1. FOREIGN MINISTRY DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION AID WAS GRANTED FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SHORTFILM ("Ruth and Stanley - Everyday Life in Mombasa") AND FOR THE SCHOOL CAMPAIGN

The year 2005 began positively for the work of Hope for Tomorrow. The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs approved the proposal for aid projects.

In March, cameraman Vesa Silvennoinen was sent to Mombasa to film everyday life in the slum with our field coordinator in Kenya Mikko Välimaa. The footage was used later to compile a 23 minute DVD that was presented during the school campaign.

Teacher Norah Obong'o was invited from Kenya to be the guest of the school campaign from October-November. Field coordinator Mikko Välimaa arrived to Finland at the same time and worked as Norah's translator for seven weeks around the schools of southern Finland. Along with showing the film during the school campaign, issues were discussed regarding development co-operation and everyday life in the slum in the midst of poverty and the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

The school campaign was carried out in 9 localities: Jämsä, Virrat, Vilppula, Mänttä, Orivesi, Tampere, Hämeenlinna, Riihimäki and Hyvinkää. 78 classes or gatherings for the whole school were held during the period of seven weeks. Most of the schools were middle-schools and high-schools (altogether 14). In addition, visits were made to these locations: Vocational school of Orivesi, Jämsä College of Social and Health Care, Vocational Institute of Mänttä, Vocational Institute of Virrat, HAMK University of Applied Sciences (health and social services sector, in Hämeenlinna), Laurea Polytechnic (health services sector), the Teacher Education College of Hämeenlinna, and of the University of Tampere Department of Social Policy and Social Work. There were altogether 23 school visits.

In its entirety the school campaign was very big but also a positive experience for our Kenyan guest as well as for all the voluntary workers of Hope for Tomorrow who made it all possible. We received more invitations from schools than we were able to carry out. The feedback from teachers and students was very positive.

The campaign received good local press coverage and Radio-Häme did a show during the campaign in Riihimäki.

2. TARGETED AREAS FOR SUPPORT ABROAD

MOMBASA, CAMP DAVID-CENTRE

Hope for Tomorrow supported the activities of Camp David slum work centre throughout the year 2005. The centre was a gathering place for various groups: HIV-positive women's support group (approx. 50 women) twice a week, kindergarden on weekdays (approx. 69 children) and a youth group for high-school students sponsored by Hope for Tomorrow (approx. 30 students) once a week. The centre also holds its own computer class. The field coordinator has been in Kenya from January-October and returned back as soon as the school campaign was over.

A weeklong youth mission-trip for Camp David's young people was organized in the fall. The camp was held in Taveta, a city that borders Kenya and Tanzania. The mission turned out to be a very positive experience for both students and organizers. The field coordinator was assigned to be one of the group leaders.

RURAL AREA PROJECT IN MURANGA

Hope for Tomorrow chairman Outi Välimaa visited Kenya last March-April with evangelist Glory Backman.

A new contact was established in a rural area of Muranga near Nairobi. In the fall of 2005, the board of HfT approved Muranga as a new target for support. Muranga is a place to, according to the original vision of Hope for Tomorrow, support orphaned children and single mothers living in poor conditions.

OTHER TARGETED AREAS FOR SUPPORT

Hope for Tomorrow continued in 2005 to sponsor the work of Pia Lindt and Kirsi Nyrhinen in Kenya and Miri Moriani Children's Home in Israel.

During the summer HfT sponsored children's camps in Estonia.

3. HFT-EVENTS

In 2005, Hope for Tomorrow organized a 3-day open air event in the slums of Chaani, Mombasa in collaboration with ten churches of the Chaani area. The series of meetings provided opportunities for church choirs and drama, music and dance groups, to perform during the meetings. The main speaker was evangelist Glory Backman. The Chaani people received us and deemed the meetings a great success. Each night there were approx. 1000 participants or more.

Hope for Tomorrow has organized in Finland during the year two youth concerts and three meetings in different churches. A meeting was arranged in Päiväkumpu for those who sponsor school children, and that was also the ending party for the school campaign.

4. FUND-RAISING

Hope for Tomorrow has been funded during 2005 mainly by donations and love-gifts. Funds have also been raised by selling Kenyan wooden animals.

The income for the whole year 2005 was 55 427,08 euros and the expenses were 56 428,86 euros. The sum of the income and expenses are almost double to that of last year.
Hope for Tomorrow didn't have financial trouble during the year.

5. COMMUNICATION

The press brought Hope for Tomorow well to the forefront because of the school campaign. This made the work better known. In addition to the press releases on the school campaign an article was written about our work in the periodical Kokonainen.

Radio-Häme did an interview show in connection with the school visit in Riihimäki. The DVD "Ruth and Staley - Everyday Life in Mombasa " was given to every school that was visited. TV7 showed the same DVD twice in December.

The Hope for Tomorrow newsletter (published once every two months) was sent to about 200 people.

The Hope for Tomorrow board had a meeting once every month in 2005.

6. DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION AID PROPOSAL

Hope for Tomorrow applied for a three-year development cooperation aid (for the years 2006-2009) from the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs for Camp David slum work centre civic organization training workshops. Unfortunately, the proposal was denied.

Thankful to God for the past year,

Hope for Tomorrow,
Outi Välimaa Chairman