SHAPING FUTURES

2015–2016

100% of donations received are used to help the children – every penny counts. Our aim is to help children where it will make the biggest difference.

Charity Registration Number (in England & Wales) 1136170 Company Registration Number 714510 REGISTERED ADDRESS: 143 Attenborough Lane, Attenborough, Nottingham, NG9 6AA 0115 896 9942

Contents About us 5 A Note from the Managing Director 6 Keep a Child Safe 8 Keep a Child Warm 10 Keep a Child Healthy 12 Keep a Child Learning 14 Volunteers 16 School Links 16 Keep a Child Warm Challenge 18 Northern Iraq 20 Forget-Me-Notts, UK 20 Marketing & Communication 23 Corporate Supporters 23

DIRECTORS/TRUSTEES: Bradley Moore Cyrilyn Moore Dave Bignall Lyn Bignall Damian Broughton MBE Helen Broughton MBE

STAFF: Bradley Moore – Managing Director Cyrilyn Moore – Communications Director Jessica Meyers – Operations Manager Heather Sharp – Administrative Support

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About us Operation Orphan is a charity which aims to improve the quality of life for orphans and vulnerable children in a holistic, culturally relevant, sensitive and sustainable way.

We want to create a safe world for children orphaned through natural or man-made disasters by connecting them to loving support networks and strengthening the care structure around them. We have many projects throughout Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and in the Caribbean. In Sierra Leone we’re building homes for children left orphaned by the 2015 Ebola outbreak. Here they can be looked after in a safe and secure environment. In Moldova we distribute coats and warm clothing to equip children to combat the harsh winters. In Uganda, we’re building toilet blocks to help improve sanitation and reduce the risk of water-borne diseases. These are just some of the many projects we’re developing to help create a brighter future for those most at risk. We believe in direct action; investing in the safety, nurture, development and overall wellbeing of orphans and vulnerable children. Our success is in our many strategic partnerships. Lots of small yet significant projects making a deep impact.

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Every pound donated to Operation Orphan is guaranteed to go directly into strengthening the immediate care structure of the children. All of our UK administration costs are underwritten by Danbro, a Lancashire-based firm of chartered management accountants. Our marketing is kindly provided free of charge by the branding specialists, Media Collective.

100% OF DONATIONS RECEIVED ARE USED TO HELP THE CHILDREN – EVERY PENNY COUNTS. OUR AIM IS TO HELP CHILDREN WHERE IT WILL MAKE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE.

This means that all of the money we raise goes straight to our projects to keep a child safe, warm, healthy and learning.

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A Note from the Managing Director

Donate Monthly

5000 THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN OPERATION ORPHAN HAVE HELPED THIS YEAR

KeepA Child Keep a Child is a sponsorship scheme with a difference. Our strategy is to support the child by strengthening the care structure around them. We ask donors to help us keep children warm, safe, healthy and learning by becoming part of the Operation Orphan family. Across our projects, the Keep a Child scheme takes many different forms which come under one or more of the following goals:

To donate monthly simply complete the form below and then post it to: 143 Attenborough Lane, Attenborough, Nottingham, NG9 6AA. Full Name Email Address Phone Number Address

Gift Aid

Post code Banker’s Order - To the manager: Bank name Address

Please debit the following account:

Raising a child takes time, patience, love and hope. It is an honour to see the impact of what long term commitment and investment can produce. This year I had the absolute privilege of spending time with some young adults who had made the most of the opportunity provided to them through Operation Orphan.

As children, they had lived through the horror of losing their parents and now in adulthood are building their lives in a positive way. This motivates us to find (and support) orphans as quickly as possible. It is so important for them to know they are not alone and have new family that will play an active role in their lives. Finding these children, ensuring that support directly, relevantly and efficiently impacts their

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immediate care structure is challenging. This year we have taken huge steps in understanding and delivering care to children in a number of countries where disaster has struck. We are building on these experiences so that in the event of major disasters, where the affected countries ask for international assistance, Operation Orphan will be on the front line; identify, make safe and keep safe those children orphaned by the disaster.

To those of you who have contributed your time, expertise or money I say a huge thank you. You are part of the family that these children rely on to see them through to adulthood. Please spread the word so that together we can secure the future care of these and many more children.

Brad

KEEP A CHILD SAFE: Where children are orphaned through a sudden disaster, natural or man-made, we will do all we can to ensure these children are identified, supported and connected to a safe and loving care structure. KEEP A CHILD WARM: Where orphans and vulnerable children face harsh winters, our goal is to provide as many children as possible with adequate clothing to withstand and survive the freezing conditions.

Name Account No. Sort Code Please pay the following account Barclays Bank Blackpool, Birley Street Branch Account name: Operation Orphan LTD

Donate online

Account number: 23393763 Sort code: 20 - 10 - 03 the sum of

commencing on

£ KEEP A CHILD HEALTHY: We are committed to ensuring children in our care are fed, have access to basic health care, and are part of a loving and nurturing environment that looks after both their physical and their emotional needs.

KEEP A CHILD LEARNING: Education can help children break the cycle of poverty and help them create secure futures for themselves. However, many orphans and vulnerable children don’t have access to education. We are committed to ensuring children in our care have access to primary and, where possible, secondary education.

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and continue monthly until I give you notice in writing. Signed

Dated /

Gift Aid Statement You must pay tax an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for each tax year (6 April one year to 5 April the next year) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that Operation Orphan will reclaim on your gifts for that tax year. Please notify Operation Orphan if you: 1. Want to cancel this declaration.

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2. Change your name or home address. 3. No longer pay sufficient tax on your income and/or capital gains. Operation Orphan will reclaim 25p on every £1 that you give. If you pay income tax at the higher rate, you must include all your Gift Aid donations on your Self Assessment tax return if you want to receive the additional tax relief due to you.

www.operation-orphan.org 143 Attenborough Lane, Attenborough, Nottingham, NG9 6AA T: 084321 63838 | F: 084321 63848 | E: [email protected] Charity Registration Number: 1136170 Company Registration Number: 7148510

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Keep a Child SafeChild KeepA

safe

In April 2015, one of the most devastating earthquakes in Nepal killed over 8,000 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless and traumatised. Entire villages were flattened, with continued aftershocks leaving the region at risk from landslides and disease. Amidst the chaos, human traffickers preyed upon the surviving families.

Immediately after the first earthquake, Operation Orphan engaged in helping 400 families keep their children safe and healthy by providing food and warm clothing. Together with our Nepalese partners, we were able to feed approximately one thousand people for a week for just £1.35 per person. Working through local networks makes money go further and ensures 100% impact. In May, Brad visited Nepal to deliver the much needed aid and help families who were left with nothing. “Everywhere I looked houses had been damaged or destroyed, their food, clothing and belongings trapped in the rubble. People were building whatever makeshift shelter they could, to start trying to rebuild their homes. I saw mothers and children carrying slate tiles and wood and men using their bare hands to shift the rubble.” To make matters worse, the police told Brad that crowds were looting aid vehicles. In preparation for the intense rains of the monsoon season, Operation Orphan provided £3,000 to purchase corrugated metal sheets for 30 families to build sturdy temporary shelters. The double impact of this investment meant that not only would these sheets provide an appropriate short term solution but will also empower the family to rebuild their new permanent home. This January, we were delighted 8

to receive an update. Ram Prasad, our partner in Nepal, told us about one particular family who were struggling even before the earthquakes.  Krishna’s parents both died of HIV when he was 10, first his mother and then his father.  After his father’s death nobody from the village came to his house to get the body to be cremated because of the stigma the illness carries. So the body was left at home decaying.  When the smell was unbearable, the villagers came and cremated the body beside Krishna’s house, leaving him and his brothers with nobody to care for them.  Occasionally, their 70-year-old grandma would appear, but never stayed very long as their shelter was poor and no good for the work that she was doing to earn a living. Krishna told Ram, “If my house is rebuilt, I and my brothers and grandma can live together and make our living by working in the village. My grandma has the skill of

Another project close to our hearts is helping children in Sierra Leone who have been orphaned by Ebola. As you’ll remember, 2014 saw the worst ever recorded outbreak of the disease, and by February 2015 it had claimed the lives of over 9,000 people, and impacted millions more.

OUR PARTNERS IN SIERRA LEONE, HEAVEN HOMES, ESTABLISHED A SCHOOL WHERE THEY WERE HELPING CHILDREN AFFECTED BY THE CIVIL WAR. These little children had been quarantined in their home with their dying family members; they had nothing.  Many children in this situation contracted Ebola and died. The survivors, now immune from the disease, had to remain in their homes.  They lived out the three-week incubation period on their own, fending for themselves.  If they survived the quarantine period, they then found that due to fear, they were rejected by their community.

Our partners in Sierra Leone, Heaven Homes, established a school where they were helping children affected by the civil war. Working together, our goal is to provide a safe environment where children can be nurtured to realise their full potential. Just before Christmas 2014, we were thrilled to announce that we’d received a significant donation which enabled us to build the first children’s homes for the survivors. Two have now been completed and in February, Cyrilyn went to visit to officially open these and see the children move in. It was encouraging to see how well they are gelling in their new family units and how settled they are at Heaven Homes.

We know that this is a long term commitment and Operation Orphan wants to support each of the children right through to 18 years of age.  Our hope is that they leave these homes knowing that they are loved, and that they will always have a family there.  Our desire is that they also leave equipped for the next season in life. 

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP US IN THIS LONG TERM COMMITMENT, PLEASE CONSIDER SETTING UP A REGULAR KEEP A CHILD DONATION. 100% OF YOUR DONATION WILL BE USED TO DIRECTLY BENEFIT THE CHILDREN.

Through people’s kindness and the hard work of the team in Sierra Leone, the children now have not only a safe place to be, but a home to live in.

stitching cloth; she can make her living and we can be together as a family.”  With the money donated here in the UK, Ram Prasad was able to buy metal sheeting and the team rebuilt their home. Now the boys and their grandma live together in their home and live their lives with dignity.

“We believe partnering with others who share the same heart is the key! Operation Orphan has a parenting heart and we have seen this demonstrated consistently.”

Kippy

Project Co-ordinator at heaven Homes

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Keep a Child Warm KeepA Child

“We have never before got such a help.”

warm

Helen Helen Brovko, Circle of Friends

For the past few years Keep a Child Warm has been providing warm clothing as a relief effort to help orphans and vulnerable children who live in freezing conditions. Initially this response focused on areas of Eastern and Central Europe, where during the winter temperatures can plummet to below -20°C for long periods of time.

We were thrilled this year to be bursting at the seams due to people’s incredible generosity. From the Shetland Isles to the valleys of South Wales, schools, groups, organisations and individuals across the UK helped raise money or donate warm clothing and blankets to our campaign. Loving Hands have supported Operation Orphan since 2012. A network of knitters from all over the UK have been donating bags and bags of beautiful handmade blankets, hats, scarves and mittens. Thanks to Loving Hands, The Sun newspaper launched a knitting campaign in conjunction with the birth of Princess Charlotte. The response was overwhelming and Operation Orphan was just one of the charities to benefit from this national campaign collecting 12,872 lovingly knitted items. As part of the Keep a Child Warm pack we put together a shipment of clothing for Nepal. Our partners there worked hard to gain clearance for the clothing however by the end of February 2016 this had still not been granted. We have continued to support the Nepali

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orphans with financial aid and the clothing will be used in our next distribution. In June and July, volunteers joined us to sort through our donations in preparation for our packing week. We had tonnes to ship to Moldova, Ukraine, Romania, to our partners in Sierra Leone and to help with the relief effort in Nepal. Packing week was once again at Chilwell Sixth Form where we enlisted the help of the entire Year 12 to help sort the donations and package the relevant aid for each project. The main purpose for this week is to deliver our Keep a Child Warm project, creating individual boxes of warm coats, blankets,

ONE IN EVERY FIVE CHILDREN RAISED IN AN ORPHANAGE IN UKRAINE BECOMES HOMELESS hats, scarves and gloves in the required sizes. We begin with the end in mind, each coat is selected

for a specific child. The students know the name, age and gender of the individual they are packing for and then choose from what’s available. We wanted to build on last year’s success and make an even wider impact, helping children in some of the most remote and impoverished villages. Our distribution teams, consisting of people from all walks of life, were there to help the aid reached its intended destination - the children who need it most. The team worked tirelessly alongside a group of locals who helped with the entire process. This was an amazing experience; highlighting the genuine need and absolute gratitude for this relief. Figures from the beginning of 2015 suggest that in the Ukraine there are 8 million children and a staggering 100,000 of these children are orphans. Orphans who live in government programmes are said to have a very low chance of success in life. One in every five children raised in an orphanage becomes homeless and every second orphan commits a crime.

Statistics show that not even a third of them will build their own families; only a quarter find employment; just one per cent will go into higher education and saddest of all, 14% have attempted to commit suicide. These numbers

ONE IN TWO ORPHANS RAISED IN STATE ORPHANAGES WILL COMMIT A CRIME cry out for action! Behind each number there is a REAL life of a REAL person. 30,000 little ones in Ukraine live their lives without knowing what it is to be special and dear to someone.

Since partnering with Circle of Friends we have made a start at supporting just 2000 of these orphans. Our consignment of winter clothing and shoes arrived in Ukraine before the harsh weather and made an impact on all who benefitted. As well as helping children in Europe, last year we sent two 20ft containers filled with warm clothing and bedding to our partners in Sierra Leone. This has helped in setting up the homes for the orphans as well as giving hope to more than 80 families who lost their homes as a result of the Freetown flooding. Bundles of aid, many of these items hand-made by our faithful knitters, were given to support these displaced flood victims.

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FOR THIS AMOUNT, OPERATION ORPHAN IS ABLE TO GET A COAT, HAT, GLOVES, SCARF AND BLANKET TO A CHILD IN NEED.

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KeepA Child

healthy

It’s been over five years since we asked our partners in Nabigyo, Uganda, how we could best help their community. The answer came back – community toilets. Pencott Valley Primary School is our main focus in Uganda and since 2010 we have been helping to improve sanitation, build classrooms and provide a regular income for teachers.

Keep a Child Healthy

“Before the toilets were built at least six people in the area would die of cholera every year. Since the toilets have been built, nobody in Nabigyo has died from cholera.”

P hilip

Philip Wandendeya (Project Co-ordinator)

When the children were at school they had a clean and safe toilet to use however they went home to holes dug in the ground with a scrap of wood to stand on. These could not be kept clean, diseases spread quickly and, as they were further away from their homes, were incredibly dangerous for young girls. We set about fundraising to build some safer and cleaner toilets in the community and gradually, thanks to our Lancashire partner schools, we were able to build five sets of new toilets throughout the community. The children’s health is so much better and the danger for young girls in the community is reduced with the lockable doors.

“WE COULDN’T HAVE PROVIDED THIS SIMPLE SOLUTION WITHOUT THE HELP OF OUR PARTNER SCHOOLS. I’M ALWAYS SO GRATEFUL TO THOSE OF YOU WHO SEND FUNDS TO HELP US TO TURN OUR DREAM INTO A REALITY.” CYRILYN MOORE, CO-FOUNDER.

One of our latest projects has taken us to Bethany Village in South East India, a fourth generation leprosy colony, home

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to 2,000 inhabitants. The eldest generation are mostly severely disabled from the disease. The generation in their fifties were fortunate to receive medication to be cured, but secondary infections often resulted in severe physical disabilities. The younger generation and their children are disease free but still live in the colony. We are currently working with our partners there to support 13 children from seven families. These children have been identified as the most vulnerable in the village - standing outside homes during meal times, hoping to receive something to eat. This was their only source of food. Our aim is to develop a sustainable feeding programme and keep children healthy by providing access to nutritious foods. We have provided the village with

banana trees which in time will give them a valuable source of food. We’ve also supplied chickens supplementing the children’s diet with eggs. The Nutrition Centre in Ghana continues to help mothers struggling to care for their babies’ nutritional needs. So many of the children brought to the centre are near death. While it would be untrue to say that every story is a success, stories with good endings vastly outweigh the sad. Ann Carpenter, our project coordinator, told us of a set of triplets. These babies were born incredibly small and miraculously survived, however their mother did not have enough milk and so was referred to the Nutrition Centre. Here they helped her with additional milk and advice about caring for her babies. Now, thanks to this support they are three healthy six month old babies.

IS HEALTHCARE ALWAYS PHYSICAL? Many of our projects deal with the emotional health of the orphans we support. HIV orphans in Zimbabwe receive support through the Hope for Life project. This has been set up by HIV experts and care givers who offer children an opportunity to meet with other sufferers for peer support and a chance to ‘escape’. They run camps and play days where they can, for a moment, regain their childhood and have some fun.

within their capabilities. Currently, Nottingham Trent University Psychology Department are developing bespoke training and support for us in this area. Masters students have been tasked with finding appropriate ways of supporting children through trauma in a resource-poor environment. They are also looking at the best ways for us to guide and support care givers.

WE SUPPORT FEEDING PROGRAMMES, NUTRITION PROVISION, SUPPORT GROUPS AND HEALTH CARE. HELPING CHILDREN WITH THEIR PSYCHOSOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING, NOT JUST THEIR PHYSICAL HEALTH.

Caring for orphans who have lived through trauma requires some expertise. Many of our partners have the desire to help these children and do their very best

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Keep a Child Learning KeepA Child

learning

Keep a Child Learning creates the opportunity for a child to redefine their future; one that reflects their personal attitude, passion and talents. They no longer have to be victims of their circumstances, but are given the chance to thrive. Keep a Child Learning works and we would sincerely love to extend this opportunity to other orphans around the world.

“I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE WORLD WITH A DEAF CHILD UNTIL I CAME TO NZEVE. THERE I MET OTHER MOTHERS AND CHILDREN WITH THE SAME CHALLENGES. IT HAS HELPED ME TO COPE – KNOWING I CAN TALK TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND MY SITUATION. NOW I HAVE LEARNT HOW TO COMMUNICATE IN SIGN LANGUAGE I CAN START TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH MY CHILD.” MOTHER OF PRETTY.

We are excited to see the work at Nzeve continue to thrive. In a country where deafness was understood to be a curse children were punished for, it’s simply wonderful to see the growing awareness and change of attitude. Education is taking place; not just educating the deaf but their respective families. Libby Foster does a wonderful job in running the deaf centre, proving learning opportunities and small business for the vulnerable. It is a privilege to be partnering with this amazing project. In September 2015 we piloted a project in Jamaica to keep children in school. Project Coordinators Wycliffe and Veronica Blair have a passion to see the children in the district of Belle Plain attending school. So many of the families cannot afford to

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provide their children with shoes, books, uniforms and everything else they need to be allowed to attend school. So their plan is to work with the schools to identify these families and help them out. Keeping children in school is so important. Getting an education can be the difference between getting out of poverty and remaining trapped in the vicious cycle. Through Keep a Child Learning we initially helped 10 children: making small contributions to help offset the costs of their education. This included school fees, uniforms, shoes and stationery. The impact of this contribution was that these 10 children attended school, many for the first time since as early as February 2015. We gave the children a gift of some books,

Over 10 years ago in Mutare, Zimbabwe, Nev Borradaile started the Amatelaz Homework Centre. The aim of the centre is to equip orphans and vulnerable children for adult life by helping them pass their exams. This is achieved through curriculum-based revision sessions, assisting with daily homework and helping to strengthen their ability to read and write in English. In countries where English is not the mother-tongue, children are still expected to study and sit exams in English and without an O-level certificate it is difficult to find employment. After working alongside Nev for the last 18 months, Operation Orphan officially took over the running of this project in January 2016, in collaboration with a team of locals. We are very proud of its history and excited about the future.

In order for a child to use this centre they must be attending school. Often it is the children who can’t attend, because their guardians can’t afford to send them, that need the most help. Operation Orphan, through Keep a Child Learning, identifies these children and empowers them to go to school. In order to keep their place on the programme they must regularly attend the homework centre. Through Amatelaz, Senior, who was orphaned whilst still at primary school, found a place where he received love, care and opportunity. Senior was empowered, not only to go to school, but also with another opportunity. The vocational training programme, run by Wendy Masusa, helped him discover his talent for sewing. As a young man, he has honed this

skill and now has a steady flow of orders, generating a liveable income. In a country where unemployment is over 90% this is hugely significant. He is young, passionate and talented but without the Amatelaz Homework Centre this story could have been very different. Brad visited Amatelaz in January 2016. “It was an honour and privilege to see Senior at work and the pride on Wendy’s face as Senior showed me the beautiful garments he has created. Amatelaz is so effective in improving exam results that head teachers encourage children at their school to attend. It is also an efficient and effective way of strengthening the existing care structure of the child. Our long term goal is to open other centres in areas where children need this kind of support.”

pencils, rubbers and sharpeners to help as they started their new year at school. Our hope is that these precious children will thrive as they are now empowered to attend school. On their behalf we would like to thank all those who help Operation Orphan Keep a Child Learning. It really does make a difference. Veronica and Wycliffe also identified four of the neediest children in the community, who without support could not attend school. Daniel, Sanjay, Satoya and Shanakay were early primary school age. It costs just £28 per month to keep a child in school. This covers both their school fees and lunches.

“Lots of little projects making a deep impact enables us to change lives where the change will bring about the biggest difference”

Brad Brad Moore – Charity MD

The project was initially set to run for six months during which time we assessed its impact and identified best practices. Our hope is to maintain our support to see these children graduate school with a balanced education.

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Volunteers We are thrilled to have some wonderful volunteers. Both locally and as far as the Shetland Islands there are people who are waving our banner, helping us to spread the word about Operation Orphan. The charity has 10 regular volunteers offering their skills and support in the office and warehouse. There are also approximately 130 volunteers helping out with fundraising events and UK based activity such as Keep a Child Warm and Forget-Me-Notts.

Volunteer fundraisers over the last year have generated funds for specific projects close to their hearts and 100% of these funds received have been allocated accordingly. People have been busy running half marathons, husky rides, cake sales and quizzes.

School Links We are always so grateful to receive financial support from our supporting schools. This year these funds have been allocated to various projects including the Nepal crisis, Pencott Valley School in Uganda, Keep a Child Warm and also for general funds to be used at the charity’s discretion.

A total of 68 UK schools held coat collections for Keep a Child Warm. Cyrilyn Moore, Schools Co-ordinator and Director, has provided update assemblies as feedback for their support to the charity. We are happy that the number of schools supporting has now grown again.

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This year we produced a video and Powerpoint presentation to be shown in schools and we hope to recruit some volunteers to help us feed back to schools over the coming year.

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Keep a Child Warm Challenge January marked the charity’s first ever Keep a Child Warm Week. Schools, community groups and individuals took on the challenge to put on as many items of clothing as possible in five minutes. This fun activity helped to promote the Keep a Child Warm initiative, whilst helping to raise funds to keep this running effectively. Notts TV covered the story, giving exposure on weekend news to raise awareness. We hope this fun event will be repeated annually as it was such a successful way to engage people with the charity. This is something that could be extended to other counties and is a really hands-on and fun way to learn about the charity. The challenge is open to all our members, which means that thousands of girls and young women from 5 to 25 have had the opportunity to take part.

‘WE’RE DELIGHTED TO HAVE DEVELOPED THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH OPERATION ORPHAN AND ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE KEEP A CHILD RESOURCE AS IT CHIMES SO PERFECTLY WITH OUR AIM OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE TO THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE EVERYWHERE,’ KATE ROYSE, GIRLGUIDING NOTTINGHAMSHIRE’S COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

Girlguiding groups from around Nottinghamshire took on more than one challenge as they worked towards earning their Keep a Child badge. Cyrilyn Moore (Co-Founder) worked closely with County Commissioner Kate Royse to develop an exciting resource for the Nottinghamshire Girlguiding groups to become familiar with the work of Operation Orphan.

Northern Iraq Our project co-ordinators, Steve and Sam Fletcher, are working from the UK in close contact with our partners in Irbil to establish who to help and how. This country is unstable and completely devastated by war.

An initial donation of $500 was sent, beginning the process of building a strong working relationship. We heard back from the team to say that they had distributed brand new clothing and school supplies to some of the orphans in the area. These children are living in crowded conditions with members of their extended family. Our contact there said, “…these children are living with broken hearts, with very little support and nobody to ask after them, but when I gave out their gifts, I could see the joy fill their eyes.”

and dangerous caravan. Both parents have been emotionally and psychologically impacted by the war and the father also had some mobility issues making the caravan less than ideal. It was their son who Sam and Steve vowed to help.

When they visited in November 2015 they met a small family who were living in a dark, damp

Thanks to some amazing donors in the UK and with help from the team in Irbil, the little

BIRTH TO

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THE AGE CHILDREN ARE SUPPORTED

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This little boy had a cognitive development disorder which had not only led to multiple other health issues, but also to being ostracised by what was left of the community around them. It was clear the family needed additional care.

boy is currently working with a paediatric psychologist on some of the unseen issues and the family have moved into a partner organisation building, providing support for mum and dad as well. We continue to work with the teams to establish the best way of helping, in the meantime we are so grateful to those who carry on supporting this work in Iraq with orphans and refugees.

Finances

73 NO. OF UK SCHOOLS HELPING OPERATION ORPHAN LAST YEAR

Forget-Me-Notts, UK This simple gesture continues to send a positive message to children who often feel unloved. We receive emails and stories, letting us know how valuable this project really is. One teenage boy this year had been given an easter egg for the first time since his mum passed away several years ago. It meant a great deal to him.

Forget-Me-Notts has grown steadily over the past few years. At Easter 2015 the team purchased, packed and distributed 1,374 Easter Eggs. More than 300 of these were donated by Morrisons’ customers using the ‘Buy 1 Donate 1’ ‘ scheme and by staff at the Legal Aid Agency, Nottingham. Both collections worked well and the eggs were received in time and undamaged.

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At Christmas the project received another boost from Keepmoat, a nation-wide community regeneration and housebuilding company. Staff raised over £300, helping the team deliver to 1,479 children in and known to the care system across the Midlands. Jessica Meyers, Project Coordinator, was pleased to have been able to provide for children, not only in Nottingham City Social Services, but also be able to extend this to those in Nottingham County.

The Nottingham Knights Cheerleaders continue to be an invaluable support. This year’s Charity Secretary of the club, Kelly Clarke, has gone above and beyond. She’s taken on club challenges as well as her own personal challenges; helping to raise money for this project. Kelly’s Hyde Park Run managed to generate £440 in sponsorship and gift aid.

Our projects are why we do what we do. 100% of donations received go towards supporting the people on the ground. All of our core costs are generously paid for by Danbro Ltd. This means that every single penny donated goes directly into our projects.

£257,053

£93,661

£152,804

£10,588

INCOME

CORE

PROJECTS

GLOBAL EXPEDITIONS

Marketing The charity has assigned the role of Communications Director to Co-Founder and Director, Cyrilyn Moore. Cyrilyn has been actively using the social media platforms and video updates to engage the public in charity activities. The partnership formed with Girlguiding Nottinghamshire will enable the charity to reach 10,000 people and their respective families. The Keep a Child Warm Challenge was introduced as a fun way to raise awareness of this project as well as the charity in general. Opportunities to share stories via

the press are continually being explored and the charity has appeared numerous times this year on local TV stations and in the press. The charity is currently reassessing the communication of real-time stories with the public and will be producing more regular, printed updates over the coming year. The charity also launched their new website after years of support from JE Consulting, for which the

charity are very grateful. Media Collective are providing the charity with a more flexible site and more usable with the steady growth.

Corporate Supporters In November Fiona Flack from Danbro organised a Winter Ball which raised £9,452.00. This was a truly lovely evening and an opportunity for us to officially launch our Crisis Intervention plans. Danbro continues to underwrite the core costs of the charity, making it possible for us to declare our 100% promise. ROTHERA DOWSON, a Nottingham based law-firm decided to make Operation Orphan their charity of the year. Through Charity Coordinator, Jo Walchester, the firm have hosted a number of charity events including a Fashion Show and a pub quiz. Jo and a small team also took on the personal challenge of completing a sponsored 10K Survival of the Fittest Assault Course. We are incredibly grateful to Jo and to Rothera Dowson for their ongoing commitment to support the work. To date they have raised approximately £3,000 for the work of Operation Orphan and as always,

100% of this donation will be used to help better children’s lives. THE MEDIA COLLECTIVE provide us with fantastic designs, like the one you are reading right now, free of charge. They host our wonderful website and enable us to maintain the standard of excellence in marketing Operation Orphan as their charitable contribution. PROPERTY FACE2FACE is a fantastic property networking forum, organised by David and Sasha Stuart of In Residence. For the past few years they

have adopted Operation Orphan as their chosen charity and each Christmas we are thrilled to benefit from their special Christmas meal. Not only has this helped us to develop some great relationships within this sector, it’s also helped to generate funds for a variety of projects and further the work of Operation Orphan. In-kind services are critical to us and help us to channel 100% of donations to help the children. 23

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Donate today at:

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