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EFFECTIVENESS ASSESSMENT POLICY

WHEREAS, International Children’s Network (ICN)/Matsiko Children International (MCI) board of directors seeks to establish a policy on effectiveness assessment to help ensure that the organization has defined, measurable goals and objectives in place to evaluate the success and impact of its program(s) in fulfilling these goals and objectives,

 

IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT Matsiko Children International (MCI) board of directors adopts the following policy:

 

  1. At least once every two years, MCI Board of Directors will review its goals and objectives toward achieving its mission and will complete a performance and effectiveness assessment of its programs based on that review    

  2. Such an assessment will be conducted under the authority of the entire MCI Committee of the Board.

  3. MCI Board of Directors will receive a written report of this assessment:

        a.) Describing the activities that MCI undertook in the prior two years (or annual review) to achieve its goals and objectives,

        b.) Identifying the measures used to assess MCI’s effectiveness in achieving its goals and objectives,

        c.) Analyzing the effectiveness of MCI’s programs in achieving the foundation's goals and objectives,

        d.) Recommending future actions, MCI might take to increase effectiveness based on the findings.

   4. At the conclusion of this process, MCI will revise the goals and objectives for the Foundation, as needed, for the upcoming term and will suggest means of measuring them.  This assessment will also impact MCI's ongoing 10 year plan regarding its goals

       and objectives as well.       

CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY

Article I: Purpose

The purpose of this conflict of interest policy is to establish the procedures applicable to the identification and resolution of conflicts of interest in the context of transactions or arrangements entered into by International Children’s Network/Matsiko Children International aka ICN or MCI where an Interested Person (defined below) may have a Financial Interest (defined below) in or Fiduciary Responsibility (as defined below) towards an individual or entity with which ICN/MCI is negotiating a transaction or arrangement.  The determination that a conflict of interest exists does not prohibit the MCI from entering into the proposed transaction or arrangement provided that the procedures set forth in Article III below are followed. This policy is intended to supplement but not replace any applicable state laws governing conflicts of interest applicable to nonprofit and charitable corporations.

 

Article II: Definitions

 

  1. Interested Person

Any director, principal officer, or member of a committee with board-delegated powers who has either (a) a direct or indirect financial interest, as defined below ("Financial Interest"); or (b) a fiduciary responsibility to another organization, as defined below ("Fiduciary Responsibility"), is an interested person  

 2.   Financial Interest

 A person has a Financial Interest if the person has, directly or indirectly, through business, investment or family (which are spouse, children and step children, and other relatives living with such person):

A.    an ownership or investment interest in any entity with which ICN has a transaction or arrangement (including but not limited to grants); or

B.    a compensation arrangement with ICN or with any entity or individual with which ICN has a transaction or arrangement (including but not limited to grants);

C.    a potential ownership or investment interest in, or compensation arrangement with, any entity or individual with which ICN is negotiating a transaction or arrangement (including but not limited to grants); or

D.    other than an arm's-length relationship with prospective or actual grantees relative to the design of specific projects, preparation of specific proposals and review and oversight of funded projects, and ICN related activities.

 

Compensation includes direct and indirect remuneration as well as gifts or favors that are substantial in nature.  Gifts and favors include any gratuitous service, loan, discount, money or article of value, but does not include loans from financial institutional on customary terms, articles of nominal value ordinarily used for sales promotion, ordinary "business lunches" or reasonable entertainment consistent with local social or business customs.

 

 A Financial Interest is not necessarily a conflict of interest.  Under Article III, Section 2, a person who has a Financial Interest may have a conflict of interest only if the board or appropriate committee decides that a conflict of interest exists.

 3.  Fiduciary Responsibility

A person has a Fiduciary Responsibility towards an organization or individual if him or her:

A.    occupies a position of special confidence towards such organization or individual;

B.    holds in trust property in which another person has the beneficial title of interest, or who receives and controls the income of another; or

C.    has a duty of loyalty or duty of care to an organization (by virtue of serving as an officer or director of an organization or other position with similar responsibilities).  A duty of loyalty requires the person to refrain from dealing with the organization on behalf of a party having an interest adverse to the organization and refrain from competing with the organization.  A duty of care requires the person to discharge his or her duties in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the organization.

       

A Fiduciary Responsibility is not necessarily a conflict of interest.  Under Article III, Section 2, a person who has a Fiduciary Responsibility may have a conflict of interest only if the board or appropriate committee decides that a conflict of interest exists.

 

Article III: Procedures

 1.    Duty to Disclose

In connection with any actual or possible conflicts of interest, an interested person must disclose the existence and nature of his or her Financial Interest or Fiduciary Responsibility and all material facts to the directors and members of committees with board-delegated powers considering the proposed transaction or arrangements.

 2.    Determining Whether a Conflict of Interest Exists

After disclosure of the Financial Interest or Fiduciary Responsibility and all material facts, and after any discussion with the interested person, he or she shall leave the board or committee meeting while the final determination of a conflict of interest is discussed and voted upon.  The remaining board or committee members shall decide if a conflict of interest exists.

 3.    Procedures for Addressing the Conflict of Interest

a.     An interested person may make a factual presentation at the board or committee meeting, but after such presentation, he or she shall leave the meeting during the discussion of, and the vote on, the transaction or arrangement that results in the conflict of interest.  An interested person shall not actively participate in the discussion of, or vote on, the transaction or arrangement that results in the conflict of interest, either formally at a board or committee meeting or informally through contact with individual board or committee members.  In addition, the interested person should not be counted in determining whether a quorum is present for the board or committee meeting at which the transaction or arrangement that results in the conflict of interest is to be voted upon.

b.    The chair of the board or committee shall, if appropriate, appoint a disinterested person or committee to investigate alternatives to the proposed transaction or arrangement.

c.     After exercising due diligence, the board or committee shall determine whether ICN can obtain a more advantageous transaction or arrangement with reasonable efforts from a person or entity that would not give rise to a conflict of interest.

d.    If a more advantageous transaction or arrangement is not reasonably attainable under circumstances that would not give rise to a conflict of interest, the board or committee shall determine by a majority vote (or other voting requirement, as provided in the Bylaws of ICN of the disinterested directors whether the transaction or arrangement is in ICN interest and for its own benefit and whether the transaction is fair and reasonable to ICN and shall make its decision as to whether to enter into the transaction or arrangement in conformity with such determination.

4.    Violations of the Conflicts of Interest Policy

a.     If the board or committee has reasonable cause to believe that a member has failed to disclose actual or possible conflicts of interest, it shall inform the member of the basis for such belief and afford the member an opportunity to explain the alleged failure to disclose.

b.    If, after hearing the response of the member and making such further investigation as may be warranted in the circumstances, the board or committee determines that the member has in fact failed to disclose an actual or possible conflict of interest, it shall take appropriate disciplinary and corrective actions.

 

Article IV: Records of Proceedings

The minutes of the board and all committees with board-delegated powers shall contain:

a.     the names of the persons who disclosed or otherwise were found to have a Financial Interest or a Fiduciary Responsibility in connection with an actual or possible conflict of interest, the nature of the Financial Interest or Fiduciary Responsibility, any action taken to determine whether a conflict of interest was present, and the board’s or committee’s decision as to whether a conflict of interest in fact existed.

b.    the names of the persons who were present for discussions and votes relating to the transaction or arrangement, the names of the persons who recused themselves from such discussion and votes, the content of the discussion, including any alternatives to the proposed transaction or arrangement, and a record of any votes taken in connection therewith.

 

Article V: Compensation Committees

A voting member of any committee with board-delegated powers whose jurisdiction includes compensation matters and who receives compensation, directly or indirectly, from ICN for services is precluded from voting on matters pertaining to that member’s compensation.

 

Article VI: Annual Statements

Each director, principal officer, and member of a committee with board-delegated powers annually shall sign an acknowledgement and disclosure form that:

a.             Affirms that such person has received and reviewed a copy of the conflict of interest policy and agreed to comply with its terms;

b.            Requires that such person disclose any Financial Interest in or Fiduciary Responsibility towards any entity such person believes may enter into a proposed transaction with ICN in the upcoming year.

 

Article VII: Periodic Reviews

To ensure that ICN operates in a manner consistent with its charitable purposes and that it does not engage in activities that could jeopardize its status as an organization exempt from federal income tax, periodic reviews shall be conducted.  The periodic reviews shall, at a minimum, include the following subjects:

a.     Whether compensation arrangements and benefits are reasonable and are the result of arm’s-length bargaining.

b.    Whether any grants are made to disqualified persons, or otherwise result in an excess benefit transaction.

c.     Whether arrangements with other organizations conform to ICN’S applicable written policies, are properly recorded, reflect reasonable payments for goods and services, if any, further ICN’S charitable purposes and do not result in inurement or impermissible private benefit.

 

Article VIII: Use of Outside Experts

In conducting the periodic reviews provided for in Article VII, ICN may, but need not, use outside experts. If outside experts are used, their use shall not relieve the board of its responsibility for ensuring that periodic reviews are conducted.

 

CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACKNOWLEDGEMENT/DISCLOSURE FORM FOR INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN"S NETWORK 

1.    CONFLICTING ORGANIZATIONS

I am a director, trustee, officer, representative of, or have a Financial Interest in the following organizations that have or may have a conflict with the interests of the ICN

        Organization and Title or Interest:

                                                                                                                                                                                                 
2.    CONFLICTING ACTIVITIES/OBLIGATIONS

I am involved in no activity or transaction, nor am I a party to any contract involving interests that are or could be found to be adverse to the ICN except for the following:                                                                                                                                                                                               

 3.    CONFLICTING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES/COMMITMENTS

I have not committed to, nor am I pursuing, any business opportunity that does or might adversely affect the ICN except for the following:                                                                                                                                                                                           

 4.    CONFLICTING RELATIONSHIPS

I do not have a Fiduciary Relationship with any person with whom ICN is pursuing a business opportunity except for the following:

                                                                                                                                                                                               
5.    OTHER POTENTIAL CONFLICTS

        Any other concerns I may have regarding actual or potential conflicts of interest are listed below:

FINANCIALS

International Children’s Network takes its financial policies seriously. Our leadership team is so confident in the integrity of our financial practices that we hold it as International Children’s Network policy to publish our IRS tax documents and any other pertinent information on our website.

 

Very few similar organizations have as high a giving ratio as International Children’s Network. We are well aware that as the network continues to grow, we will need to be ready to hire additional staff. Because of this reality, International Children’s Network has bound itself to meet and attain the financial accountability gold standards acceptable to all notable watch-dog agencies.  In fact, in accordance with ICN's commitment to complete transparency, we are among the minority of non-profit organizations to actually publish our IRS 990 reports for all to see on the ICN/Matsiko website. We owe it to our sponsors and the children around the world to work tirelessly and continue to raise the level of trust we share with our sponsors and partners. It is of paramount importance to International Children’s Network that we handle every dollar with the utmost care, concern, and integrity.

 

ICN maintains a strong commitment and promise to all people, especially its trusted and most valued sponsors, that anytime there is a request for an annual report, ICN will always provide the information online as well as the most recent audit and board roster or the information online paired with the organization most current 990. 

 

Financial accountability and transparency is always the highest priority to all and is an essential cornerstone to ICN’s foundation of character and trust for its namesake all around the world. Not only is ICN committed to financial accountability at the highest level but we ask that our international partners maintain a trust to all and financial accountability to all in their home countries and around the world due to their association with and representation of ICN’s work and values as well.

Annual Leadership Review

According to ICN's mission statement: the mission of International Children's Network is to provide as many of our world's 600 million orphaned and at-risk children sponsorship for a complete education through their nation's highest university or vocational levels. By doing so, every child will be on equal footing with their nation's most privileged children.  They will return to their villages to help other children who are in the same condition they once were in order to break the cycle of utter dependency and despair and replace it with empowerment and hope!

 

By doing so, every project ICN accomplishes is to help its children continue school with a complete education.  ICN's pillars are built on these focal points:

 

  • PREVENTING CHILD TRAFFICKING THAT IS ALL TOO COMMON IN THIS WORLD AND VERY MUCH A REALITY

  • SPONSOR AS MANY NEEDY CHILDREN AS POSSIBLE AND PROVIDE THEM WITH THE FINANCIAL MEANS FOR A COMPLETE EDUCATION

  • CONTINUE BUILDING ICN CHILDREN CENTERS SO THAT THE NEEDIEST CHILDREN HAVE A PLACE OF REFUGE AND GROWTH THROUGH AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, SPORTS, THEATER, MUSIC, LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND SO MUCH MORE

 

Each ICN Board Member and Leader will be reviewed annually on their effectiveness regarding goals and actual accomplishments:

  • ICN requires that its Board Members review and assess the organization’s performance and effectiveness of goals vs. actual accomplishments on an annual basis, even though standard reviews are bi-annually. 

  • In addition the Board Members of ICN will determine any future actions required to achieve its goals in conjunction with its mission statement.

 

The following is also required of International Children’s Network, it Board Members and Leaders….

  • Every year (even though the standard is every two years) no later than the second board meeting, the following issues must be addressed and accomplished: 

    • How are the ICN sponsorship goals being obtained and improved upon?

    • Have budget goals for ICN been met for the last years and how can improvement be made?

    • Is ICN staying on track to its Mission Statement and how can this be improved?

      •  “ICN works to provide educational sponsorships and opportunities for as many of our world’s 600 million orphaned and at-risk children through their nation’s university or vocational levels in order to provide individual empowerment, independence and opportunity”

  • How is ICN achieving the goals and opportunities of Matsiko for the children, ICN and communities?

  • How can any goals, ideas and opportunities of ICN and the children it represents be improved upon?

  • How is ICN improving and obtaining its fundraising goals?

 

Program Service Expense Ratio

  • Questions asked to determine the most effective ratio while never going below the industry lowest acceptable standard of 65%:

    • Is volunteer help gaining more support and opportunity for the children or is it needed to have a paid employee or independent contractor?

    • Will more help, support and opportunity be gained for the children of ICN if greater expense on any type of Administration materialize?

    • Are the Sponsors gaining trust with a volunteer staff that can sometimes be unreliable? Or will paid workers help in this area to gain the trust from the sponsors of ICN and thereby gain more opportunity for the children of ICN?

 

Financial Statements Publication

  • All 990 reports are published in full online on the ICN WEBSITE for each year.

  • Outside CPA Accountant will oversee the entire financial accountability process and audit the financial records every year with an outside auditor, even though USA auditing standards only require an audit of large non-profits every five years.         

  • ICN always makes available to all, on request, complete annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles by outside, third party accountants. 

  • Accuracy of expenses in Financial Statements must always be published On ICN’s website and the following accomplished…..

    • ICN will not only publish it annual IRS 990 reports online each year but will also make available the opportunity for answers to any financial, sponsorship or process question regarding the work and goals of ICN.

    • A summary report of Fundraising and the finances of ICN will be communicated.

    • Summary of ICN monthly financial statements and annual statements from Accountants may be obtained upon request.

 

Annual Budget Report

  • ICN Board must approve an annual budget for each current fiscal year. Each budget must include the following:

    • Budget for sponsorship

      • Must be equal or less than prior year per partnering location unless ICN Board approves otherwise

    • Budget for Matsiko

      • Annual budget must be equal or less than prior year expenses unless ICN Board approves otherwise

  • Budget for needed promotional support

    • All promotional expenses for sponsorship or Matsiko support or any other benefit for the children of ICN must be ICN Board level approved and be less than or equal to prior year promotional support unless ICN Board approves otherwise

  • Budget to accomplish goals for building projects in Liberia, Peru and needs in India, Philippines etc

    • All goals for any ICN project internationally must first have at least two (2) separate groups independently find best cost expense separately and then funds must be raised first in order to begin each project.

    • Outlining Projected expenses for major program activities / Fund Raising & Admin Expenses must always take place and be approved at ICN Board Level first.

*****Must always identify total projected fundraising expenses to goals before campaign is initiated

 

Standard 16 Annual Report

  • Upon request an annual report is available to all including:

    • ICN’s Mission Statement

“ICN works to provide educational sponsorships and opportunities for as many of our world’s 600 million orphaned and at-risk children through their nation’s university or vocational levels in order to provide individual empowerment, independence and opportunity”

  • Summary of past years’ service accomplishments upon request including overview of the following:

  • 2018 Accomplishments

    • Completed Liberia’s first child center and after-school program, as well as a national theater

      • The theater provides the children another avenue of refuge and a place to plan for success

    • Began medical construction of centers for the children unable to afford medical care.

    • Worked with churches in many of our ICN partnering nations to teach & instill leadership training programs and male accountability, in order for the churches to help the family unity rise up nationally for their children, wives and the many single mothers

    • Planned construction in Chivay, Peru for their first child enter and after-school program with plans in Yanque for the same and eventually a school for the children in the area to succeed!

    • Sponsorship has grown month to month over 73% P/Y 2016.

    • Over 80 children have graduated from university in fields such as medicine, law, engineering, teaching, electricity, cooking, and so many more wonderful professions!

    • Service Trips to India, Philippines, Peru, Nepal and Liberia were made for sponsors to meet their children and understand the great impact of their support! Plans for 2019 & 2020 have now been listed.

    • Properties in India and Nepal have been identified and purchased for the children of Delhi, Imphal, and Ilam, Nepal for new ICN Centers to help the children succeed through a complete education and prevent child trafficking.

    • Yanque, Peru ICN has been invited to be an integral part of their coming community center for the children, school, boarding and after-school program wich should begin in 2019. We will be working with the Mayor of Yanque in 2019 & 2020.

    • Nepal’s Green Hill Academy School in Napaltar partnered with ICN to help provide even better schooling to its neediest children with expanded boarding facilities, bathrooms and classrooms in 2018. The plans from 2017 are now a reality and more expansion for the school is planned for 2019! ICN will also help Nepal’s national schools to raise their standards in their sub-standard schools.

    • After-school programs are ICN’s number 1 focus in the field. As a result, our children in every area an afterschool program is in effect, are scoring at the top of their classes! Therefore, plans for Bohol in the Philippines and the small islands are now underway with real progress expected in 2019.

    • ICN was chosen, from all non-profits in Liberia, by the Ministry of Justice to lead a child leadership program with every national public school! Curriculum is still being developed. UNICEF has requested to be of assistance in this process. The government has requested planning be delayed into 2019. Ministry of Justice has been working with ICN on this and 4 schools have now been involved for 2019.

    • One major school for the children living in the slum areas of New Delhi has grown by over 50% in order to teach more of New Delhi’s street children. Children have now been successfully going to school and learning. The new schools will be a tremendous help.

    • Plans for Imphal, India partnering school, “Grace Academy” will also be constructing a boarding home as early as 2019 and children in 2018 have increased their test scores by 10.8%!

    • ICN is planning to work with UNICEF in Zambia based on a wonderful invitation for assistance.

    • 2019 Major Challenges are as follows: 

      • Continue working with churches in each nation to help the men in each country rise up in accountability to their family, children and the way they are treating women.

      • Develop children’s centers worldwide to better teach the children while establishing more in the areas ICN is currently located.

      • Grow sponsorships through the 2018-2019 Matsiko tour.

      • Continue to find ways with sponsorship to help the children with medical, care-taker support, family issues and other pressing personal needs that schooling alone cannot address.

      • Goal of having vibrant Arts, Music and Sports programs are now being met in many ICN Nations!

      • These achievements are most important to innocent children to accomplish their long term goals of a complete education through their nation’s highest university or vocational levels by keeping children off of the dangerous streets, helping families keep away from the lure of child trafficking, and provide every child a successful and positive pathway in life!

 

  • 2018 Goals: sponsorship increase by 5%

    • Continue annual reviews of ICN leadership and staff

    • See Liberia's National Theater begin with children from ICN's sponsorship program 

    • Complete much of ICN's new children's center in Liberia

    • Continue planned service trips with sponsors and other groups that support the children

    • Work on expanding the children's school in Nepaltar, Nepal

    • Develop and establish a reliable school for the street children in New Dehlhi, India

    • Establish better schooling and nutritional support for the island children in the Philippines

    • Obtain property in Chivay for a new children's center

    • Partner with Quechua Benefit, the church in Peru and Mr. Juan Diego Flores' Symfonica Peru program to build a children and family center in Yanque, Peru. In addition, this center will also

      • serve as an after school center

      • be a theater/music center for the children in the outlying villages of the Colca Canyon, Peru

      • provide boarding and refuge for those in need

      • and so much more in order to accomplish ICN's main focus and commitment to the children

    • Develop opportunities for schooling and centers in Uganda, Zambia, Ghana, Haiti, Imphal, Bangalore and all the other places ICN partners around the world.

 

  • 2017 Accomplishments

    • Sponsorship has grown month to month over 50% p/y 2016

    • Construction in Liberia for a national theater and new children’s center has begun. Construction is expected to be completed as early as 2018 including the theater, after school facility, area for medical teams, water well and so much more for the children.

    • Over 60 children graduated from university in fields such as medicine, law, engineering, teaching, electricity, cooking, and so many more wonderful professions!

    • Service Trips to India, Philippines, Peru, Nepal and Liberia were made for sponsors to meet their children and understand the great impact of their support!

    • Property in Peru has been identified and purchased for the children of Chivay for a new ICN Center.

    • In Yanque, Peru, ICN has been invited to be an integral part of their coming community center for the children, school, boarding and after school program.

    • Nepal’s Green Hill Academy School in Nepaltar began partnering with ICN to help provide even better schooling to its neediest children with expanded boarding facilities, bathrooms and classrooms in October of 2017.

    • After school programs are ICN’s primary focus in the field. As a result, in every area where an after school program is in effect, our children are scoring at the top of their classes!

    • The Ministry of Justice in Liberia chose ICN out of all non-profits in Liberia to lead a child leadership program with every national public school! Curriculum is still being developed. UNICEF has requested to be of assistance in this process. The Government has requested planning be delayed into 2019.

    • One major school for the children living in the slum areas of New Delhi has grown by over 50% in order to teach more of New Delhi’s street children. Children have now been successfully going to school and learning. The new schools will be a tremendous help.  “Grace Academy”, a partnering school in Imphal, India, will also be constructing a boarding home as early as 2019 and children in 2017 have increased their test scores by 10.8%!

    • Service trips are now planned and established for 2018, 2019 and 2020. In addition, the goal of regular times for each trip have been accomplished with leaders to take groups in order to meet their sponsored children, help work with the communities and children and many more.
       

    • 2018 Major Challenges are as follows:

      • Develop children’s centers to better teach the children in new areas world-wide while continuing to establish centers in the areas ICN is currently located.

      • Grow sponsorships through a hopeful Matsiko tour in 2019.

      • Provide a lengthy planning period for Matsiko without touring in 2018 so that needs for existing sponsored children are met and exceeded. The care and growth of the children is always paramount. Therefore, promotional support from Matsiko tours will decline in 2018 without the choir touring but care and plans for the children world-wide will be better established!

      • Continue to find ways with sponsorship to help the children with medical, care-taker support, family issues and other pressing personal needs that schooling alone cannot address.

      • Goal of having vibrant arts, music and sports programs are now being met in many ICN nations!

 

  • 2016 Goals: sponsorship increase by over 5%

o   Maintain and grow accomplishments existing

o   Further develop great fundraisers to impact the growth of the children

o   Better promotional practices for sponsorship of the children

o   Greater clarity for church, organization and school partnerships and trips

o   Look to better implement the top 5 ICN programs for great sponsorship support of the children

o   Find great ways to develop the growth of the children into adulthood

 

  • 2016 Accomplishments

    • Sponsorship improvements in India, Nepal, Ghana and Peru were tremendous and growing. In Sierra Leone a school has been built and named after International Children’s Network. India now has children being sponsosored in most States, and the goal is to sponsor in every state of India.  Peru is in the process of developing in an new region north of Lima, and nearly 100 children are already sponsored in this area.  

    • 892 more children were sponsored in 2016 than in 2015.  This number should continue to grow in 2017.  Sponsorship increased in each nation as follows: Nepal +22% / Ghana +102% / Liberia + 76% / Philippines +23% and India +83% 

    • 53 children graduated, and one was accepted to the finest medical school in Nepal

    • Service trips to India, Peru, Nepal, Liberia and the Philippines were made for sponsors to meet their children and understand the incredible impact of their support

    • We continue to work toward our goal of taking at least one service trip to each partnering nation each year

    • After school programs are taking place in Liberia and other nations, with participation increasing by more than 77%. Improvements to these programs continue to be made each year, and this is our field directors #1 focus in order to benefit both sponsored and unsponsored children. 

    • The Ministry of Justice in Liberia chose ICN from all the non profits operating in the country to develop and lead a  Student Leadership Program to be taught in every public school!  Curriculum is being developed.

    • Plans for purchase of property in Peru for an ICN Center are underway.  Building has begun on the ICN Center and School in Liberia, and  plans are being made for Centers in India and Ghana.  Philippines has one Center in Bahol, but because of the distance between the different islands the kids live on, this is not accessible to everyone.  We are working to develop more centers, but the sandy ground next to the Ocean makes building difficult.  

    • ICN is working to develop 6 schools for the children living in the slums of New Dehli.  Children in our sponsorship program have begun going to school and learning, and new schools will increase their learning opportunities tremendously.  

    • 2017 Major Challenges are as follows:

      • Obtain property in Peru for a Center, shelter and school for the many children in the area who cannot afford it.  This is ongoing in the Arequipa area and may be moved to Chivay.

      • Grow sponsorship through a 2017 Matsiko World Orphan Choir Tour in the US

      • Construction progress for the ICN Center and School in Liberia

      • Continue to find ways to support children in the sponsorship program who need help with medical care, care-taker support, family issues and other pressing personal needs that schooling alone cannot address

      • Work towards our goal of providing vibrant Art, Music and Sports program for all children 

 

  • 2015/2016 Goals: sponsorship increase by over 5%

o   Exceeded goal of 5%

o   Multiple teams have begun in 2016 for Matsiko to tour the USA as the 1st Eastern USA tour will begin March of 2016

o   Paid Staff in the office has begun with hires and also more volunteer / paid staff for Matsiko

o   Volunteer programs have been better defined and planned for 2015 / 2016

o   Better separate accounting systems have been set in place for 2015 and programs for all partners will start to be    

     developed to have all partners possibly follow one simple, standardized and accountable financial format

o   Service Trip on a regular basis for ICN and sponsors has been developed and implemented for 2015. Greater ways to

     plan, communicate and promote will be in practice for 2016. Multiple Service Trips for ICN in 2015 to Peru and India

     have taken place and for 2016 /2017 trips to Liberia, Uganda, Philippines and Nepal will begin to be folded in

o   After school programs is a goal to develop by beginning ICN after school centers in every ICN partnering country to

     provide free tutoring, leadership training, shelter and other vital needs to better the lives of the children.

o   ICN Centers in Liberia and Peru have been identified and building is planned to begin. In addition, schooling plans for

     Liberia with ICN will be planned in greater detail in 2016

 

  • 2015 Accomplishments

    • Tremendous sponsorship improvements were made in Sierra Leone, Nepal, Ghana and Bulgaria.  Sponsorship for children grew in each country from the prior year (2015) as follows:  Nepal +54%, Ghana +22%, Peru +42%, Liberia +78%, Philippines +28% and India +92%.   

    • Sponsorship increased by 760 children in 2015.  

    • 54 children in our sponsorship program graduated.  2 were accepted into university in the USA, and one was accepted into middle school in the USA.  Neapl, one of our newest countries, already includes a medical student, business major, and many children who could not affrod schooling are now going to school because of sponsors in the USA.  Our goal in Nepal is for the program to continue to grow and to fully support the HIV Aids Children's Home, along with 12 other orphanages needing sponsorship for their children.  

    • Service trips were made to India, Philippines, Peru, Nepal, Ghana and Liberia.  We hope to again include Uganda in a service trip in 2016 or 2017.  

    • We continue to work towards our goal of taking service trips to each nation each year.  We are also working to put in place a Service Trip Director who will lead all of our trips.  

    • After School programs are established in all of the countries, with a 176% increase of children from Liberia taking part this year!  Overall improvement and planning meetings in the Philippines took place for accountability training and the importance of after school programs. Volunteers and helpers have been identified.  Peru is looking at centers for afterschool programs in the individual remote villages so that the children do not have to travel so far to Chivay and Arequipa city. The plan is to work with the schools and have them stay open for the children and ICN can provide what support possible and slowly develop into independent centers. Partnering with the schools currently has been the best option in the Philippines and Uganda as well. In India the orphanages are picking this up well and for the children with families on the streets partnerships with local churches have been working for the children and families in the slum areas that ICN helps.

    • Property has been identified for purchase in Arequipa, Peru, and in 2016 we will be working to obtain the property.  In India, ICN is transferring its main base from Dehli into Bangalore.  This move will improve our opportunities for development in India.  

    • 2016 Major Challenges are as follows:

      • Developing and purchasing the property in Peru

      • Increasing sponsorships through a 2016 Matsiko tour, with the goal of continuing these tours annually. 

      • We have hired a builder who has begun working on our building in Liberia. We are now shipping to Liberia and hope to be shipping text books from the USA to Liberia and other ICN partnering nations in 2016.   

      • Find ways to improve our sponsorship to include help with medical needs, care-taker support, family issues and other pressing personal needs that funding for school alone cannot address.  

      • Improving the infrastructure of ICN in the USA is vital to keep up with our growth.  Bob Reagan and Mac Worasi are now leading an effort to develop sponsorship programs and internal programs.

 

  • 2014 Goals: sponsorship increase by over 5%

    • Have in place multiple Matsiko teams by end of 2015 including ability to recruit leaders

    • Review paying staff and not relying on all volunteer staff to improve sponsorship follow up and care which is so vital.

    • Review all staff needs and hiring staff vs. volunteer

    • Establish all partnering nations’ accountants and outside auditors for the highest accountability.

    • Service trips on a regular basis for sponsors for every partnering nation must be set up and in place within 3 years.

    • Identify best opportunities and practices for ICN children to best learn and fulfill their God-given abilities through a complete education.

    • Maximize character and leadership program and opportunities for all ICN children in partnering nations.

    • Look to find an ICN Center in the USA for Matsiko and ICN that is owned privately.

    • Begin school and housing construction projects for partnering nations for even greater opportunities for ICN’s orphaned and at-risk children around the world.

    • Establish impactful intern and work opportunities within ICN that will in turn provide even greater educational and beneficial support and opportunities of ICN’s children.

      • This can be developed at an even great level by synergizing with Matsiko.

 

  • 2014 Accomplishments

    • Tremendous sponsorship improvements were made in Sierra Leone, Nepal, Ghana and Bulgaria.  A school was built and named after ICN in Sierra Leone.  Children from the school are now being sponsored,  and the goal is to sponsor the entire school.  Steps were also made to begin sponsoring children from Bulgaria.  Sponsorship for children grew in each country from the prior year (2013) as follows:  Nepal +22%, Ghana +102%, Peru +76%, Liberia +56%, Philippines +16% and India +63%.   

    • Sponsorship increased by 378 children in 2014, and in 2015 these numbers should continue to grow.   

    • 27 children graduated from high school, and on received a scholarship to a University in Germany for International relations and Law.

    • Service Trips to India / Philippines / Peru / Nepal and Liberia were made for sponsors to meet their children and understand the great impact of their support!  We are working towards the goal of taking a service trip to each nation each year.  

    • After school programs grew in total by more than 38% increase of overall children taking part. In order to continue to grow these programs, this will be  our field directors' #1 focus to benefit the children - sponsored and unsponsored.

    • Plans to purchase property in Peru are still being made as well as building a school and ICN Center in Liberia. Centers in India nad Ghana are also being planned. We have one center in Bahol in the Philippines, but this needs to be improved.  Philippines has one in Bahol but this needs to be better. The children are spread out on remote islands, and we are working to make our presence there more permanent.  

    • One of ICN’s partners in India was given a top achievement award by the Prime Minister himself, which is a reflection of the growth constantly taking place in India. 

    • 2015 Major Challenges are as follows:

      • Obtain property in Peru for a center, shelter and school for the many children in the area who cannot afford these.

      • Grow sponsorships through a hopeful Matsiko tour in 2015.

      • Find developers for property in Liberia for the ICN Center and school

      • Find ways to improve our sponsorship to include help with medical needs, care-taker support, family issues and other pressing personal needs that funding for school alone cannot address.  

 

  • 2013: sponsorship increased by over 5% which exceeded the annual goal of 5% increase.

    • Exact and precise measures have been initiated for sponsorship support in Philippines, Peru, and Liberia and will be identified at the highest detailed area in India and Uganda for 2015.

    • Needed School property has been purchased for Liberia and ICN Center has been identified for Peru and Liberia.

    • India Service trips and sponsorship support has produced orphaned and at-risk children from India, for the first time ever, the opportunity to travel outside of their nation and take part in ICN’s Matsiko World Orphan Choir Tour.

    • Peru area are being specifically helped for exactly the needs and support required in order to maximize savings for greater schooling and future opportunities of the children.

    • Philippines work is being better accounted for and in 2015 the goal is to have an exact system in place to make sure every possible application of support is maximized to the greatest degree in order to benefit the hopes of the children.

    • Oversight manager has been identified and will be working on the islands to account for every possible need and future benefit of the children in the Philippines.

 

  • 2012: sponsorship increased by over 5% which exceeded the annual goal of 5% increase.

    • ICN centers in Peru and Liberia have finally been established in order to provide great after-school care, feeding, shelter and medical needs of the children that are so essential to continue educational growth.

    • India goals for sponsorship have been met and have more than doubled

    • Matsiko World Orphan Choir paid all debt and will now work to provide self-funding as a goal in 5 years for child sponsorship growth and opportunity.

    • Over 50 children graduated from the university and vocational levels this year and more will continue to follow!

    • Service trips have grown for sponsors and the goal of annual service trips with leaders is in sight in 4 years.

    • Goal of multiple Matsiko touring teams with leaders and a system in place is within reach by 2016.