Annual Review

AET publishes a bi-annual report on its activities, but this report has been delayed into 2008 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Trust in 1958 by the Rev. Michael Scott, a key figure in struggles against apartheid and colonialism. Since the last report AET has had an immensely busy and productive time, and the Board of Trustees would like to record their thanks to the Director, the Deputy Director and all the staff in the UK operating from the London office, and those working in Africa from the office established in Nairobi in Kenya, and our partners. We also wish to thank our Patrons, the Rt Hon the Lord Kinnock and Glenys Kinnock MEP, the Rt Hon the Baroness Ann Taylor, and Philip Pullman, for their interest and assistance in the work of the Trust. Special thanks go to our generous donors, without whom the work could not continue.

AET has continued to work in conflict-affected areas in Africa, primarily in Somaliland, Somalia, Southern Sudan, where formal education structures are limited or absent. The work centres on the development of innovative education and training programmes, especially for children and young women, former soldiers, displaced internal refugees, disabled people, and nomadic herders. In these areas people have some of the lowest levels of education in the world and it is difficult to access resources for learning. Much of the success of the programmes continues to be due to the belief that communities should have a say in the kind of education they want and they are carried out by locally trained people with the major aim of supporting people in developing their own communities. The Board is particularly aware of the often dangerous and difficult conditions that workers operate in and thank them for their bravery. Major projects encouraging thousands of learners continues to be the EC-Comic Relief funded radio literacy project in Somalia/Somaliland, carried out in cooperation with the BBC World Service, the EU/DFID funded projects setting up formal and non-formal assessment and certification and supporting secondary education in Somalia and Somaliland. AET also continues with work in Swaziland, where thanks to the Colonel Johnson Memorial Fund young orphans are assisted with their secondary schooling, and in South Africa, where with the valuable cooperation of the University of Fort Hare, students from Sudan study for a Certificate in Public Administration and Management in conflict areas.

A strategic review of the work and direction of AET was conducted over 2007, with staff and Trustees having an input, and we are grateful to Dr Alicia Fentiman for her report of the Strategic Review meeting. The overall aims of the Trust over the next five year period in Africa will be to continue non-formal education and skills training, assist with formal education at primary and secondary level, and encourage capacity building for local groups and organisations. In the UK the Trust will continue support and training for African community organisations, support disadvantaged African groups and assist African students in the UK with scholarships and grants.

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