A need for emergency funding has arisen because of the Coronavirus pandemic. Can you help?
Classes at EELC have had to be closed for the last two months of term (April and May) by government order to limit the spread of Coronavirus. As a result, the income from student fees and for the use of the coffee lounge have been lost. Teaching remotely is not an option as hardly any students have WiFi at home. They do have their student and homework books, but experience suggests that not even a quarter of the class is doing homework. So, to give them assignments to do by themselves at home would not be of much benefit and certainly they would not want to pay for that!
The most the team can do is to provide a WhatsApp coffee lounge chat. Chats may last 90 minutes and for the team as well as the students it is a refreshing experience – but there can be no charge for that! It keeps the teacher–student relationship active and will enable some not to slip back too far in their educational achievements.
Income has ceased but expenses continue!
The rent for the building has to be paid and there will be minimal reduction in running costs such as electricity, water, WiFi and the phone. And then there are the salaries of the three local employees. Because of lockdown many in Djibouti have lost jobs; and the unemployment rate is already 11% though some reckon it is more like 60%. This indicates that there is virtually no alternative employment available. Every day the team have people asking for money for food, rent or medicines. There is no government ‘furlough’ scheme so nearly everyone has financial difficulties. The team have therefore decided to continue to pay the usual salaries to the three local employees.
The team, as usual, have reserve funds to cover the two summer months when EELC is closed but it would be nice to be able to start the new academic year in September debt-free.
Another financial concern is that the landlord wants to triple the rent! MMR serve the community and do not make any profit so have asked the landlord to change his mind. A reply is awaited but it is hoped that though there may be a rise it will not be as great as the original demand. Hope and pray! In anticipation, it will be wise to budget generously so that an increase of the rent can be covered.
| Budget | Items | No of Items | Cost/Item DJF | Totals £UK |
| Rent | 130’000 | 2 months | 260’000 | 1127.34 |
| Increase of rent to cover June, July and August | 35’000 | 3 months | 105’000 | 473.45 |
| Salary for cleaning ladies | 40’000 | 2 months | 80’000 | 360.27 |
| Water | 6’000 | 2 months | 12’000 | 54.11 |
| Electricity | 15’000 | 2 months | 30’000 | 135.27 |
| Phone and WiFi | 8’600 | 2 months | 17’200 | 77.55 |
| Total Project Budget | 504’200 | 2273.44 |
Contributions to fund the deficit of £2273.44 will be appreciated and will enable the MMR team to continue to serve the local community by equipping students with language skills that will enhance their employment prospects, while keeping the student fees affordable.
Can you help?
Donations toward the cost of covering this emergency will be appreciated.
Please go the funding page to find out how to do this.
Thank you on behalf of MMR and the users of the Library for your support.
Task completed!
Kerith Trust 