Present
Aster Belay, Siobhan Crawley, Feyisa Demie, Brian Foster, Bekana Edossa, Muluneh Oli, Girma Gebresenbet, Teferi Degeneh
Apologies
Hirpa Abu
Situation in Oromia
Discussion
- Ethiopia is very unstable at the moment. There are many changes of Government and high inflation. Local government if not responding to requests to move the project forward.
- Muluneh has been in touch with Hirpa who is focussed and working hard. It would be great if he could provide updates; M will communicate that to him.
Action
- Request quarterly report from WADA and WDEF will do the same, to coordinate our activities.
- Next report is due on 2nd March.
Fund raising
Discussion
- Currently just three people are contributing to the temporary account
- Nicky Lopez has £2700 in his GoFundMe account and is ready to transfer it as soon as we have a bank account.
- Feyisa, Brian and Girma have not met to discuss grant aid. Although we can do little before we have a bank account Brian agreed to undertake some initial research to establish what criteria different funders have.
- Crowd Funding and Go Fund require bank accounts.
- Camden Schools: enthusiasm from Richard Cobden and Kingsgate but we cannot progress until we have a bank account. Schools are still struggling with Covid so a delay may be fortuitous.
- Aster plans to restart her dinner clubs.
- Major event will have to wait until the pandemic passes.
- Situation in Ethiopia makes sending T shirts to UK impracticable and costly. They will have to remain in country until they can be sold there.
Action
- Brian agrees to present a report to the next meeting on Grant Aid funding.
Finance
Discussion
- The Association Constitution (5 UK based trustees) has been uploaded to the Charity Commission and has replaced the previous one on our website. Who we are page has also been amended. The application for the CAF bank account has been completed and once it is signed it can be submitted.
- Feyisa has emailed and phone Steve Sinnott Foundation to ask whether they might assist with our banking problems. He is currently waiting for a response from the new CEO.
Action
Aster, Feyisa and Brian will meet to sign off the CAF bank application and submit it.