Financial Report 2019

Winst & Verlies rekening 2019

(by clicking on the pictures you can enlarge them)

Balans 2019

Annual report 2019

Annual Report 2019
Stichting Studiehulp Kay-Kok

Board: Mw. J. du Bois-Minholts, president

Mw. L.M. Kuijer, secretary

Mw. R. van der Kroef, treasurer

Website: http://ileavache.blogspot.com/

Email adres: reinhildevdk@gmail.com

Bank : NL06TRIO 0391025457

Address: Jensemaheerd 147, 9736 CK Groningen, The Netherlands

Postal address : Postbus 1485, 9701 BL Groningen, The Netherlands

Telephone: + 31654786602

RSIN: 8555.41.143

The Foundation aims to raise money to offer adolescents from the village of Kay-Kok, Ile a Vache, Haiti the opportunity to attend to vocational training thus enabling them to earn an income.
Stichting Studiehulp Kay-Kok is enrolled in the Foundations and Associations Register of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce and is recognized by the Dutch tax authority as a charity organization (ANBI).

In this report you can read about the most important developments within our project in the year 2019.

Preface

Because of the riots in Haiti during the year 2019, several things that we had planned to accomplish in 2019 (see our Policy Plan 2019) have been delayed. There was a lot of patience asked from students, the startup that we planned to be up and running by the summer and from ourselves at a distance as well. Even more regretful: life in Haiti has become more difficult once more.

Since things in Haiti seem to have calmed down by the end of 2019, we are expecting that 2020 will see the startup running and the schools be reopened. We can only hope that prices for daily commodities will return to ‘normal’ levels again.

2019 in hindsight

• Three of our students graduated in 2019: Again a young lady became pastry cook and -decorator. A young man became diesel mechanic and another one electrician. Though because of the premature closure of the schools (because of the riots) they got their diplomas and there official graduation several months after they finished their school, they are now trying to find themselves jobs. We had 3 students in their first/second year and they wanted to continue their studies for the second/third years as of September. They are schooled in administrative science, accounting ( 2 young men) and agronomics (a young woman). Regretfully this was also delayed until December, but by the end of the year we were happy to understand that they were frequenting school again. From our tested group A we had still 2 students left to be taken into our program (see Policy Plan 2019). They have been admitted to the project in August 2019 and (because of the closure of the schools) belatedly started their studies in December. Their studies of choice are communications/journalism (a young man) and pedagogy (a young woman). By admitting them, we are happy to be able to add two entirely new and highly valuable professions to our group (and to the Haitian society). All together in 2019 3 students graduated, 3 continued their studies in their last year and 2 new students started their studies. The academic year 2019/20 sees 5 students in our project.
• Of course all this is only possible because we have a group of very loyal contributors, who continue to sustain our project. We also acquired some new contributors, who made up for those that stopped. So again we were able to collect € 9.200,00, which was nearly enough to cover the costs. We were still able to keep a small buffer intact.
• Since one of the goals of the Foundation is to offer vocational schooling to young people from Île a Vache during a period of 5 years this was the last year to take in new students. As we had already decided last year we have taken in 2 new students for another 2 years: since we have sufficient financial room to phase out (with those students still attending school) we can add for those that started their 2-years courses this year, an extra 6^th year (2021/2022)
• As to the housing, this year again the female students (2) found their own accommodations. The house we rent as usual houses the 3 young men.
• We had the intention to start this year with our startup: Cybercafé Websterline. We have been able to send all necessary equipment (a laser printer with extra ink cassettes, a generator, an alternator, 4 fully installed computers, a lamination device) to Haiti in the spring. Regretfully because of the riots in Haiti it took about 2 months extra to deliver the box with all the equipment. And then it appeared to be too dangerous to open the enterprise, since there was a lot of looting going on in town. Apart from that electricity was down altogether and gasoline had become too expensive to use the generator as a 100% alternative.  So we were obliged to be patient and wait for things calming down again and figure out a solution for the electricity problem.

Finance
For the academic year 2019/20, we had available  € 9200,-- from donations, of which by December 2019 we spent around € 5200,-- which leaves € 4000,-- for the second half of the academic year. Based on our experiences so far the cost per person per year could be maximized on € 1600,-- (+ $ 1700, --),  of which about 50% has already been paid for, leaving $ 4000,-- for the second half of the academic year 2019/20. The expenditures for the academic year 2019/2020 are thus covered, while the financial year 2019 had been closed with a negative result of € 1079,--. The buffer had therefore diminished bit but since we have paid already a large part of our expenses of the academic year 2019/2020 in advance,  there is still enough to cover the remaining expenses for the academic year 2019/2020.
The school fees for the six students amount for the course 2019/2020 to + $ 2510, -. This is averagely $ 40 more than the year before. In the academic year 2019-2020 an average of $ 50,- per person is being spent on schooling materials (books, copybooks, rucksack, tools, laptops, calculators, internships) until December, which is much less than the year before. Since the delay of the start of the schools we can expect this amount to rise before the end of the academic year: it is not precisely predictable how much still will be required, but we expect it to be less than last year ($ 200,--per person). Diplomas and graduations also cost money, the amounts varying considerably per school and type of course. So far the conclusion is we have to reckon with amounts of about € 250,-- per person. The graduation of a student in Haiti is supposed to go with some kind of a party (food and drinks), but we decided that to pay for this is not an aim of our project. All together we expect the total costs per student to stay a little bit below the aforementioned € 1600,--.

We have rented the house again where during the academic year of 2019/2020 3 boys live. Rent is $ 1000,-- per year and $ 10,-- for electricity monthly. The remuneration to the boarding houses of the (female) students who found a shelter on their own accord can be maximized on € 150,-- pp / py.
To these costs should be added the monthly cost of food and drink. This is set on $ 60,-- per person per month. Although the schools have been kept closed from September until November, we decided to pay the monthly costs nevertheless during these months as well, since the students have no other way of income and because of the riots the costs of daily life had risen considerably. Although as yet it is not clear if schools will add the lost months at the end of the course, this, even when that would be decided, will not cause a financial problem for the foundation.

In 2019, because of problems with the Haitian bank account, we have been obliged to start to transfer the money to Haiti with Western Union. This results in considerably  less favorable exchange rates than when we were able to use the bank. Still on yearly basis we have been able to keep up with the 1:1 $ to € rate as we had been used to. By 2020 we started again to open and use a (new) Haitian bank account on behalf of our collaborators in Haiti for the money transfers.

Remarks about our project

1.      We put the perspective on work high on our list. After 4 years running our project, in which 13 students graduated, we have to conclude that finding a job in Haiti, even with a good starting qualification in hand like our students have, is very hard. For this reason we started already during our last visit to Île a Vache in 2016 to raise consciousness about the option of becoming self employed. But that is not an easy path in Haiti either. Not only do most people lack money for investments, but they have to conquer many challenges regarding nearly everything as well. For example: nowadays current is hardly available anymore and the prices of gasoline have more than doubled the last year. Micro credit is widely mistrusted in Haiti, because costs (20 % interest) exceed the advantages for most people. To startup something of your own triggers often ‘jealousy’ in Haiti. Since voodoo practices are still more than common ‘jealousy’ means you are at great risk to become a victim of voodoo.  This is a reality which cannot be denied nor refuted and it has important consequences on the initiatives people dare to pick up. 

Since poverty in Haiti in very widespread (more than 40% of unemployment, 2/3 of the labor force is underemployed resulting in about 60% of the population living under the poverty line by accounts of 2016 and 2017, in the mean time these figures will have become even worse, because of the riots in 2019[2]), purchasing power is very low, so small businesses will always be quite vulnerable.

Certainly waiting for a job leads to nowhere. And starting up a small business is nearly the only way in Haiti to reach some kind of income. For this reason we decided to help our ex-students, who come up with a good plan, to set up a small business. For this we had available some earmarked money in 2018 with which we have been able to fund a substantial investment in our first startup.

After more than 1 ½ year of preparations and waiting for the society to calm down again, as we are writing this the first startup is ready to make her start with a so called cybercafé (copy shop, internet café, general service point for administrative activities and maybe in due time even more).

We hope that this first initiative will provide us with the knowledge and the experience to let more of these plans of our ex-students follow in due time.

And since using micro credit is too expensive and too complicated, we will use our own money as a foundation for the first startups. The intention is to start to give new startups small loans. When we are able to set up a system of providing for loans to these startups we have already at least one investor.  Because of the many delays and problems in the country, it is important to count with the fact that these loans can only function when they are long term loans: binding the people to tight repayment conditions will lead to big disappointments on both sides. For this reason everything has to be based on a solid and real business plan, learning from our first experience and a lot of trust.

2.      The Board nor any other person in any way involved in the Stichting Studiehulp Kay-Kok receives remuneration or compensation for their work from the funds of the foundation. Our onsite collaborator receives for her work nor a reward nor compensation from the Foundation. We only compensate the cost of data credit of our collaborator, in order to facilitate regular communication about the project.

We have an private financial arrangement with our local collaborator Mme Joleine Placide. This is organised entirely outside of the budget of the Stichting Studiehulp Kay-Kok.     

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[2]https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ha.html

In memoriam

Dear friends,
We have to inform you that after several days in hospital, after what appears to have been a cerebral hemorrhage, Madame Marie Joleine Placide, the mother of the st Firmin family and since 2 years our local collaborator for the project, has died.
She was the one who brought up 7 beautiful children and managed to let them all go to school. This courageous woman was the center of the family. She was also a very kind and loving mother and person, not afraid to take responsibility when that was required.
Her death is a very big loss for het children, grandchildren and family. But also our project will miss her dearly.
We will remember her as we met her some years ago, amid her 7 children

Our new students introduce themselves

Good evening people from the project Studiehulp Kaykok. 

I am Marie Widline Placide. I graduated from high school and started already my studies in Educational Sciences. I am very happy to send this letter to the Studiehulp Kaykok project for  it means you took me into the program to support my studies.

I am a half orphan from fathers side, I have three brothers and a sister. I was born in a Christian family, I am the fourth child of my family. I finished my secondary school some years ago, I had hoped to find my luck in the project for some years but I saw it was not easy because there are many young people that hope to enter your program. The person in charge here in Ile a Vache told time and again to the candidates that the project cannot take all the people at the same time. But I always kept up my hope to enter the project one time. My father was struggling the past years to help me with my studies, and with his help I started last year. And now, unfortunately he died, in the first year of my studies. My mother does not have enough economic means to pay for my studies. For this reason it is very important for me I now found a supporter to help me, in order to help me to continue my studies.

The science of education that I study is a science that will teach me many important competences for the future, be it economically or otherwise, because it's about educating, teaching and training people. Our country needs educators. The educational system in Haiti is devoid of teaching, it needs new teachers to build a new and better system. I reassure you as soon as I finish with this study, I'm sure I'll find work.

I wish to thank you for being accepted. So I hope that God will protect you in an extraordinary way and that you will continue to support others who are in need. I'm very happy to write you this letter!

Thank you

Marie Widline Placide

Good day to the project Studiehulp Kaykok.

My name is Wilnick Joseph. Today I am so happy to write you this letter  to tell you how grateful I am that I got a place in this beautiful project that you established for the youngsters of Ile a Vache. I am so grateful that thanks to the project I get the opportunity to learn a profession.

I was born in a Christian family of 5 children, of which I am the oldest. My mother and father are married but we are not a middle class family* . 

I finished my high school in 2013, but after this my family was not able to let me study to learn a profession that enables me to find a job. Since I was young I dreamt to be an electrician or a journalist. As far as I can see in Haiti it is very difficult to find a job as an electrician. For that reason I decided I would prefer to study communication, to be educated in 2 years as a journalist. I expect that in this field it will be much easier for me to find a job or to create my own work. I cannot find a way to thank you enough for what you are doing for me.

My family is very happy that I write this letter, since they understood this year I will start the study I really love to do. I have been sad for a long time, until this moment that I learned I would participate in the project. Thank you so much, in the name of my family. Thank you for your support, I hope that the good Lord will guard you with your work. 

Thank you,

Wilnick Joseph 

 

* In  many Caribbean societies lower class couples are not married (ed.)

From our graduates to all our donors

Hello my donor,

how are you doing? I am Adlène St Frimin. I am more than happy to write you today this letter to thank you for everything you did for me. Even though I do not know you, you are for me an unforgettable person in my life, I will always remember you.

I was so happy to be able to participate in this project Studiehulp Kaykok. My life was really hard before I was admitted to the project, but now I feel so much better since I have learned a profession that will enable me to earn a better life thanks to you. At this moment I am in Ile a Vache, busy to try to find a job, and though this will not be easy, with my diploma’s I hope I will find a place to work. I am so happy that I can call myself now a specialized pastry cook and pastry decorator.

I don’t know how to thank you for your help. I know what is means what you did for me: to have a profession for a better life. Thanks to you I will be able to earn money in these professions. I sincerely thank you for this, and hope that God will bless your work,

I send you my best wishes,

Adlène St Firmin.  

Hello my dear donor,

I am John Peterson Placide. Thanks to the Studiehulp Kaykok project, I am now an electrician by profession. I am very happy to thank you through this letter for giving me this opportunity. The project is unforgettable for the young people in Ile a Vache. I too found your help through the project, which is extremely important not only for me but for my entire family. I cannot thank you enough for this, I can say that without your help my life seemed to have little meaning. And now I have a profession and therefore a future.
As you probably know, life in Haiti is not easy, also because the government does not help young people to find work. But you gave me that opportunity and I hope that I can now start a new phase of my life when I find work.
I am now with my family on Ile a Vache and I am trying to find work here, but that is not  easy because there is no electricity in our village. I'm trying it now in construction. If that doesn't work out, I will ask my friends in Les Cayes if they can help me find work there.
Once again I would like to thank you very much, dear supporter, from the bottom of my heart and I am very happy for this opportunity to express my feelings towards you. And a big thank you too on behalf of my family!
I wish you all the best,
Thanks, thanks, thanks, John Peterson Placide

Hello dear donor, 

How are you? I am Dieuvoit Jean, the student that just graduated as a car mechanic. I am more than happy to be able to write you this letter to thank you for what you have done for me and my family. We want to thank all people that contributed to the project in order to help the young people of Ile a Vache.

 At this moment I return to Ile a Vache, and I am busy to start working, while thanks to you I have also the tools for the work. I am looking forward to start to work now that I finished my studies.  I have been living two years in the city of Les Cayes, and these were excellent years because I learned so many things I did not know before. Before I started this education, life was very hard for me since I had no profession. Thanks to your choice to help us, this has all changed now. I am more than happy the choice fell on me.  

I thank you one more that you enabled me to earn my own money with the competences I have acquired now. I know very well what you did for me  and my family. I wish you all the best and hope that God will protect you in the future.

Thank you!