2017 Activity Report

Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you." Mother Teresa

CHIROTA Project 2017 Summarized Activity Report
(January to December 2017)

On behalf of CHIROTA Elderly Neighbors and its Board of Directors, I wish to extend my greetings to you, our Supporters and your families. It is with great pleasure I inform you that CHIROTA Project has completed its 7^th Year on December 31, 2017 by performing its activities according to its Objectives. In this occasion, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our Supporters for their involvement in these lifesaving endeavors.

As you know, every year a report was prepared and submitted to you.  Accordingly, I am submitting here below the 2017 Summarized Activity Report. 

I. Introduction

In 2017, we have assisted 20 households (25 people including two disabled young men, one young lady and her daughter who are HIV/AIDS positive). Unfortunately, in 2017 we have lost two Beneficiaries who were very sick and also two Beneficiaries have moved away to rural area due to unbearable rent increase in Addis Ababa. These vacant posts will be filled in 2018 accordingly.

Thanks to the dedicated Administrator, Volunteers and Advisers, the 2017 activities were performed as planned. In addition, I had kept continuous follow up with the Administrator as well as with the Volunteers to receive verbal reports every week by phone and written reports every quarter. In addition, at the end of 2017, while I was in Addis Ababa, I interviewed all Beneficiaries and they confirmed to me that they had received their full assistance without any interruption. They also validated receiving high quality of Injera and food ingredients

II. CHIROTA Project activities in 2017

·         Providing two meals a day

·         Give monthly pocket money for rent, utility, cooking gas & Mutual Association (EDIR)

·         Providing medical assistance and counseling

·         Making their dwellings livable

·         Providing cleaning assistance as needed

·         Visit the Elders frequently to avoid loneliness and to check on their health conditions

1.   Providing two meals a day

In 2017, the Beneficiaries have confirmed that they have received their assistance as follows:

(a) They have received 7 to 12 Injeras a week depending on their number of families. The Injeras were distributed Monday, Wednesday and Friday as scheduled.  The Baker who was hired since 2016 has provided high quality Injeras and has delivered on time and distributed accordingly. 

(b)  Food Ingredients such as Split Lentil, Peas Powder, Cooking Oil and home-made Berbere (Chili Powder) were distributed at the beginning of each month as planned.

Note: In 2017, family members and neighbors were volunteering to cook for our Elderly Beneficiaries in cooking and we are grateful for their services.

2.  Monthly pocket money

It has been confirmed that each Beneficiary has received the allocated money for mutual association, rent, water, electricity, cooking gas and for additional food ingredients such as vegetables, salt and etc.

3. Medical Assistance and the Health Conditions of the Beneficiaries

(a) In 2017, most of the Elders were in good health conditions but weak due to old age.

(b) There is no change on those young men who are bed-ridden. Although there is nothing we could do for them except providing them the basic needs, we are helping their mothers who are getting very weak.

(c) The young lady who is HIV positive is getting weaker even though her medication has been changed. However, her daughter is doing better after change of medication.

(d) All Beneficiaries’ checkups and medical expenses were covered accordingly. In some cases, Selam Clinic was out of medication, so it was purchased from the outside Pharmacy although it was expensive.

Note: The Health reports of each Beneficiary were recorded and was submitted to me.

4. Visiting and Counseling

In 2017, the Volunteers were visiting the Beneficiaries once a week to listen to their concerns, comments and to solve problems, if any.  Moreover, the messenger who was delivering Injera three times a week was gathering information and was passing it to the Volunteers. The Administrator and Volunteers have taken the necessary action immediately. The actions taken were always reported to me.

5. Providing cleaning assistance

In 2017, we did not provide cleaning assistance, thanks to neighbors and family members of the Beneficiaries who were willing to do the job.

6. Shelters, Clothing and Bedding   

(a) Beneficiaries’ shelters/houses are in livable conditions, so there is no repair done this year. Their shelters will be evaluated in 2018 and the necessary repairs will be done.

(b) In 2017, the Beneficiaries needs of clothing and bedding were evaluated. Accordingly, shoes and tights were given to the ladies; shoes and socks were given to the men. We wish to note here that during the distribution, one of our Board Members from New York was present.

Note: If you wish to see detail reports on our Beneficiaries, it is available on request.

III. Beneficiaries who passed away in 2017

1.   Ms. A.W., over 85 years old, was assisted by CHIROTA Project since January 2011. She suffered from osteoporosis and other sickness for a long time. She passed away on 16 October 2017. Her funeral services were covered by her Mutual Association. RIP

2.   Ms. A.T., over 75 years old was assisted since January 2015. She had various kinds of sickness and passed away on 17 October 2017. Since she did not have Mutual Association, CHIROTA Project covered her funeral expenses. RIP.

IV. Beneficiaries who moved far away

1.    Ms. B.S,, who was assisted since January 2012, moved far away from the neighborhood with her family due to the expensive nature of rents in the area. However, for few months, her daughter and her grandchildren were coming to get her assistance. Then they stopped coming. Recently we heard that she suffers from mental problem and she has left her family. Although she was seen once, nobody knows where she is now.

2.    Ms. W. and her disabled son G. have moved far from our area due to rent increase. Their new dwelling is owned by the Government with little rent payment. So, the mother is very happy although it is far from her old neighborhood where she works as street cleaner. Fortunately, she is able to collect her Injera three times a week and her monthly assistance. While I was in Addis Ababa at the end of 2017, I talked to her in several occasions and visited G, her son at their new place who was happy to see although he could not express it. After observing their needs, we have raised their assistance.

3.    Ms. A. M., who moved away to Sululeta, was coming to collect her assistance for few months but, because of the distance, she stopped coming although she needs our help. So, as a trial, we arranged to send it through someone ones a month. This arrangement won’t seem feasible because of transport expenses but we decided to try it until we get another solution. 

V. The 2017 Financial Report

The financial standing of CHIROTA Project in 2017 is very good due to the generous donations by friends and families with their determination to save the lives of those vulnerable people. Therefore, CHIROTA Project is being operated without any financial issues. In this regard, our gratitude also goes to the Administrator and the Volunteers for managing the monthly expenses by purchasing food ingredients and other materials in a very controlled manner. Here is how we manage our financial income and expenses:             

1.   Donation in dollar is deposited in Chase Bank and it is wired to Abyssinia Bank once a year. Donation in Birr is deposited in Abyssinia Bank.

2.   As we do every year, the Estimated 2017 Yearly Budget, Monthly Budget as well as Individual Budget were set up and the activities were performed accordingly.

3. After the onetime expenses were done, twelve individual monthly checks were prepared covering the monthly expenses, signed and were given to the Administrator in advance at the beginning of the year.

4.   All income and expenses were recorded by the Administrator in her books and then by the Volunteer Accountant in the Accounting Ledger.

5.   Every quarter of the year, the Accounting Ledger was submitted to me and the 2017 complete Financial Statement was prepared.

6.   When I was in Addis Ababa, I reviewed the financial statement with the Administrator and the Accountant to make sure the figures were correct. Now, the financial statement is ready to be audited.

VI. Positive Achievements

1.   I am happy to observe that the Beneficiaries and the Volunteers are very close like families. The Beneficiaries feel free to talk to the Volunteers anything in their minds.  In this regard, the Beneficiaries had expressed their high appreciation of the Volunteers for their unwavering and continuous assistance. They also extend gratitude to all their supporters.

2.   We are grateful that in 2017 neighbors and family members have provided cleaning as well as cooking assistance to some of our Beneficiaries. This is a result of efforts made by the Volunteers creating good relationship among neighbors and family members.    

3.   As mentioned above, one of our Beneficiaries, Ms. W. with her disabled son, G., was paying higher rent for one small room which she or we could not afford. In 2017, she found a government house with very low rent which we can afford to pay. Thanks to those who helped us.

VII. Volunteers and Employees

The Volunteers (Administrator, Accountant, Medical Assistant/Monthly Distributor, Advisers) have expressed their willingness to continue assisting CHIROTA Project. In this regard, I have extended my appreciation to all of them for their willingness, as well as for providing compassionate and respectful services to the Beneficiaries.  Without their firm and devoted performance, it could have been difficult to accomplish the goals and objectives of CHIROTA Project during the past seven years. Our gratitude also goes to the Cook/the Injera Packer and the Messenger for doing an excellent job in distributing the Injera on time.

VIII.  Board of Directors

My appreciation goes to the Board of Directors for their commitment, advice and generous support to reach to the goals and objectives of CHIROTA Project.  Especially, I wish to extend my thanks to the Secretary of the Board. Ms. C.D.M. for recording minutes of the meetings and keeping in her custody the important documents of CHIROTA Project.  My gratitude also goes to the three Board of Directors: Ms. N.S., Ms. W.H. and Ms. M.S. for visiting the Beneficiaries at their dwellings in different occasions.

XI. Conclusion

In conclusion, I wish to inform you that CHIROTA Project activities are being operated according to its Goals and Objectives. I would also like to emphasize here that I am fully satisfied with the activities performed in 2017 and assure you that, with your support, it would continue to be a very successful project.

I am looking forward to receive your questions, comments as well as suggestions. God, bless you for your unconditional support that you are providing to those vulnerable people in Ethiopia as well as supporting me so that my dreams come true. It means a world to me.

Warmest regards,
Founder/President
Date: July 24, 2018