Impact report 2025
Our partners report back to E3 regularly on the impact they are having in their local communities. Here we share just some of the amazing things that are happening through E3’s work and partnerships…
And it’s all thanks to your donations and prayers for E3.
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How we used your donations in 2025
E3 and its partners directly supported over 52,950 people and impacted the lives of over 221,180 others in Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
13,222 orphaned and vulnerable children supported with school uniforms, meals, Life Skills, psychosocial support, university registration, sanitary pads and preschool provision.
10,374 people living with or affected by HIV supported through HIV education, counselling and testing, support groups, health clinics and adherence to medication.
15,834 adults and children at risk of gender-based violence reached through workshops to create awareness, break the silence, change behaviour and support those affected.
4,049 people empowered to earn a living through self-help and microfinance groups, including training, credit-savings schemes and agricultural projects.
3,066 adults and children at risk of drug and substance abuse reached through workshops in schools and providing meals and counselling to addicts living on the streets.
3,865 prison inmates at maximum security prisons in Zambia and Lesotho received toiletries, flip-flops, socks and food and encountered God’s word whilst in prison.
1,553 refugees received support through advocacy, assistance with documentation, advice on asylum seeking and help for those detained due to immigration status.
987 church and community leaders trained on gender-based violence, marriage and economic empowerment. Impacts 63,120 church and community members.
Financial overview
Total income: £429,266
Total expenditure: £354,884
Of which:
Charitable activities: £331,471
Cost of generating voluntary income: £18,919
Governance costs: £4,494
We strive to minimise the running costs of the charity so more of your donation can go to the work. Our approach is rooted in our faith and trust in God's provision.
93.4% of expenditure was spent on our charitable activities and 6.6% on the organisational running costs of the charity – marketing, fundraising, admin and governance costs (including accounting, auditing and trustee travel for monitoring). These functions are essential for the effective, sustainable operation of our charity.
Impact stories
Improving livelihoods through microfinance
From security guard to university professor – Jean is a Lecturer and Postgraduate Programme Coordinator in Financial Accounting at the Durban University of Technology.
Professor Jean came to South Africa as a refugee and began his journey humbly, working as a car guard to survive. He joined Paran Christian Ministries microfinance programme and started to save small amounts of money. In time, he was entrusted with the role of administrator of the microfinance programme, receiving only a minimal stipend. During this period, he continued working as a car guard while faithfully serving as the administrator.
With the little income he earned, Professor Jean enrolled at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, where he completed both his undergraduate and postgraduate studies. His perseverance and commitment to education opened doors, and he was appointed as a Junior Lecturer at the Durban University of Technology. Professor Jean rose through the academic ranks and today, he is a Professor.
His story is a powerful testimony of resilience and hope. It shows how wisdom and good stewardship with small amounts of money can open doors and empower people to reach their potential.
E3’s support enabled Pastor Kennedy to start and expand a poultry business, which has significantly improved his income and the sustainability of his ministry in Zambia.
"In September 2024, I received a grant from E3 and started raising chickens in a borrowed chicken run. A further grant and loan and the profits from this business enabled me to build my own chicken run and expand my business from 100 chickens per batch to 180. I anticipate an income of 25,000 Kwacha (£990) for 180 birds. In the future, I plan to open a shop and start processing chicken pieces and sausages alongside selling live chickens.
“Thanks to my business I can provide for my family, including sending my children to school and buying uniform. It is a relief to have extra income and not depend solely on my church salary. For pastors, financial constraints can hinder our ability to serve the congregation and community. Pastoral work is truly a sacrifice.
“One time, I asked my son, ‘Would you consider becoming a pastor when you grow up?’ He responded, ‘Dad, I can’t be a pastor. I don’t want to go through this suffering like we have. I want to get a good job.’ That response was challenging to hear.
“I am grateful to God for what He has done and continues to do in my life through E3. You may not fully realise the impact you have made not only in my life, but also for my family and my church. Thank you.”
Breaking the cycle of poverty through education
Thanks to an E3 career expo when Esther was in High School in South Africa, she understood the university application process, study options and how to apply. She passed her Matric with four distinctions and three Bs – the best in her class of 2025! She is now studying Medicine and Surgery at university on a government bursary.
E3 gave Esther R5000 (£227) from our post-matric support fund to help with textbooks, stationery and travel from her rural community. She was delighted! Her family could only afford to give her R400 (£18).
“School life was never easy – I walked 2 hours each way during my Matric year, which left me exhausted. Being the first born of 3 children, I also had duties to do at home.I was inspired to study hard and give my best to help my family come out of poverty. I dream of building a beautiful, spacious house and supporting my siblings to achieve their dreams.
“My message to other young people like me, is that nothing is impossible … Keep going, believe in yourself and God will be there making a plan for you.”
Top of his year in Grades 5, 6 and 7
“I live with my parents, who are refugees from Democratic Republic of Congo, and four siblings in South Africa. It is almost impossible to find a job as a foreigner. My dad does odd jobs and my mum harvests cassava leaves, but it does not bring in enough income to cover food, housing and school expenses. When we started to receive uniforms and shoes from E3, it reduced the burden on my parents and encouraged us. Going to school in brand new uniform instead of old worn uniform makes me so happy.
“I try my best at school and even when I am unwell, I find ways to catch up on missed lessons. My dad motivates me to do my best, telling me that I can do anything I put my mind to. I came top in Grades 5, 6 and 7, receiving awards in each subject.
“I am not sure what I want to do in the future. It is difficult to dream outside my reality of being a refugee because opportunities are limited and jobs are scarce.”
That is sadly the reality for refugee young people, but Back to School encourages them to dream, to take steps towards their future goals and we are seeing the impossible become a reality for many young people.
Advocacy against gender-based violence:
a story of rescue and hope
Warning: this deeply shocking story shows the challenges for families struggling with drug addiction and gender-based violence. Our GBV work is breaking the silence on abuse, challenging cultural norms and ensuring abuse survivors are protected.
Two children aged 13 and 10 lived with their 34 year old mum in South Africa. Their case was reported to E3 partner, Lulisandla Kumntwana, by a neighbour who was concerned that they were being neglected and missed school regularly.
Nosihle, the project leader and social worker from Lulisandla, explains: “I conducted an interview with the school principal, neighbours and children and found that the allegations are true. Their mum drinks and uses drugs. Devastatingly, she had allowed men to abuse her daughter to help support her drug habit. I took the children and asked the neighbour to take care of them. I then traced the children’s grandparents and other relatives and brought them together on a WhatsApp call to discuss what should happen next to protect the children.
“When I met with their mum to explain the plans, she saw her mistakes and asked for help. We agreed to file a rape case at the police station the next day, but when I went to pick her up, she had disappeared. I took her daughter to the hospital for a check-up and opened the case with the police. The children went to a relative in another city, but since then their grandparents, who were living in another country, decided to come back to look after them. The children are now safely with their grandparents and are settling in well and receiving ongoing support.”
Our partnerships
In 2025, E3 supported 34 local partners whose leaders, staff, and volunteers continue to serve faithfully in some of the most challenging contexts. Despite facing overwhelming poverty and despair, they are bringing hope and transformation, as shown in this report.
Sinatra Matimelo (E3 CEO) continues to meet with each partner at least twice each year to:
encourage and monitor progress against agreed plans
run training workshops
facilitate networking between partners
The activities we support are broad because we empower our partners to meet the specific needs of their communities rather than bringing our own development agenda. Each community has its own priorities and responses:
Back to School programme
HIV and AIDS support
Advocacy against gender-based violence
Microfinance and self-help groups
Advocacy against substance abuse and addiction
Prison ministry
Refugee support services
Training of church and community leaders
Your prayers and donations make this life-changing work possible. Thank you.
Objectives for 2026
>>To directly impact the lives of 55,230 adults and children and indirectly impact over 230,500 others.
>>To fundraise £330,000 to fund E3’s work in 2027.
>>To support 12,780 orphaned and vulnerable children with school uniforms, meals, psychosocial support, Life Skills, sanitary pads, preschool provision and university fees through E3’s Back to School programme.
>>To provide support to 10,910 people living with or affected by HIV, through education about HIV, counselling and testing, medication and adherence to treatment, support groups and health clinics.
>> To reach 15,830 adults and children at risk of gender-based violence through workshops to create awareness, challenge cultural norms and help support those affected.
>>To support 4,620 people through microfinance and self-help groups, including training, credit-savings schemes, setting up small businesses and agricultural activities to improve livelihoods.
>> To reach 4,700 people who are at risk of drug and substance abuse through school workshops and providing meals and counselling to addicts living on the streets of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe and Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
>>To minister to 3,650 inmates at maximum security prisons in Zambia and Lesotho, sharing God’s word and supplying toiletries, food and Christian literature.
>>To support 1,720 refugees through advocacy, assistance with documentation, advice on asylum seeking and help for those detained due to immigration status, along with their families.
>>To run leadership training on gender-based violence, economic empowerment and marriage for 1,020 church and community leaders, who will in turn influence an average of 40 people each (so around 40,800 church members and community people).
>> £50,000 from our donation income in 2025 will be spent on E3 sustainability loans in 2026. These interest free loans enable our partners to begin income-generating activities to help fund their work. Empowering our partner projects to achieve independence from outside support brings dignity and confidence as well as safeguarding project activities from potential changes in funding.
Download Financial Statements 2025 PDF
Download this content: Impact Report 2025 PDF
How you can help
Pray…
Praying for E3 partners on a regular basis brings you closer to the life-transforming work that is happening on the ground and is fundamental to our mission, helping us seek God’s wisdom and be effective in our partnerships and work.
Donate…
Your donation will go to where it is needed most or towards a specific appeal like Back to School. We work hard to minimise the running costs of the charity. On average, 92.5% of expenditure is spent on our charitable activities and only 7.5% on running costs (marketing, fundraising, administration and governance costs). These functions are essential for the effective and sustainable operation of our charity.
Other ways to take action:
More stories of impact
Back to School: the future is brighter
Tackling drug and substance abuse amongst young people in Zimbabwe
Promoting sustainability for E3 partners
Self-Help Groups: escaping the cycle of poverty
Hope and a future for people affected by HIV
Gender-based violence: a platform to speak out
Gender-based Violence survivors
Hope for refugees
Mdutshini Primary School
Menstrual hygiene
The gift of clean safe water
