Letter from the Chair of Rose Charities Canada

December 2025

Greetings and a Happy New Year to all our volunteers, supporters and friends of Rose Charities Canada. Despite all the turmoil in the world Rose Canada projects have continued to grow and flourish during the
past year. Particular themes that stand out are education enrichment and a developing core of environmental activities in a number of projects.

The schools we support have gone beyond the basic requirements and focused on enhancing curriculum, learning and teaching. In Uganda we have had a very successful partnership with Red Earth
Organization in Uganda which has helped motivate and train teachers in Future Diplomats School and Stand Tall. The result has been a transformation in the children’s experience of learning. From Stand
Tall’s year end theme of “Not Growing Bigger, Growing Better” to Uno a Uno in Ecuador’s “NewExperiences and Steadfast Learning” the schools and educational centres have become models of whatevery child needs to maximize their potential.

In addition, the sponsorship programs for students in higher education have shown what can be achieved with the right support. Many of these Smiles (Uganda) students are in degree courses such as
pharmacy, nursing and business studies with the prospect of careers in their fields.

In Nepal the emphasis is on helping marginalized young women access education. In particular, married
women who dropped out of school due to commitments at home have now been able to return to their ducational studies and further their career opportunities.

Other schools in Rose are also helping young women with their education in what might seem a smallway but in fact is crucial to school attendance. Supplying sanitary wear to teenage girls (St Vincent’s in
Zambia and Partners in Ethiopia) means they can continue with their schooling each month.

Interest in the environment is a developing area within Rose. There are a number of projects now that have some “greener” element in their activities. In Zambia the successful tree planting program has deepened and gone beyond just planting seedlings to developing community resilience. Education inree care continues to be the key to success.” (Malambo) There is also some research being conducted
to look at alternative ways of generating income other than depending on firewood and charcoal in rural areas. Garden training workshops were provided this year to students in two schools.

The Nepal program is supporting low-income students in an Eco-friendly agricultural program that will provide them with climate friendly skills in farm management.

Uno a Uno (Ecuador) is hoping to support students on a water-quality training course run by the Open Classroom Ecological Clubs in an effort to maintain clean waterways from agricultural run-off or mineral
extraction.

Of course, in addition to the projects mentioned above we have many more that are involved in education, healthcare and community development. Safe Motherhood (Guatemala) which has beenrunning for 23 years has trained 1401 comadronas(indigenous midwives) and others to provide betterbirthing outcomes for women in rural areas unable to access maternal healthcare. In Uganda a uccessful Malaria project which quickly assesses for and treats malaria in children at school means
fewer days of absences. This program which started in one school, has now been replicated in three
others.

Please take a moment to look at our website to see the full range of programs that operate under Rose
Charities Canada. rosecharities.ca

Also, this year, due to a very generous donor, we have been able to provide small grants every 6 months to projects to enhance their program activities. Examples of these have included scholarships for higher education, equipment for the opening of a Maternal Health Clinic (Partners in Ethiopia), installation ofartificial turf for a sports arena Stand Tall), a water filter for a hospice (Vietnam), support for a Trek and
Treat Eye program (Nepal), small business skills for women (Afghanistan), and financial assistance for much needed dental care for children and youth (Haiti).

To conclude, the board of directors and I would like to thank you all for the support you have given to Rose this year in whatever way you can. Without this contribution we could not continue with the important work that we are doing in various parts of the world to alleviate people’s suffering.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year and continued great outcomes for Rose.

Maggie Francis
Chair, Board of Directors
Rose Charities Canada
December 30 th , 2025