Annual Report2015/2016

“Give a girl an education and introduce her properly into the world,

and ten to one but she has the means of settling well, without

further expense to anybody” ― Jane Austen

UZIMA WOMEN RELIEF GROUP INTERNATIONALTel416 297 6826Fax519 7616

10 Whiteleas Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M!B !W7, Canada

www.uzimawomeninternational.orginfo@uzimawomeninternational.org

Table of Contents

ContentsWord from

Executive Director______________________________________________________1

About Uzima___________________________________________________________2

Board of Directors _____________________________________________________3

Partner Agencies_______________________________________________________5

Activities_____________________________________________________________6

Financial report________________________________________________________10

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Word from the Executive Director

Uzima Women Relief Group International is aimed at supporting efforts to empower women globally especially in developing countries so that they can contribute to the global fight for women’s health, education and human rights. This annual reports summarizes the activities of Uzima in the last one year. It has been a challenging journey for a new organization but in moving forward we have realized some milestones.

The board of Directors is diverse and includes members from various developing countries with one member based in Kenya. Members of the Board have worked diligently to bring the annual fundraising events to a success. We have raised over $10,000 through these events. The Board is in the process of finalizing the application for charitable status. With a Charitable number, we will be able to solicit for funds more aggressively. We are continuously building partnerships in every sector since we use a multifaceted approach to achieve our goals.

We would hereby deeply and sincerely like to thank all those who have supported us since Uzima was founded in 2010. We would like to thank all our donors and community partners for their on-going support throughout these busy and economically challenging times. Last but not least our most sincere thanks go to our volunteers who continue to work in Diaspora communities in Canada as well as traveling abroad to work with impoverished communities.

Thank you all.

Jacobetwambayi

Jacobet Edith Wambayi, PhD

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About Uzima

Uzima Women Relief Group International is a non-profit charitable organization founded in 2010 and incorporated in 2012. Uzima is a Kiswahili word meaning wellness/fullness. The organization works to alleviate poverty and augment wellness among at-risk populations facing health challenges brought about by lack of access to medical care and medicines, good nutrition and education

for women and girls. By improving the health of women and their families the general wellness of communities will be enhanced. Our goals in helping women are aligned with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) now Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which are guiding us in our international work. Adopted in 2000, MDGs include eradiation of poverty and hunger, promotion of gender equality, and empowerment of women.

The goal of Uzima is to empower women and girls domestically and internationally to contribute to the global efforts on women’s health, education and human rights. Women all over the world bear the brunt of aftermaths of disease, war, conflicts & terrorism. It is our goal to work with the most vulnerable women to bring about the needed social change in their communities.

Mission

Uzima Women Relief Group International provides care and support to families affected by, poverty, war and disease domestically and internationally to contribute to the global efforts on women’s health, education and human rights.

Vision

We envision a world where women understand their rights and have access to quality health, education and economic stability.

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Our objectives:

To help alleviate poverty through empowering women and girls to attain higher education

To train women in methods of improved living conditions and better lifestyles of their families through educational workshops

To offer unique volunteer trips to developing countries that allow volunteers to participate in relief of poverty through education, better agriculture, health practices and income generating activities

Board of Directors

Dr. Baldip Khan - Kenya (resident in Kenya)

Ms. Esther Simon – Nigeria

Esther has vast working experience and knowledge of the community dynamics, programs and services, population, issues and resources especially with the ethno-specific organizationsfor the last fifteen years supporting and helping grassroots community organization create organizational capacity building strategies to address the changing demographic pattern in Toronto with regards to employment and social services support needs, issues and appropriate resources for easy integration into the Canadian system.

Esther worked with Central Neighbourhood as a Program Manager for 5 years, headed and supervised a pilot project with the agency. Esther also worked as a Housing Counsellor with York Community Services for over a year where she carried out intake and assessment for housing related issues, emergency / transitional housing program.

As a co- founder of the Broad African Resource Centre in 1998, and Globalnet Community Foundation (2011) Esther has been the agency lead officer with reference to staff development training, day to day supervision of staff, program and services.Esther is currently a full time Caseworker with the City of Toronto Employment and Social Services. Esther holds a BA from Manchester University, U.K. and has won several recognition awards.

Ms. Andrea Thomas - Jamaica

Andrea Thomas is a Student Advisor at York University working in several faculties for more than 8 years. She brings a background of working with young people both in

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church and the community that is an asset to Uzima. Along with two other associates, Andrea also runs Aspire Travel planning group cruises as well as other vacation getaways. Andrea is a mother of three adult children and spends her leisure time travelling.

Dr. Ebby Madera - Kenya

Ebby is a graduate of the University of Toronto, where she received both a Master of

Arts and a Doctorate in education. She also graduated with a Bachelor of Education

from the University of Nairobi. Ebby started her career in Kenya as teacher and taught

for several years before moving to the ministry of education as an education officer.

Ebby is currently working with the Ontario Public Service as a psychometrician.

Ebby and her husband Samson are actively in involved with various community

projects both in Canada and in Kenya.

Ms. Falastin Hussein Yassin - Somalia

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- Ms. Yassin is accomplished community development officer with 30+ years of experience working with local governments, I/NGOs and UNHCR to outreach, engage and train-the-trainer of Refugees and IDPS in conflict zones (Somalia, Syria-Jordan border cities and refugee camps)

- Coordinator, Horn of Africa Seniors Association of Ontario- Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General Accredited Freelance

Interpreter/Translator for English/Somali/English- Executive Partner of Kifoma Enterprise a small company that specializes in

consultancy for (re)integration of post conflict community members into their new societies and for how to mitigate the impact and challenges associated with life changing experience

- Former Coordinator of Brent Refugee Forum, in the UK, she advocated for just representation at decision-making tables of refugees and assisted capacity build 35 Refugee Community Organizations representing diverse communities from Iraq, Somalia, Afghanistan, Iran, Uganda that re-established new lives in the London Borough of BrentCurrently working on a book that visualizes the ongoing conflicts of the Horn of Africa

Partner Agencies

Africans in Partnership against AIDS - www. apaa .ca/

Abeingo Association Canada - www. abeingocanada .org

Northwood Neighbourhood Services - www.northw.ca

Elevations Foundation - www.elsci.ca

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Activities

The activities of this Corporation are carried out both in Canada and in developing countries. However, the fundraising activities and training of volunteers are mainly executed in Canada.

Supporting communities Canada

Uzima works with local agencies to support activities that empower vulnerable communities in Canada. These include women, youth, seniors Aboriginal people and LGBTQ groups. Uzima supports youth in Toronto’s Neighbourhood Improvement Areas by engaging youth in the summer students’ program. Youth organized discussion forums on healthy lifestyles to reduce the risk of engaging in risky behaviour that predisposes them to infections and engaging in crime. Uzima also empowers women through supporting community programs such as healthy lifestyles for seniors. Since the founding Directors and board members are people from developing countries they are empowering women and men in Canada who are interested in helping in developing countries.

Many community members especially women are still struggling with empowerment even here in Canada. Many are not well informed on Women's and children's rights. Uzima works with church leaders as well as other community leaders to reach marginalized communities in Canada to which many people from developing countries belong. Many women still experience discrimination in many ways and sometimes abuse from family members. Through Train-the-Trainer method we are reaching out and teaching women to know their rights.

Women’s project

This year, Uzima received funding from Women College Hospital to conduct a research study on female genital mutilation (FGM). The title of the study is “Investigating Experiences and Health Concerns of Female Genital Mutilation among African Women in Toronto.” The study is scheduled to end in March 2017.

Fundraising

Uzima launched its annual fundraising in May 2013. The proceeds of the fundraising events go to support grassroots women groups in developing countries. Events are held

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in May in recognition of Mother’s Day. The events have been successful in raising over $10,000. These funds have helped the women groups to start community projects supporting women and orphaned children.

Uzima solicits for grants competitively to do activities in Canada. This year Uzima received a grant from The Women College Hospital to investigate the health concerns of African women from countries where female genital mutilation is practiced. Uzima also received the Summer students government grant to hire two students over the summer holidays.

Volunteer Training in Canada

Uzima held its first volunteer training in 2014. In keeping with our mission and vision, the training emphasized empowerment of women Canada and internationally. Participants included people from Diaspora communities as well as the wider Canadian community.

Trained volunteers are currently working with communities in Canada. Volunteers are tapping into ongoing community events, support groups, workshops and other forums to educate and empower both men and women.

International Activities

Currently Uzima is carrying out charitable activities in Kenya. The two organizations in Kenya Uzima works with are Jitetee Musikoma Women Group and Uzima Community Empowerment Group.

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Other volunteers including Directors and Board members have traveled to Kenya and visited and worked with the two organizations. These volunteers and board members are originally from Kenya so they used the opportunity while traveling to visit their families and do their own personal businesses. Uzima did not pay for their travel nor living expenses while in Kenya. They have trained women in capacity building and empowerment. Uzima will train more volunteers in Canada and continue sending them to these countries to train local women and provide other supports as required.

Jitetee Musikoma Women Group

The group was started by 10 women in rural Western Kenya and has now grown to 30 members taking care of 35 AIDS orphans.

Uzima supports these two groups in the following areas:

Home based care for people living with HIV/AIDS and other illnesses

Capacity building in the areas of Human Rights of women and girls

as part of advancing Health and Sexual &Reproductive Rights: Increased access to education for AIDS orphans and women Better methods of farming Income generating activities

Uzima Community Empowerment Group.

This group has done its research to determine what commodities are in demand to ensure that their projects will not fail. The group is made up of 10 women and one man. They are all farmers hence the focus on farming initiatives. There is a ready market for the chicken within hotels and fast food businesses in the surrounding towns and even as far away as Nairobi city. Their projects include the following:

Fish, chicken, pigs, rabbits, cows and goats raring Engaging in horticultural products such as tomatoes, green and yellow

peppers, vegetables and flowers Starting a banana plantation

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Financial Report

Uzima is a newly formed organization still in its infancy. Our main source of funding has been the Annual fundraising dinners. In 2016 we raised $6,328. As well, we got grants and donations totaling $23,335. Uzima is growing and expanding its networks and marketing to be able to raise enough money for international projects. Below is the Financial statement as of October 2016.

Description 2015 2016

Revenue Expenses Revenue Expenses

Fundraising 2,215 1,443.24 $6,328.00 2,329.75

Women groups in Kenya - 700 2,500

AGM - 109.30

Other funding sources 519 - 2,973

Grant for women’s project in Toronto

- 14,922 5,000

Summer students funding(Salaries, Government payments: EI, CPP, Taxes)

- 7,940 3,887.14

Members fees 400 - - -

Donations to partner agencies

- - - 100

Office maintenance and supplies, equipment

- 377.14 - 300

Printing, publications, advertising

- 495.50 - 128.96

TOTALS $3,134 3,125.18 32,163 14,245.85

BALANCE 8.82 17,917.15