Financial Report for 2024

 Our association, Don du Chœur (DDC), which has been supporting the education of vulnerable children for over twenty years, has undertaken significant activities in Geneva this year. It has successfully contributed to the development of educational projects in Mexico and Cambodia, although progress has slowed in Madagascar.

2024 is a year of contrasts that reinforce the attractiveness and responsiveness of Don du Chœur:

– Changes in our financial partners, notably the absence this year of the Coromandel Foundation after 20 years of exceptional support across all our educational projects, the arrival of a new partner, Third World Foundation, and occasional support from the A.S.E.N.T. association.

– Implementation of a skills partnership to support the Mexico project. This summer, 39 concerts were organized in the Old Town of Geneva by the association Musique et Vie, benefiting the Santa Cecilia music school.

– Strong involvement of private schools in Geneva: a stand offered by the Institut Florimont at its Christmas Market; the choir of Geneva English School performing for year-end celebrations to benefit children in Cambodia; the International Institute of Lancy and La Découverte School donating English books at the beginning of 2025 to facilitate language learning for our Cambodian students.

– The arrival of new volunteers with new skills, enhancing the modernity and seriousness of our association.

– Registration of our association in the Trade Register, mandatory since this year for all associations funding projects abroad.

The growing notoriety of DDC through newsletters and social media coverage, with news videos regularly posted on Facebook and Instagram.

Below are the main initiatives that we were committed to in 2024.

ACTIVITIES IN GENEVA

Summer: Musique et Vie concerts
Our Don du Chœur committee, in collaboration with the French association La Banda de Musica, closely coordinated with Musique et Vie to oversee and promote the 39 concerts held in Geneva’s Old Town throughout the summer. Under their leadership, around a hundred musicians volunteered to give beautiful recitals at the Lutheran Church, supporting the Santa Cecilia music school in Mexico. CHF 26,210 was raised to fund teacher salaries and university scholarships for six students in 2025. We thank the Musique et Vie committee and all volunteer musicians who captivated Geneva audiences with this high-quality musical event.

End of year: Christmas Markets
DDC participated in the Christmas Markets at Institut Florimont, Cologny, and Carouge, with beautiful stalls selling products made by local teams (artisan Christmas ornaments from Mexico, pepper and cashew nuts from Cambodia, vanilla from Madagascar).
This allowed us to welcome all DDC friends and foster a festive spirit of solidarity among volunteers. CHF 5,850 was collected, which will be used for school supplies, university scholarships, and bicycles for our students in Madagascar, Mexico, and Cambodia.

ACTIVITIES IN MEXICO

Construction of 7 individual rehearsal rooms in 2024, financed through various activities with DDC friends: the October 2022 evening at La Brasserie des Artisans, the event organized by chef Alexandre Conti at Le Cheval Blanc restaurant in Vandoeuvres in 2023, the 2023 Carouge Christmas Market, and sales of Mexican crafts by Los Tacos grocery store in Carouge. CHF 27,340 was allocated to finance these rehearsal rooms, which will be available to students by June 2025.

ACTIVITIES IN MADAGASCAR

Our educational and community support project in Madagascar, developed over three years in collaboration with SOS Villages d’Enfants, has experienced delays (agreement dated November 25, 2022).

Changes in the national management of SOS Villages d’Enfants in Madagascar led to team restructuring and budget modifications (without overall impact on our project). Climate impacts also played a detrimental role, with droughts and multiple cyclones disrupting scheduled training sessions designed to help the community develop income-generating activities.

Key results at the end of Year 2:

• – 232 children supported: 200 primary school students and 32 in secondary/high school.
• – 83% success rate: promotion to the next grade at the end of the 2023-2024 school year.
• – 7 new beneficiaries in secondary/high school, bringing the total to 32.
• – 12 outpatient care sessions provided.
• – 245 community members sensitized (education, health, social issues).
• – 3 awareness campaigns on child protection.

Projected expenses, initially estimated at €40,000 by December 2024, are now evaluated at €18,151.54 according to SOS Villages d’Enfants reports. Consequently, Don du Chœur will suspend transfers until the next project assessment in July 2025.

ACTIVITIES IN CAMBODIA

Our rural school in Ta Pen now cares for 585 children (including 304 girls), from early childhood through the end of secondary school (following the Swiss orientation cycle):

1. New developments for primary education:

• • • – 375/184 students
    • – A newly nominated teacher
    • – DDC sports teacher – English instruction starting at level 3
    • – Library reorganization

• 2. Strengthening secondary studies:

• – 157/86 students in secondary school
• – A second building for secondary school opened in January 2024, allowing classes of up to 35 students.
• – A second level 8 class was added, totaling 5 classes.
• – A study room was created to make study conditions better than in stilt houses.
• – The teaching team remained stable despite increased teaching hours.
• – 50% of secondary teachers are recruited by DDC to fill gaps in science subjects (Mathematics, Biology, Physics/Chemistry, English).

• A successful year for secondary and high school students:
• – 100% pass rate for final exams (Brevet)
• – 100% success for Grade 10 and 11 high school students
• – 9 students (out of 11) passed the baccalaureate exam, with 50% earning honors.

The number of students continuing to high school or vocational training increased significantly (62/34 students in 2024 versus 37 two years earlier), thanks to DDC support.

3. First university graduates:

Eight former students from Ta Pen, who graduated in 2020, enrolled in Cambodia’s top universities, obtained their degrees (Bac+4) this year, in diverse fields such as Mathematics, Physics, Khmer Literature, History, Law, etc. All are now employed in meaningful roles, often in private schools. DDC celebrated this milestone with them during its trip to Cambodia in February 2025, organizing a ceremony attended by teachers, parents, and high school students to share this historic achievement.

4. Renovation works and vehicle update:

• – Renovation of primary classes, including installing false ceilings and painting inside and outside the building.
• – Painting of the cafeteria.
• – Replacement of the pickup truck after 14 years and 230,000 km.

Communication initiatives have been regularly undertaken by Don du Chœur, ranging from updating the website to expanding our presence on social media—particularly through the production and distribution of videos—and publishing a newsletter.

Acknowledgments

All activities of Don du Chœur are carried out by volunteers, ensuring that 100% of donations go directly to projects.

The Don du Chœur committee sincerely thanks all volunteers and donors—whose personal commitment is the foundation of these concrete actions supporting education worldwide.