Finding the right balance during the Covid crisis

Finding the right balance during the Covid crisis

As we face the daunting challenges posed by Covid-19, one of the issues we are grappling with is balancing the need (and desire) to support our partner schools and community now with the need to make sure we are still around for them (and others) on the other side of this crisis.

Not knowing when that will be, nor for how long and to what extent our fundraising activities will be impacted in the meantime, is necessitating some difficult internal discussions and decisions about our priorities and how we allocate our funds.

We have already postponed the majority of non-essential capital projects for which we do not have ring-fenced funding and it is with a heavy and conflicted heart that we have taken the decision to suspend our feeding programme until such a time that schools reopen, rather than to continue with it in an amended form by distributing foodstuffs directly to children and their families to use at home.

By doing so we hope to ease the expected pressure on our funds later in the year (even after some generous donations over the last few weeks) and to protect our budgets against likely future increases in food prices.

At the same time we are redeploying funds towards guaranteeing teacher and staff salaries (more below) and, where we can secure funding, looking at bringing forward projects, such as hand-washing facilities, which will directly assist with the control of Covid-19 once schools do reopen.

None of this is easy (there is no manual to tell us what to do) and we are grateful to our partner schools for their understanding and to those of you that continue to stand with us, and them, during this difficult time.

We hope you and your family are in good health and that this newsletter provides a little light relief amongst all the worry and uncertainty.

Stay safe and take care.

Welcoming a new ambassador to the family

We have appointed Jenny Harkin as an official ambassador, joining her husband David who we appointed to the role last year.

Together, Jenny and David, co-founders of the educational social enterprise 7billionideas, become our first family ambassadors and we are excited to see where our partnership with this talented, energetic and innovative couple can take the charity in the years to come - for now they are using their lockdown exercise to run 1000km over 100 consecutive days to raise funds for AP!

"African Promise is a charity close to my heart because of my own passion for education for all. I am beyond thrilled to be asked to be an ambassador for such a fantastic cause."

Emergency cash grants help pay staff salaries

Last month we distributed £1,875 in emergency cash funding to enable our partner schools to pay - in full - the March salaries of 68 teachers and support staff not on the government payroll.

The Covid-19 pandemic and closure of schools in Kenya has meant schools are no longer able to collect contributions from parents which usually part-fund these salaries and without our intervention some staff would have gone unpaid through no fault of their own.

We are increasing our monthly contribution to over £2,000 to guarantee salaries can be paid at 50% whilst schools remain closed, and ensure these dedicated members of staff can continue to provide for themselves and their families during this crisis.

Other news in brief

2.6 Challenge raises £500
Supporters ran, danced, planked, burpee'd and keepie-uppie'd to raise nearly £500 for African Promise in the 2.6 Challenge as members of the public came together on the 26 April to help Save the UK's charities.

Bananas emerge at Ngambenyi
Look at these wonderful bananas that have begun to emerge at Ngambenyi over the last couple of weeks, thanks to consistent rainfall. We hope that the children get to enjoy them before the elephants do!

Work continues at school #8
The first phase of work at Mkamenyi Primary, including four new classrooms, admin facilities, library/computer room and staff toilets, is in its final stages, although progress has been and will continue to be disrupted as a result of Covid-19. You can sign up for regular project updates via our GlobalGiving reports here.

New Kisimenyi toilets (almost) finished
We've been beset by problems including floods, hard ground and now Covid, but Kisimenyi pupils will finally have new toilets to return to when school reopens. Thanks to Hazel's Footprints Trust, Thomas Cook Children's Charity, the Strathspey Charitable Trust and the Eleanor Rathbone Charitable Trust for their support of this project.

Nominate us to WIN £1,000
The Ecclesiastical 'Movement for Good' awards are back for 2020, offering the chance for 500 charities to each win a cash prize of £1,000. Winners will be drawn at random from all nominations received by Sunday 24 May. To nominate us please complete the short form at bit.ly/2SIVcBr using our charity number '1122285'.

Drama group qualify for regionals
Earlier this year we provided funds so a group of students from the Kiteghe drama club could compete in the schools drama festival. We were gutted that their efforts to reach the national finals were thwarted by Covid-19 which caused the regional competition for which they had qualified to be suspended on the day, after they have already travelled to Mombasa.

We'd like to thank the following for their recent support and donations:

- our long-time corporate partner, Aspect Capital, for their significant contribution;
- all those who have already contributed to help pay teacher and staff salaries;
- Mark & Kat Richardson for hosting a virtual quiz from Bermuda which raised £500;
- all our 'Home Heroes' who helped raise funds in the 2.6 Challenge;
- Alys Penfold for raising £135 by asking for donations on her birthday.