2 0 0 9
A N N U A L
R E P O R T
* COMMUNIT Y-BASED ORGANIZATION
2009 AT A GLANCE Letter from the President & the Executive Director......2 Our Mission, Approach & Principles......3 The Need & The Solution......4
Thakane Ts’osane: Ts’osane Support Group......7
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Our Accomplishments & Impact......5
Esther Mtima: Chilimba Women & Orphans Care Group......8
1
VOICES OF COMMUNIT Y LEADERS Overview......6
Rafiki Callixte: Les Enfants de Dieu......9 In Bantu languages: “My well-being is connected to your well-being.” blog.firelightfoundation.org
Elijah Molahlehi: Motivation Community Development......10 Atuu Waonaje: Centre for Youth Development & Adult Education ......11 Louis Mwewa: Lupwa Lwabumi Trust......12 Tsitsi Machisi: Sesithule Vamanani Caring Association......13 REFERENCE 2009 Grants......14–19 Canada......14 Kenya. . ....14 Lesotho......14 Malawi......14–15 Rwanda......15 South Africa......16 Tanzania......16–17 Uganda......17 USA. . . . ..17 Zambia......17–18 Zimbabwe......19
2009 Financial Report......20 Support Firelight......21 Donors......22–23 Boards & Staff......24
FROM THE PRESIDENT & THE EXECUTIVE DIREC TOR 2009: A YEAR OF HOPE & LEADERSHIP
LET TER
Despite the worsening economic situation of many of the world’s most vulnerable people, 2009 was a year of hope for Firelight and our grantees. As one of our grantee leaders put it, “Our purpose is to restore children’s hope for life.” Out of a deep sense of social responsibility, community leaders across Sub-Saharan Africa have marshaled resources and established community-based organizations (CBOs) to support vulnerable children and families affected by HIV/AIDS and poverty. Best placed to identify those in greatest need, community members have taken the initiative to create effective local solutions to local problems.
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Kerry Olson Founder & President
This report is dedicated to these individuals and the lifechanging work that they do—day in and day out—in very difficult situations. Firelight’s small but well-targeted grants go such a long way in making a real difference in the lives of thousands of children because of the extraordinary efforts of these leaders, their staff, and volunteers. Pages 6–13 feature the voices of seven of these ‘everyday heroes’—one from each of the seven countries in which Firelight is active—who foster community leadership and engagement with skill, energy, and humility.
Peter Laugharn Executive Director
These local heroes have a real heart for children, an empathy that allows them to walk in others’ shoes and understand others’ needs, and an integrity that permeates their work and keeps them focused on improving the lives of children and families. Their ability and drive to translate their child-focused mission into effective action is what sets them apart and makes them powerful change agents in their communities. Yet they would be the first to tell you “it’s never just one person” and is all about mobilizing local resources and volunteers, and
2009 ANNUAL REPORT
educating and engaging the community to change the world around them—one child and family at a time. This past year alone, Firelight made more than 180 grants to CBOs serving tens of thousands of children and caregivers in nine African countries. But the fact remains that too few resources reach community groups across Sub-Saharan Africa that are responding to the increasing numbers of children and families in need. In a global community like ours, geographically distant realities are brought to our virtual doorsteps, and everyone has an important role to play in making a difference. Everyone doing what they do best—local groups responding to local needs and Firelight and its donors supporting those efforts—is a powerful formula for building a brighter future for orphans and vulnerable children. We celebrate the heroes highlighted in this annual report because they exemplify how much even just one person can do. As we all look to a brighter tomorrow, we want to leave you with the important message that you too—even as one individual— can help change children’s lives. With every investment that you make in communities, you’re helping to build locally sustainable solutions that meet the most urgent needs of children while laying the foundation for positive long-term change. One of our grantee leaders recently told us: “We want Firelight’s supporters to know how huge an impact their help has had on our communities and how many lives it has changed.” We are deeply grateful to you, our community of supporters, for standing by our side even in tough times. Together, we can make our vision a reality.
www.firelightfoundation.org
IS TO IMPROVE THE WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN MADE VULNERABLE BY HIV/AIDS AND POVERT Y IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA. FIRELIGHT SUPPORTS GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES MEE T THE NEEDS OF THEIR CHILDREN.
OUR APPROACH CHILD-CENTERED FAMILY-FOCUSED COMMUNIT Y-BASED
We believe that CHILDREN HOLD THE KEY to a brighter future for Africa. We believe that real and lasting change begins at the GRASSROOTS. We believe and invest in LOCALLY GROWN AND OWNED sustainable solutions. We know that SMALL, WELL-TARGETED INVESTMENTS can make a big difference in children’s lives. Our grantees understand the needs of vulnerable children and families, and MOBILIZE COMMUNITIES to support them. We inform, advocate, and WORK TO INFLUENCE FUNDING FLOWS to reach the grassroots.
COMMUNITY
FAMILY
We understand the challenges that communitybased organizations face and partner with them to STRENGTHEN THEIR PROGRAMS and provide better support to communities. We have seen the SUCCESS AND IMPACT of our approach on children, families, communities, and other funders over 10 years of operation.
CHILD
MISSION, APPROACH & PRINCIPLES
THE MISSION OF THE FIRELIGHT FOUNDATION
OUR PRINCIPLES
OUR MISSION
3
THE SOLUTION: COMMUNIT Y AC TION
THE NEED
COMMUNITIES CHANGING CHILDREN’S LIVES NEED & SOLUTION
4
HIV/AIDS threaten the safety and survival of millions of children across Sub-Saharan Africa. 68% of the world’s HIV-positive adults and 90% of the world’s HIV-positive children live south of the Sahara Desert in Africa. More than 48 million children have been orphaned. Of those, 12 million have lost at least one of their parents to HIV/AIDS, and millions more have been made vulnerable by poverty and the burden of caring for ill parents. 56% of people live on less than $1 a day. More than 60% of children live in poverty. Only 30% are enrolled in secondary school. Adolescent girls are 2 times to 4.5 times more likely to be infected with HIV/AIDS than adolescent boys. Children are significantly less likely to receive lifesaving antiretroviral treatment than adults. Families and communities bear approximately 90% of the costs and burden of caring for infected and affected children in the areas hardest hit by AIDS.
About 90% of all children affected by HIV/AIDS and poverty are supported by extended families and small community-based organizations (CBOs) that work on a shoestring budget to help children stay in school and ensure that they have food, clothing, shelter, psychosocial support, and protection from abuse. Communities also mobilize local resources to help vulnerable children and families. They give their love and volunteer their time to provide care, grow food, and give clothes to children. This strong community solidarity builds children’s resilience. But the resources of these grassroots groups are being stretched to the limit as the death toll rises and the global economy worsens, increasing the vulnerability of affected children and families. Firelight seeks to overcome the greatest obstacles faced by community groups: the lack of recognition and insufficient funding of their work. We are one of a very few foundations that partners with small CBOs supporting vulnerable children and families in the hardest hit areas of Africa. Over 10 years of operation, we have seen that our approach works. Building on the rich resources of African communities and strengthening local organizations leaves them better able to respond to the strains of HIV/AIDS and poverty.
2009 ANNUAL REPORT
www.firelightfoundation.org
OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS & IMPAC T
330 COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
ACCOMPLISHMENTS & IMPAC T
serving children and families in
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SINCE 2000 :
More than 1,000 GRANTS totaling approx. $12 MILLION reaching nearly
10 Sub-Saharan African countries. IN 2009 ALONE:
More than 180 GRANTS totaling nearly $2 MILLION reaching more than 150 COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS serving children and families in 9 Sub-Saharan African countries.
Firelight’s grant “loss” rate is approximately 1%, meaning that we were able to verify that 99% of our grants were used for the purposes for which they were intended. Firelight grants are the first external funding for more than 30% of our grantees. Firelight renews more than 80% of our grantees after careful assessment of their proposals. A majority of grantees go on to receive funds from other donors.
VOICES FROM SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
VOICES FROM SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA:
“These local heroes have a real heart for children, an empathy that allows
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–Kerry Olson, Firelight Founder & President, and Peter Laugharn, Firelight Executive Director
7 COMMUNIT Y LEADERS, 7 GRASSROOTS GROUPS IN 7 COUNTRIES
them to walk in others’ shoes and understand others’ needs, and an integrity that…keeps them focused on improving the lives of children.”
All too often, Africa is seen for its struggles to the exclusion of its strengths. Our hope to make a difference for children in need thousands of miles away is supported each and every day through the extended families, the community organizations, and the local leaders who act with courage, compassion, and skill to give children a brighter future. There are so many effective, yet unrecognized and underfunded African community organizations that know how to do a lot with a little. In this report, we feature the leaders of these community organizations—one from each of the seven countries in which Firelight is active (see pages 14–19 for our 2009 grants). On the next few pages, you can read the stories of these ‘everyday heroes’, in their own words. Understanding their perspectives and how they approach their work is
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indispensable to appreciating how cash-strapped communities facing such serious challenges can be so effective in changing the lives of some of the most vulnerable children. All of the community leaders featured on the following pages have powerfully effective leadership styles. Yet each of them employs a distinctive approach: harmonious, progressive, youthempowering, inspirational, courageous, visionary, and change-oriented. At the same time that they’re working hard to improve the well-being of thousands of children, these community leaders are also ensuring that their groups are sustainable and working to overcome more systemic problems to create long-term change—a powerful formula for building a brighter future for vulnerable children.
www.firelightfoundation.org
Firelight’s grassroots grantees know that improving the wellbeing of children requires holistic and sustainable approaches tailored to local environments, and use Firelight funding to implement a diverse range of activities across these seven program areas.
THAKANE TS’OSANE
“In Lesotho, we have orphanages. But we choose not to take our orphans and vulnerable children out of their communities so that they don’t lose their identities.” Education
Psychosocial Support
After we care for the parents, we establish a bond with the children. Children would tell us: “Today, we are sad. Today we have not been able to eat. Today we have not gone to school.” They would tell us all of their miseries. We were not aware that we were providing counseling, but that was what we were doing. We would sit down with them and try to solve whatever problems they had. We were very close to them— closer even than some of their relatives. It’s all about the children, really. When orphans and vulnerable children go to school, I thank God. When they get some food to eat, I thank the Lord. When children become class monitors in school and start on the path to leadership in
Healthcare/HIV
their communities, I am grateful. Most rewarding for me is seeing these children go from misery to a more hopeful life. A big problem we see is that teenagers drop out of school frequently. Every child needs a mother figure, food in the morning, and parents to rouse and prepare them for school. These teenagers are usually the heads of their households and don’t have the care and support of families or even basic necessities like food. I am able to push through the difficult times with the help of the Almighty. But I am also grateful for the staff members I have. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be here. In 2003, because their community-based principles are the same as ours, Firelight took a risk on us and brought us on as one of their first grantees. Since then,
2009 ANNUAL REPORT
“When my husband died, my parents supported me and my children, and were very, very good to us. That’s why I’m sorry when a child loses his or her parents—because I know the great love that I got from my own parents.”
Children’s Rights
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Firelight funded since 2003
Firelight has been a pillar of strength for us and for vulnerable children, providing caregiver stipends and allowances and training to help us monitor and evaluate our work. Tell us about yourself as a leader. I am a very compassionate person. I wish I could change the mindset of those who are in power. Life is not fair to some people, especially vulnerable children. I wish I could change the whole world around them. I enjoy working with people. I like organizing people and working with them harmoniously. I want others to spread their wings and always try to bring other community members along on our mission to care for and support vulnerable children and families.
www.firelightfoundation.org
LESOTHO: a tiny mountain kingdom of almost 1.8 million, completely surrounded by South Africa.
“Basotho are peace loving. A sense of working together is in our blood. We are explorers, not afraid of exploring new avenues!”
LESOTHO
How does your group support vulnerable children and families?
Food/Agriculture
HARMONIOUS LEADERSHIP
TS’OSANE SUPPORT GROUP
ESTHER MTIMA CHILIMBA WOMEN & ORPHANS CARE GROUP PROGRESSIVE LEADERSHIP
“As a woman, from a rural community, it has been very difficult to find donors for Chilimba, yet we really need resources such as transportation to be able to reach vulnerable children in other communities. But I believe that reward requires patience, so we must work through our challenges.”
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Education
MALAWI
MALAWI: a landlocked country in southeast Africa, with a population of nearly 14 million people.
“People, especially young ones, are running away to other countries to look for better work because none is being created within communities here and the country at large.”
Psychosocial Support
Founded in 1999 by four women, Chilimba supports orphans and HIV/AIDS-affected families by providing food, school fees, home-based care, and counseling, and funds many of their activities through a dairy income-generating project. I started Chilimba with several other women because I wanted to help women and children. To me, being a woman and caregiver always surrounded by vulnerable children with great needs yet having nothing to address them, was heartbreaking. Initially, we wanted to address family planning issues in our communities. Then, because of a large increase in the number of orphans, we refocused our program on improving the social welfare of orphans and vulnerable children.
“Children need better education and resources to become good leaders and help to develop their communities that have been weakened by HIV/AIDS and poverty.” Economic Strengthening
Children’s Rights
I am the wife of a Village Headman, and because my husband leads the community, I was chosen to lead Chilimba. But there are also other women leaders in the group. Together, we work to ease the psychosocial problems of vulnerable children through entertainment, sports, and counseling. We try to ensure that they go to school, providing them with uniforms, soap, and school materials, and also give them income-generating skills like tailoring and farming to help them lead independent lives. One time a child named Annie came to Chilimba. Annie’s four brothers and sisters had passed away by the time she was only four years old. She was not fond of school and when she was seven, she began looking for menial, unsafe work. Then we started to train her in tailoring
2009 ANNUAL REPORT
www.firelightfoundation.org
Firelight funded since 2007
and she began to appreciate the importance of school, so we enrolled her in primary school. She is now 14 years old and doing very well, not only in tailoring but also in computer skills—a remarkable transformation for an orphan whose early years were marked by sadness and deprivation. One of our biggest challenges is a lack of resources and staff, as we only have volunteers. Supporting orphans and vulnerable children is a full-time job requiring full-time attention. Our volunteers are very skilled, energetic, and passionate, but there are only so many of them, and they have their own families and lives. We want donors to know that supporting organizations like Chilimba Women means that their funds are going to directly benefit the most needy children in our communities.
RAFIKI CALLIXTE EMPOWERING YOUTH LEADERSHIP
LES ENFANTS DE DIEU
“If people themselves don’t change, we will never solve the problem. That’s why I work with youth: When you want to give shape to the tree, you must begin very early.” Education
Psychosocial Support
Both socially and economically, the child has to feel at home, like he really belongs, and can be provided for by the family and the community. It takes about US$350 for one child to be reintegrated—for little more than US$1,000, you can change the course of three lives. First, it’s about hope. After the genocide, so many children in Rwanda were left as orphans—abused; sleeping under bridges; no one taking care of them; no
Firelight funded since 2004
food; no clothes. When they come to our center, we give them love and show them that they’re human beings who must be respected and loved like everyone else. Their hope returns when they realize that they are not useless and should think about their future. We help restore children’s hope for life. Second, it’s about self-esteem. When you don’t have self-esteem, you’re not motivated to work toward your future or self-development. You’re paralyzed. After coming into the center, children start to understand “I can!” They know it’s possible. They know they’re intelligent and capable of doing things, and can go on to school and work. Finally, it’s about decision-making and responsibility. We train youth to make good decisions and become responsible. We want to change the world and make it a fairer place, understanding that we 2009 ANNUAL REPORT
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all must work through our differences to achieve positive change. We help youth make decisions; understand their impact; and accept responsibility for them. As part of this process, we helped children create seven ‘ministries’: sports & culture, health, education, administration, social affairs, home affairs, and agriculture. Ministry leaders are between 15 and 18 years old; are elected by other children; and manage the projects themselves. With a mandate of 12 months, they can make any decision, but at the end, must evaluate their progress. These ministries are critical for children becoming involved, informed, and empowered. We want these children to become ‘peacebuilders’ and ‘changemakers’ active in finding solutions to problems; in preparing their futures; and in rebuilding their country.
www.firelightfoundation.org
RWANDA: known as the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’, Rwanda is a landlocked country of nearly 11 million people in the Great Lakes region of eastern-central Africa.
“We’ve been living in a country that is recovering from a genocide, where people said ‘I don’t know what happened to me!’ We train youth to make good decisions and accept responsibility for those decisions.”
RWANDA
The boys we work with are all street children who have lived very hard lives. We focus on their socio-economic reintegration—more difficult and long-term than reunification. First we recruit children from the street; rehabilitate and then reintegrate them back into the community. Reintegration is the most expensive phase because we have to prepare the family, the community, and local authorities to be ready to accept the child back.
Healthcare/HIV
“The love I have for children comes from the love I got from my parents. My motivation to work with children and youth is to change the world. I know it’s very hard and a big goal. I know I will never hit a star with my stone. But my stone will go far by aiming at a star.”
ELIJAH MOLAHLEHI INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP
MOTIVATION COMMUNIT Y DEVELOPMENT “By the time I was nine years old, I was all alone. Community members helped me and gave me food and clothes. This is how I came to have a heart to see what other children needed and were going through.”
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Education
SOUTH AFRICA
SOUTH AFRICA:
a large country of nearly 50 million people located at the southern tip of Africa with coastlines on the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. “In our communities, we have a huge unemployment problem, which creates poverty and worsens the effect of HIV/AIDS. Crime is very high. If we could take children off the streets, train, and educate them; that would be a big achievement.”
“The love and the heart of the children—that is the main thing that inspires my work…and enables me to inspire others.”
Food/Nutrition/Agriculture
In response to high rates of drug use, crime, HIV infection, and unemployment, youth in the primarily Khoi-San township of Roodepan founded Motivation Community Development (MCD). MCD members organized to motivate children and youth to reclaim their identity, become educated, socially skilled, mature, productive, and responsible. Throughout their work, MCD incorporates and promotes Khoi-San culture and operates a daycare center, community garden, soup kitchen, HIV-counseling center, and community talk show. In 2002, I started youth and children’s programs because I was aware that there were a lot of children going through what I had been through—even worse. I was moved by the way Khoi-San children and youth were isolated and depressed. It reminded me of my own past.
Healthcare/HIV
Firelight funded since 2004
I know how it feels and I used to break down a lot and have no one to run to, but things changed when I met the mentors who coached me from ages 15 to 22. I decided to be positive rather than negative. I decided to smile, even though it was very painful sometimes. I chose love, not hatred or grief. This changed my life and is why I have devoted myself to helping children who are growing up as orphans. Because a nation without children is a doomed nation. The biggest challenge I think about is: “In all the trouble, all the pain, poverty, hunger, crime, and selfishness, WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN?” This is why I started Motivation Community Development. At MCD, we try to make sure that children and youth are happy about who they are and how they
2009 ANNUAL REPORT
www.firelightfoundation.org
feel about themselves, their culture, and their ethnicity. Part of our distinctive way of working is to affirm the Khoi-San culture because Khoi-San children are disproportionately vulnerable, stigmatized, and disconnected from larger society—especially girls. After 10 years of this work, we have seen a very positive impact: the levels of stigma and marginalization in our communities have decreased. We are working hard and seeing a lot of progress in building communities in which youth are changing lives, becoming role models, and teaching younger children. The change I see in our communities and in our youth is what motivates and inspires me every day.
ATUU WAONA JE
“When I first started, some people discouraged me because they thought that as refugees we couldn’t achieve anything. I told them ‘Yes we can! We can change the lives of children.’ ” Education
Food/Agriculture
I started working with children because the numbers of orphans and children made vulnerable by the war and leading extremely difficult lives in the camps were increasing by the day. In a refugee camp, children are the most negatively affected. As someone who knows what it’s like to live in a camp and experience hardship, I wanted to ensure that these children had the hope and prospect of a better life.
“I want to live in a society free from social strife, connected to the world, where people are literate and free from poverty. I love working with children because they are the adults of tomorrow.”
Economic Strengthening
Children’s Rights
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Firelight funded since 2007
Many of these children—ranging in age from 7 to 18 years—live with caregivers. We don’t take them away from their caregivers. Instead, we support their caregivers to make sure that the material, educational, social, and emotional needs of the orphans and vulnerable children living with them are met.
Some children could not even speak, they were so shy and quiet, but we tried to build their confidence over time, and as a result, many of them are now confident, communicative, and open. There were some who couldn’t attend school and now, can read and write, and live very good lives.
We try to tell the orphans that the problem is not that their mothers or fathers have died, but that they must focus on their future and the opportunity to have a better life. We are always trying to encourage the children and counsel them to become responsible adults.
We have seen again and again that if we give orphans and vulnerable children opportunities, they can do so many things.
The transformations we’ve seen in children we’ve worked with in the camps are remarkable.
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People think that refugees are secondclass citizens; that they can’t do anything useful or good, but we show them that refugees can accomplish a lot. In May 2007, Atuu Waonaje received the ‘Voices of Courage’ Award from the Women’s Refugee Commission in New York City.
www.firelightfoundation.org
TANZANIA: located
in central East Africa, bordered by eight countries with a population of nearly 44 million. “For the large Congolese refugee community here, life is very tough. People have lost all of their belongings, their relatives and friends; have undergone a lot of trauma; and have no right to movement or work outside of their camps. Maybe worst of all, they are seen as valueless and voiceless people.”
TANZANIA
When I was 15 years old, my younger brother and I escaped from the war in Congo to western Tanzania. I lived in a camp almost 12 years, eventually putting myself through night school and going on to earn a degree. My first priority then was my education, but it was very difficult—no one helped me, except the courage I gave myself.
Healthcare/HIV
COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP
CENTRE FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT & ADULT EDUCATION (CELA)
LOUIS MWEWA LUPWA LWABUMI TRUST VISIONARY LEADERSHIP
“The kids I’ve worked with over the years still call me ‘coach’ because I’ve taught them many different things, but have also shown them love.“
“It’s time to restore, protect, and get the family together. Until we do that, there’s no hope for the child. You can provide education and healthcare, but without the family, the child has nowhere to go.”
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Education
Psychosocial Support
ZAMBIA
ZAMBIA: a landlocked country in southern Africa with a population of nearly 13 million.
Lupwa Lwabumi Trust (LLT) focuses on maintaining and restoring families, empowering communities, and preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS.
“Toward the late 1990s, because of bad government policies and increasing unemployment, poverty, and HIV/AIDS infection rates, the number of children living on the street swelled. Zambia used to be relatively well-off because of the copper mines, and even used to offer free education, but as a country, we were not ready for this deteriorating situation.”
LLT uses a “Family Circles” approach in which groups of families develop local solutions to local problems. The families provide counseling to other vulnerable families and communities; operate a village savings and loan program; and offer general support to one another. Children receive care and assistance from the circles as families become intimately bonded. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, I started working directly with children in Lusaka, developing sustainable programs to reintegrate them through the first-ever street children project. We concentrated on getting the children back to school and back to the centers. But that wasn’t enough—we were missing a major player: the family.
Economic Strengthening
Children’s Rights
We found that street children were actually from normal homes but because of extreme poverty, ended up on the streets. At that time, Zambia had sold its mines and many lost their jobs. Children left home to try to make money for their families, but then became cut off from their families and communities. We believe in community life, in family. Getting back to our values as Africans is key. We work with institutions, but at the end of the day, the child has to go home—to the family and the community, where both are ready to support and celebrate the life of the child. Each child belongs to a community and each community needs to care for this child. This is what we call ‘ubuntu’. The most rewarding part of this work for me is that it has helped me to be complete. I can see so many kids who wouldn’t be where they are today without
2009 ANNUAL REPORT
www.firelightfoundation.org
Firelight funded since 2005
this support and these opportunities. If you can help a child have a better life today, you will have a really good adult tomorrow. It is so important for them to know that there are people out there who care for them, and that they have their own rights and their own voices. My deep commitment to children comes from my heart. This is what I have to do for my country, for our children. But you also need strong skills and professionalism to make a real difference in children’s lives. This is why we share what we have learned over the years with others to try to build a unified and coordinated national vision for children and a system for taking this vision forward. Getting different NGOs to work together—for example, through the Children in Need Network (CHIN)—provides us with a lot of critical data and a deep understanding of how to best serve vulnerable children.
TSITSI MACHISI SESITHULE VAMANANI CARING ASSOCIATION (SEVACA)
When I look at the children we have raised, I’m proud to see them progressing on their own, changing
LEADERSHIP FOR CHANGE
“Working with children is a great reward and blessing.
“My work has changed my life completely. I have fulfilled my vision and am doing what I have always wanted to do: support and care for children.”
their own lives, and defending their own rights.” Education
Psychosocial Support
One day I said: “Enough is enough! Let us stand up. Let me talk to other women to try to motivate and sensitize the community, and do something for our culture, for our children.” If women are negatively affected, then our children will be. We must be outspoken and empower our children to speak out for themselves and defend their own rights. So I began to speak with our traditional leaders to raise community awareness. It took me two years to get them to understand and to get involved. I kept going to the chief and working with him. The chief told the parents that they must send all of their children to school. People listened to the chief more than to anyone else.
Firelight funded since 2006
Volunteers were selected to keep watchful eyes, looking out for children not going to school, not eating, or not being cared for. Women now stand up and speak in community meetings in front of men. They have fought for and succeeded in getting girls to be sent to school. This was a huge success for us and for our community.
We support more than 3,000 vulnerable children whose parents are ill or dead, and that number is growing.
Ours is a whole community network— this is why we can make change from within.
There are many more girls because most of the boys moved to South Africa to work on the farms. Thanks to Firelight’s support, many girls have gone back to school and started income-generating projects like animal farming and gardening. We also train caregivers and community leaders to assess children’s needs and provide them the care and support that they need.
I started SEVACA in 2000 to mobilize our community to change the lives of young children. We saw so many homes without parents and knew we had to do something.
Our greatest challenge is not reaching children in time. When that happens, we feel helpless, terrible—like we have failed them.
We wanted to educate children about HIV/AIDS and organize clubs to help them interact with other children, build their self-esteem, and make them better leaders tomorrow living better lives today.
That is why I want people to know how important their support is to our communities. Added to the efforts of our community members, that support has created powerful change in the lives of vulnerable children.
2009 ANNUAL REPORT
www.firelightfoundation.org
ZIMBABWE: a landlocked country in the southeastern part of Africa, with 12.5 million people.
“Children started to move to South Africa to get jobs. We wanted to stop that and keep them in Zimbabwe, in their communities, in their homes, in their culture, and in their tradition.”
ZIMBABWE
A big obstacle for us is that in the Shangaan culture, women are not allowed to make decisions, speak, or do anything at home without permission.
Healthcare/HIV
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PAGE NAME
14
$9,000
WEM Integrated Health Services, THIKA
$5,000 TOTAL (4)
$9,000 $3,000
$26,000
LESOTHO Ha Mantilatilane Child Rescue Centre, MASERU
$9,000
Khutsong Sekamaneng Women in Action Against Poverty, MASERU WEST
$9,000
Lesotho Durham Link, MASERU
$7,000
Lesotho Durham Link Coalition, MASERU
$9,000
Lesotho Girl Guides Association, MASERU
$9,000
Lesotho Society of Mentally Handicapped Persons, MASERU
$9,000
Manyeloi a Manyane Day-Care Center, MASERU
$6,000
Monna Ka Khomo, MASERU
$9,000
Phopholetsa HIV/AIDS Support Group, M, MASERU
$9,000
** Touch Roots Africa (Metsong Africa), MASERU
$107,000
Ts’osane Support Group, SEBABOLENG
$9,000 TOTAL (11)
$192,000
MALAWI Action Hope Support Organization, NAMADZI AIDS Care Counselling Campaign Project, NSANJE
$13,000
Chikwawa Diocese Health Commission, CHIKWAWA
$9,000 $9,000
Chilimba Women and Orphans Care Group, ZOMBA
$2,600
Community Health Environmental Care Trust, LILONGWE
$5,300
Community Health Environmental Care Trust, LILONGWE
$13,500
Community Youth in Development Activities, MZIMBA Eye of the Child, BLANTYRE
$9,000
*
$13,000
Foundation for Community Support Services, KARONGA Imvani Women’s Support Group, MCHINJI
$9,000 $13,000
Matindi Youth Organisation, BLANTYRE
2009 ANNUAL REPORT
*
$9,000
Chilimba Women and Orphans Care Group, ZOMBA
$9,000
www.firelightfoundation.org
*
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$40,000
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KENYA Education, Self-Sustainability, and Improvement of Economy Development Group, NAIROB Education, Self-Sustainability, and Improvement of Economy Development Group, NAIROB WEM Integrated Health Services, THIKA
E
PO
$15,000
UR
SUP
$25,000
The Teresa Group, TORONTO
FO
UC ED
CANADA The Teresa Group, TORONTO
PSY CH
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GRANTS AWARDED IN 2009
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NO ECO
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GRANTEE PROGRAM AREAS $5,000
Mchezi Community Based Organization, LILONGWE
$3,700
Mwanje Orphan Care and Home Based Care, CHIRADZULU
$5,600
Namwera AIDS Coordinating Committee, NAMWERA
$2,500
Namwera AIDS Coordinating Committee, NAMWERA
$9,000
Nkhotakota AIDS Support Organization, NKHOTAKOTA
$13,000
*
Peace in God Organisation, BLANTYRE
$13,000
*
Rumphi HIV/AIDS Education Awareness Program, RUMPHI
$500
Rumphi HIV/AIDS Education Awareness Program, RUMPHI
$14,000
Salima HIV/AIDS Support Organization, SALIMA
Firelight’s approach is to support programs and activities that respond to the needs of children, families, and communities in Sub-Saharan Africa.
*
Firelight grantees know that improving the wellbeing of children requires holistic and sustainable approaches tailored to local environments, and use Firelight funding to implement a diverse range of activities across several program areas: Education: Holistic support helping children enroll, stay, and succeed in school.
*
$9,000
The Federation of Disability Organizations in Malawi, BLANTYRE
$13,000 TOTAL (23)
Psychosocial Support: Enhancing the caring relationships that meet the emotional, social, and recreational needs of children and help build life skills.
$202,700
RWANDA Action pour le Développement du Peuple, KIGALI
$15,000
Association Bamporeze, KIGALI
$5,000
Association Benimpuhwe, Centre Familial Mu Rugo, KIGALI
$9,000
Association des Jeunes Orphelins Rwandais, KIGALI
$9,000
Association des Orphelins Chefs de Ménages, KIGALI
$15,000
Association Ihorere Munyarwanda, KIGALI
$14,000
Association Inkoramutima, JANJA
Food/Nutrition/Agriculture: Supporting food production, feeding programs, and household food assistance for children and families. Healthcare/HIV: Extending primary health care, preventive care, and HIV/AIDS-related preventive and palliative care.
$9,000
Association Tuvuge Twiyubaka, NYAMAGABE
$10,000
Association Ubumwe Saint Kisito, RUHENGERI
$9,000
Association Urukundo Rw’Imana, KIGALI
$9,000
Centre Presbyterien d’Amour des Jeunes, KICUKIRO
Economic Strengthening: Providing materials, skills, and knowledge to caregivers to help them generate income and strengthen household resiliency.
$9,000
Commission Chrétienne de Lutte Contre le SIDA, GISENYI
$12,000
Communauté des Potiers du Rwanda, KIGALI
$15,000
Communauté des Potiers du Rwanda, KIGALI
Children’s Rights: Building a protective environment that prevents and responds to violence, abuse, and the exploitation of children, and upholds their rights.
$3,000
FACE AIDS, KIREHE
$10,000
Hope After Rape, KICUKIRO
$9,000
Les Enfants de Dieu, KIGALI
$9,000
Let the Little Children Come to Me, HUYE
$9,000
Oeuvre Humanitaire pour la Protection et le Développement de l’Enfant en Difficulté, BUTARE Partners in Health/ Inshuti Mu Buzima, KIREHE
$9,000
** Rwanda Women Community Development Network, KIGALI
Material Assistance: Providing basic necessities (clothing, bedding, personal hygiene, and shelter). Operational Support: Supports organizational operational expenses (salaries, rent, phone, internet access, and transportation costs).
*
$9,000 $80,000
Special Education Center of Janja, RUHENGERI
$9,000
Trust and Care, BUGESERA
$9,000 TOTAL (23)
*
$296,000
2009 ANNUAL REPORT
www.firelightfoundation.org
Capacity Building: Supports the organizational development of community-based organizations to help them work more effectively.
GRANTS 2009
MALAWI CONTINUED Matindi Youth Organisation, BLANTYRE
15
$9,000
Bethlehem Basic Training Project, BETHLEHEM
$9,000
Children’s Rights Centre, DURBAN
$10,000
** Diketso Eseng Dipuo Community Development Trust, BLOEMFONTEIN
$80,000
Family Literacy Project, HILLCREST
16
Greater Nelspruit Rape Intervention Programme, NELSPRUIT, MPUMALANGA
$9,000
Motivation Community Development, WELKOM
$9,000
$9,000 $9,000
Ramotshinyadi HIV/AIDS Youth Guide, RAMOTSHINYADI
$9,000
Rural Women’s Movement, HILTON
$9,000
Thabiso, WARRENTON
$9,000
Tholulwazi Uzivikele, KWANGWANASE
$9,000
Tlamelang-Sediba Home Care Centre, MAFIKENG
$9,000 TOTAL (15)
$213,000
TANZANIA AIDS Outreach Programme - Nyakato, MWANZA
$15,000
AIDS Outreach Programme - Nyakato, MWANZA
$2,500
Baraka Good Hope Orphan’s Development, MWANZA
$9,000
Baraka Good Hope Orphan’s Development, MWANZA
$3,000
Centre for Youth Development and Adult Education, UVINZA
$13,000
Christian Youth Network, TABORA
$9,000
Christian Youth Network, TABORA
$2,900
Church of God, Arusha Branch, ARUSHA
$9,000
Church of God, Arusha Branch, ARUSHA
$2,500
Community Development and Humanitarian Association, MWANZA
$9,000
Diocese of Southern Highlands, MBEYA
$9,000
Kwa Wazee - The Granny Project, MULEBA
$9,000
Lake Nyanza Environmental and Sanitation Organization, MWANZA
$2,000
Lake Nyanza Environmental and Sanitation Organization, MWANZA
$25,000
Makete Support for People with HIV/AIDS, MAKETE Mara Widows Development Group, MUSOMA Mara Widows Development Group, MUSOMA Masasi Peoples Umbrella Organization, MASASI-MTWARA Matumaini Mapya, BUKOBA
2009 ANNUAL REPORT
$9,000
*
$15,000 $2,500 $14,000 $9,000
www.firelightfoundation.org
*
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$15,000
Empilweni, KHAYELITSHA
IST AN
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$9,000
PAGE NAME
Dlalanathi, PIETERMARITZBURG Ekupholeni Mental Health Centre, JOHANNESBURG
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SOUTH AFRICA Batho Ba Lerato, BLOEMFONTEIN
The Mango Tree Orphan Support Trust, MBEYA
$25,000
The Pemba Island Relief Organisation, CHAKE
$13,000
Tujikomboe Group, MOROGORO
$10,000
Tumaini Women Development Group, NYAKATO
$15,000
Tumaini Women Development Group, NYAKATO
$14,000 TOTAL (29)
$285,900
UGANDA Centre for Environment Technology and Rural Development, KASESE
$9,000
Centre for Environment Technology and Rural Development, KASESE
$5,000
Friends of Christ Revival Ministries, BUSIA
$9,000
Kyetume Community Based Health Care Programme, MUKONO
$9,000
St. Francis Health Care Services, JINJA
$9,000 TOTAL (5)
$41,000
$8,000 TOTAL (2)
$9,000
Child Care & Adoption Society, Chilenje Transient Home, LUSAKA
$9,000
Children in Distress, Kalomo Central FHT, KALOMO
$9,000
Chintelelwe Health Education and Livelihood Programme, NDOLA
$9,000
Community for Human Development, LUSAKA
$25,000
Community Youth Mobilisation, KABWE
$9,000
Families for Children Project, NDOLA
$9,000
Families for Children Project, NDOLA
$5,000
Fountain of Hope, LUSAKA
$9,000
Fountain of Hope, LUSAKA
$5,000
Initiative for Sustainable Rural Livelihood, LUSAKA
$9,000
Kabwata Widows and Orphans Community Society, NDOLA
$9,000
2009 ANNUAL REPORT
ING ILD BU
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Providing basic necessities for children and families, including clothing, bedding, personal hygiene, and shelter. Malole Home Based Care (Zambia) provides clothes, shoes, soap, and sanitary supplies to the most vulnerable children in rural Kasama. Community Health Environmental Care Trust (Malawi) distributes second-hand clothes to extremely poor children in their communities.
$25,000
Chikanta Community Schools Development Project, CHOMA
PAC
Material Assistance
$13,000
ZAMBIA Bwafwano Community Home Based Care Organisation, LUSAKA
CA
Training in sustainable agricultural methods and providing inputs such as seeds and irrigation equipment to households or communities. Trust and Care (Rwanda) operates a ‘demo’ organic farm and trains family caregivers in sustainable agricultural methods. Kytetume Community Based Healthcare Programme (Uganda) supports a rotational dairy farming program, providing more than 500 families with milk cows that generate food for children and income for families.
$5,000
Grantmakers Without Borders, BOSTON
UP
Agriculture*
USA Council on Foundations, ARLINGTON
PO
CE
$2,500
Women Emancipation and Development Agency, NYAKATO
LS
Household food assistance, feeding programs, and food preparation training to ensure regular meals and improve the nutritional value of children’s and families’ diets. Association Benimpuwe Centre Familial Mu Rugo (Rwanda) trains mothers on infant feeding, creating balanced meals, and using nutrient-preserving food preparation methods. Family Literacy Project (South Africa) provides grocery store vouchers to community volunteers to improve their food security.
$9,000
Tumaini Women, MWANZA
ERA TIO
Food/Nutrition
Living Environments* *
www.firelightfoundation.org
Improving family household and transitional institutional dwellings; providing care for children in foster families or institutional care; and reintegrating children into family-based care. SEVACA (Zimbabwe) builds homes for child-headed households. Les Enfants de Dieu (Rwanda) provides temporary institutional care for children living on the street and a comprehensive support program to reintegrate youth.
GRANTS 2009
$15,000
NA
ASS
$3,000
Teens Against AIDS, DAR ES SALAAM
OP
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’S R REN
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Food/Nutrition/Agriculture and Material Assistance include the following activities:
$10,000
Pemba Children’s Club, PEMBA
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TANZANIA CONTINUED Pemba Children’s Club, PEMBA
17
$9,000 $9,000 $1,100 $3,000
PAGE NAME
Malole Home Based Care Group, Malole, KASAMA Malole Home Based Care Group, Malole, KASAMA Mphatso Development Foundation, NYIMBA
18
Munzuma Community School, CHOMA
$9,000
Pazesa Horticultural Community, CHIPATA
$9,000
People’s AIDS Response through Vital Education and Networking Foundation, MANSA People’s AIDS Response through Vital Education and Networking Foundation,
$9,000
Monze Mission Hospital/Buntolo Drop-In Centre, MAZABUKA
$15,000
Mulumbo Early Childhood Care and Development Foundation, LUSAKA
$25,000
$5,000
MANSA
Power of Love Foundation, LUSAKA
$9,000
Ray of Hope for Orphans, LIVINGSTONE
$9,000
Ray of Hope for Orphans, LIVINGSTONE
$5,000
Reformed Open Community Schools - Lundazi, LUSAKA
$9,000
Rural Child, KITWE
$9,000
Senanga Orphan Day Centre, SENANGA
$15,000
Senanga Orphan Day Centre, SENANGA
$5,000
Silelo Community School HIV/AIDS Support Group, LIVINGSTONE
$9,000
The Law and Development Association, LIVINGSTONE
$9,000
The Media Network on Child Rights and Development, LUSAKA
$9,000
Titukuke Rural Community Development Association, PETAUKE
$9,000
Tusa Munyandi Association, LIVINGSTONE
$9,000
Welfare Concern International, LIVINGSTONE
$9,000
Young Women’s Christian Association - Western Region, Zambia, MONGUN
$9,000
Youth for Change, LUSAKA
$9,000
Youth for Change, LUSAKA
$5,000 TOTAL (42)
2009 ANNUAL REPORT
*
$9,000
www.firelightfoundation.org
$400,100
*
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Lupwa Lwabumi Trust, LUSAKA Malole Home Based Care Group, Malole, KASAMA
E
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$9,000 $9,000
UR
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Livingstone Anglican Children’s Project, LIVINGSTONE
ULT
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ZAMBIA
Kara Counselling & Training Trust, LUSAKA
Basilwizi Trust, BULAWAYO
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$12,000
Chiedza Youth Clubs Organisation, HARARE
$5,200
Child Protection Society, HARARE
$3,000
Dananai Centre, MURAMBINDA
$9,000
Esandleni Sothando, PLUMTREE
$13,000
Esandleni Sothando, PLUMTREE
$3,000
Family-in-Need Trust, MUTARE
$9,000
Gwai Grandmothers’ Group, MBERENGWA
$9,000
HelpAge Zimbabwe, Southern Region, BULAWAYO
$9,000
Ingalo Zomusa Orphan Care, GWANDA
$13,000
Ingalo Zomusa Orphan Care, GWANDA
$3,000
Loving Hand, BULAWAYO
*
Capacity Building
$9,000
Masvingo Community Based HIV and Vulnerable Children Organization,
$12,000
*
MASVINGO
Maunganidze Kindhearted Children’s Organisation, CHITUNGWIZA
$9,000
Nehemiah Project, BULAWAYO
$9,000
New Hope Foundation, BRAESIDE
$12,000
New Hope Foundation, BRAESIDE
$5,000
Ray of Hope Zimbabwe, CHITUNGWIZA
$9,000
Shingirirai Trust, HARARE
$9,000
Sibambene AIDS Programme of the Archdiocese of Bulawayo - Sikhethimpilo Centre, MAPHISA Youth For A Child in Christ, BULAWAYO
$9,000
* *
Intermediary Community Grantmaking (ICG)**
$14,000
Youth For A Child in Christ, BULAWAYO
$2,500
Youth in Development Trust, MUTARE
$13,000
Zimbabwe Parents of Handicapped Children Association, Bulawayo Branc,
$13,000
BULAWAYO
TOTAL (25)
TOTAL NUMBER OF GRANTS IN 2009
$222,700
$1,932,400
2009 ANNUAL REPORT
Activities that support organizational development to build strong, sustainable community-based institutions working effectively to improve the well-being of children and families. Strategies focus on strengthening governance, management systems, community engagement, monitoring and evaluation, and program strategies and implementation. During a peer learning visit, Justice for Children (Zimbabwe) adopted the Law and Development Association’s (Zambia) database, boosting their efficacy in tracking cases, making referrals, and monitoring and evaluating their programs. Mara Widows (Tanzania) used their grants to develop a business plan to establish a micro-lending bank—a key sustainability strategy.
TOTAL AMOUNT OF GRANTS IN 2009
www.firelightfoundation.org
Funding to well-established organizations that provide capacity building, networking, and micro-grants to very small and at times informal CBOs. ICG helps develop ‘funding pipelines’ that can reach even deeper into communities, where resources for children and families are most needed. ICG is not just a mechanism to “get more money out the door.” It is a means of providing appropriate “drip-feeds” of funding to small CBOs through larger organizations that have an intimate understanding of local needs and challenges and can provide ongoing, targeted capacity-building support to small groups.
GRANTS 2009
Funding that supports the operational expenses of an organization, including salaries, rent, phone, internet access, and transportation costs. Fountain of Hope (Zambia) used funds to pay staff salaries; repair their vehicle; and purchase fuel to be able to conduct their night outreach—critical to effectively reaching and establishing trusting relationships with children living on the streets of Lusaka.
$9,000
Chiedza Community Based Orphan Welfare Organisation, MUTARE
181
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Operational Support
ZIMBABWE
19
2009 FINANCIAL REPORT 2009 FINANCIAL REPORT
20
TREASURER’S NOTE Firelight Foundation awarded 181 grants totaling US$1.9 million during our 2009 fiscal year (October 2008–September 2009), bringing our 10-year cumulative total to about US$12 million in grant awards. In spite of continued challenging economic conditions in fiscal year 2009, we sought to maintain grants to our grantee-partners, through direct giving of US$1.675 million and through donor-advised giving of US$268,000.
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION 2009
STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES
2008
ASSETS
2009
2008
Support from Individuals
153,128
492,355
REVENUE AND SUPPORT
Current Assets
9,937,245
11,982,456
Property and Equipment, Net
88,098
128,939
Support from Foundations
2,425,602
3,194,404
Other Assets
6,000
6,000
Revenue from Investments
-145,479
-1,489,384
Total Assets 10,031,343
12,117,395
Total Revenue and Support
2,433,251
2,197,375
Grants Awarded
1,675,585
1,970,496
LIABILITIES
Accounts Payable
101,047
146,978
Grants Payable
1,105,500
1,362,950
Total Liabilities
1,206,547
1,509,928
EXPENSES
NET ASSETS
Program Services
1,519,348
1,677,401
Unrestricted
6,989,489
8,930,466
General and Administrative
734,802
538,111
Temporarily Restricted
1,835,307
1,677,001
Fundraising
286,187
112,195
Total Net Assets
8,824,796
10,607,467
Total Expenses
4,215,922
4,298,203
Total Liabilities and Net Assets 10,031,343
14,098,593
Change in Net Assets -1,782,671
-2,100,828
2009 ANNUAL REPORT
www.firelightfoundation.org
SUPPORT FIRELIGHT
We hope that you will continue to support Firelight or, if you are new to us, will consider joining our community of dedicated donors.
EVERY DOLLAR* COUNTS: A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY. By mobilizing volunteers and other local resources, grassroots groups are uniqely placed to make the most effective use of your donation.
$1 can cover the cost of a book to help parents understand
HOW TO GIVE
21
the importance of birth registration. (TUJIKOMBOE GROUP, TANZANIA)
WHY DONATE TO FIRELIGHT? Contributions to community-based organizations have lifechanging impact on children’s lives. They are often the difference between a meal before bed or sleeping on an empty stomach, and enable children to attend school, opening opportunities for a brighter future.
$25 could cover the cost of a uniform, shoes, and socks for a child in preschool. (TUSA MUNYANDI, ZAMBIA)
$120 could provide a small loan to the caregiver of an orphan. (NAMWERA AIDS COORDINATING COMMITTEE, MALAWI)
$250 can help create a children’s rights program in a school
GIVING TO FIRELIGHT MAKES GOOD SENSE: 1. Through Firelight’s pipeline, your contributions directly reach grassroots organizations and local leaders who intimately know and care for children in need. 2. Firelight’s investments leverage the resilience and solidarity found in communities in Africa. 3. Firelight’s grantee organizations mobilize local volunteers and resources that stretch your donation even further.
to empower youth trained as paralegals to report cases of abuse and liaise with authorities. (THE LAW AND DEVELOPMENT ASSOC., ZAMBIA)
$500 can train 30 caregivers on creating “Memory Books”
DONATE ONLINE: (securely) www.firelightfoundation.org SEND A CHECK TO: Firelight Foundation, 740 Front Street, Suite 380, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 SHARE STOCK: in a transfer to Firelight via Northern Trust Bank. GIVE INTO THE FUTURE: with planned giving and bequests.
with their children, to help them cope with life after the death of a parent. (FRIENDS OF CHRIST REVIVAL MINISTRIES, UGANDA)
$1,500 could cover the costs of tools for a carpentry work-
4. Our grantees’ work leads to lasting and tangible changes for children and families.
shop, where skilled and experienced carpenters train and
5. Your generosity gives grassroot leaders the resources, energy, and encouragement to continue making a real difference in children’s and families’ lives.
$10,000 can fund a grassroots group’s programs
mentor out-of-school youth. (MALOLE HOME BASED CARE GROUP, ZAMBIA)
supporting families and children for an entire year! * Costs reflect the specific programs of our grantees and vary by region and by time period. The examples above are from proposals received in 2009.
2009 ANNUAL REPORT
www.firelightfoundation.org
SUPPORT FIRELIGHT
Now more than ever during this global economic downturn, Firelight’s work and our grantees’ programs depend on the generosity of people like you.
Questions? Please call: 831.429.8750 or send an email to our Director of Development, Nayna Agrawal, at: nayna@firelightfoundation.org
DONORS We are grateful to all of our donors for their generosity. Their commitment to Firelight makes it possible for us to support communities and families in Sub-Saharan Africa who are working to improve children’s lives. INDIVIDUALS DONORS
22
Karen Ande & Jeff Johnson
Martha Egan
Heidi Lidtke
Theresa Roberts
Barbara Ayotte
George Ehrhardt
Joanna & Peter Linden
Kaki Rusmore
Catherine Bacon
Debra & David Evans
Joan Lombardi & Neville Beharie
Emily Salcido
Isaac Bempong
Robert & Sarah Feinerman
Mark Lorey & Deborah Forbes
Danielle Sanchez-Witzel
Marci Berman
Hasanna Fletcher & Dane Ryan
Mike Lowrie
Lee Slaff
Leo Blumberg-Woll
Gregory Ford
Natasha Martin
Joanne Smalley
Keyna Bugner
Eric Friedman
Elisa Massimino
Robert & Tammy Snyder
Patrick & Linda Bujold
Betsy Gaiser
Sherrie & Brian McMahon
Steve Spitalny
Tom & Lore Burger
Marcel & Elisabeth Gani
Elone Miller
Scott Staub
“Most of us have a short list of causes that we support consistently. My wife and I do, both at the local and state level back in Minnesota. But at the global level, we trust Firelight to ensure that our international giving has a dramatic effect in the lives of the truly needy.”
Lawrence Carbone & David Takacs
Arnab Ghatak
John Munger
Juniper Stein & Nora Jimenez
Vikki Golsh
John Neilson
Jennifer Stenson
W. Scott Gordon
Holly & Michael Nelson
Don Stoll & Marianne Kent-Stoll
Robert Graffam
Peggy Newell
Lauren Suchman
Ruthann & Jay Hammer
Doris & Shelley Orgel
Brent & Carol Sweeny
Carin & Glen Hanna
Gayle Ortiz
Malay & Beverley Thaker
James Hayes
Janis Ost
Jeff Thurston
Esther Hewlett
Peggy & John Overcashier
David Tremblay
- Pat Bujold
Janet & Bill Cornyn
Tricia Hill
Jim & Sandra Palmquist
Randy Trigg
Wayne Huang
Isabella Parks
Nicholas Vergoth
Alisonn & Razvan Ianculescu
Barbara Parlapiano
Howard Ward
Edward & Jeanette Katz
Deirdre Peterson
Jim & Judy Warner
Dave Katz & Kerry Olson
James Potash & Sally Scott
Audrey Webb
Ann Kjellberg
David Priest
Peter & Marie Laugharn
Thomas Raffa
Ellen Weiss & Jonathon Greenberg
Patty Lentfer
Kim Reid
Elizabeth Lewis
Allen Robel
Rita Carter Paul Ciccolella Amanda & Mark Clothier Paula Clupper Wendy Cooper Steven Corbato & Susan Bratton Peter Cross Lynn Danielson Claire & Robert Dankoff Christopher Davis Jennifer Delaney Robert Dixon Marjorie Ebright Judy Edghill
2009 ANNUAL REPORT
www.firelightfoundation.org
Peter & Deborah Wexler David Wittbrodt Delene Wolf
BUSINESSES
GIFTS IN HONOR OF
GIFTS IN MEMORY OF
Alpert & Alpert Iron & Metal, Inc. (Los Angeles, CA)
Titia & Bill Ellis
Barbara Epstein
Burness Communications (Bethesda, MD)
Dave Katz & Kerry Olson
Zaplin Lambert Gallery (Santa Fe, NM)
by Debra & David Evans, Jeanette & Edward Katz, Peggy & John Overcashier, Juniper Stein
Alan & Deb Lentfer
CHURCHES
Sharptown United Methodist Church (Pilesgrove, NJ) The First Presbyterian Church (Charleston, WV)
SCHOOLS Georgiana Bruce Kirby Preparatory School, Students Against Genocide (Santa Cruz, CA) Pacific Collegiate School, Youth Together Against AIDS (Santa Cruz, CA) Perrysburg High School, Humanities Class of 2009 (Perrysburg, OH)
by Marcel & Elisabeth Gani
Amelia James by Barbara Parlapiano
Sylvia Louit
by Patty Lentfer
by Jeff Thurston
Judy Margolis
Mom
by Catherine Bacon
Kidzana Ministries (Mukilteo, WA)
by Ann Kjellberg
Gaby Gani
by Judy Edghill
Janet McDaid
Nancy Munger
by Thomas Raffa
by Amanda & Mark Clothier, Jennifer Delaney, Mark Lorey, Natasha Martin, Juniper Stein & Nora Jimenez
Rhonnie Reed by W. Scott Gordon
Tim & Sherry Stanton
Sylvia Myers
by Randy Trigg
Marianne Steenken & Jochen Gruber by Nicholas Vergoth
by Leo Blumberg-Woll
Steve Neal by David Priest
The Staff of the Firelight Foundation by Joan Lombardi & Neville Beharie
Georgia Tollin
Tonderei Phiri by Steve Spitalny
Jack Webb by Audrey Webb
by Danielle Sanchez-Witzel
Abigail & Makenzie White by Joanna & Peter Linden
University of California Santa Cruz, Psychology 118B (Santa Cruz, CA)
2009 ANNUAL REPORT
www.firelightfoundation.org
American Jewish World Service Eckhardt Chandler Fund at the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County
DONORS
Community Printers (Santa Cruz, CA)
by Sally Scott & James Potash
FUNDS AND FOUNDATIONS
Elton John AIDS Foundation–UK Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies Contribution Fund
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New Mexico Community Foundation Nike Foundation New Field Foundation The ELMA Foundation Triskeles Foundation Tsadik Foundation World Vision International
“We are the people on the ground, working with communities on the ground....And Firelight’s vision is our vision: to bring positive changes to the lives of vulnerable children.” –Mrs. Rufaro Mutsau, founder and director of Firelight grantee, Ingalo Zomusa Orphan Care Trust (Gwanda, Zimbabwe)
BOARDS & STAFF BOARD OF DIREC TORS
STAFF
VOLUNTEERS
Kerry Olson, Founder & President
Peter Laugharn, Executive Director
Jessica Carsten
BOARDS & STAFF
David Katz, Vice President
Nayna Agrawal, Director of Development
Famy Diener
Debra Evans, Secretary
Amee Chapman, IT Systems Engineer
Maggie McRae
Jonathan C. Lewis, Treasurer
Janice Cook-Silva, Executive Assistant
Bob Moon
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Nancy Shallow
Gretchen Ellis, Program Assistant
Amkela Sibanda
Suzana Grego, Director of Communications & Advocacy
Travis Swanson
ADVISORY BOARD Geoff Foster, MD Consultant Pediatrician, Ministry of Health, Zimbabwe Mulugeta Gebru Executive Director, Jerusalem Children and Community Development Organization (JeCCDO) Stefan Germann World Vision International—HIV and AIDS Hope Initiative
Sarah Jordan, Development Assistant Aili Langseth, Program Officer Jennifer Lentfer, Head of Capacity Building Alexandra Nicklas, Grantmaking Assistant Scott J. Pietka, Grants Administrator Zanele Sibanda, Director of Programs
INTERNS Jennie Konsella-Norene Kelsey Nocket Charmaine Peck Bridget Zwimpfer
Stephanie Thompson, Prospect Researcher Cheryl Talley-Moon, Human Resources & Office Manager
Howard Kasiya Country Program Consultant Wairimu Mungai Program Director, WEM Integrated Health Services (WEMIHS) Linda Richter, PhD Executive Director, Child, Youth, Family, and Social Development, Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)
Direction by Suzana Grego. Writing and editing by Suzana Grego and other Firelight staff. Photos by Joop Rubens, Cheryl Talley-Moon, and staff members from the seven community organizations profiled on pages 7–13. Design by one-em.com. Printed and bound by Community Printers. Printed on paper made with 100% recycled fiber and bleached without the use of chlorine compounds.
Cati Vawda Director, Children’s Rights Centre (CRC)
2009 ANNUAL REPORT
www.firelightfoundation.org
* COMMUNIT Y-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
Copyright © 2010 Firelight Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
OUR VISION Every child, regardless of race, creed, country, or other factor is raised in a supportive family and community, in a safe environment, with adequate food, shelter, and healthcare, and a sound education. Children’s rights are recognized, protected, and upheld, as an integral part of human rights. The strengths of children and families are recognized and their voices are valued and heard.
Firelight Foundation 740 Front Street, Suite 380 Santa Cruz, CA 95060 USA Tel: +1.831.429.8750 Fax: +1.831.429.2036 info@firelightfoundation.org www.firelightfoundation.org
Community solidarity—one of Africa’s strengths and assets—is widely recognized as vital to efforts to improve children’s well-being in Sub-Saharan Africa. Communities take action to address issues that affect vulnerable children and families. There is a widespread belief and corresponding investment in community-based organizations as a strong and growing facet of civil society. Governments, donors, nongovernmental organizations, community-based organizations, communities, and individuals work together to guarantee children’s sustained quality of life. There is global awareness and effective action to address the severe impact of HIV/AIDS and poverty on Africa’s children.