Plan International Australia 2007/08 Annual Report

AL RElasting and

change! annual report 2008

Change Agents‌for the sake of Children

Plan International Australia Annual Report 2008

Children help monitor the social equity of post-disaster reconstruction efforts in their community in Bangladesh.

Published November 2008 | Plan International Australia ABN 49004875807 Editor Heather Ellis. Production Manager Paul Davis. Design Motion. Printing Belgair Graphics Pty Ltd.

The plan story Plan is a not for profit change agent for the sake of children. Plan works in over 45 developing countries empowering communities to overcome poverty. We unite, empower and inspire people around the globe to champion every child’s right to grow up healthy, safe and educated. Together with our supporters, Plan is a catalyst for change, free from political and religious agendas, existing only for the sake of children.

Our Vision: Plan’s vision is of a world in which all children realise their full potential in societies that respect people’s rights and dignity.

Our Mission: Plan strives to achieve lasting improvements in the quality of life of deprived children in developing countries through a process that unites people across cultures and adds meaning and value to their lives by: · Enabling deprived children, their families and their communities to meet their basic needs and to increase their ability to participate in and benefit from their societies. · Building relationships to increase understanding and unity among peoples of different cultures and countries. · Promoting the rights and interests of the world’s children.

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5 Report from our Chair | 7 Report from our National Executive Director | 8 Our work 9 Our priority community development projects | 10 Case studies: priority community development projects 12 Case studies: child sponsorship funded programs | 14 Building relationships | 16 Fundraising 18 Community education | 19 Financial overview | 22 Plan International Australia Board of Directors 23 Key people at Plan

Plan International Australia Annual Report 2008 | 3

Children begin lessons for the day at a Plan-supported school in Burkina Faso.

4 | Plan International Australia Annual Report 2008

report from our chair

A

s I reflect back over my second year as Chair, it has been a year of achievements, sound management and change.

Plan’s child centred community development work has continued to bring positive change to even more children and their communities and this is despite the world experiencing an economic crisis, increased food and fuel prices and the growing impact of climate change.

The Australian public has not wavered in their generosity and has continued to support Plan more than ever before. Coupled with donations and grants, total revenue raised was a great achievement of $33 million (up from nearly $25 million in FY2006).

While 2008 has been a difficult year globally, during the recent board field trip to Cambodia – one of the world’s poorest nations – I saw firsthand the positive impact of Plan in assisting communities and their children to have a better future. A future that increases their capacity and opportunity to break the cycle of poverty. I also witnessed their confidence in Plan to deliver on our promises: promises made possible with the continued support and generosity of the Australian public and corporate sector.

This year also propels Plan into a new era of change as Plan internationally and Plan in Australia begin new strategies that focus on ensuring the empowerment of children, their families and communities.

This new era of change comes at a time when children are more vulnerable than ever as developing communities must cope with changes in the global economy; increased food costs particularly for world staples like rice that doubled in price during 2008; and a

growing frequency in extreme weather: floods destroying lives, homes and crops in some countries while drought creates an extended hunger season in others.

Plan in Australia has risen to this challenge and our new strategy will help ensure children, their families and communities can not only survive but also have the opportunities and support to reach their potential in a world entering uncertain times.

For example, the Plan in Australia-supported ‘Sustainable Livelihoods’ in the Philippines project has seen Filipino farming families reap bumper rice harvests just by changing to growing native rice using organic fertiliser.

Providing these farmers with sustainable agricultural skills and connecting them to local organisations has changed their future from one of inescapable poverty to one of prosperity. Through the success of this project, it is now being extended to benefit many more farming families. This is just one example of how Plan in Australia’s previous three-year strategy, which ended in FY2008, now moves into the new strategy for FY2009 to FY2011 titled ‘It Matters to Children’.

With Labor winning the federal election this financial year, change has also occurred in that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has affirmed a higher aid commitment with increases to 0.5% of GNI by 2015. With Plan presently having many of its 16 priority projects jointly funded by AusAID (Australian Government Agency for International Development) and the Australian public, this means Plan can potentially reach even more children through its work. Such as providing early childhood care and development for children in India or supporting children and their communities

affected by HIV and AIDS in Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The new Labor Government has expressed its desire to see positive change for the world’s poor by using the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) as a guide. With 2008 marking the half way mark in reaching the MDGs, this is an important commitment, and it is urgent that we make a solid contribution from our recent economic successes.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my fellow board directors for their valuable contribution and commitment to Plan who enthusiastically volunteered their time over the past year. And to recognise the contribution of retiring board director Brian Dunkley and welcome our two new board directors Claire Hatton and Suzanne Bell.

For the leadership and management provided

by Ian Wishart, Plan in Australia National Executive Director, and his management and staff a very big thank you for the outstanding achievements this past year.

And lastly, but most importantly, to the Plan members, sponsors and loyal supporters.

Without your invaluable support, the work of Plan through its child centred community development programs in more than 45 developing countries would not have had the positive impact that it has had – and continues to have.

Anne Skipper, AM Chair, Plan in Australia

Anne Skipper meets children at a Plan-supported early childhood centre during a recent board study tour to Cambodia.

Plan International Australia Annual Report 2008 | 5

Children from a rural community in Bangladesh end the day’s lessons at a Plan-supported school.

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report from our national executive director

A

t Plan we seek to be change agents for the sake of children.

Change in many forms has certainly been the byword for 2008.

We have seen positive changes in Plan itself, great developments in the lives of the children we serve, but also dramatic and turbulent changes in the overall world in which we operate.

I am pleased to report that despite some of the turbulent change occurring about us, 2008 has once again been a year of financial growth for Plan. Several milestones were passed this year. Our overall revenue exceeded $30 million for the first time and community giving exceeded $20 million.

This is a tremendous achievement made possible by our many loyal supporters. We are incredibly grateful for your ongoing support.

Plan has also been changing itself during this past year. We have introduced our new strategy for the period FY09 – FY11 which is titled ‘It Matters to Children’. This strategy aims to build greater depth and substance to Plan as a professional development agency.

It has enabled us to clarify the essential role we play as an advocate and change agent for children. We are strengthening our impact, our influence and our identity. The strategy also positions us well for a new period of cooperation with the Australian Government on overseas aid and development matters.

At the international level, Plan is also changing. We have agreed on a new global strategy. This will see Plan strengthen its commitment to a rights based development

approach for children that we call Child Centred Community Development. It will mean we work as effectively at the national and international level as we do at the grassroots level. It will mean that we are more active in policy dialogue where we think that by doing so we can positively change the lives of many more children. It will mean that we take on more complex situations that children face such as in urban slums or disaster situations, as well as the traditional rural poverty situations.

We are seeing advances for children in Plan projects. The rights based approach that we introduced in 2002 is having an impact. Young people are more empowered.

Children are being consulted. Schools are not just being built but delivering improved educational outcomes for children in a child friendly way.

I saw this firsthand in Cambodia recently when I visited the English evening classes for children aged from 10 to 18 years. The young people themselves identified the importance of learning English so that they could advance their education or find work in nearby Siem Reap. They established small clubs in each village and the older ones began teaching the younger ones. Now more than 400 children are enrolled. This all came about because the children felt empowered. It was their idea and their initiative. Plan’s role has been as a change agent. We provided opportunities for the children to learn that they could make change happen. We supported them and provided some teaching materials. The rest has been down to them. That is the power

of a child centred community development approach at work.

While we are seeing gains and our work really matters it is true that the turmoil of this past 12 months is taking its toll on children and families in the developing world. Climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme weather events. The year’s food price rises are hitting hard the economic security of very poor families. On top of this has come the world financial crisis. At this time we are urging world leaders not to make the financial crisis the excuse to cut aid budgets. Billions have been found to save commercial banks – let us see the same commitment to saving the lives of children.

I am just so grateful that we have the ongoing support of so many loyal individuals, community groups, institutions, businesses, volunteers, staff, board members and corporate partners during this time as it enables us to continue our vital work.

Our work has never been so important.

I remain an optimist. We will build a better world for our children and future children but it will take all of us thinking as global citizens.

The change that Plan represents is exactly the sort of global solidarity that the world needs at this time.

Ian Wishart National Executive Director, Plan in Australia

Ian Wishart meets children attending an evening English class in Cambodia.

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our work

Priority community development projects Plan sponsorship program countries Plan national offices

41,302 children sponsored

by Australians 18 Priority Community Development projects were funded, designed and managed within Australia $32.8 million in total raised

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Grants $12 m

sponsorship $18.3 m

Project donations $2.1 m Other income $0.4 m

revenue by source

This financial year, child sponsorship funded projects in 45 countries across the developing world. These community development projects focused on five key areas: growing up healthy, learning, habitat, livelihood and building relationships. In addition, Plan in Australia designed and managed 18 priority community development projects in many counties in Asia and Africa.

priority community development projects

P

riority Projects are designed to improve health, education and child rights in Asia and Africa. They are developed by Plan program managers in Australia and our in-country partners, after consultation with community members – including children. Priority Projects may be funded by public, private and corporate donations and grants, particularly from AusAID, the Australian Government’s Agency for International Development.

Early Childhood Care and Development • Strengthening ECCD Resource Centres in Surabaya, Ponorogo, Keffa, Kupang, Selayar, and Jogyakarta regions, Indonesia* • ECCD Capacity Building Program in five counties of Shaanxi Province, China* • Strengthening ECCD in Aceh province, Indonesia* • Community Learning Action Program in Narsingdi, Jessore and Satkhira districts, Bangladesh* • Strengthening ECCD in Karanjia, Orissa, Bikaner, Rajasthan, Delhi and national level in India*

Livelihoods • Sustainable Livelihoods in Isabela province, Philippines • Youth Livelihoods in Lautem district, East Timor* • Youth Participation in Aileu and Lautem districts, East Timor*

Rights and Social Inclusion • Empowering Families in Siem Reap province, Cambodia* • Protection of Migrant Workers in Nusa Tenggara Barat in eastern Indonesia: (West Nusa Tenggara, NTB) Sumbawa, Dompu and East Lombok* • Promoting national Child Protection policy and focal points for returning displaced children in Dili, East Timor* • Reducing Community Vulnerability to HIV and AIDS in Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Zambia* • Reach in Kampong Cham province, Cambodia*

Water and Environmental Sanitation • Water and Environmental Sanitation projects in Aileu and Lautem districts, East Timor* • Enhancing access to safe and clean water in Kisarawe district, Tanzania • Sanitation, Hygiene and Water Improvement Project, Quang Ngai province, Vietnam*

Emergency Response • WFP Vulnerable Group Feeding Program in Chiredzi district, Zimbabwe

Global learning • Global Connections linking youth groups in Indonesia and schools in Victoria, Australia *Plan in Australia acknowledges the contribution of the Australian Government Agency for International Development (AusAID) to these projects.

Plan International Australia Annual Report 2008 | 9

case studies: priority community development projects

sustainable livelihoods in the philippines Organic farming has brought real change for farming families in Isabela province, in the Philippines. Previously these families were caught in a vicious cycle of ongoing poor rice yields, depleted soils and indebtedness to moneylenders, now they and their children have enough to eat all year round and enjoy a new found prosperity.

“When my father was using commercial fertilisers, he spent too much money in buying these fertilisers so when harvest time came, there was low profit... Now we are very grateful for the great changes in our life,” says Maria*, the daughter of a farming family in Isabela that benefited from Plan’s Sustainable Livelihoods project, which is based on growing native rice using organic fertiliser.

The four-year project, which will end in July 2009, has resulted in more than 3700 farming families, each growing rice on just a few hectares, increasing their incomes by 69 per cent. These families now enjoy a diverse range of nutritious organically grown foods all year round and can afford to send their children to school as well as pay other farm and household expenses.

The humble Asian water buffalo is playing a key role in this prosperity, as in the Philippines, most rural families own between one and three buffalo that produce around five tonnes of wet manure each per year. It was then simply a matter of showing the farmers the techniques for composting buffalo and other farm animal manures mixed with rice husks to produce a cost-effective nutrient-rich

d native rice seed MASIPAG-supplie ic fertiliser has an org grown using ps for farmers produced bumper cro es. pin ilip Ph in Isabela, the

organic fertiliser. Plan’s partner MASIPAG – the Philippine-based organisation that brings together farmers and scientists in research on sustainable agriculture – then supplied the farmers with the native rice seed that best suited their soil and growing conditions. This not only meant higher yields but several crops a year could be harvested.Farmers also use seed from the previous harvest and exchange seed varieties with other farmers. During 2008, the Isabela farmers, with Plan’s support, also set up their own farmer’s cooperative, which in 2009 aims to mill, transport and sell the rice guaranteeing even more profits are returned to farmers. Through the project, farmers also have access to micro-finance loans, training in farm management practices and business planning for new farming ventures like fish farming, raising pigs and growing organic vegetables.

While Plan in Australia intends to end its support of this project in July 2009, the skills and knowledge will continue to be passed on to benefit many more of Isabela’s farming families. Due to the project’s success, Plan in Australia is now implementing a new sustainable livelihoods project in five

Organic vegetables are an important secondary income and source of nutrition for Isabela farming families.

*Name has been changed for child protection and privacy reasons.

10 | Plan International Australia Annual Report 2008

municipalities in Northern Samar – one of the poorest provinces of the Philippines where the prevalence of child under-nutrition is high.

Sustainable Livelihoods project activities: • Cooperative established to support farmers in the management of their crops.

• 946 farmers trained in sustainable agriculture and 45 farmers trained to provide organic farming technical support to other farmers.

• 280 farmers’ groups members trained in business, finance and management and 109 farmers received training in farm management.

• 125 farming families accessed microfinance.

• And in Nortern Samar, 215 farmers began learning about sustainable agriculture.

The four-year Sustainable Livelihoods in the Philippines project has a total budget of $644,612 including $187,609 for this financial year. The project was partly funded by AusAID (the Australian Government Agency for International Development) with additional donations from the Australian public, particularly from the Greenlight Foundation.

eting Training in business planning and mark ify ident to lies enables farming fami markets for their organic produce.

protection of women migrant workers in indonesia For Indonesians working abroad – most of whom are women – new regulations to protect them from exploitation coupled with a greater awareness of the impact of migrant work, especially on children, have brought positive change to achieving their aim of lifting their families out of poverty.

Until recently, there were no laws at the local level protecting Indonesians working abroad. That was until Plan in Australia helped set up a number of village and district level protection measures through its Protection of Women Migrant Workers project in Eastern Indonesia. With Plan Indonesia and its local partners, the project focusses on working with community groups to equip prospective migrant workers and their families with information about their legal rights, the impact on family, especially young children, and the risks associated with migrant work.

In many of the villages of eastern Indonesia, where poverty is acute and unemployment high, working abroad for up to two years at a time is often the only option. But with most migrant workers being women (up to 95 per cent), mostly employed as housemaids in countries like Hong Kong, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, it can be an option filled with exploitation, abuse and neglect for the children left behind. Nationally, around four million Indonesians are documented as being migrant workers but it is estimated there could be as many as 16 million Indonesians working abroad.

Women learn about new regu lations to help protect migrant workers like themselves.

In less than four years, Plan and its local partners working with 30 communities in eastern Indonesia have successfully lobbied for new village and district regulations to protect migrant workers, which were approved in December 2007. Plan’s five-year project, with the phase-out now extended to 2009 to ensure greater long-term impact, also benefits men and operates in Nusa Tenggara Barat, Sumbawa, Dompu and East Lombok.

The new district regulations prohibit the recruitment of workers under 18 years; a labour contract must be provided by the recruiter; and a credit facility established to finance recruitment fees. A district-level migrant protection commission has been established and the district welfare office is also paying more attention to the issue of care and welfare of migrant worker’s children. The new village-level regulations limit the activities of head hunters from unreputable recruitment agencies. In addition, Plan has helped set up community protection groups in all 30 villages with returned migrant workers encouraged to be members so they can play a mentoring role to potential migrant workers.

ren Relatives often care for child ad. abro king wor are hers whose mot

Protection of Women Migrant Workers project activities: • 30 community protection groups continued to hold regular community discussions about migrant worker’s legal rights. A pamphlet was also distributed.

• 12 street theatre performances on migrant worker’s rights were held and the production of a video drama supported.

• Four learning modules on the risk of illegal migrant work for under 18’s developed and distributed to 20 secondary schools.

• Three districts formed multi-stakeholder protection teams (each includes NGO and local government representatives).

• 24 villages have undergone socialisation about the regulations and subsequently drafted and passed local regulations to protect migrant workers.

The Protection of Women Migrant Workers project for this financial year received $139,951. This funding was partly provided by AusAID, the Australian Government Agency for International Development and from donations provided by the Australian public and Plan corporate supporters.

Prospective women migrant workers are asked to stop and consider the impact of their work abroad on the development of their very young children in a poster funded by Plan.

Plan International Australia Annual Report 2008 | 11

case studies: child Sponsorship funded programs

community volunteers vital for children’s health in cambodia In rural Cambodia, fever is the most common illness suffered by children.

“But it is hard to tell whether it is caused by dengue or malaria or something minor so we have to get the children to the clinic for a diagnosis quickly,” says Plek Yan, a community health volunteer with Plan Cambodia’s health program which is funded by child sponsorship.

However, with most rural families having no means of transport and little money to pay for a local taxi, families often have no choice but to rely on traditional remedies such as herbal drinks or religious offerings. And far too often this results in death, Plek explains.

“People around here are so poor that they cannot afford the cost of transportation to the health centre or hospital,” Plek says. A local taxi to the health clinic several kilometers away costs about two dollars (equivalent to a day’s income), and to the hospital in Siem Reap town nearly $10 for the 18km trip.

Fortunately, medical treatment at the hospital is free thanks to international NGO funding.

And thanks to Plan’s health program and the support of child sponsors, transport is also arranged through community health volunteers like Plek.

When Plan began working with the community in 2002, Plek was one of the first to volunteer. She received training in community health and in the past six years, her work has been life saving.

Project activities in Cambodia that received funding from child sponsorship included: • 198 community health volunteers trained

There have been fewer cases of illness in her village and no children have died of infectious illnesses since 2004, she says proudly. This is the result of health education, childhood immunisations and a quick response in sick children receiving medical treatment – all are part of Plan’s community health program.

Plek, who was appointed community health committee leader in 2007, has compiled health records for every child in her village and antenatal records for expectant mothers.

Her advocacy efforts have also resulted in the community’s local health centre offering more services.

• 64 schools constructed or repaired and 266 teachers received additional training • 1478 water systems or water points installed or upgraded.

Australians currently sponsor 1138 children in Cambodia.

Plan projects funded through child sponsorship benefit all children in a community without discrimination or favour.

More children in rural Cambodia are healthier and happy as a result of health education, immunizations and quicker access to medical treatment.

alth Plan community he help k Ple e volunteers lik illness in od ho ild ch ed uc red rural villages.

12 | Plan International Australia Annual Report 2008

A lucky dip game is a fun way for Cambodian children to learn hygiene practices.

Community he alth volunteers make home visits to raise parents’ awar eness about child and repr oductive heal th.

quality learning for nicaragua’s children

child sponsorship

“I have repeated first grade twice, and this year I learned to add, subtract, and I know the sounds of the letters. I can already read a little,” says Maria who would like to be a teacher one day so that she can “teach children who can’t study”.

Child sponsorship is a fundamental element of Plan’s child centred community development work.

Currently, more than 36,000 Australians sponsor over 41,000 children in more than 45 developing countries. Child sponsorship is an ongoing financial commitment from individuals, groups or organisations.

This ongoing commitment allows Plan to work in partnership with communities implementing long term projects that help create real and lasting change.

Until this year, eight-year-old Maria from a rural village in La Paz district in Nicaragua did not attend school. While a cleft lip had mostly been corrected years ago through several operations funded by an international medical group, she still feared being rejected by her classmates. Instead, she would enroll in school but never attend lessons.

However, her mother who is a single parent and faces constant economic difficulties, wanted a better life for Maria.

In 2008 with the help and motivation of her family, teachers and staff from Plan Nicaragua through it’s Quality Learning program, Maria overcame her fears and attended school regularly for the first time. She is currently in grade one and is learning to read, write and do simple math problems.

The program, which receives funding from child sponsorship, means children like Maria are no longer left behind. Working in partnership with teachers, parents and children, the program identifies and helps those children that are missing out on school.

after missing Maria is catching up at school her education. of s out on the first three year

School children have also been motivated to promote values and take care of one another and they have the opportunity to participate in child rights activities. Maria is also involved in these activities and recently participated in the student government election campaign.

Maria says she no longer feels discriminated against by her peers, but feels important.

“I always want to do well in school.”

Project activities in Nicaragua that received funding from child sponsorship included: • 80 per cent of children in 12 Plansupported communities were immunized.

• 40 per cent of families in 12 communities affected by Hurricane Felix have received agricultural livelihood support.

• 2000+ families accessed mircrofinance to improve their small businesses.

Australians currently sponsor 337 children in Nicaragua.

In Australia, Plan has been connecting sponsors with children and communities since 1971. In fact, some of the very first sponsors still support Plan’s work through their regular giving. Over the past 37 years, hundreds of community development projects throughout Asia, Africa and Central and South America have been funded by child sponsorship. These projects, which are designed with the guidance of the community to meet their most pressing needs, provide access to basic health care, education, clean water and proper sanitation, food security and sustainable family incomes.

Plan’s child sponsors are encouraged to make a connection with a child from a community and in so doing, build a real understanding and insight into the life of the child, their family and their community’s development.

Children in Nicaragua get the most out of school through Plan ’s Quality Learning program.

Plan International Australia Annual Report 2008 | 13

Building relationships

malawi visit inspires melbourne sponsor When Ryan Jones sponsored a child from Malawi, he never thought he would visit her, but it was a visit that inspired him to do even more for children.

For 26-year-old Melbourne sponsor Ryan Jones, no commitments and a well-paid job added up to lots of good times. But the realisation that he wanted his hard-earned cash to make a difference soon came to him.

He called Plan and sponsored 10-year-old Vitumbiko from Malawi.

For the little girl from an isolated village of mud and thatch-roofed huts, her life and that of other children in her village now included even more new opportunities. Coupled with the regular giving from other sponsors internationally, Ryan’s sponsorship means even more funding for long term projects such as improving education, basic health care and water and sanitation.

But it was also a new opportunity for Ryan, as just two years later, he had the unexpected opportunity to visit Vitumbiko and her family when his mechanical engineering skills were needed for a short contract in South Africa. “When I sponsored her, I never anticipated that I would ever meet her,” Ryan says. “I also never thought on return, I’d be inspired to do more for kids

like Vitumbiko and enter the Run Melbourne charity fun run.”

When Ryan’s South African contract ended in April this year, he and colleague Andrew McIntosh flew direct to Malawi. “When we arrived at Vitumbiko’s village, the Plan interpreter told us we were the first sponsors to ever visit the district. The village leaders asked lots of questions about what we eat, what we farm and what we do with ourselves.

They also told us about their problems, the two main ones being water and basic health care.”

Later, Vitumbiko and her twin sister Wes took Ryan and Andrew to their school where they are in Grade 5. “The curriculum was surprisingly very similar to what Australian kids are learning at this age. In fact, talking to the headmaster and earlier when we were talking to the village heads, it seemed there were a lot of similarities. Our lives really weren’t that much different from each others.”

“Meeting Vitumbiko, her family and her community was an unforgettable experience and once again drove home just how far a dollar can go,” Ryan says.

Ryan Jones with Vitumbiko (centre) and her twin sister Wes.

14 | Plan International Australia Annual Report 2008

On his return to Melbourne, Ryan entered the inaugural Run Melbourne charity run held on 22 June. With girlfriend Danielle Van Ryn, they raised a staggering $1385 for Plan’s Early Childhood Care and Development projects in India. While a motorcycle accident just days before the race prevented Ryan from running himself, Andrew McIntosh who travelled with him to Malawi and now sponsors a child in Malawi, ran in his place.

Project activities in Malawi that received funding from child sponsorship included: • 10 pre-schools built to give young children a good start to their education • 500+ outside toilets constructed to improve sanitation for families • 170 community members trained in counselling of vulnerable children and HIV/ AIDS orphans.

Australians currently sponsor 876 children in Malawi.

Ryan Jones and Andrew McIntosh visit Vitumbiko’s school.

Vitumbiko – a Plan sponsored child from Malawi.

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More than 130,000 people (including 78,000 children) in Zimbabwe received food aid such as pulses, grains and vegetable oil during 2008. The food aid was provided through Plan in Australia’s Vulnerable Groups Feeding project funded by a $7 million World Food Program grant.

Plan International Australia Annual Report 2008 | 15

fundraising

Raising awareness and support in australia This year, Plan in Australia has continued to develop and build partnerships with individuals, trusts and foundations and the Australian corporate and business sector. These partnerships have enabled Plan to continue our work to develop the structures and skills needed to build safe, sustainable and healthy communities in which children are able to realise their full potential.

Regular giving and appeal donations During the 2008 financial year, 41,302 children were sponsored by Plan supporters in Australia. Their regular giving through sponsoring a child has helped Plan continue to work with communities in over 45 developing countries. Regular giving to our work was also provided by Children First! members who gave over $364,002 to support priority projects in developing countries in Africa and Asia.

Our supporters also gave generously to Plan appeals. More than $340,000 was donated to our Annual Appeal for Children in Africa in December 2007 and more than $400,000 was donated to our End of Financial Year Appeal for early childhood care and development projects in Asia.

Overall, donations from appeals and regular giving, including child sponsorship, totalled $19,315,696.

Major Donor support As Plan in Australia continues to deepen its engagement with its major donors, stronger and more meaningful relationships with new and existing individual philanthropists, trusts and foundations have been formed during 2008.

The Greenlight Foundation continued its commitment and support of Plan’s Sustainable Livelihoods project in Isabela, in the Philippines. This highly successful model of sustainable agriculture is now being extended to other Filipino farming communities in Northern Samar – one of the poorest provinces of the Philippines where the prevalence of child under-nutrition is high.

Extending this project was made possible due to The Greenlight Foundation’s support.

The Bluesands Foundation continued its partnership with Plan to support the Global Connections program that is connecting young people in Australia with youth groups in Jakarta and Surabaya in Indonesia to share their ideas on global issues and empower them to become agents of change.

the Water and Sanitation project in East Timor; The RobMaree Foundation supported the Community Learning Action program in Bangladesh; and the Ruth Fagg Foundation (ANZ Executors & Trustees) supported the Empowering Families project in Cambodia. We also thank the many individuals who also gave so generously.

Corporate and business support During 2008, a greater number of businesses have progressively utilised their support of Plan to engage staff, customers and media and in so doing continued to demonstrate their very real commitment to corporate social responsibility.

The Pratt Foundation increased its sponsorship support for Plan’s global learning program presently partnered with Melbourne’s Bialik College. The program focuses on advocacy and development education and empowers students to become global citizens by playing an active role in gathering information and insight about their place in the world.

As a result Plan’s business support has increased year after year. Businesses large and small have come on board with Plan in a variety of ways including sponsoring a child or a number of children; donating to a specific project; workplace giving; causerelated marketing linked to sales campaigns; providing invaluable pro-bono services; and engaging customers and employees to support our work.

Plan also received significant contributions and commitment to our work from: Morawetz Social Justice Fund (a sub-fund of the Melbourne Community Foundation), supported

Renault, Accor Hotels and NRW Holdings have continued to support Plan’s work through the ongoing sponsorship of over 50 children from around the world. In lieu of

Luke Harris and Kim Letchford from Monitored Alarms – a Plan business partner that sponsors a child for each new staff member employed.

16 | Plan International Australia Annual Report 2008

support Kenzo – a Plan corporate partner – helps ent lopm deve and care hood child Plan’s early . projects in India, through perfume sales

Jon Pfeffer and his father Steve, cycle from Brisbane to Broome for Plan.

Christmas gifts, Accor Hotels also donated $10,000 to Plan’s Early Childhood Care and Development project in China. The Insight Group completed a partnership with Plan where for the past three years it has donated $30,000 to Plan’s Water and Sanitation project in East Timor. Hobsons has been raising funds in Australia, Britain and the United States to build a school in St Cruz in Bolivia. Thanks to their joint effort it is hoped that US$49,000 will be raised over 2008 calendar year.

Community Fundraising For Plan supporters around Australia, community fundraising is a great way to raise money and awareness. During 2008, more than 50 Plan supporters have taken up both a physical and fundraising challenge by registering in community fun runs like Run Melbourne. They set up an online fundraising page and emailed friends, family and colleagues to ask for sponsorship. As a result, more than $9000 has been raised for Plan priority projects. Another physical challenge taken up for Plan was the Brisbane to Broome bike ride. Jon Pfeffer and his father Steve cycled almost 5000km across the top end of Australia over 10 weeks without a support vehicle. As a result of fundraising during the trip, $6000 was raised for Plan’s work. The adventure also attracted local media attention

Plan supporters Tim and Taff Richardson raise $445 for Plan after participating in Run Melbourne.

Friends of Canberra members Pat Boldr a (left) and Gosta Lynga (right) at Parliamen t House with athlete Tristan Thomas and young fans launch the group’s fundraising calendar of even ts.

along the route, with Jon doing numerous radio and newspaper interviews which helped spread the word about Plan.

Long time supporter Kevin Welsh kept up with his plant sales at mid-coast NSW markets, which over the last few years has seen him donate more than $30,000. His aim is to reach $50,000 by 2010.

Through the local market sales of their knitted dolls, the staff and community of the Louis Joel Arts and Community Centre in Melbourne, Victoria have been able to sponsor a child in Malawi.

to support the Brisbane to Broome bike ride. Friends of Plan Canberra fundraised for Plan’s priority project ‘Reducing Community Vulnerability to HIV and AIDS’ and raised money through a fundraising dinner, raffles and their 8th Annual Art and Craft Show which was officially opened by his Excellency Mr J L Lanyasunya, the High Commissioner for Kenya. Together, Friends of Plan groups donated more than $5500 to Plan.

Volunteers

Other activities undertaken by supporters in the last year include: taking donations in lieu of gifts at birthday parties; Pot and Parma pub nights; and donations from the sale of art. All of these volunteer activities resulted in more than $45,000 raised for Plan priority projects like Early Childhood Care and Development in India and Water and Sanitation in East Timor.

Friends of Plan Friends of Plan groups around the country are wonderful ambassadors for Plan. In Perth, the annual sale of Entertainment Books by Julienne Patience raised more than $800.

A group of volunteers in Brisbane helped

Each year volunteers donate over 2500 hours of their time to Plan in Australia. In Melbourne, regular office volunteers assist with essential administration tasks.

Liz Venn is one of 20 office volunteers. For more than five years she has been coming in one day a week to assist the Supporter Service team with administrative duties including managing communications between sponsors and sponsored children. As a child sponsor herself, Plan was a natural place for Liz to come when she retired from teaching. Liz enjoys the interaction with staff and other volunteers and is happy to be contributing to Plan’s work.

All volunteers make an invaluable contribution and help us make a difference for children, their families and communities around the world.

Liz Venn is a regular volunteer at the Plan in Australia office in Melbourne.

Plan International Australia Annual Report 2008 | 17

community education

global learning and youth participation By connecting young people in developing communities with those in Australia, we aim to lay the foundations for young people to inspire each other and create positive change in their lives and in their communities.

Global Connections – our youth-led participation project that presently provides youth in Indonesia and in Australia with opportunities to engage with each other – had a number of positive outcomes during 2008. While the project provides young people with the chance to communicate, build friendships and form lasting connections, it is also providing opportunities for young people to reach their own potentials and gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be a global citizen.

The project in 2008 has involved four schools in Australia linked to four youth groups in Indonesia. Eight volunteer university students from Melbourne were trained in facilitation skills to implement the program in Balwyn High School, Copperfield College Kings Park, Copperfield College Sydenham, and Footscray City College. University facilitators and local community facilitators implement the project in Jakarta and Surabaya in Indonesia.

The groups have been learning more about each other by exchanging personal profiles in various mediums including DVDs, posters, scrapbooks and comic strips. The groups will exchange two additional communications before the end of 2008: one on an issue of importance or concern to them, and one on ways to take action to address this issue.

The outcomes for these young people involved in Global Connections this year has been incredibly varied including increased self esteem; vocational and personal skill building; increased awareness of global citizenship and avenues for taking action; and decreases in negative stereotypes and stigmatisation within both Indonesian and Australian communities.

Young people in Indonesia have used participation certificates awarded by the project to gain employment. And vocational skills developed, such as filming and editing, have provided opportunities to engage in

freelance employment filming community events.

The project, which first began in 2005, has received media attention both in Australia and in Indonesia, and is being celebrated as a unique way for young people to learn from each other crossing geographical and cultural divides. Over the past three years, it has brought together more than 200 children from six Australian schools linked to approximately 350 children in five groups in Indonesia.

And finally, the Australian Research Council Grant awarded to Melbourne University in partnership with Plan and RMIT has commenced, with the first technical report soon to be published through the Australian Youth Research Centre. The overall goal of this research project is to provide a systematic evidence base for the design of sustainable, youth-led programs that promote global education for young people.

Girls from the Lapas Juvenile Detention Centre in Jakarta, Indonesia communicate via letters and posters with students in Australia

Students from Thornbury Dare bin College in Melbourne – one of six Austral ian schools participating in Global Connect ions

18 | Plan International Australia Annual Report 2008

Plan International Australia ABN 49 004 875 807

financial overview Income Statement for the year ended 30 june 2008

2008 2007

$ $ REVENUE Donations and Gifts – Monetary & Non-Monetary

Child sponsorship 18,273,430 17,491,034

Appeals 0 1,302,664

Other cash donations 2,023,755 754,871

20,297,185 19,548,569 Legacies and bequests 43,489 97,205 Grants

AusAID 4,067,434 3,240,904

Other Australian 393,306 462,180

World Food Program 7,500,351 942,395

Other overseas 79,245 0

12,040,336 4,645,479 Investment income 395,129 284,175 Other income 7,964 82,738 Total Revenue 32,784,103

24,658,166

EXPENSES Overseas projects

Funds to overseas projects 25,588,674 17,921,027

Other project costs 688,619 584,305

Remittances to Burnet Institute 760,000 760,000

27,037,293 19,265,332 Domestic projects 0 0 Community education 153,695 103,466 Fundraising costs

Public 4,239,865 4,206,596

Government, multilateral and private sector 4,319 13,215

4,244,184 4,219,811 Administration 1,509,861 1,539,890 Total Expenses

32,945,033

25,128,499

Excess of revenue over expenses (shortfall) from continuing operations (160,930)

(470,333)

The full version of Plan’s Statutory Financial Statements are available at www.plan.org.au or on request from the Plan office, Tel: 13 7526.

Note: No single appeal or other form of public fundraising for a designated purpose generated 10 per cent or more of total income for the period under review. Plan is a member of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) and is a signatory to the ACFID Code of Conduct. The Code requires members to meet high standards of corporate governance, public accountability and financial management. More information about the ACFID Code of Conduct can be obtained from Plan and from ACFID at www.acfid.asn.au or by email on main@acfid.asn.au. Tel: (02) 6285 1816. Fax: (02) 6285 1720.

Plan International Australia Annual Report 2008 | 19

Plan International Australia ABN 49 004 875 807

financial overview balance sheet as at 30 june 2008

2008

$ ASSETS Current Assets Cash and cash equivalents 2,133,943 Trade and other receivables 195,943 Financial assets 1,220,000 Total Current Assets 3,549,886

Non-Current Assets Property, plant & equipment 155,691 Intangible assets 201,174 Total Non-Current Assets 356,865

TOTAL ASSETS

3,906,751

LIABILITIES Current Liabilities Trade and other payables 1,114,218 Provisions 248,997 Total Current Liabilities 1,363,215

Non-Current Liabilities Provisions 10,599 Total Non-Current Liabilities 10,599

2007 $ 2,373,956 152,316 1,220,000 3,746,272 98,843 268,459 367,302 4,113,574

1,361,549 185,675 1,547,224 41,465 41,465

TOTAL LIABILITIES

1,373,814

1,588,689

NET ASSETS

2,532,937

2,524,885

EQUITY Reserves 2,532,937

2,524,885

TOTAL EQUITY

20 | Plan International Australia Annual Report 2008

2,532,937

2,524,885

Plan International Australia ABN 49 004 875 807

financial overview statement of changes in equity for the year ended 30 june 2008 Retained Reserves Total

Earnings Balance at 1 July 2007 0 2,524,885 2,524,885 Excess of revenue over expenses (160,930) 0 (160,930) Amounts transferred (to) from reserves: 160,930 8,052 168,982 Balance at 30 June 2008 0 2,532,937

2,532,937

table of cash movements for designated purposes for the year ended 30 june 2008 Cash available at Cash raised Cash disbursed Cash available

beginning of year during year during year at end of year Asian Tsunami appeal 25,000 0 (25,000) 0 Total for other purposes 3,341,351 32,784,103 (32,970,033) 3,155,421 Total 3,366,351 32,784,103 (32,995,033) 3,155,421

Reconciliation of Cash Available at End of Year to Financial Report

$ Cash Assets 2,133,943 Cash Investments 1,220,000 Adjustment for accrual items (198,522)

3,155,421

Independent Audit Report to the Members of Plan International Australia We have audited the summarised financial report of Plan International Australia (the Company) for the financial year ended 30 June 2008 in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards.

In our opinion, the information reported in the summarised financial report is consistent with the annual statutory financial report from which it is derived and upon which we expressed an unqualified audit opinion in our report to the members dated 30 September 2008. For a better understanding of the company’s financial position and performance, as represented by the results of its operations and its cash flows for the financial year, and the scope of our audit, this report should be read in conjunction with the annual statutory financial report and our audit report on that report.

PricewaterhouseCoopers PR Lewis, Partner Melbourne, 30 September 2008 Freshwater Place, 2 Southbank Boulevard, Southbank VIC 3006 Tel: 03 8603 1000

Plan International Australia Annual Report 2008 | 21

Plan international Australia board of directors

Thomas Kane.

Board of directors (left to right): Tim Beresford, Ian Wishart (Plan in Australia national director), Jeremy Ingall, Anne Skipper, Margaret Winn, Neil Thompson, Emily Booker, Russell Gordon, Suzanne Bell, Philip Endersbee, Claire Hatton and Wendy McCarthy.

Information on Directors currently in office K Anne Skipper AM (Chair) Dip Nursing FAICD, FAIM Board member since July 2003. Elected Chair November 2006. An experienced business woman currently consulting in corporate governance. A diverse portfolio working in government, private sector and community based organisations in public health, media, women’s affairs, leadership, children and young people and more recently corporate governance. Presenter for the Australian Institute of Company Directors and currently on the following boards: Deputy Chair for the South Australian Tourism Commission Board; Director, Savings & Loans Credit Union; Chair, Royal District Nursing Service; Council Member, University of SA and Director Aboriginal Foundation SA. Margaret J Winn (Deputy Chair) BA Dip Ed Board member since November 1998. Deputy Chair, Plan. Member of Plan International’s Member’s Assembly and Program Committee.

Health and Development consultant specialising in sexual and reproductive health, water and sanitation and microfinance in Asia, Africa and the Pacific.

Suzanne Bell CA, BCom Board member since 15 July 2008. Suzanne is a partner in KPMG Audit and Assurance practice.

She has 16 years audit and advisory experience, specialising in the audits of large, multi-national, listed clients in the consumer and industrial markets industry. Suzanne is an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA). Board member Melbourne Fringe Festival and Chair Future Summit Leadership Awardee program.

Tim D A Beresford BEc (Hons) LLB MPhil (International Relations) ASIA Board member since July 2003. Head of Strategy, Consumer Financial Services, Westpac Banking Corporation. Advisory Council Sydney Youth Orchestra. Previously Senior Manager, McKinsey & Co.

Emily J Booker BA MA (Mass Comm.)

Board member since March 2005. Former newspaper and television journalist. Worked as a senior executive in media and government relations with UNICEF in New York and Bangkok for 14 years. Member of the Expert Advisory Committee of the NSW Commission for Children and Young People. Currently working as a consultant in development and communication.

Philip L Endersbee BBus (Administration) Board member since October 2003. Managing Director and owner, Wilderness Wear Pty Ltd. Director of Three Peaks Outdoor Gear Pty Ltd; Member, Rotary Club of Melbourne; Deputy Chair, East Timor Embassy Building Project Pty Ltd; Fellow, Leadership Victoria; Independent Trustee and Director, John T Reid Charitable Trust.

Russell Gordon CA MBA Bbus (Acc) Board member since February 2002.

Chartered Accountant. General Manager, Alltruck Bodies Pty Ltd and previously a Director at KPMG, specialising in the area of financial advisory services.

Claire Hatton MBA, BSc (Hons) Board member since 15 July 2008. Claire is the Head of Travel for Google Australia/New Zealand. She has over 15 years of experience in the travel industry having worked in the airline industry, online travel, distribution and travel wholesaling in Australia and the Asia Pacific region. She has extensive digital expertise and is a regular speaker on Online Marketing in the Asia Pacific region.

Jeremy D M Ingall Board Member since July 2005. Over 20 years experience in investment banking and investment management in Australia and the United States.

Executive Chairman of investment banking and investment management firm Andover Group.

Board member of MEARS Technologies (Boston) and several other companies. Studied finance, accounting and economics at the University of New South Wales.

22 22| Plan International Australia Annual Report 2008

Thomas J S Kane FAICD Board member since April 2004. Managing Director and founder, The Grey Group Pty Ltd. Chartered Member, Australian Human Resources Institute. Extensive career in the resources and manufacturing sectors in Australia and overseas. Prior to establishing The Grey Group, was CEO of an industry association and managing partner of a consulting practice.

Previously sat on the boards of a major superannuation fund, a manufacturing business and a property development company.

Wendy E McCarthy AO BA Dip Ed, MSICD, Hon Dr Uni SA Board member since May 1996. Elected Chair November 1998. Elected Vice Chair of Plan’s International Board for 3 years in January 2007.

Held a wide range of positions in Australia’s public and private corporations in health, family planning, education, media, heritage and the environment. Currently Chair of McGrath Estate Agents; Chair of the NSW Sustainable Access Priority Taskforce; Chair of Circus Oz; Member of the NSW Health Advisory Council; Chair of Sydney Community Foundation; Patron of the Australian Reproductive Health Alliance; Chair of the Accreditation Advisory Board of the Advertising Federation of Australia; and Executive Director of McCarthy Mentoring, Women’s Business and Corporate Good Works.

Neil R Thompson BA Hons, Grad studies Beijing University Board Member since January 2007. Chair of Hong Kong Taskforce. Independent CRM/ marketing consultant. Previously Group General Manager Customer Relationship Marketing, Qantas Airways. Twenty years experience in the aviation and tourism industry. Extensive experience in business development in Asia.

Board director of the Trust for Indigenous Culture & Health (USA); former board director of Australia China Business Council and Australian Direct Marketing Association.

key people at plan

Board Committee and Special Responsibilities Finance & Audit Committee: Sub Committee of the Board: Russell Gordon (Chair) Brian Dunkley (to November 2007) Philip L Endersbee K Anne Skipper AM Carol Pagnon (Co-opted) Program Advisory Committee: Sub Committee of the Board: Emily J Booker (Chair) Margaret J Winn Belinda Lucas (Co-opted) Fundraising Committee Sub Committee of the Board: Tim D A Beresford (Chair) Jeremy D M Ingall Fiona J Sharkie (to September 2007) Neil Thompson Corporate Governance Committee Sub Committee of the Board: Thomas J S Kane (Chair) Philip L Endersbee Wendy E McCarthy AO (to April 2008) Fiona J Sharkie (to September 2007) K Anne Skipper AM Directors who have international roles and responsibilities

National Office Key Contacts

Business Supporters

National Executive Director Ian Wishart

Plan wishes to acknowledge the support from our business supporters and thank them for their generosity.

Chief Financial Officer Gerard Dell’Oste (Company Secretary)

Director, Marketing and Communications Aimee Suchard-Lowe Plan Ambassadors Jamie Durie Harry White (Youth Ambassador) Volunteers Every year, volunteers contribute thousands of hours of their time to Plan in Australia.

Their volunteer contribution includes raising funds, increasing awareness of Plan in their communities, helping out at events and assisting Plan office staff with essential tasks including mailroom support, data entry, media and research projects. All Plan volunteers, known as Friends of Plan, give invaluable support to Plan around the country. Thank you to our wonderful Friends of Plan.

Major Donors

Wendy E McCarthy AO Vice Chair and member of the following Board Committees: Program and Audit Evaluation, Human Resources and Financial Audit

Plan wishes to acknowledge the support from our major donors and thank them for their generosity.

K Anne Skipper AM Member (non voting) of Program and Audit Evaluation Committee (to June 2008)

The Bluesand Foundation Greenlight Foundation Morawetz Social Justice Fund RobMeree Foundation The Pratt Foundation The Ruth Fagg Foundation The Trust Company Ltd

Members Assembly K Anne Skipper AM

Member of the Audit & Compliance Committee

The Insight Group Hobsons Peregrine Adventures Accor BHP Billiton Ebsworth & Ebsworth Abacus Westpac Macquarie Bank Limited

Top 10 Business Child Sponsors

Acting Director, Child Centred Community Development Dave Husy

Plan International Board

Margaret J Winn Member (non-voting) of Program and Audit Evaluation Committee

Business Priority Project Supporters

Trusts and Foundations

Renault Accor NRW Holdings Merchantlink International Power Australia Post – Dandenong Letter Centre Jet Couriers Great Lakes & Mid Coast Staff Vending Machines Proprietary SP AusNet Top 10 Workplace Giving Jimmy Possum Great Lakes & Mid Coast Staff Study Group Australia SP AusNet Centre of Adult Education (CAE) Arnotts Biscuits Ltd BHP Billiton College of Nursing Knox City Council Workability Personnel Inc Accreditation Plan International is a member of its professional peak body the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) and is a signatory to its code of conduct that covers the presentation of annual reports.

Plan is currently fully accredited and a trusted recipient of funds from AusAID, the Australian Government’s Agency for International Development responsible for managing the Australian Government’s official overseas aid program.

Margaret J Winn

The Annual General Meeting of Members of Plan International Australia was held on 13 November, 2008 at 4:00pm at Level 18, Tower 1, Darling Park, 201 Sussex Street, Sydney, NSW.

Plan International Australia Annual Report 2008 | 23 23

plan.org.au Plan 1/533 Little Lonsdale Street Melbourne VIC 3000 GPO Box 2818 Melbourne VIC 3001 Tel: 13 7526 Fax: +61 (3) 9670 1130 Email: info@plan.org.au A.B.N. 49 004 875 807

Printed on 100% recycled paper.