Quest4Change Impact Report 2013/2014 by Quest4Change

Impact Report 2013 / 2014

A word from our Chair Welcome once again to Quest4Changeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual Impact Report, thanks for taking the time to read it. This past year has seen some changes to the charity, we are now an even more international organisation! Of course, the efforts of our work have been taking place in South America and Africa for nearly 20 years now, however the bulk of our volunteer and financial support had come from the UK. This is starting to change and we are now receiving volunteers and support from the USA, Canada and Australia, as well a number of other European countries. We are delighted to see this widening of the Quest4Change net and hope this will continue to grow. In a similar vein, groups of young volunteers in some of the countries where we work are also starting to get in on the Quest4Change action! In Malawi and Peru, local youth groups are now working alongside our teams of international volunteers on construction and community outreach projects, which is not only helping to secure the long-term impact of our work there, but has also created some lifelong friendships across the miles. With the transition from the UN Millennium Development Goals to the much discussed Sustainable Development Goals, we feel that the growing inclusiveness of Quest4Changeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s projects is reflecting this global shift in international development. As always, none of this would be possible without our hard working volunteers and generous supporters, thank you to all of you. The Quest family is continuing to grow and I hope you are all proud to be a part of it. With very best wishes, Jonathan Cassidy | Chair of Trustees | Quest4Change

The year in numbers

Our project partners

Where we work

South American projects

11-15 16-17

Get involved

7-10

Finances

Thank you

Spotlight on Villa Maria

African projects

What we do

Contents

What we do Our vision: Is a world where communities live without poverty in a clean and protected natural environment.

quest4change What we do: We work with local partner organisations on small scale grassroots projects in Africa and South America; projects that target the root causes of poverty and environment destruction in their communities. We offer long-term support to our project partners by providing them volunteers and funds for their work. We are also committed to sustainable development; we want to help our partners achieve long-lasting change for the communities they work with, change that is supported by but not solely reliant on Quest4Change.

Quest Overseas is a volunteering organisation that began operating in 1996, sending their first group to Peru. They now send around 50 people a year to projects and expeditions throughout South America and Africa. From the very beginning Quest volunteers have made major donations to their respective projects and in 2006 it was decided to formalise this through the founding of what is known today as Quest4Change, registered with the Charity Commission on 14th February 2007. The benefits:

Our aims: Relieve financial hardship and poverty in disadvantaged groups, especially children Advance and promote education and training for all Provide support and education for disadvantaged young people Protect and conserve the cultures, flora and fauna of endangered habitats through research and conservation

Our values:

What’s the difference?

partnership

•

One of the main benefits for doing this has been expanding the income for projects beyond volunteer donations to include trust applications, events and other fundraising. This allows us to provide sustainable and transparent support. Quest Overseas also helps minimise our UK costs by covering some of our key administrative expenses, including the use of their office to operate Quest4Change from.

sustainability

•

honesty

•

realistic ambition

The year in numbers 37

the total number of Quest volunteers that worked overseas in 2014

£32

could feed an orphaned and abandoned monkey for a month at one of Inti Wara Yassi’s wildlife refuges in Bolivia

£620

1,000

the number of children fed at Joshua’s feeding centres in Malawi every week

2013/14 in numbers

was raised by volunteers alone

the number of weeks it took to complete the construction of a staffroom at Chilingani Primary School in Malawi

could build a new home for a vulnerable family living in Villa Maria, Peru

the number of houses built in Villa Maria, Peru

£24,000

13.1%

of Peruvians living in poverty receive no formal education

biogardens have been built to date as part of crees’ sustainable livelihood initiatives in the Peruvian Amazon

More than

7,000

children live on the streets in Kigali, Rwanda

Our project partners

Livingstone Tanzania Trust is a grassroots charity that supports community and education focused projects which tackle the daily hardships and hurdles of life that perpetuate poverty. Their programmes focus on education and enterprise.

Joshua Orphan & Community Care support community-driven sustainable development projects that help HIV/AIDS orphans, vulnerable children and their families in Malawi. Their work is based in rural communities around Blantyre, in southern Malawi.

Ubaka U Rwanda is a Christian charity committed to turning around the lives of Rwandan children and young people who are living on the streets. They run a centre that provides a home for boys who have been orphaned or neglected.

Excellent Development is a not-forprofit organisation that supports rural, dryland communities to gain access to clean water and grow enough food to eat and sell. They promote sand dam technology as a means of enabling sustainable development.

Comunidad Inti Wara Yassi is a Bolivian NGO that founded and manages three wildlife refuges. They rescue, rehabilitate and care for wildlife that has fallen victim to animal trafficking, as well as running an environmental education programme to raise awareness about conservation issues.

The crees foundation is a Peruvian not-for-profit organisation working to bring economic, social and environmental harmony to the Manu region. Their core belief is that mankind and nature can support one another through balance, respect and innovation.

We work in partnership with local organisations and community groups of varying sizes: from community-driven initiatives, to national and international NGOs and charities. Our partnerships are set up according to the specific needs of each project, striving for the maximum benefit through whichever structure is most appropriate. Asociación Civil Quest Overseas Perú is a non-profit organisation that aims to improve the lives of children affected by poverty, crime and drug abuse in the district of Villa Maria del Triunfo. They achieve this through the provision of community recreational activities, educational opportunities and by supporting vulnerable families with housing.

The majority of our South American partners do not have UK-based charities, which makes Quest4Change vital for processing volunteer donations and for requesting funds from UK-based trusts and foundations. All our African partners are also registered as UK charities. Whilst it is still Quest who manage the volunteers, their donations are largely paid direct to our project partners, without Quest4Change’s involvement. We do however continue to support them by fundraising for specific projects, or through events and sponsored challenges. For the purpose of this Impact Report, ‘Quest volunteers’ will refer to those who volunteered through Quest Overseas or Quest4Change, regardless of whether their donations were made through Quest4Change or directly to our project partners.

Where we work South America & Africa

Villa Maria Children’s Project

Partners: Asociación Civil Quest Overseas Perú Location: Villa Maria del Triunfo, Lima, Peru

Manu Conservation Project

Partners: crees foundation Location: Manu, Madre de Dios, Peru

Bolivia Animal Sanctuary Project Partners: Comunidad Inti Wara Yassi Location: Villa Tunari, Chapare, Bolivia

Rwanda Children of Hope Project Partners: Ubaka U Rwanda Location: Kigali, Rwanda

Kenya Water Relief Project

Partners: Excellent Development Location: south-eastern Kenya

Tanzania Schools & Community Project Partners: Livingstone Tanzania Trust Location: Babati district, northern Tanzania

Malawi Orphan & Community Project Partners: Joshua Orphan & Community Care Location: Blantyre, Malawi

Maps by FreeVectorMaps.com

2013/2014 in

South America

Bolivia:

Animal Sanctuary Project In 2013/2014:

14 volunteers spent a total of 9.5 weeks at our project in Bolivia, raising a combined total of over £11,100. They helped care, feed and provide enrichment for numerous rescued animals. At Machia they spent a total of 78 hours reinforcing an old enclosure for Balu the Andean Bear & 15 hours making improvements to the quarantine infrastructure. At Ambue Ari they spent 56 hours helping construct a new enclosure for the tapirs Tony & Herbie.

The problems:

Over 20 million species of animals are smuggled out of South America every year. In Bolivia exotic animals are traded on the black market with little concern for their well being; they are often abused, which can result in permanent physical and psychological traumas.

The objectives:

Our impact:

Balu the bear’s enclosure now has far-greater structural support and gives him a larger space to live in. Volunteers also carried out two smaller projects in Machia’s quarantine area, ensuring a high level of cleaning and disinfection is maintained. Finally, the lives of tapirs Tony and Herbie have been transformed thanks to their new enclosure, the first stage of which was completed by our summer group. Encompassing a section of the lagoon, it not only provides them with a safe, natural and stimulating environment, but also access to a year-round water source - tapirs love to swim!

We have worked with Comunidad Inti Wara Yassi (CIWY) since 2003, providing them with financial and volunteer support. Their main aim is to rescue and rehabilitate wild fauna that has fallen victim to animal trafficking and abuse - giving them a second chance at a dignified life. They also address the root causes of the issue through an environmental educational programme, which aims to raise awareness about conservation issues and the effects of animal trafficking.

Peru:

Villa Maria Children’s Project In 2013/2014:

This year 17 Quest volunteers visited Villa Maria in two separate groups, raising over £12,100. Volunteers spent 73 hours constructing 4 new houses - directly benefiting 15 people. They provided 60 hours of recreational activities, ran 8 Saturday Fairs and performed at 9 Family Sunday shows. They took the mobile cinema project to 7 different communities and put on 8 free film screenings. Volunteers also organised an inter-community football & volleyball tournament, which brought together 4 different communities and in which 70 children participated.

The problems:

Poverty, overcrowding and a lack of schooling. It is not easy growing up in the overcrowded district of Villa Maria. Daily life is tough and families are constantly struggling to make ends meet. Many children live below the poverty line, in inadequate housing and receive little parental supervision - making them vulnerable to the risks of drugs and crime.

Our objectives:

We have been working with our partners in Villa Maria since 1997, empowering communities by helping vulnerable families move out of poverty and reach their full potential. We do this through the provision of community recreational activities, increasing access to educational opportunities and by supporting vulnerable families with housing.

Our impact:

The new houses we built in 2014 are helping vulnerable families improve their living conditions. Little by little we are increasing access to adequate housing in the district. Moreover the recreational activities, film screenings, Saturday fairs and Sunday shows that our volunteers took a lead on, helped bring different communities together - creating new friendships, understanding and cohesion among those who have had little interaction between them in the past. The Quest school also continues to provide an invaluable education for an average of 130 children each year.

“We did several things in Villa Maria. Weekday mornings and afternoons were dedicated to construction work – we cut wood, assembled them to make walls, painted them, and once the full house was done, we took it where it had to be placed. At nights, we had dance rehearsals with locals, practicing for the Sunday shows for all the communities. It was loads of fun and I also learned so much!” Nikita (Quest Volunteer, 2014)

Peru:

Manu Conservation Project In 2013/2014:

The 1st farmer subscribed to the new microfinance agroforestry model and 5 hectares of agroforestry were implemented. Over 18 biogardens have now been roofed to protect them from the extreme tropical weather. Crees launched their 1st education programme in partnership with the local technical college.

The problems:

A large amount of land in the Manu region has been logged and cleared for pasture or farming. After this initial use the land is abandoned and left unused, whist more pristine rainforest is destroyed. However there are few long-term employment opportunities for the locals outside of environmentally destructive practices.

The Objectives:

Key project developments:

The agroforestry model was transformed into a microfinance model, in which farmers are given loans to pay for agroforestry. Under this new model each farmer is helped to implement five hectares of agroforestry plots. Roofs were identified as key to the long-term success of biogardens, protecting the crops from the heavy rains and wind experienced during the rainy season. Project work then focused on building a roof for those biogardens without one. Crees also launched their new education programme, through which they started delivering teacher training sessions for staff at the local Technical Institute.

We have been working with the crees foundation since 2010. Our aim is to create a realistic long-term model for protecting the rainforest and its biodiversity; one that fully involves the people who live in the area. We help local people develop sustainable livelihoods through enterprise models such as organic biogardens and agroforestry. Additionally we support Manuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only further education Institute in developing high quality teaching resources and in training a new generation of conscientious and skilled young people.

2013/2014 in

Africa

Kenya:

Water Relief Project In 2013/2014:

Excellent supported communities to build 32 sand dams and 11 school water tanks. Excellentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kenyan partner, Africa Sand Dam Foundation, supported 51 communities as part of their community water & food programmes.

The problems:

More than 3,500,000 people die every year from water related diseases (source: World Health Organisation) and over 40% of people in Sub-Saharan Africa have no access to clean water. The Eastern Province of Kenya, where Questâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s support has been focused, is semi-arid and suffers from poor soil fertility and limited rainfall, making it prone to food shortages and drought.

Our objectives:

Since 2004 we have been working with our project partners Excellent Development and the local Kamba community groups (in south-eastern Kenya) to construct small-scale sand dams, which provide thousands of people with clean drinking water. This transforms the lives of local communities by improving their access to water, their food production, health and income. It also protects communities against future droughts.

Our Impact:

Over the past 10 years, together with Excellent Development, we have constructed 24 sand dams, repaired or extended 16 sand dams, built 3 water tanks, planted over 100 saplings in local schools, and provided ongoing funding for employment. These initiatives have reached over 50,000 villagers, providing them with the means to protect themselves against future droughts.

Malawi:

Orphan & Community Project In 2013/2014:

6 Quest volunteers spent 4 weeks working with our project partners in Malawi in 2014. They raised a combined total of over ÂŁ4,800 for the project. They spent 2 weeks constructing a staffroom and library at Chilingani Primary School, giving students and teachers greater access to further learning resources. They also renovated Milo Feeding Centre and a classroom at Chibwana Junior Primary School.

The problems:

The communities we work with suffer from the debilitating effects of significant poverty coupled with rising HIV/AIDS rates, poor road networks, a lack of clean, piped water and electricity, and very few health and education facilities.

Our objectives:

Working with project partner Joshua Orphan & Community Care, we aim to provide a safe and secure living environment for orphans, vulnerable children and their families in and around the Blantyre District of Malawi.

Our impacts:

The staffroom we constructed at Chilingani Primary School now provides approx. 18 teachers with a functional space where they can plan their lessons (previously they used to sit under trees to plan). The new library has the capacity to house over 2,000 books (which will give students access to further learning resources) and gives students a designated space where they can study quietly. Volunteers also renovated Milo Feeding Centre by adding walls to the existing shelter. This created a classroom and a functional, sheltered and learning-conducive space, one which benefits approx. 60 orphaned and vulnerable children.

Rwanda:

Children of Hope Project In 2013/2014:

After securing land on which to build a new youth centre last year, most of Ubaka’s efforts this year were focused on planning the building work. This involved consulting architects and engineers, surveying the land and securing official government approval and a building permit. With this crucial planning stage complete, we hope to start the building work next year!

The problem:

It is difficult to ascertain the exact number of children living on the streets of Kigali, since officially they do not exist; however the figure is estimated to be around 7,000. Many of these children have been left to roam the streets either as a direct result of the genocide, or due to rural poverty, family conflicts or the impact of HIV/AIDS. The authorities do little to remedy this situation, preferring to mask it by rounding up street children and putting them in holding centres, thus clearing the streets of ‘undesirable persons’.

Our objectives:

We have been working with Ubaka U Rwanda since 2010. Their work aims to transform the lives of homeless children and young people in Kigali. In 2008 they founded a centre that provides a desperately needed home for boys who have been driven onto the streets. The centre provides shelter, education and guidance - with the ultimate aim being to help them lead a self-sufficient life. We are currently helping them raise the funds needed to build a new, larger and more secure youth centre - a new home for the 35 boys currently in their care.

Our impact:

We are helping Ubaka work towards their long-term goal of owning their own youth centre. This will ensure the long-term sustainability of the project and allow them to open their doors to even more children desperately in need of their help.

“I love my life at the centre. Before, I did not know anything about school and now I realise what I have missed. I try to make up for it and last year I was top of the class…I am certain I will have a good future.” Jack (an ex-street child who now lives at Ubaka’s centre)

Tanzania:

Schools & Community Project A summary of our work since 2002: Our partnership with Livingstone Tanzania Trust has now come to an end. The following is a celebration and summary of the support that Quest and our volunteers have offered over the past 11 years. Since 2002, over 220 Quest volunteers have visited Tanzania, raising a combined total of £140,000. Quest first began working in Tanzania in 2002, with the Village Education Project in Kilimanjaro; helping rural communities improve their education and health facilities. It was in 2008 that Quest began its partnership with Livingstone Tanzania Trust, working to provide enhanced access to education through construction and income-generating initiatives.

A message from our partners:

“When the Livingstone Tanzania Trust (LTT) first started working with Quest we were a young organisation just starting out; with their assistance we developed a momentum for change within the schools where we worked. This demonstrated to the community leaders that we were serious about the work we were doing and not another flyby-night NGO. Building confidence with the people and their leaders was vital for us to gain respect and additional co-operation. Over the following years we had numerous teams come out to work with us, meet the community and explore the surrounding environment. The volunteers all had a fantastic time and we are still in touch with many of them. They have enjoyed seeing their work help the schools and communities and enjoyed seeing LTT go from strength to strength. Often great ideas come from the volunteers’ fresh eyes and we adapt to incorporate their ideas into our work. Together we built fuel-efficient kitchens, classrooms, farm sheds, renovated teachers houses, planted seeds, trees, a tyre playground and made many friends within the community.” Julian Page, Director & Trustee, LTT

Our impact:

We helped improve the educational facilities and incomes of four different schools. We constructed and renovated classrooms, store rooms, water tanks and toilets, and developed incomegenerating projects. The implementation of sustainable school farms gave the schools and its pupils’ families a valuable source of income. While the construction of a community library, 3 nursery schools, a 2‐storey accommodation block for vocational training centre apprentices, a health centre and recreational facilities continues to benefit the local communities.

Spotlight on... A milestone for Villa Maria Our longest-running project, in which we work in partnership with Asociación Civil Quest Overseas Perú, has come a long way since we first started working with them back in 1997. We are very proud to have witnessed and supported their development over the past 17 years. The project was founded and to this day continues to be driven by Alejandro Menendez. He originally started working in the district of Villa Maria with a Peruvian NGO called CEDRO that helped young people with drug problems. He however saw the need to not only support people once they had become involved in drugs, but to also prevent them from falling down that slippery slope in the first place. Consequently Alejandro set off on his own, initially armed with just a few sheets of paper, pens and a couple of footballs, and initiated the programme of recreational activities that continues to this day. His idea was that by giving these disadvantaged children a wholesome and fun focus for their free time, they would be less vulnerable to the risks of drugs and crime and would not end up as targets for criminals and in trouble with the law. When we first met Alejandro, working solo and trying to reach as many children as he could, we immediately saw the vast need for this project and the difference that Quest and our volunteers could make. And so our enduring partnership was forged and the project began to grow.

Quest has played a significant role in the project’s development, ensuring a long-term source of funding and volunteers to carry out the work. This year was a milestone for our partners, because it marked their progression from being a community-driven initiative, to a nationally registered Association. The next step, which is already in progress, is to get approval of their NGO status. By formalising their organisation and becoming a nationally recognised NGO, it is hoped that Asociación Civil Quest Overseas Perú will be able to diversify their income streams and access more national funding. With additional funding they aim to further develop their programmes: > To expand the pre- and primary school so that it also offers secondary education. > To improve the employment prospects of young adults and single mothers by offering training courses and apprenticeships. By expanding their programmes, Asociación Civil Quest Overseas Perú will be able to continue helping vulnerable communities in Villa Maria reach their full potential and provide them with enhanced opportunities for development.

...Villa Maria Our impact...

...at a glance

Community & recreational activities: 16 years of programmes of summer activites (e.g. sports, crafts & performing arts)

>Improving the lives of children and families affected by poverty, crime and drug abuse. > Making Villa Maria a safer and more interesting place to grow up in. > Giving a better start in life to the children living there.

House building: 84 new houses in 8 years

Icons designed by Freepik.com

The Quest pre- & primary school: 11 years of increasing educational opportunities

Thank you It is thanks to the superhuman efforts and generous contributions from all our supporters that allows us to continue the work we do and truly ‘Quest4Change’. None of this would be possible without them. So thank you!

Foundations & key supporters

We would like to say a huge thank you to the following for their generous funding and support over the past year: • La Vida • Interdist Alliance • Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust

Volunteers

Quest Overseas volunteers play a crucial role in the support that we are able to offer our project partners. Not only is the money they raise of huge importance to the project, but it is also the hard work and motivation that they put in that really drives forward the work that we do. Volunteers in the UK also provide us with key support. In 2014 we had another great turn out for the Brighton Marathon, as volunteers helped out on our water station. We were also lucky to benefit from two fantastic office volunteers who helped with trust fundraising and design work. If you would like to get involved and volunteer for Quest4Change, drop us a line.

Fundraisers

Where would we be without our fundraising heroes whose hard work, time and effort helped us achieve so much? This year’s superstars were: • Brighton Marathon runner Rosie Thomson • Zandie Haslam and her New Year’s Day Triathlon • Ride London participant Dave Maybank • And finally all those who contributed to the Big Give Christmas Challenge, which raised £800 for the Quest School in Villa Maria We would also like to express our thanks to the friends and family of Katie Ashbridge for their continued support.