Let us present our 2024 yearly evaluation, penned by Andrea Morris:
We’ve wrapped up yet another eventful year!
We have scaled back the growth of our core activity, child support, to ensure it continues to be rooted in personal human connections.
However, we have made significant strides in our larger projects, such as our House of Hope women’s center, built on a “Public-Private-Civil” collaboration, and the Hint of Africa social enterprise, which lays the foundation for our long-term funding.
Equally important are our expanding partnerships in Rwanda, where we provide support by complementing and building on local efforts. This includes initiatives such as university scholarships, tourist programs, and volunteer placements.
In Hungary, our recognition has continued to grow thanks to our festival organization, cultural programs, and several interviews and media appearances.
This diverse work was achieved with the help of a steadily growing and valuable team, whose further strengthening will remain a primary focus in the coming year.
Our achievements in detail:
- Our child support programs operate in 6 locations, enabling 250 children to attend school.
- Close to Africa Scholarship
- The construction of the House of Hope has been completed.
- Building the Hint of Africa brand and launching the social enterprise.
- Connection Tour Rwanda
- Volunteer programs in Rwanda.
- Showcasing Africa in Hungary: festival organization, lectures, interviews, academic articles, and fair appearances.
- The team, the foundation of long-term development.
- Sponsor a Child! Program
Our core activity has already helped 70 Rwandan and 180 Malian children attend school. Among them, the top performers receive university scholarships.
- Close to Africa Scholarship
Three of our amazing students are attending university, and four scholarship students are attending a prestigious boarding school, thanks to support groups. This year, six students successfully graduated, and those who will receive state student loans (likely four of them) could become our scholarship recipients. These students grew up in very poor conditions, and they were only able to complete their previous schooling due to the support of their sponsors. We assist their university admission not only by creating supporter groups but also through mentoring. We are currently accepting applications for our supporter groups and for mentors.
- House of Hope
The largest project of the year was the women’s center, built with the support of Richter-HungaryHelps-Xeless and the Hint of Africa brand products. From the laying of the foundation stone in February to the completion of the building, only 9 months passed! In the last days of the year, we have been working on the furnishings, with the opening planned for January 2025. Since we weren’t able to travel to Mali this year, the success of this project relied on our local connections, who truly proved themselves. Special recognition is due to our local representative, Bouréma, our partner organization, Sini Sanuman, the contractor, Dolo et Freres, and the technical supervisor, Laurant Lipem! We will continue! The most important project of 2025 will still be the Gedeon Richter-Sini Sanuman House of Hope in Bamako!
- Building the Hint of Africa brand and the social enterprise.
Under the name Hint of Africa, we create design products from recycled clothing with a touch of African fabric. This year, we launched our webshop and participated in several fairs and festivals. The revenue fully supports the House of Hope project. Webshop: www.hintofafricafashion.com
- Connection Tour
Although we had planned a trip to Mali, due to visa issues, the team ended up in Rwanda. The journey, which was a mix of a volunteer and tourist trip, was a fantastic success. In 2025, we will organize the Connection Tour to Rwanda again.
- Volunteer programs in Rwanda.
Nyanza: Three university students taught English, music, and business knowledge at the Nyanza Youth Center for a month.
Akagera: Volunteers participated in the summer camp for street children.
Both programs were a great success, so we definitely want to continue and expand them next year. Currently, we are looking for a volunteer who can stay long-term in Nyanza to teach digital media.
- Showcasing Africa in Hungary:
We remain committed to bringing the beauty of Africa to our country. In addition to the Hint of Africa design products, we regularly organize cultural programs with African students living here, and we held the Ez Afrika! festival, which had nearly 400 participants. We also gave presentations to both children and adults in schools and cultural centers. Two members of our foundation published academic articles in the special edition of African Studies focused on the Sahel region.
- Our team:
Our team grew throughout the year, with nearly 10 dedicated individuals working regularly on the foundation's programs. Three of them, in addition to their volunteer work, are also employed part-time, helping to ensure long-term stability.
Andrea Morris
12/29/2024