3rd quarter report - july to september 2023
We are delighted to share an update on just some of the projects we have been working on this quarter.
EMERGENCY RELIEF APPEALS
BCT’s partners are already on the ground in both Morocco and Libya. The immediate requirements of food, tents and clothing is being met at this critical time.
Moroccan Earthquake
More than 3,000 people have been killed and 300,000 more affected in the powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the Al Haousz province of Morocco.
LIBYAN FLOODING
At least 10,000 people reported missing, and more than 5,300 are feared dead in the floods that swept away over a quarter of the Libyan city of Derna.
ROHINGYA COMMUNITY APPEAL
Over 740,000 people from the Rohingya community fled to cross the border of Myanmar toescape into Cox’s Bazar, amid the increasingly horrific and violent conflict that was unfolding in their homeland.
Our partners on the ground have been working at Cox’s Bazer, Bangledesh for 6 years, building toilets and vital water wells which serve this refugee population; but this is still not enough.
BCT have supported our partners in building a school that has served the orphans in this population for the last 5 years. The school has been a lifeline for these children, providing them with two meals a day and an education.
We have pledged to support in the upkeep of the orphan school, toilets and water facilities but have been advised by our partners that funds are dwindling drastically. Remaining funding is due to run out by November.
Please help us to continue supporting these refugees, whose futures remain so uncertain.
EYE CAMPS
Working alongside our partners on the ground and with the help of our generous supporters, we have been able to facilitate 30 eye camps throughout July, August and September. This has resulted in over 1,033 cataract surgeries taking place, bringing our total so for to 4,254!
These life changing surgeries are vital in aiding the needy across rural areas of Kenya and Tanzania.
Sponsor an eye surgery today for only $60!
3 DAY MEDICAL CAMP
A 3 day medical camp, organised by the community took place in Mnazi Mmoja, Tanzania over the weekend of the 15th - 17th September.
Thousands of residents received free health services, including screening for eye disease, cervical cancer and breast cancer.
3 of BCT’s incredible partners attended, and we are expecting a large number of cataract surgeries to be confirmed.
Final Statistics from the camp below-
Number screened for eye disease - 3865
Reading glass provided - 1871
Eye drops dispenses - 1851
Cataract cases picked - 220
Blood units donated - 510
Number screened for cervical cancer - 163
Number screened for breast cancer - 241
Medical checkup and consults done - 1879
WATER WELLS
Lack of access to safe and clean drinking water is the number one crisis worldwide, and BCT continue to commission water wells in locations that have dire need.
So far this year, BCT have commissioned 46 wells!
Further wells are available in:
Kenya at $1,800
Tanzania at $2,500
Pakistan at £650 water tank well and £175 hand pump
HALIMA CHILDREN’S HOME
Our partners Kijana Kwanza have embarked on a major new project providing emergency shelter for orphaned and abandoned children. The programme encourages family reunification and fostering into families as an alternative to long term institutional care for children under the age of 12.
They are currently constructing the Halima Children’s Home in a 1 acre plot in the Shabaha District of Tanzania, which will have the capacity to provide shelter for up to 120 children at any one time. There is currently no mains water supply in the area, and the drinking and sanitary needs of the facility requires a deep water well at a cost of £8,753, which BCT are sponsoring.
KWAMAGANDI SCHOOL WATER PAN PROJECT
Kwamagandi is an extremely remote and neglected village located within Chakama in Kenya’s Kilifi County. The community, a very needy one, is living under very harsh conditions and is lacking essential needs including food, healthcare, water and sanitation.
With your generous donations, we were able to work with our partners and build a large waterpan at the Kwamagandi Primary School, with a capacity of one million litres. This will allow rain water collection which will be used for farming and irrigation on the school land, allowing the school to feed the students with the produce grown.
In addition, the water pan provides a sustainable water source for the surrounding communities, and will relieve them of the relentless task of trekking long distances through harsh terrain to fetch water.
Images below show to road to Kwamagandi and the build taking place.
YEMEN CRISIS
BCT continues to support Yemen, and has pledged to continue to donate $12,000 each quarter towards baby milk for babies suffering from malnutrition and food parcels for families displaced by the violence of war.
KEEP THE GIRLS IN SCHOOL
Many girls who grow up in poverty often cannot afford menstruation protection, which commonly leads to school absenteeism and some girls dropping out all together.
Studies have shown that girls from poor families in Kenya miss 20% of school days in a year due to lack of menstrual hygiene kits.
Beta Charitable Trust are working with our partners CHEPS to address this issue, and together we are producing reusable sanitary towel kits. Each kit contains a waterproof carrying bag, 7 absorbent liners, 2 waterproof shields, a towel, soap, 2 sets of underwear,a menses calendar and user manual.
In March 2023 alone, 1,177 kits were produced and distributed free of charge to school going teenage girls and destitute women in the community.
August distributions have taken place in the villages of Kanduru, Roka, Matolani, Ramada, Kararacha, Moroni, Kibokoni and Balaga with another 419 kits distributed.
1,000 kits are due to distributed in the coming weeks for school girls in Mwanza ,Tanzania. More details coming in Quarter4!
PAMOJA LEO
BCT are proud to continue our partnership with Pamoja Leo on The Baby Project. Supporting any baby in Tanga, Tanzania with no lactating mother, providing the formula milk and support needed to keep the family together and stop the baby being placed into orphanage care. Since the beginning of the project, 100 babies have been resettled into families.
100% of those children remain in the family they were placed with avoiding transferral to orphanages!
£48 - Provides 8 tins of milk, which feed a baby for one month
BCT previously sponsored Pamoja Leo's school bus, and now additionally support funding of food for their day-care centre, along with their bus driver and cook.
EDUCATION
TAMANI FOUNDATION
Support a child’s education in Zanzibar
BCT are proud to have formed a partnership in 2022 with our friends at the Tamani Foundation.
Since 2012, Tamani Foundation have been providing free nursery and primary education to children in Matemwe, Zanzibar. At present, there are 200 children being supported.
Supporting our partnership and donating towards this worthwhile project will allow theTamani Foundation to make huge leaps in their progress and bridge the gap in early education.
JUNNAR SCHOOL - PUNE, INDIA
Due to the natural growth of the number of students, the successful United English Medium School, in Junnar, is desperately in need of extension.
The ground breaking work took place in March for an extension that will house classrooms over 3 floors, adding another 7,500 square feet to the original building.
The project is progressing according to the planned schedule, and we are delighted that the Inauguration Ceremony will be taking place at the end of October! Keep an eye out for photos coming in our Quarter 4 report.
ANAMIL AL RAHMA
We are proudly sponsoring school bags for the orphans at the Anamil Al Rahma school in Iraq, Diwaniyah.
The new term starts on the 1st October, and each bag will cost $7.63. We are still in need of funds for the items below to fill the bag:
Books for each subject
Water Bottle
Stationary - Pens & Pencils, Ruler, Sharpener, Rubber
BETA HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL
Alongside our partners, Imamia Education & Welfare Trust, we are building a 6,000 square foot extension to the school building to accommodate more classes and students.
MEDINA PUBLIC HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL
Located in Srinagar, Baliheran, the Medina Public Higher Secondary School is in need of a school extension to accommodate additional classes in Science, Commerce and Arts for the 11th and 12th standard.
UK PROJECTS
VITALITY LONDON
Our very own colleague Danielle ran the Vitality London 10k to raise funds for BCT on Sunday 23rd September. Congratulations on her great success!
HAND ON HEART
BCT are proud to continue our partnership with HoH. We have recently supported their Summer Homeless Essential Campaign, where 1,000 packs were distributed to vulnerable groups throughout June and August.
Each drawstring bag was filled with -
Polo Shirt
Underwear (3 pairs)
Socks (3 pairs)
Baseball Cap
Lip Balm (new item)
Shower Gel
Deodorant
Wet Wipes
Toothbrush/Toothpaste
First Aid plasters
Bottled Water
Sun Cream, Sleeping Bags and Blankets will be available on request to homeless at out reach drives
We were delighted that the summer campaign also offered a barber service where 15 people received up to date haircuts!
In addition this this, we have also proudly supported their School Backpack campaign,providing backpacks to children from disadvantaged families filled with school supplies. With the cost of living crisis now being faced by thousands of families all over the UK, there is sadly a rise in the number of families seeking support for basic essentials.
All bags included as standard -
Reusable water flask
Stationary Sets (folders, dividers, notebook, sticky notes, pens, pencils, rubber, glue stick,sharpener, pencil case, ruler and highlighters)
USB Reading Light
Secondary School backpacks also included -
Scientific Calculator
Helix Maths Set - (compass, pencil, protector, 2 set squares)
Primary School backpacks included -
Lunch bag
Activity Books
Keep your eyes peeled for our Q4 report and information on Wear It Pink, and National Christmas Jumper Day!