Minutes 21st August 2021

Present

Aster Belay, Siobhan Crawley, Feyisa Demie, Brian Foster, Gosaye Fida, Girma Gebresenbet, Muluneh Oli

Apologies

Bekana Edossa

Minutes of previous meeting

Matters arising

  • Feyisa has contacted law centre and CIB who couldn’t offer specialist advice by they hypothesises.

Finance

See Constitution below.

Report from Oromia

Item

Hirpa reported the site plan for the school has been accepted by the eduction office. Site is 6000 sq metre; too small but could be two floors but required new design.
Or possibility to get the government to purchase additional land but they will only give the land once construction starts. Plan to keep ownership of materials to prevent contractor using substandard materials and profiteering. Target date June 2022. Minimum requirement of municipality in 10K metres.
Start with grade 1-4.

Concern about cost implications of two floor building. No engineer on WADA board.

Action

We need to clarify how much is needed and when.

Concern that Government might evict farmers.

Get the bill of quantity and then decide whether we employ professionals and/or purchase some materials.

Muluneh will try and get an estimate of the increase in costs due to building 2 floors.

Constitution

Barclays have rejected our application and although we don’t know the reason there is a general feeling that we have too many trustees, they are from four different countries and the banks will need to check that each of all twelve trustees is eligible for a bank account in the UK.

At the moment WDEF has a foundation constitution where all members are also trustees. There is an alternative Association model where the members elect the trustees.

Brian will report to the next meeting about possibility of making changes to adopt the association model.