The Annual Report of the Trustees of SALCET for the Financial Year ending 5th April 2025
SALCET has continued to support projects in El Salvador, Uganda and Kenya over the last year. There have not been any SALCET fieldtrips to Africa and/or El Salvador this year, but, despite not being able to visit in person, SALCET keeps in regular contact with friends and projects in all 3 countries, supporting them prayerfully and financially. SALCET is increasingly using modern technology for remote diagnostics, particularly in Kenya and Uganda, to treat and help disadvantaged children to lead a normal life.
EL SALVADOR
Ruth Cruz, SALCET’s field worker in El Salvador, continues to manage our ophthalmic work, arranging eye appointments for those needing cataract surgery, other ophthalmological procedures or prescription spectacles, accompanying them to the ASAPROSAR or FUDEM clinics, and purchasing their medication. She is meticulous in sending SALCET all the receipts, photos of the patients and progress reports on their treatment.
The Community House in San Carlos (financed by SALCET) is flourishing again now that El Salvador is a much safer country. Ruth Cruz is a very active resident there and informs us that re-decoration has taken place, and over the year it has hosted a Mother’s Day celebration (for 40 local mums), a wedding and two Christmas parties as well as medical clinics. In June 2024 a National State of Emergency was declared for 15 days as El Salvador was battered by hurricane force winds and torrential rain.
The Community House was equipped as an emergency shelter by the Civil Protection Force, but, despite damage to 2 houses in San Carlos, no-one needed to be evacuated. San Carlos was spared the devastation which hit much of the country.
SALCET was pleased to be able to assist financially a long-standing member of the San Carlos community (who oversaw the building of the Community House) with medical issues. He has been able to return to work.
In March 2025 SALCET shared in the grief of the community at the sudden death of this man’s brother, whom we all loved and respected.
Having heard nothing from Pastor Carlos Gomez in Panchimalco for over a year, (SALCET was partnering with him over a diabetic support group at his church) it was confirmed in November 2024, that he was in prison. He was a victim of President Bukele’s crackdown on suspected gang members in El Salvador which has led to nearly 3% of the male population being incarcerated, often without due process. The country is now the safest in Central America but there seems little hope of justice for those who have been imprisoned wrongly. SALCET wrote a letter for Ruth Cruz to deliver to Cristosal (a Human Rights NGO), but we have not had any further news. We hold Carlos and his family in our prayers.
SALCET continues to support CDH (Asociacion de Campesinos para el Desarrollo Humano) in the rural area of Morazan with their medical work at the Estancia clinic. We receive a written report each year of all their medical interventions and environmental work.
UGANDA
Robert Mwanjuzi has continued to care pastorally for the group of 6 disabled children and their mothers during this year and to provide for their medical and practical needs as appropriate. SALCET has helped finance some of these, including providing Christmas food for each family (instead of a Christmas party). SALCET has also provided wheelchairs for 2 of the children with cerebral palsy. Robert has sent receipts, and photos of very happy children.
SALCET receives occasional reports from the Ssunga Twezimbe Womens Group (STWG) in Masaka. They continue to run their gardening, pig, dairy keeping and co-saving projects but the poultry project has been abandoned for the time being. It is a continuing struggle for them to make a profit and become self-sufficient. The effects of climate change and erratic weather patterns hit them badly, and they are very grateful for the water tank.
SALCET sent a donation in May 2024 to encourage them in their endeavours for which they were very grateful. 2 reports were received in March 2025 from different people which were conflicting in their content. We are awaiting clarification and are reluctant to send any more donations until we know the true situation. We hope Robert Munwanjuzi will help to set the record straight.
At the start of this financial year it seems that communication between Bright Future Primary School in Masaka and St. Bartholomew School in Haslemere, UK, had broken down and St. Barts were still holding funds from their Christmas 2023 concert that had been highlighted for sports equipment and musical instruments for Bright Future School. Chris and Maggie Jagger held a Zoom meeting with a delegation from St Barts, who said that they were very keen to re-establish links with Bright Future School and transfer the money to them. SALCET agreed to make a combined donation with St. Barts and the money finally arrived at Bright Future School in August 2024. Oliva, the school secretary, acknowledged the money with grateful thanks. However by the end of the financial year there has not been any progress on how the money has been spent.
Eroni Jjunju, who runs the Mata Dental clinic in Masaka, which SALCET supports, has continued her dental outreach programmes to schools and Compassion projects throughout the year as well as working in the local hospital. Eroni has been trying to raise large sums of money for new dental equipment this year so SALCET has referred her to the ICD and the UK charity, Dentaid, who carry out work in Uganda.
KENYA
SALCET is continuing to support one child suffering with cerebral palsy in Nairobi. Through video link Dr Chris Jagger has been able to help with diagnostics and offer advice regarding physiotherapy and equipment to help this child. This has proved life-changing and he is now walking and attending school. SALCET sends small donations to help this child to flourish and enjoy good health.
THANKS
SALCET is very grateful to faithful individuals and Charitable Trusts for their ongoing interest in and support of the charity. SALCET is actively looking for one or two new Trustees