Author: tesfatrust01

Like all charities, we are required to submit our annual report and accounts to the Charity Commission each year.  Our report and accounts for the year up to 31 March 2021 have now been accepted and published on the Charity Commission’s website, and you can read them for yourself here:

https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5117651/accounts-and-annual-returns

This financial year covered one of the most difficult periods in recent memory – the global coronavirus pandemic. Our partner organisations in Addis Ababa worked hard to adapt their programmes to support our sponsored children and elderly through this difficult time. In particular, we are so grateful to our supporters who generously donated to our Covid appeal – money which was put to use to provide essential supplies and protective materials to members of the communities that we support.

Please do read the report for yourself, and feel welcome to contact us if you have any questions.

Thank you to all our sponsors and donors for your support during this year.

Paul, Ben and Simon – Trustees

Hi,

Hoping everyone has had a good Christmas! Here’s some more Christmas cheer from the sponsored children and elderly in one of the charities we partner with, CBISDO. Just loving the enthusiasm from the children as they wish their sponsors a Happy Christmas! Special thanks to you all for your ongoing support in so many ways.

Paul

We wanted to say thank you, again, to the many sponsors who so generously supported our special Covid Appeal back in the Autumn.  We’re delighted to report that over £3,000 was raised in total and has now been put to good use in the project areas in Addis Ababa.

The funds have been used by both of the project areas to provide basic foodstuffs such as Teff flour, pasta, rice and oil.  It has also provided funding for hygiene related products, such as hand sanitizer and cloth face masks as well as T-shirts for people living in the area with public health messages around hand washing and social distancing.   Your money has made such a difference to families who would otherwise have gone hungry and may have reduced the spread of Covid in an area where people live close together in often challenging circumstances.

Continue reading “An update on the Coronavirus Appeal” →

Like all charities, we are required to submit our annual report and accounts to the Charity Commission each year.  Our report and accounts for the year up to 31 March 2020 have now been accepted and published on the Charity Commission’s website, and you can read them for yourself here:

https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5117651/accounts-and-annual-returns

This 12 month period marked only the second full year of Tesfa Trust’s operation, and in that sense it was an encouraging year.  We spent much of the year putting in place the administrative systems and governance policies that will allow us to manage the sponsorship programme responsibly and effectively.  An important part of this process has been to appoint Tadesse Haile as our consultant and representative in Addis Ababa.  Tadesse is a long-standing contact, and has provided an invaluable bridge between us in the UK and our friends and partners on the ground in Addis.

Continue reading “Annual report 2020” →

Dear Sponsors,It is with the deepest sadness that we write to inform you that Dr Jember Teferra passed away last Thursday in the U.K.Jember will be known to many of you – she is the founder and inspiration behind the work of the two charities in Addis Ababa, CBISDO and AHISDO, where our sponsored children and elderly are supported.

Dr Jember Teferra had been living in London for the last four years and unexpectedly passed away in hospital on Thursday. Her Christian faith and passion to help the poor has inspired countless others to follow a similar path through life, including each of the Trustees of Tesfa. We all carry fond memories of our visits to Addis and time spent with Jember there as well as her annual visits to the UK to encourage the supporters of the work she founded in the poorest areas in Addis Ababa.It is testimony to Jember that CBISDO and AHISDO are still striving to help the most needy in the communities in which they work.Please pray with us for her family both here in the UK and in Ethiopia. God Bless, Paul, Ben and Simon

Dear friends,

Whilst our TV news has understandably focused on the UK’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic, it won’t surprise you to know that Africa is now being significantly affected.  Ethiopia reported its first case of COVID-19 on 13 March 2020 and the government has taken various measures to control the pandemic, including a 5 month state of emergency.

Continue reading “Coronavirus Appeal” →

You may have seen that we have recently launched a special appeal to help support our two partner organisations, CBISDO and AHISDO, during the Coronavirus pandemic.

How have we reached the decision to launch an appeal?  And how will the money be used? Continue reading “How is COVID affecting our partner communities?” →

We have been working hard to make it easier for people to support Tesfa’s work with our community groups in Addis Ababa.  For most people, making a regular sponsorship payment by standing order is their main way of supporting Tesfa – and that very much remains our primary model.  But there are times when people would like to provide some extra support to our communities, or when there is a specific need.  The growing impact of the COVID pandemic is a current and pressing example.

We are always happy to receive donations by cheque or online tranfer (if you have our bank details).  But for some people it will be much easier to make a donation online using a credit card or PayPal.  We’re very pleased that this is now possible, using a service called Total Giving.  Why not try it now?

https://www.nowdonate.com/checkout/the-tesfa-sponsorship-trust-uk

Note: This post was first emailed to supporters in April 2020

Dear Sponsor, hoping you’re all keeping safe and well

We wanted to give you the very latest news from our partner CBISDO, who run the project that looks after your sponsored child in Addis Ababa.  This communication has arrived from the Manager this week:

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Currently things are not good here in Addis Ababa. People are horrified by corona virus or covid-19.The government has closed university, high schools, elementary schools,and kindergarten.And also some governmental organisations have been closed. So far, it is about 44 people have been positive in covid-19, two person died.

In the project itself, Provision of food services has stopped due to corona virus. Some students have come and take way their food. We have distributed sanitation material to their parents. And also government organisations have planned to support us in kind support. 

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We are keeping in direct touch with our partners and through our consultant based in Addis who visits the project regularly on our behalf. That way, we will be able to keep you updated as they work through the immense challenges they face plus let you know of any other ways that we can help them during these unprecedented times.

We give thanks for our loyal sponsors always but especially at this toughest of times that is impacting us all.

And please join us in praying for all our sponsored children, their families, those working in CBISDO for their health and protection.

God Bless
Paul, Ben and Simon
Trustees

The last week has been spent with our friends at AHISDO and CBISDO as we start a new chapter as a newly registered UK Charity.  The main aim was to discuss and formalise a partnership agreement, whilst getting a good sense of how things are going.

It’s so encouraging to see the huge changes made in both organisations.  There are still big challenges, and some major needs. The same applies to Ethiopia at large.  Costs just keep on going up and up, especially food costs, and it’s hard to know how people survive.  In this context, the work that both organisations do is invaluable: not just providing a lifeline for the children and elderly you sponsor, but offering opportunities for a fuller life.

However, there is a sense of hope: not only for the country, but also for AHISDO and CBISDO. After a lovely week of renewing relationships and setting out plans for the future, we look forward to continuing our support so that this hope is fulfilled.

Simon Paylor is a Trustee