Sparks Fly: Our Annual Review 2022-2023

5 mins read time

This year, we reached more children than ever before, and saw three of our models of education and child protection scaled and replicated to new places. Our latest Annual Review highlights what has been achieved and the impact our programmes have had in 2022-2023.

Read our summary below or Download the Full Version here.​

Children on the Edge envisions a world in which every child thrives regardless of their geography, ethnicity, gender, or caste. Sparked into life by the late Dame Anita Roddick in 1990, the children on the edge we served at the start were those incarcerated and forgotten in Romanian orphanages. 

Today, the “edge” takes us into refugee camps, warzones and slums, where we support children fleeing conflict, facing internal displacement, and living with caste discrimination, poverty, and exploitation. 

These children are cut off from the education and protection that every child deserves. 

In the past year, our objectives have focused on working together with local communities to create protective and nurturing environments so that marginalised children can flourish and thrive. 

OUR IMPACT

​Sparks are flying and creating transformation in new areas, enabling over 22,000 children to learn, play, grow and thrive. 

We have been working with local communities within refugee crises, areas of conflict and slum communities. This involves:

• Ensuring access to quality primary and early years education 
• Strengthening child protection at community and family level
• Supporting children to play, create, express themselves and just be children.

Children planting trees outside their community school in Bangladesh

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​Our programmes have a huge positive impact on the communities we support. This year three of our models of education and child protection were scaled and replicated to new places:

• Our award winning Cluster Learning Model grew to reach over 3,300 Congolese refugee children in Kyaka II refugee camp Uganda, providing high quality, community led, early years education. 

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• Our innovative Digital Education Programme in Bangladesh enables Rohingya refugee children to access meaningful learning. Due to the strength of its impact, the model was replicated to Bhasan Char Island in the Bay of Bengal, and Patna, India. 

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• After 10 years of supporting Child Protection Teams (CPTs) in the slum communities of Jinja, Uganda, we replicated the model, eight hours north in the Karamoja district. Here, poverty is rife and children are severely at risk, but we know this community led approach has the potential to keep children safe, and help them grow. ​

Digital lessons are now being used in our learning centres in India

SUPPORTING CHILDREN IN REFUGEE CRISIS

Children on the Edge ​is working in the world’s largest refugee camp ​in Bangladesh, the fastest growing refugee crisis in Uganda, and the largest refugee crisis, supporting Syrian children in Lebanon. This year we also rapidly responded to the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II, supporting Ukrainian families fleeing to border countries. 

Each refugee situation is different, and requires a bespoke approach. Working with over 19,000 refugee children this year, we focused on ensuring the highest quality provision for the most marginalised children, always working hand in hand with local communities. 

KUTUPALONG CAMP - BANGLADESH

Over a million stateless Rohingya refugees are trapped in the Kutupalong - Balukhali refugee camp in Bangladesh, with tens of thousands relocated to Bhasan Char island in the Bay of Bengal. 

This year we provided high quality primary education, in safe, colourful classrooms, with trained teachers, for over 7,580 Rohingya refugee children. 

This included our award winning digital education programme, which tackled language barriers by providing daily video lessons, and enabled children to connect with their peers beyond the confines of the camps. 

Digital education has rapidly improved learning progress and attendance, with the Moja Kids programme boosting confidence, and fast becoming the children’s favourite part of school. We replicated our digital programme to India and were invited by the Bangladesh government to be the first education providers on Bhasan Char island, establishing 10 model classrooms. ​

KYAKA II REFUGEE SETTLEMENT, UGANDA

Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has resulted in a continuous refugee influx to Uganda, who currently host more than 1.4 million displaced people. In the Kyaka II refugee settlement, thousands of Congolese 3-6 year olds are missing out on education at the most crucial stage of their development. 

This year, through teacher training, the construction of learning centres and the scaling up of our Cluster Learning Model we have ensured that 10,490 children received quality, sustainable Early Childhood Education (ECE). 

We expanded our reach across half of the 81.5km2 settlement, growing from 736 children learning through cluster groups, to 3,378. We recorded significant progress in their social, emotional and academic development, and strengthened the community ownership and sustainability of the programme. 
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LEBANON

As Lebanon endures its worst socio economic crisis in decades, the country continues to face the burden of hosting over 1.5 million Syrian refugees. 90% are living in poverty, and their children are facing numerous barriers to accessing education. The highest concentration is found in Bekaa Valley where we supported a school for 175 children to receive quality academic and vocational education from trained refugee teachers, along with sports and computer lessons.

The school in Zahle has seen great progress in spite of the mounting challenges in the country. We have not only seen a 90% pass rate in general exams, but 14 Grade nine students crossed the border to take, and pass their Syrian high school exams. There has also been a notable increase in children’s confidence, with 100% interviewed saying they share their learning outside school and feel they can now have a better life.

ROMANIA AND MOLDOVA

n the 24th February 2022, Russia launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine by land, air and sea, causing over 8 million people to leave the country. Children on the Edge responded rapidly, working with local partners in Romania and Moldova, and quickly adapting to provide shelter, food, safety and a community hub for some of the most marginalised refugee families crossing the border, as well as children without parental care. 

​In Romania, the provision of supply parcels each fortnight has become a lifeline for Ukrainian refugee families now other agencies have moved on, whilst 43 Ukrainian orphaned children at the residential centre we support, have grown in their sense of security and begin to recover from trauma. A newly established Community Hub had 500 people attending in the first month, with people growing in confidence and connection through a huge variety of activities including online school, family sessions and language lessons.

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SUPPORTING CHILDREN IN WARZONES

Conflict affected areas are among the worst places to be a child. Children face daily fear and insecurity coupled with higher levels of poverty and barriers to humanitarian support, education and nutrition. Armed conflict and violence weakens the protective environment that keeps children safe and enables them to thrive. 

This year, Children on the Edge has worked with local communities and dynamic partners to support some of the hardest to reach children, ensuring they have access to education, care and opportunities just to be children, despite the harsh realities they live through each day. 

KACHIN STATE, MYANMAR
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In Kachin State, Myanmar, hundreds of thousands of Kachin people have been displaced by a brutal civil war that has persisted for over 50 years, taking refuge in extremely remote camps, high in the mountains along the China border. Children on the Edge resourced local communities to ensure vital early learning opportunities for 484  displaced pre-primary children here, providing warm clothes, nutritional support and training. 

​We have been able to increase our provision of humanitarian support, alongside the maintenance of 15 pre-school centres, which has been largely possible through strengthening community ownership. As a result we are seeing a significant improvement in parenting, and children not only progressing well in their learning, but beginning to recover from trauma and interact with their peers.

AFGHANISTAN

In Afghanistan, despite promises for a softer stance on women’s issues, the Taliban reneged on a promise to reopen high schools in March 2022, then indefinitely banned women from universities in December 2022. Children on the Edge has been supporting a dynamic teacher from Afghanistan, based in the UK, to provide an online school, not only for thousands of girls who are cut off from their education, but for boys who are negatively influenced by misogyny in the Taliban curriculum. 

Over 3,000 girls have been able to access online school and enjoy a wealth of subjects, many describing how the opportunity has saved them from despair since being shut out from their education.

SYRIA
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In Syria, the decade-long civil war has resulted in the complete devastation of homes, communities and infrastructure, including the severe deterioration of the school system. Near Damascus, our partners in bordering countries provided support through a safe space that ensures high quality, holistic, supplementary education for over 520 children. 

The reputation of the centre has grown steadily in the community, and through expanding work into women’s support and grade nine education, they have seen improvement in attitudes to parenting and education, and excellent progress for the older students. 

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SUPPORTING CHILDREN IN SLUM COMMUNITIES

Children on the Edge works with slum communities in Uganda, Bangladesh and India, where thousands of children live in unsafe environments, facing extreme poverty and exploitation. They are often denied their rights and struggle to access basic education. 

In these places, we work together with families, teachers and the local community to create protective environments, where children can safely live, play, learn, and grow.

PATNA, INDIA

In India, deep rooted caste discrimination against the ‘untouchable’ Dalit minority causes children to be ostracised from education and denied their rights. This year in the urban and rural slums of Patna, we supported a rights-based learning programme for 773 children, opening nine new learning centres in some of the most marginalised dalit communities and replicating our successful digital education programme to ensure meaningful, fun learning. 

Exams show that children made good progress in their learning, with five passing their Grade 10 exams through the facilitation of a national open schooling programme and 467 children transitioning to mainstream school. 

We also trained and resourced 1,091 women to strengthen protective environments for their children.

JINJA & KARAMOJA, UGANDA

In Uganda, children in the slums of Jinja and the remote rural communities of Karamoja face maltreatment, neglect, exploitation, trafficking and even starvation and child sacrifice.  We supported Child Protection Teams to work with the community to create safer environments, in six slum areas in Jinja, along with three Child Rights Clubs and two Early Childhood Education centres for the most marginalised children. 

After seeing 10 years of transformation through our Child Protection Team model, we replicated it eight hours north in Karamoja, building local relationships and establishing six new teams. 

Child Protection Teams and Child Rights Clubs in Jinja continued to see huge transformation in their communities, handling hundreds of child protection cases and seeing improvement in livelihoods, hygiene, health, safety and a reduction in crime. 150 preschool students showed strong progress in reading and writing, learning how to keep clean, active and healthy for their growth and development and how to relate well with others.

COX'S BAZAR & DOHARAZI ENCLAVES, BANGLADESH

In Bangladesh, children in the slums of Cox’s Bazar and Rohingya refugee children in the Doharazi enclaves face financial and practical challenges to attending school, and often have to work to support their families. This year we supported 1,700 of these children to access primary education with the official curriculum, in bright classrooms surrounded by green play spaces. These children are also part of our digital education programme, and enjoy participation in the Moja Kids platform. 

We had a 100% pass rate in the final tests, meaning all the children can progress to the next grade. Digital lessons continue to increase attendance, engagement and comprehension and we had very positive feedback from parents, children, teachers and a government visit alike. 

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THE NUMBERS

2022-2023 saw record income and expenditure levels for Children on the Edge. By raising and spending more than any other year we were able to help more children than ever before.

We end the year in a strong position to serve the needs of the most marginalised and vulnerable children around the world. This is only possible because of the ongoing generosity of supporters, from one-off donors to those who give every month, businesses of all sizes, trusts and institutional funders, as well as those who give their time. 

We deeply appreciate every single one of you. Thank you.
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For every £1 donated to Children on the Edge, 89p is spent on our projects supporting marginalised children, and 11p is spent on fundraising the next £1. ​​

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INCOME

Income has grown across the board, although grants have seen the biggest increase.  The response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine can be attributed to some of this growth although it is important to note the increase in support for all areas of work.

EXPENDITURE

Programme spending has risen, again due to the response to the war in Ukraine with programmes supporting refugees in Romania and Moldova.  Additionally, spending in Uganda has significantly increased as we have expanded our work in the Kyaka II refugee camp.

Work with refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) currently accounts for 86% of our grants to implementing partners.

FUNDRAISING HIGHLIGHTS ​

We were blown away to see so many trusts, foundations, groups, schools and individuals  come together in support of our work with Ukrainian refugee families in 2022. 81-year old Major Mick took to the local waterways, sailing over 100 miles in his homemade ‘Tintanic II’ vessel - made of sheets of corrugated iron. Mick raised more than £10,000 for our appeal. The wonderful team at Tuppenny Barn in Emsworth hosted a ‘Gardeners' Question Time’ with a panel of green-fingered legends, including Arit Anderson from BBC Gardeners' World. We are grateful for all the challenges and events hosted by so many schools and groups in support of Ukrainian refugees this year. 

Inspiring retailers on the high street and online have also partnered with Children on the Edge to donate funds from sales; including Scarlett Jewellery, The Little Botanical.The Body Shop also donated funds from every sale of their Christmas products in the winter of 2022. 

The impact of the media coverage of Ukrainian refugees inspired many more customers to donate through Pennies at Montezuma’s stores; these ‘micro-donations’ rose to £41K in 2022/23, a 250% increase on 2021/22.
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Our Big Give in December raised awareness and support for our work with Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. With thanks to matching funders Pacific Star Charitable Trust and the Coles-Medlock Foundation, we were able to connect with new donors, inspire 64 donations and raise an incredible £57,638 during the campaign. We were honoured to win The Big Give’s award for Best International Charity in 2022.

THANK YOU

The spark that began us is still in motion to this day. It comes from a disruptive dedication to seeking out those who are truly on the edge of our societies, and supporting them to thrive.

This can only happen with the generosity of our faithful community of supporters. Whether inspired by our original spark, or the catalysts for change we see today, we deeply appreciate you standing with us, and standing with those children who are most on the edge. 

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