As we wind down Ecologia Youth Trust on 30th September 2024, our trustees and I believe that we have achieved our original mission since our inception in 1995. With the help from our supporters, to date, Ecologia has helped transform the lives of over 56,000 children, young people, and families affected by poverty, inequality, disease and climate change. Our projects are now self-sufficient and capable of sustaining themselves.

These are some of our achievements:

World events got in the way of developing our plans with Kitezh and Orion Communities in Russia, our partners since 1995. Our Volunteers programme suffered in particular. After the Covid pandemic, closely followed by the invasion of Ukraine the doors of our growing international relationship were closed.

However, Kitezh and Orion are developing their schools to offer excellent education to many children, in addition to their own, and can generate sufficient income without our financial support. Their schools are flourishing and most of the foster children are now living independently. Although we miss being able to engage directly with them, our friendship will continue. We are very proud of what we were able to build together, two children and family village communities in the heart of Kaluga Region.

After the war started in 2022, we supported a Ukrainian Refugees programme in Morayshire in partnership with the Findhorn Refugee Action Forum. We have recently identified another charity to take over the funding and support for them.

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2007 – 2017 National Lottery funded post-Tsunami projects in Thailand for Burmese Migrant workers and their families and We Love Inle Lake environmental project for youth in Myanmar.

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Growing2Gether, Scotland joined Ecologia Youth Trust in 2017 to connect young people to their communities as mentors to children in need of extra support, and by creating youth-led projects In the Community. In 2022 it formed its own independent SCIO.

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In Kenya, International Peace Initiatives (IPI) completed the 3-year Skills Training in Hairdressing that enables 104 women to earn a good income and to care for their children. Our sponsors have supported their children through higher education and into independence.

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Tarnos school in Kenya is a shining light in educational excellence – committed to making sure all pupils qualify to attend the best secondary schools in Kenya. We have supported the school in its journey towards excellence with a sewerage plant and toilets, Solar electricity for the school, and a Science Lab that enhances their ability to educate their pupils in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

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Sky Is The Limit, in Uganda still needed our help.

Since 2014 Ecologia has supported Sky Is The Limit School and Children’s Centre, inspired by our Trustee Henrietta Rose. We achieved a great deal since then, built a new school classroom block and dining hall, and provided funds for school meals for all the children to make sure they were able to study and play games with a full belly. In 2023 we set up the Mama Rose Organic Farm to provide the school with food for their lunches.

Mondo Foundation was introduced to us by Beatrice Rose’s cousin, Anna Brian, CEO of Mondo until 2023. Mondo Foundation works in Nepal, India and Tanzania, and shares our values and commitment to education and community development, making them an ideal partner for this transition. It seemed like a perfect match but we had to get to know one another and make sure that this partnership would work for the folks in Uganda as well.

In April 2024, I spent ten days with Matthew Band (Mondo Foundation) in Fort Portal, introducing him to all aspects of the school, the Organic Farm, and the Fruits of Sky Youth Enterprise projects. Here we are (L-R) with Brian – Mama Rose Organic Farm supervisor, Liza, Christine – Mama Rose Farm Manager, Matthew, and Paul – Fruits of Sky.

Mondo’s CEO, Matthew Band, and I had a marvellous, stimulating and busy ten days, visiting the School, the Organic Farm, Noah’s Ark and the Fruits of Sky projects, hearing all about their successes and challenges since dear Mama Rose passed away in December 2021.

The Mama Rose Organic Farm is flourishing, growing vegetables, fruits, mushrooms and fish to feed the children at lunchtime; ten local people have been trained in organic farming methods that make the Mama Rose Organic Farm a demonstration of good agricultural practice in the area.

Sky Is The Limit School has a new head teacher who is committed to improving the quality of the children’s education. He gave us a list of improvements. There’s a lot to be done – he needs your help!

Fruits of Sky Youth Enterprise, developed by young men and women who grew up with Mama Rose, has grown to benefit many young people: to start a business with low interest loans, to develop a Boda Boda taxi service, and a new project Arborbounty – to plant fruit trees that will provide a sustainable income for their future.

We are very happy to report that Mondo trustees have agreed to take on support for Sky Is The Limit. We have been able to facilitate a smooth handover of the project, and we are optimistic about the positive impact this partnership will have on Sky Is The Limit’s future. Mondo’s partners in India, Nepal and Tanzania will give Sky the inspiration to grow and develop.

While we are not able to actively encourage a shift of your donations to Mondo Foundation at this time, we want to offer you the opportunity to stay connected with Sky Is The Limit through Mondo. Your ongoing support is invaluable, and we believe that together, we can continue to make a meaningful difference to these precious children.

For more information about Mondo please go to their website https://www.mondofoundation.org/

I personally want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your consistent and unwavering support of all Ecologia’s initiatives, in Russia, Thailand, Myanmar, Scotland, Kenya and Uganda. Your dedication to our cause has been instrumental in driving positive and sustainable change and transforming the lives of hundreds of underprivileged children and their families. Your collaboration and support has also meant that I have been given the privilege of having this incredible experience of fulfilling Ecologia’s vision of a world where every young person may thrive.

Throughout this 30 years’ experience, I have made lasting friendships and had my heart touched deeply. I have worked with many inspiring colleagues and partners and enjoyed the highs and lows of running a small international charity, all the while expecting – and receiving – miracles along the way.

Thank you to all our supporters for being one of those miracles!

With Love, and Deep Appreciation,
Liza

 

 

Please watch below Sky Is The Limit School kids performing their endearing thank you poem to Ecologia and singing their ‘We Love You’ song to Ecologia and their supporters.