ZIMBABWE AIDS ORPHANS SOCIETY ANNUAL REPORT ...

OUTLOOKOperating environmentEconomic development and the financial situation ofhouseholds in Finland is fairly positive. The Societyconsiders that individual donations will continue tobe a popular option in Finland and other sponsors’countries as a result of direct, administratively effectiveand open civic activity. However, competitionfor donations with other organisations has intensified,and success calls for the provision of abundantinformation and skilful use of the social media. Voluntarywork will continue to play an important rolein the Society’s work.Preview of future operationsAt its Extraordinary General Meeting on 12 December2010, the Society approved the operating planand budget for 2011. The final budgeted sum forsupport activities is €260,000. The number of orphanswill be kept at around 400. Support for Dzikwawill continue in all the established areas of theprogramme. Funds will also be raised for building,new fundraising channels will be sought, and effortswill be made to solicit new major donors for suitableprojects. The Society will invest more heavily incommunication, improve its website and Facebookpages, and make a 30 minute DVD about Dzikwa’swork. Volunteers will be engaged as before. Effortswill be made to encourage greater local support forDzikwa’s joint events and extra-curricular activitiesthrough the Friends of Dzikwa Society.Towards the futureChallenges and threats facing the supportprogramme in the near futureEconomic uncertainty in Europe and escalation of theEuro zone debt crisis may have a damaging effect onthe euro. This would endanger the financing of ourprogramme. Dzikwa has faced up to this possibility byusing a conservative exchange rate when drawing upits budget for 2011, and by further tightening budgetmonitoring and discipline. To reduce exchange raterisk, consideration is being given to opening a US dollaraccount for Dzikwa in Harare and to exchangingtransferred funds into US dollars immediately.Zimbabwe is still in deep recession and the country’seconomy is very fragile. Uncertainty about the newconstitution, elections and possible continuationof the Government of National Unity (GNU) in thenear future complicate the situation and make predictionsdifficult. Cost pressures are not expectedto ease noticeably in Zimbabwe, compounding thedifficulty of securing the financing of continuous andcomprehensive support for the children’s educationand welfare. There is as yet, therefore, no likelihoodthat a significant portion of the children’s educationand welfare support activities could be coveredthrough local funding in Zimbabwe.The NGO development cooperation grant receivedthrough Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs hasbeen invaluable, notably for supporting the children’speripheral activities such as daily meals, extralessons, recreation, tree planting and environmentaleducation, and also for building. Ensuring that thisimportant form of support continues in the futurecalls for thoughtful and thorough planning.Photo: Mari Waegelein30