fields of life annual report 2011

ANNUAL REPORT 2011

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BRINGING HOPE

2 : FIELDS OF LIFE ANNUAL REPORT 2011

TO EAST AFRICA

FIELDS OF LIFE ANNUAL REPORT 2011 : 3

FOREWORD 5EDUCATION 6

WATER 8TEAMS 10

INCOME GENERATION 11FINANCIAL SUMMARY 12

CEO REPORT 14THE FUTURE 15

Fields of Life is committed tosharing the Christian faith bycollaborating with localcommunities and churches inEast Africa to bring about positivechange through the provision ofquality education, clean water,health promotion and othercommunity based projects.

There are many more little children throughout East Africa whoneed support to give them the opportunity of a quality education

A child collecting water in the slumsof Kosovo, Kampala, Uganda


Abudul Mulungi a Fields of Life sponsored child who was supportedthrough all of his primary and secondary level education

It is my privilege to introduce this annual reportto you. A special word of thanks to all our staffand volunteers in UK, Ireland and also in Uganda.During 2011 I took up a new position as Pastor ofCrinken Church and am delighted to stay on asChairman of Fields of Life. Richard Spratt hastaken on the role of CEO and is doing a fantasticjob of bringing Fields of Life to a new level ofprofessionalism. Despite the difficult economictimes we live in, God has blessed us in the workas we continue to serve the most vulnerablethroughout East Africa.

As Fields of Life continues to grow becoming morecomplex it is important that the directors’continuously review and evaluate our strategy. Weare committed to continuously improving theprovision of quality education, clean water, healthpromotion, other community based initiatives andsharing the Christian faith.

We always aim to do the best we possibly can forour donors, stakeholders and the people we serve.As we continue to focus on the ways in which wecan improve as an organisation, we commit tomanaging our resources effectively whilstdeveloping our people in order to build our capacityto deliver our objectives and goals. We willcontinue to build relationships with otherorganisations within the development sector andthe communities where we work to achieve abetter quality of life for the people we serve.

Our goals and objectives are ambitious butcertainly achievable with God’s help. We also lookforward to working with the ongoing commitmentof our donors, the community where we work andour dedicated staff.

Thank you for all your support and encouragementover the last year.

Trevor StevensonChairman & Founder, Fields of Life

FOREWORD

Fields of Life driller after a long day’s work


EDUCATIONDURING 2011 FIELDS OF LIFECONTINUED TO SUPPORT AND ADVISEOVER 100 SCHOOL PROJECTSTHROUGHOUT CENTRAL EAST AFRICAWHICH ARE PROVIDING VULNERABLECHILDREN WITH ACCESS TOA QUALITY EDUCATION.

WE BELIEVE EDUCATION IS THECATALYST FOR MEANINGFUL CHANGEAND THEREFORE PARTNER WITHLOCAL CHURCHES AND COMMUNITIESIN THE REGION TO HELP DELIVEREFFECTIVE EDUCATIONALOPPORTUNITIES AT GRASSROOTS LEVEL.

QUALITY EDUCATIONIt is reality that hundreds of thousands of EastAfrican children from poverty stricken homes,many of whom are orphans as a result ofHIV/AIDS, are without access to even a basicprimary level education. For them, an educationis literally a chance for survival, a lifeline wherethey will get an opportunity to contribute to theircommunity as well as their nation's much neededdevelopment. The provision of education is key tobreaking the cycle of poverty and at the very heartof the Fields of Life mission.

• Over 103 Schools (89 primary / 14 secondary)have been built since 1997 throughout East Africa.

• 41,000 children are currently being educated.

• Over 36,000 children have been educated so farsince the first school was built in 1997.

• 3,300 of the most needy and vulnerablechildren are currently being sponsored throughtheir primary & secondary education.

• Over 1,000 children have been through theSponsorship Programme since it began in 1997.

• A Programme for monitoring educationalstandards has been implemented to ensure thatthe children receive the highest possible standardsof education within the resources available.

BETHEL ROYAL SCHOOL, NAKASONGOLABethel Royal School, Nakasongola is one of our morerecent educational projects kindly funded by theUlster Royal Schools of Ireland, Down BattalionBoys Brigade and Fields of Life Hopebuilders.During 2011 the project was further enhancedby the addition of a science laboratory and thedevelopment of various income generating projects.

Annet Kiisa is the visionary leader who hasenabled this school and an established Fieldsof Life primary school nearby to become selfsufficient. Through mobilising land resource andfarming over 100 acres of land in order to ensurealmost 1,000 students at both schools receive3 meals per day. The children at Bethel Royal arealso taught invaluable vocational and life skillssuch as brick making, tailoring and farming whichenables them to become contributing members ofthe local community.

Samuel Senyonjo (15), Hosea Byansi (16) and Disan Gingo (17) workingin the grinding mill where the cultivated maize is thrashed and milledto make 'posho' a staple part of the diet for children at Bethel Royal


Senior secondary schoolstudents from Bethel Royal

103 SCHOOLS BUILT SINCE 199736,000 CHILDREN EDUCATED ALREADY

41,000 CHILDREN BEING EDUCATED NOW

1000 CHILDREN SPONSORED ALREADY

3300 CHILDREN BEING SPONSORED NOW

ACHIEVEMENTS >

Annet Kiisa, the SchoolDirector of Bethel Royal

A senior secondary student at Bethel Royal who has beengiven the responsibility of managing the poultry project


CLEAN ACCESSIBLE DRINKING WATERIS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT, ESSENTIALTO LIFE; YET ONE IN SEVEN PEOPLEIN THE WORLD TODAY CANNOTACCESS SAFE DRINKING WATER.INSTEAD, IT IS A LUXURY IN MANYPARTS OF EAST AFRICA. MANYPEOPLE SUFFER SICKNESS ANDDEATH DUE TO WATER BORNEDISEASES AS WELL AS VALUABLESCHOOL HOURS LOST FOR CHILDRENWITH NO CHOICE BUT TO FETCHDIRTY WATER OVER LONG DISTANCES.

At Fields of Life we are hugely concerned aboutthe lack of available clean water supplyespecially amongst vulnerable and marginalisedgroups, such as women and children.

163 wells have been drilled and are providingcommunities (c. 250,000 villagers) with clean,safe drinking water. We are well on our way tofulfilling our vision of drilling 1,000 wells over aten year period. Fields of Life purchased its owndrilling rig late in 2009 which reduced costs ofborehole drilling by 50%.

We are passionate about providing clean waterand during 2011 have doubled our operationalcapacity to drill 10 wells per month throughacquiring a 2nd drilling rig.

ALAKE COMMUNITY BOREHOLEWell No. 143 drilled by Fields of Life was in AlakeVillage in Kole District, Northern Uganda. Thecommunity had been using a stagnant watersource which animals also used causing muchillness and death from water-borne disease. Thenew well which was funded by Holy TrinityDromore, Church of Ireland is supplying the 240households in the village, and up to 2,000 people,with fresh, clean drinking water thus reducing theincidence of disease and death in the area.

WATER

Fields of Life’s drillers hard at workas the Alake community look on

The finished borehole generously donated by Holy TrinityDromore Church of Ireland, Northern Ireland


Previous water source used by Alakecommunity prior to Fields of Life’s involvement

AWELO COMMUNITY BOREHOLEAwelo community is located in Lira district,Northern Uganda. It is over 350 kms north ofthe capital city, Kampala. This community wasaffected by a long and protracted civil war thatlasted over 20 years during which time verylittle development took place. The communityis extremely poor relying solely on subsistencefarming and stone crushing to survive.

“Awelo community had never had any cleanwater source until the intervention of Fields ofLife” says 55 year old Edward Okwir who is abeneficiary of this well. They were previouslyusing water from a hand dug well which

caused water borne diseases such as typhoid,diarrhoea and tape worms.

Dorcus Akole a mother of 2 also expressedher appreciation for this borehole providedby Fields of Life. She lives in a neighbouringcommunity of Apinymoo and rides a bicycleto this well since it is the nearest clean watersource to her home.The Awelo borehole is ina central location serving four communitiestherefore providing clean water for manyhundreds of people in the locality.

Women and children from Awelo communitycollecting dirty water from previous water source

A jubilant Edward Okwir, delighted to seethe completed Fields of Life borehole

163 WELLS DRILLED ALREADY BY 2011250,000 PEOPLE NOW HAVE CLEAN WATER

10 NEW WELLS BEING DRILLED EVERY MONTH

1000 WELLS IS OUR TEN YEAR TARGET BY2019CLEAN WATER FOR MORE THAN1 MILLION PEOPLE

Dorcus Akole on her daily routine of collectingfresh clean water from the new borehole

AWELO COMMUNITYHAD NEVER HAD ANYCLEAN WATER SOURCE

UNTIL THE INTERVENTIONOF FIELDS OF LIFE

ACHIEVEMENTS >


TEAMS AND VOLUNTEERS TRAVEL TOAFRICA AT VARIOUS TIMES OF THEYEAR, EACH WITH A DIFFERENT FOCUSUSING THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCE,TALENTS AND SKILLS TO MAKE ADIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS.

TEAM PROJECTS CAN INCLUDEBUILDING WORK, PAINTING, HEALTHEDUCATION, TEACHER TRAINING,SPORTS, MUSIC, CRAFTS ANDCHRISTIAN EDUCATION INITIATIVESIN ASSOCIATION WITH THE LOCALCHURCHES AND COMMUNITIES WHOMWE PARTNER WITH ON THE GROUND.

These team experiences are an excellent way toencounter East African culture, meet new people,make new friends, and best of all - change lives!The majority response from our volunteers is thatthe joy and satisfaction they receive fromparticipating in a short term mission trip isgreater than their personal contribution. During2011 a total of 9 teams engaged in volunteertrips with two of the teams highlighted.

BELFAST MODEL GIRLS SECONDARY SCHOOL,BELFASTThe school’s main aim of the trip was to allow thegirls to experience a culture that is completelydifferent to the one in which they live and to givethem a fresh perspective on the reality of povertyin the developing world. The team spent timeworking in a Fields of Life Primary school calledJehovah Jireh. They delivered a Kids Club in themornings and played games with the children inthe afternoon. The team grew very attached tothe children and found the experience to betransformational and unforgettable as illustratedby two of the team members:

Sarah-Jane Keilty - ‘While on my trip to Uganda Ifound that the kids and even some adults werejust so ecstatic to see us arrive at their school.Children would be laughing, waving and jumpingup and down when they seen our bus arrive.’

Louise Hill - ‘I don’t quite know how to put intowords exactly how my trip to Uganda was but itwas the most amazing experience of my life. Itwas an incredible, fun-filled and emotional trip.From the moment I stepped off the plane and tookmy first breath, the smell of Africa hit me. Thefirst few days were all a bit of a blur and it mademe think of all the things I take for granted- eventhe simplest things. Uganda was a life changingexperience and seeing all the children filled withhappiness was just overwhelming. No matterwhat, they just keep smiling. The trip has taughtme to appreciate my family and friends a lotmore. Not a day goes past that I dont think aboutmy experience in Africa and of the children wemet. Uganda will forever be in my heart and inthe future I hope to return.’

uSERVE 2011This was the first ‘open team’ offered toindividuals who want to experience a short termvolunteering trip and maybe didn’t have theopportunity with an established team whetherthrough a school, church, business or otherorganisation. A team of 16 was recruited to run thefirst ever Fields of Life student camp, ‘The Master’sTouch’ in the grounds of Grace High Schoolattended by over 300 students from 10 differentFields of Life Secondary Schools. Each teammember brought with them different skills andtalents enabling a varied and packed programmeof music, drama, health promotion, life skills,Christian education, sports, arts and dance.

• Fields of Life will continue to run ‘open’ teamopportunities and for any information on all teamand volunteering options contact the office [email protected]


The Belfast Model Girls Secondary School team with Fieldsof Life link worker Cathy in the Wakiso District in Uganda

Members of the uServe 2011 team whovisited Uganda in August 2011

WE BELIEVE THE BEST WAY TO HELPSOMEONE OUT OF POVERTY IS TOEQUIP THEM WITH THE TOOLS TO GETOUT OF THE CYCLE OF DEPRIVATIONAND TO HELP THEM HELP THEMSELVES.

Fields of Life identifies families in need from thecommunities where schools are established andseeks to provide them with assistance to start abusiness or generate streams of revenue. Thisprovides people with a sense of purpose anddignity enabling them to build a better future fortheir families.

The following projects are examples of thedifference which is being made and testament tothe entrepreneurial spirit of many Africanvillagers in the midst of abject poverty.

KABALE WOMEN FARMERS FROM NYAKAGERAPRIMARY SCHOOL, KABALE, WESTERN UGANDAA group of potato farmers from Kabale in WesternUganda received Field of Life assistance throughits Gifts Of Life programme in the form of seedpotatoes which they have been able to multiply4 times over.

The families are reaping the benefits of their hardwork, and their lives have been improved withsome members of the co-operative able to clearpersonal debts, improve their housing conditionsas well as enhance the diet for their families. Theyhave also been able to contribute towards payingschool fees for their children and purchase ‘luxury’items such as mattresses for their children andfamilies’ to sleep on.

Despite their successes, the Kabale womenfarmers still believe in hard work. "Our next goalis to empower more women in the area, so theycan deliver more potatoes which can later be soldto several parts of Uganda.”

POULTRY PROJECT AT FAITH HOME OFCHAMPIONS, KIBALE, UGANDAThrough membership of a poultry group,Augustine Katushabe attended a Fields of Lifetraining programme that showed him how toincrease his productivity and improve the qualityof his eggs. Fields of Life advisors trainedAugustine and other farmers in best practiceregarding rearing poultry. Fields of Life, throughits Gifts of Life programme has assisted morethan 2,000 farming households since 2006 tohelp them develop their livelihoods and liftthemselves out of poverty.

The Tukore Namani poultry group, of whichAugustine is a member, received 180 hens in June2011. Augustine picks eggs on a daily basis and asa group they harvest 4 trays of eggs every day earningup to the equivalent value of £2 per tray per daywhich has significantly increased his income.

With savings from the project, Augustine hasbeen able to pay fees to send 5 of his 8 childrento school. Augustine is also better able to affordtheir school fees and supplies. He can alsoprovide them with a more balanced diet due tothe eggs and has a sense of dignity and worthand by being able to take responsibility and carefor his family.

“Everything changed when I got the training,”Augustine said. “Now I know how to earn moneyfrom my poultry project”

INCOME GENERATIONPhotos from top:• beneficiaries being trained• the family of Augustine• poultry delivery at Augustine’s home• poultry delivered in June • trays of eggs harvested

A group of Kabale women farmershappy after harvesting ‘Irish’ potatoesthrough their hard work.


TREASURER’S REPORTThe financial accounts of Fields of Life in NorthernIreland and Republic of Ireland have been auditedby Moore Grimley according to the Companies Act2006. The total income within N.I. amounted to£1,527,285 with expenditure of £1,412,910 whileour Republic of Ireland (RoI) operation had anincome of €557,572 and an expenditure of€556,089.

Income was down from the 2010 financial yeardue in some part to exceptional donations in theprevious period as well as the challengingeconomic climate throughout Ireland. The financialperformance in 2011 performed strongly againstbudget and is deemed a significant achievementgiven the economic environment. We are verypleased to report that 93 per cent of our incomewas expended directly on charitable activities withthe balance spent on governing the organisationappropriately along with investing in fundraisinginitiatives to generate new and maintain existingrevenue streams. Strong budgetary and costcontrol have enabled this favourable cost incomeratio which compares very well sectorally.

We have ended the year in a sound financial positionin regard to ongoing funding commitments and ourgeneral funds balance. The Board of Directors areindebted to the partnership of our donorsthroughout UK & Ireland who have supported thework throughout this financial year.

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

Cost of Fundraising£23,128 (1.16%)


Governance Costs£115,809 (5.82%)

Charitable Activities£1,735,527 (93.02%)

Child Sponsorship£633,249 (32%)

Schools / Education£463,335 (23%)

Water£429,163 (21%)

General Donations£213,544 (11%)

Other Income£195,623 (10%)

Income Generation£35,641 (2%)

Health Education£19,515 (1%)

Reserves at 31st December 2011:Combined Unrestricted Funds£156,529

Combined Restricted Funds£571,983(these funds are allocated for specificprojects pending transfer to Fields ofLife East Africa)

Raymond MulliganTreasurer

....................................

These financial highlights are for the year1 January 2011 - 31 December 2011. Theyhave been taken from the audited statutoryaccounts of the charity approved by the Boardsof Directors in both ROI and NI. Both sets ofaccounts have received an unqualified auditopinion.

Full annual accounts and Directors’ / Auditor’sReports are available upon request from Fieldsof Life office.

These figures reflect consolidated income andexpenditure for Fields of Life NI & ROI entities.Please note a further $78,523 was contributedby FOL USA and AUS$5,093 by FOL Australiaand remitted directly to Fields of Life Uganda.

Exchange rate for Euro to Sterling was takenas 0.83 as at 31.12.2011

CONSOLIDATED INCOME & EXPENDITURE

INCOMETotal - £1,990,070

EXPENDITURETotal - £1,874,464

OF THE MONEY WE RAISEDIRECTLY IMPACTS

THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST


I AM PRIVILEGED AND HONOURED TOBE ABLE TO SERVE FIELDS OF LIFE ASYOUR CEO HAVING TAKEN UP POST INAPRIL 2011. IT IS NOW TWO AND AHALF YEARS SINCE I JOINED FIELDSOF LIFE AND I AM CONSTANTLYHUMBLED BY THE SCALE OF THEORGANISATIONS ACHIEVEMENTS OVERTHE BEST PART OF TWO DECADES.

During the 2011 financial year there have beensignificant landmarks for the organisation suchas the appointment of a developmentprofessional as our new Regional Director, EastAfrica, to oversee and monitor all project deliverythroughout East Africa.

We were able to acquire a second drilling rigdoubling our capacity to drill borehole wells in ourcurrent focus area, Northern Uganda, which hassuffered under the brutalities of the Lord’sResistance Army. It is a real joy to be able tosustain this programme which provides up to10,000 people with fresh, clean drinking watereach month.

We have also further developed and focused onour quality education programme in an effort tocontinually improve the educational standards inthe existing school network whilst also identifyingand partnering with new communities. At the endof the 2011 academic year in East Africa we weredelighted that many of our schools achieved someof the best results in their local districts whichis testament to the dedication and commitmentof those many school directors, headteachersand teaching staff. The Fields of Life Educationteam ably supported our school network to raiseeducational standards as well as providingadvice and support on governance andmanagement issues. Our team remainspassionately committed to seeing the schoolsflourish and develop.

We have also been mapping out our strategicpriorities for the next number of years and I amexcited about the possibilities that lie aheadincluding developing operations in GB andextending our project work into South Sudan.

I believe the core values we hold in Fields of Lifeof being God-led, people-centric and communityorientated when underpinned by excellentstewardship and a ‘can-do’ attitude lay thefoundations for future growth as we committo sharing practically the love of God withvulnerable and marginalised communitiesin East Africa and beyond.

I would like to extend a personal thanks to ourdedicated staff and volunteers in NI, ROI, GB, USA& Australia and the many donors and funderswho through their continued generosity andsupport are enabling work which is making alasting difference, changing lives, transformingcommunities and bringing hope to those whoneed it most.

In Christian service

Richard SprattChief Executive

CEO REPORT14 : FIELDS OF LIFE ANNUAL REPORT 2011

Fields of Life Chief Executive Richard Spratt visitingstudents at Grace High School, Luwero, Uganda

IN ORDER TO FOCUS OUR WORKAND MAXIMISE OUR IMPACT FIELDSOF LIFE HAVE IDENTIFIED THEFOLLOWING STRATEGIC PRIORITIESUP TO 2015 IN ORDER TO DELIVEROUR VISION OF CHANGING LIVES,TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES ANDBRINGING HOPE IN EAST AFRICA.

EFFECTIVE PROGRAMME DELIVERYTo establish positive community engagementwith communities in East Africa with a focus onEducation, Water & Sanitation and HealthPromotion.

To work collaboratively with local East Africangovernments, community leaders and churcheson projects to ensure that they are related to localneed and are evaluated on the basis of effectiveoutcomes, while ensuring effective participationby beneficiaries thus enhancing the organisation’sstanding with donors and stakeholders.

To engage with local church in East Africafocusing on the capacity building andempowerment of its leadership to directly tackleissues of poverty whilst communicating thegospel holistically in both word and deed.

CONNECTING PEOPLETo provide opportunities for donors and supportersof Fields of Life to engage directly with communitiesin East Africa in tackling issues of poverty thuscreating a forum whereby mutual transformationcan occur.

To recruit, train and equip short term missionteams to fundraise and undertake specific projectwork in East Africa.

SUSTAINABILITY & GROWTHFOL will seek to extend its present resource baseby diversifying funding streams and developingnew, innovative fundraising initiatives.

BUILDING CAPACITYFOL will actively encourage good governanceincluding the nurturing of a new generation ofleaders. This includes a commitment toexamining new imaginative and creative waysof engaging young people in the movement ofFOL during the period to 2015.

FOL will ensure that organisationalcompetencies develop in line with increasingcomplexities of managing the organisationensuring both an efficient use of resource whilstnot compromising the effective delivery ofprojects in East Africa.

THE FUTUREFIELDS OF LIFE ANNUAL REPORT 2011 : 15

Fields of Life is committed tosharing the Christian faith bycollaborating with local communitiesand churches in East Africa tobring about positive changethrough the provision of qualityeducation, clean water, healthpromotion and other communitybased projects.

REPUBLIC OF IRELANDFIELDS OF LIFEBrides Glen RoadShankill, Dublin 18IrelandTelephone: 00 353 12827777Email: [email protected]

NORTHERN IRELANDFIELDS OF LIFE25 Carn RoadCraigavon, Co. ArmaghN. Ireland, BT63 5WGTelephone: +44 (0)28 38 390395Email: [email protected]

GREAT BRITAINFIELDS OF LIFE31 Malvern RoadAshford, KentEngland TN24 8HXTelephone: +44 (0)1233 666706Email: [email protected]

www.FIELDSofLIFE.com

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