sage Charitable trust

Miss K M Harbinson's Charitable Trust

Mondo Visione

Morel Trust

Mosse Charitable Settlement

mytutorclub.com

New World Music Limited

Nigel Bruce Charitable Trust

Oakdale Trust

Paget Trust

Planet Wheeler Foundation

Quendon Consulting

Ralph Clark Charitable Trust

Reuben Foundation

Rhododendron Trust

Roger Vere Foundation

Sanne Philanthropic Foundation

Sir James Roll Charitable Trust

SMB Charitable Trust

Soloway Charitable Trust

Souter Charitable Trust

Stella Symons Charitable Trust

Sykes Trust

Taylor & Francis Books Ltd

Thames Wharf Charity Ltd

The Big Give Trust

The Greetings Card Company

The Old Rectory Care Home

Trayport Limited

Turing Foundation

U.S. Embassy, Kabul

UNICEF – Afghanistan

Usborne Publishing Ltd

Vitol Foundation

Volta Data Centres

Wenhaston Charitable Trust

WGH Lowe Charitable Trust

William and Christine Eynon Charity

Woolf Charitable Trust

WriteStars

Wyn and Ken Lo Memorial Foundation

Children in Crisis would like to thank the businesses, charitable trusts, foundations and organisations that supported our work in 2014/15.

Some special mentions Thank you!

To our regular giversWhether you donate by Direct Debit,

Standing Order or through your payroll, and whatever the amount

you give. Regular support like yours means a great deal to Children in Crisis. It enables us to plan more wisely and effectively – meaning

that we bring greater stability and long-lasting improvements to vulnerable children’s lives. Thank you for such incredible support.

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School buildingThe vast majority of the Plateau’s 176 schools are in a dreadful state; dark, dilapidated and providing little protection from the harsh elements experienced at altitude. Warm, safe and secure buildings directly lead to more children going to and staying in school. 2015 will see us begin work on our 16th, 17th, and 18th schools. Slowly we are getting there, delivering buildings of quality, at low cost, and training communities to generate the income they need to maintain their schools.

Village Savings & Loans Associations (VSLAs)Our 2014 pilot project has demonstrated the overwhelming desire amongst the women of the Plateau to improve their financial situation. Even amongst the very poorest, necessity has created people with an amazing ability to manage their limited resources. With support and advice they could move beyond plugging gaps, to planning for the future. In 2015 we will seek to build a bridge between those in the UK with an interest in financial mechanisms, and those in the DR Congo with a desire to sustainably escape the effects of poverty.

Education for the children of the PlateauSince 2007, Children in Crisis has ensured that every teacher from every primary school on the Plateau has received the training they need to deliver a quality education. We now want to go one step further and start training the next generation of teachers. In DR Congo, teachers begin their training at secondary school and so it is vital that they receive a quality education. Throughout 2015 we will be seeking funding to not only continue our work in primary schools but to also invest in the quality of secondary school education.

DR Congo 2015 will be a key year for our DR Congo programme. So much has been achieved since we first visited the eastern Plateau in 2005, but there is still a lot to do before we can be confident that the children are receiving an education of quality and worth.

In these next five pages you will read about the plans that Children in Crisis has for 2015. Working alongside our highly experienced local partner NGOs, some incredibly dedicated teachers, the parents who want to help give their children a better life and the very same children who are desperate to learn, we look forward to continuing to deliver a measurable, sustainable, and meaningful impact.

Our plans for 2015

We hope to build or renovate three schools within DR Congo in 2015/16. Kitundu is just one of many communities who are currently being considered. This is their children’s current school. They deserve better.

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Afghanistan continues to face significant challenges, and Children in Crisis is determined that the nation’s children are as insulated as possible from threats to their wellbeing and education.

Community Based Education Centres (CBECs)In 2015 we will launch the next phase of our highly successful Community Based Education Programme in Kabul. Having helped thousands of out-of-school children from five severely deprived neighbourhoods to complete their primary education over the last three years – and with the understanding and appreciation for female education firmly embedded in the communities – we are keen to take our proven model into other marginalised areas of Kabul. There are still so many women and children missing out on an education who are desperate to learn. With international attention turning away from Afghanistan, securing the necessary support will be extremely challenging. We are so very grateful to those who have already pledged their support to this vital work.

Juvenile justiceChildren in Crisis will continue our vital partnership with the U.S. State Department in 2015, working to improve child protection services in Kabul and across three central provinces of Afghanistan. There is a distinct need to challenge long-held attitudes and

practices regarding the confinement of children in juvenile detention centres for what are often

the smallest of childhood misdemeanours or for running away from abusive homes.

Our plans for 2015: Afghanistan

It costs

£46,000 to run a CBEC for a year

£42 to provide a quality primary education to a child for a year

£1,000 to provide 10 women with literary

training for a year.

Thank you to everyone who helped our Community Based Education Centres (CBECs) provide out-of-school girls and a boys in Afghanistan with a primary education in 2014. We are now working hard to ensure that these CBECs can remain open for other children who desperately want to learn.

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In late December 2014 we received the fantastic news that our application to the Guernsey Overseas Aid Commission (GOAC) for funding towards our new Burundi programme had been approved. Since we were first introduced to the Batwa in late 2012, and saw the extreme poverty they were living in, we have been working to develop a programme that will provide sustainable solutions. The challenges are large; the Batwa have been ignored and marginalised for generations. Families live in poor shelters made from banana leaves and mud. Many parents cannot afford to send their children to school and struggle to provide just one meal per day. It is estimated that up to half of Batwa children do not reach their fifth birthday.

But there are opportunities to grow the income of these marginalised communities. With the support of GOAC, and working with UK-based architects who have donated their time, expertise and funds to the programme – we are now in a position to deliver vocational training to adults in market-relevant courses. We will then be able to employ this newly trained work-force to build a Community Vocational and Training Centre in the heart of Gasorwe. The centre will provide a dedicated space from which future training can be developed, as well as a market space to facilitate the local economy.

We have funding in place to commence this work in 2015, but we will need to work hard throughout the year to secure further support so that this essential programme can continue for as long as the Batwa people and their children need our assistance.

Our plans for 2015: Burundi

It costs

£1,040 to provide four adults

with a six-week intensive vocational training course in

carpentry, and the start-up kits that they will use to launch their

businesses.

From experience gained in other post-conflict countries in which Children in Crisis has worked, we know that the best, most sustainable way to help the Batwa children will be to support their parents to earn money and build safer homes for their families.

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In 2015 we will be looking to get our programmes back on a firm footing after the huge impact of the Ebola outbreak. The needs that the programmes were meeting before Ebola have now been further heightened. We are determined to maintain our commitment to the communities of Rivercess County and to be there long after the cameras and the media have moved on.

Our Words Library The quality of literacy teaching and the availability of reading materials within schools in Rivercess are extremely limited. Through Children in Crisis’ Our Words Library Programme, dramatic improvements have been made, and this is reflected in the confidence and ability of children in their reading and writing. In 2015 we will look to adapt the programme to ensure that it meets the needs of children who most likely will have missed a whole year of schooling due to Ebola. It is vital that Liberia does not have another generation of children whose education has been disrupted beyond repair.

Vocational trainingEbola has also significantly affected livelihoods in Rivercess. Income-levels were already extremely low (the average monthly wage for a woman was $20) and have since been further hit. With the majority of markets closed, people have been unable to sell their produce. For those who have had access to markets, the

influx of imported materials from international sources has undercut local suppliers. At the same time, food prices have gone up significantly, leading to hunger and malnutrition for families and communities that were already at risk. After five

months of limited resources being further depleted, it is vital that these communities are supported to reinvigorate the local

economy and secure their livelihoods. We will be working with women to ensure they have the skills, confidence and knowledge to earn an income and support their children.

School rehabilitation, water and sanitation We are delighted that after a successful project in 2014 to improve facilities at four schools, including the installation of water pumps and the construction of toilets, the Sanne Group has chosen to continue its generous support. Throughout 2015/16 we will be working with a further four schools and communities to ensure that children have access to clean water, know the value of basic health and hygiene practices such as hand-washing, and are able to go to school unencumbered by easily curable but hugely debilitating illnesses.

Our plans for 2015: Liberia

It costs

£350 to provide adult literacy

and numeracy courses for 30 women in Rivercess to enable them to earn an

income and support their families.

We will be working with four schools in Liberia, ensuring that children have access to clean water.

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Schools Education ProgrammeAs you may have heard, Children in Crisis was chosen from amongst hundreds of charities to be a beneficiary of the UK Government’s match-funding scheme, through which the funds provided by our generous supporters in the later part of 2014 were matched pound-for-pound by the Government.

With additional funds provided by the Vitol Foundation, we will be using this matched-funding to ensure that primary schools in the remote district of Kambia in the north of the country successfully re-open in the wake of Ebola, and that the education provided to children is of a high quality. We have been working with these schools for the last three years and, in close partnership with the teachers and parents, have significantly improved the education that children are receiving.

However, Ebola has created new challenges. Children and parents are scared of returning to school buildings that were used as holding units for Ebola patients, and teachers with limited training will have had nearly a year out of the classroom.

At the start of 2015 we will conduct a survey across a sample of Kambian households to gather much-needed information on the impact that Ebola has had, and how this has affected children’s education. Based on these findings, we will work closely with parents and communities to ensure that children return to school. We will then work with teachers and schools to ensure that the education provided is relevant and adapted to the context.

Supporting children with disabilitiesWe look forward to beginning construction of a Residential Rehabilitation Centre in Kambia, that will provide a safe, secure, inclusive and loving home environment for at least 13 children with disabilities who have been abandoned by their family and community. The centre will also provide physiotherapy services for at least 50 other children and 310 adults with disabilities.

Our plans for 2015: Sierra LeoneChildren in Crisis looks forward to beginning construction on a new home for children with disabilities in Sierra Leone.

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Meet JonnyWe know that many of the inspirational people who run the Virgin London Marathon for Children in Crisis have never done anything like it before. This is why we offer all the support and advice that we can give.

We recently caught up with Jonathan (Jonny) Kuttschreuter at a Q&A session, held at our London offices for people who are running the Marathon in 2015.

As well as getting some fundraising tips and support, Jonny and our other runners were also able to fire running and training-related questions at Nina Anderson, the coach and athlete who so kindly volunteers her time to support our runners.

Afterwards, we took Jonny aside to learn a little more about one of the incredible people who are running for Children in Crisis.

Have you ever run for charity before and why do you want to run the London Marathon?

No, never. A colleague of mine told me that she’s running it and I thought that if she’s doing it, why don’t I?

What are you expecting from the day itself and what are you most looking forward to?

I think that it’s going to be an incredible experience. I’m going to feel on top of the world, I know exactly what I’m like in positive atmospheres; I’m going to have to calm myself down! I’m hoping to do it in 3 hours 30, but it’ll probably be more like 3 hours 45. I’m also really looking forward to sitting down and watching the marathon on TV in years to come, able to remember the day that I did it.

Is there anything that you’re nervous about?

I have a training route, which I’ve been sticking to, regularly running it. I suppose that I’m a little nervous about running a route that I’m not familiar with, the Marathon route!

How did you decide which cause you were going to support by running the Marathon?

It had be something to do with children (I work in education). I emailed about ten charities, Children in Crisis were the speediest to respond!

The support & advice emails that you’ve been sending me are really good, and days like today, it’s really nice to have this meet-up. I’m the kind of person who would worry if I didn’t have information, so I’m happy that you have it in hand!

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Inspired? We are...We cannot stress what a difference the combined support of individuals makes to Children in Crisis. Whether by meeting people like Jonny, speaking to our supporters on the phone or reading notes of support accompanying donations – we are constantly inspired by our supporters’ acts of kindness which help to ensure that vulnerable children get a fairer chance in life.

Your road to gloryIf you’d like to follow in Jonny’s footsteps then we would love to speak with you about running the Marathon for us next year. If you’d like to do something sooner, then here are some dates for other upcoming challenges:

The Royal Parks Half Marathon (Sunday 11th October) – this is a beautiful run, through London’s parks at their autumnal best. The 13.1 miles won’t be easy, but you can do this, especially with the support of your sponsors and the brilliant crowds cheering you on.

Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 2015 (Sunday 2nd August) – the bicycle is a wonderful piece of engineering, perfectly designed to enable you to beat this Olympic-inspired route. Whether you want to ride in the slip-stream of a team, on a tandem with a friend or out there on your own, Prudential RideLondon-Surrey is a ride for bragging rights.

Call us on 020 7627 1040 visit www.childrenincrisis.org or email info@childrenincrisis.org

A regular gift on your termsTo a charity of our size, a regular Direct Debit gift brings untold benefits to our work. We are able to plan and budget more effectively, meaning that we can do even more to bring education, care and protection to vulnerable children. Should you decide to support Children in Crisis’ work in this way, we will respect your wishes to receive as little or as much contact from Children in Crisis as you desire, and will always be ready to help ensure that you are supporting us at a level that you are comfortable with.

Please make a huge difference today, use one of our donation forms to set up your Direct Debit gift or visit www.childrenincrisis.org/donate

£8.50 a month – in one

year could provide 25 children in DR

Congo with text books, exercise books, pens and maths

equipment.

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This page is a thank you from Children in Crisis to all of the organisations and individuals who supported us with their time, energy and expertise in 2014. By volunteering or giving your services pro-bono you enabled us to work smarter, faster and safer. More importantly, you helped to ensure that more of Children in Crisis’ precious time and resources were given to the children in need of our help. Please look back on everything that you did for Children in Crisis in 2014 with the pride that you undoubtedly should feel.

Volunteers made a difference

Can you help in 2015?If you, or the organisation you work for, feel

that you could give voluntary support to Children in Crisis, please do not hesitate to

contact us. There are all sorts of ways in which you could help our work, and you may have skills or resources which are more valuable

than you realise. We would love to hear from you: 020 7627 1040 / info@childrenincrisis.org

Nina Anderson, Penny Bardsley, Charlotte Barnes, Alexandra Becker, Teresa Burnford, Lindsay Clarke, Sarah Colten, Emma Downey, Beth Everest, Sarah Fewkes, Alex Hammond, Alice Kedge, Alicia Kimball, Megan Kinsey, Frederike Krum, Rachel Leslie, Alison Lloyd Williams, Tess Mabry, Alastair Mackenzie, Abby Munson, Kevin O'Leary, Rowan Pelling, Sally Phillips, Tania Salway, Sue Saville, Luke Savvas, Mike Tinney, Helen Thompson, James Thompson, Michael Toyne, Andrew Verbeke.

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Children in Crisis Italy

Textbooks for Logan Town’s childrenIn 2013, Children in Crisis Italy enabled us to build a new school for the children of Logan Town, Liberia. In doing so they helped bring a desperately needed school to a county of over 71,000 people which had only 129 primary schools.

In 2014, this concern for the welfare of Logan Town’s children was generously extended. As well as creating a football pitch, Children in Crisis Italy also enabled us to provide the school’s children with early-learning resources, posters and core curriculum textbooks. The limited resources of the Liberian Ministry of Education do not reach remote and rural schools like Logan Town. This intervention was therefore essential to ensure that the children were given a chance to read and learn.

A new home for WESOFOD’s children Within the rural and impoverished district of Kambia, Sierra Leone, children with disabilities will often sadly suffer discrimination.

Our local partner NGO, WESOFOD, is an incredible organisation run by people with disabilities, caring for children with disabilities who have been abandoned by their families. Children in Crisis was delighted when our Italian sister organisation offered to fund the construction of a new home for WESOFOD in 2014. As well as providing a safe and secure home to the children under the care of WESOFOD, the new building will have physiotherapy facilities, enabling it to help bring pain relief and improved mobility to the resident children as well as potentially hundreds of other children and adults with disabilities within Kambia district.

Unfortunately, Sierra Leone’s Ebola outbreak prevented us from commencing construction of the new home, but we are ready to begin building this new home for the children in 2015.

Children in Crisis Italy is an independent organisation which raises its own funds in Italy and is governed by an Italian Board of Trustees. To learn more, visit www.childrenincrisis.it

During the 2014/15 financial year our sister organisation, Children in Crisis Italy, generously supported our work in Liberia and Sierra Leone. We are so grateful for their assistance, which has helped bring education, care and protection to vulnerable children.

The children of Logan Town Primary School with some of the textbooks which Children in Crisis Italy provided in 2014.

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At Sanne, our giving is directed towards three areas, one of which is children and youth and especially those living in countries where the legacy of conflict continues to blight their opportunities. What touched our staff is Children in Crisis’ specific focus on some of the poorest children, mostly in hard-to-reach communities and at the end of the line in respect to both government and charitable support. The case for very basic assistance in remote communities is easy for staff across our international network to both understand and to explain to others while the chance to make a tangible difference, for example, to children’s survival of the number one killer, diarrhoea, is compelling.

Children in Crisis’ expertise is clear. It has staff with excellent development credentials and demonstrates a keen sense of priorities and of value for money. And most reassuring, given the countries in which it operates, it has selected solid and well-respected partners on the ground.

Lastly, we find Children in Crisis great to work with… it engages and encourages us in our fundraising efforts, gives heads-up of any blips along the way and reports back regularly. So we have now embarked on another project and aim to raise even more money than before for Liberia’s children.

Leapheart School, Liberia, before it was rehabilitated thanks to Sanne’s support of Children in Crisis in 2013/14. As well as improving classrooms, the four schools which Sanne assisted were also equipped with proper latrines and water points. Instances of preventable illnesses such as diarrhoea have now reduced, meaning that 67% fewer children miss school.

Why we support Children in Crisis

Children in Crisis, 206 – 208 Stewart’s Road London, SW8 4UB

Telephone: 020 7627 1040 E-mail: info@childrenincrisis.org Website: www.childrenincrisis.org

Founder and Life President: Sarah, Duchess of York. Registered office as above.Registered charity No. 1020488. Company No. 2815817.

Children in Crisis protects and educates children facing the toughest hardships in countries affected by conflict or political instability.