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WHO WE ARE

No Barriers Education Foundation (“NoBarriers”) is a small Australian, not-for-profit dedicated to “assisting Zimbabwean children and youth to overcome barriers to education, to encourage their learning and to create opportunities for them to thrive”. Supported by individuals who believe in accessible education for all, NoBarriers is apolitical and non-religious.

NoBarriers is registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. It has Deductible Gift Recipient status. Donations (>$2.00) are tax deductible. NoBarriers is operated entirely by volunteers. All donations go directly to initiatives, which further its cause.

WHERE WE WORK

We work with secondary schools in Mashonaland Central in the north of Zimbabwe, close to the Mozambican border. Our partners are:

Around 630 students aged 13 to 18 attend these schools. Our mission and programs were developed in partnership with the schools and their communities.

WHO WE WORK WITH

We partner with Zimbabwean based social enterprises to deliver these initiatives.

  • Sanitary Aid Zimbabwe Trust is our partner in the delivery of menstrual and sexual health: supply of sanitary & toiletry kits and conducting workshops.
  • World Bicycle Relief, a not-for-profit and social enterprise, which seeks to empower people and communities through life-changing bicycles. In Zimbabwe, they operate Buffalo Bike, which supplies sturdy bikes suitable for the rough, local road conditions. We partner with them to provide bikes to students with long distances from home to our partner schools.

Our partners for the development of important school infrastructures are:

Thanks to their generous funding important school infrastructure (water, toilets, solar systems, satellite internet connections) was developed.

In Australia we partner for our ICT and AV needs with:

They support NoBarriers’ work by donating their skills and services.

Our vision, mission & values

Vision

We want children and young people in the communities we support in Zimbabwe, to access their right to education and to reach their full potential in life.

Mission

We assist children and young people in rural Zimbabwe to overcome barriers to education, encourage their learning and create opportunities for them to thrive through four key initiatives:

  • School Meals
  • Menstrual & Sexual Health
  • School Fee Support
  • Bicycles

Values

We align with the values of the Australian Council for International Development, guiding our work with Zimbabwean communities, our supporters in Australia, and our partners:

Integrity

We act with honesty and uphold ethical principles in fundraising, working with Zimbabwean schools, selecting partners, and measuring program outcomes.

Respect

We treat everyone with dignity, aiming to restore self-worth for children and youth impacted by poverty and to ensure access to quality education.

Equity

We fight prejudice and disadvantage, promoting fair access to education at the community level. Individual support is based on an objective assessment of need.

Cooperation

We collaborate with diverse partners, forming apolitical partnerships to achieve shared goals for the children we support.

Accountability

We take responsibility for our actions, especially to the vulnerable children in disadvantaged communities.

Effectiveness

We strive for positive, measurable change in the lives of children, assessing and reporting on our impact.

Transparency

We openly share information about our work with stakeholders and the public.

Our board of directors

Andrew Stevens

Finance Director

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Kelly Batsiokis

Secretary

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Ringisai Nyasha

Country Director, Zimbabwe

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Sigrid Pfaffle

Managing Director

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Eddie Sandrini

Director

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Our patron

Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia

No Barriers Education Foundation is grateful to Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, for her generous support for our work, but especially for her passion to assist children and youth to overcome barriers to education and to access opportunities for growth and development.

Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC is a proud sixth-generation South Australian. She studied economics at the University of Adelaide and joined the Commonwealth Department of Foreign Affairs in 1985. Working in Hong Kong during the early years of China’s reform and opening, Her Excellency eventually became Australia’s Ambassador to China from 2011-2015.

In 2016, Her Excellency was appointed head of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, pursuing Australia’s interests as world powers shifted and the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. She led the department through a period of cultural change, encouraging more women into senior ranks. She has also been International Adviser to the Prime Minister and Chief of Staff to the Foreign Minister and Defence Minister.

In June 2021 Her Excellency was made a Companion of the Order of Australia for eminent service to public administration, innovative foreign policy development and high-level program delivery, and as the 36th Governor appointed in South Australia.

Her Excellency kindly accepted our invitation to become a patron of No Barriers Education Foundation in March 2022.

Our supporters & partners

No Barriers Education Foundation acknowledges the wonderful generosity of our supporters and partners. They enable us to support some 630 secondary school students in disadvantaged communities to access their right to education.

If you too believe that every child has a right to education independent of its background or country of birth, please contact us or donate

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Donor giving since the inception of No Barriers Education Foundation

Diamond Supporters: $25,000+

  • Anonymous (#1)
  • Lang Family Foundation
  • Direct Aid Program of Australian Embassy in Zimbabwe: Grant funding for “Sustainable Teaching, Learning & Communication Hub” project
  • Sigrid Pfaffle

Platinum Supporters: $10,000 to $25,000

  • Adelaide University Rotaract Club
  • Anonymous (#2)
  • APS Foundation

Gold Supporters: $5,000 to 10,000

  • Macrologic Pty Ltd
  • Owen Fereira

Silver Supporters: $2,000 to $5,000

  • Alexandra Piggott
  • Amar Naik
  • Bruno Thomas
  • David Grybowski
  • Eddie Sandrini
  • Independent Commodity Service
  • Dr Margo Noel
  • Patrice & Craig Laslett

Rotary Club of Norwood supported by Rotary E-Club D9210 Harare and with the help of a global grant from Rotary International provided a water system at both schools and toilets for students and staff at Hwata Secondary. The implementation was project-managed by NoBarriers.

The Australian Embassy in Harare through its Direct Aid Program provided funding for the installation of battery based solar systems and satellite internet connections at both school. The grant also afforded some laptops, projectors and screens to allow both schools to improve teachers’ preparation and classroom teaching through online materials and audio-visual equipment.

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No Barriers Education Foundation, ABN 12 585 031 991, 4 Loma Linda Grove, Wattle Park SA 5066, Australia

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Andrew Stevens

Finance Director / Treasurer & acting Chair

Andrew Stevens is a dedicated professional with a rich background in accounting and finance. Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Andrew emigrated to Australia in 2003, where he has since built a strong career. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) from the University of Adelaide, completed in 2008, and a Graduate Diploma of Chartered Accounting from the Chartered Accounting Institutes of Australia and New Zealand.

Andrew’s career began at Deloitte, where he spent nine years in Assurance & Advisory. His tenure at Deloitte saw him working across multiple states in Australia and undertaking international secondments in the United Kingdom and Canada. During this time, Andrew gained valuable experience in a variety of industries, including wine, agriculture, mining, and infrastructure.

Currently, Andrew serves as the Financial Controller at Flinders Port Holdings, a pivotal organisation that owns and operates seven of South Australia’s ten deep-water ports, and provides essential port-related services for the remaining three. Recently, Andrew has taken on the role of Corporate Development Manager within the Commercial department at Flinders Port Holdings, where he will be instrumental in driving strategic development projects for the Group.

Andrew’s personal journey from Zimbabwe to Australia and his professional achievements make him a passionate advocate for education and opportunity. His involvement with No Barriers Education Foundation Inc. is driven by his commitment to giving back and helping others overcome obstacles to achieve their educational goals. Andrew’s expertise and dedication make him a valuable asset to our Foundation, bringing a wealth of experience and a strategic mindset to our financial and developmental endeavours.

Kelly Batsiokis

Secretary

Kelly joined No Barriers Education Foundation in 2021 to help disadvantaged children in Zimbabwe. She believes education gives children choices and a better future. She manages NoBarriers’ social media and supports the fundraising effort, showing how donations help the children at our two partner schools through storytelling.

Kelly has been a project officer for the past ten years, working in health promotion, social services, and education to improve the lives of people with chronic diseases. Currently living in Brisbane, she works as a Senior Consultant for a Abt Global in the domestic team in program evaluation.

Kelly has a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) from the University of Adelaide and qualifications in training and education. She is also an accomplished artist with collectors in Australia and overseas and her love for storytelling is reflected in her artwork (www.kellybatsiokisart.com). Kelly has previously donated artwork to raise funds for NoBarriers.

Ringisai (Langton) Nyasha

Country Director, Zimbabwe

Langton is a qualified and certified builder, born and educated in Harare, Zimbabwe. He holds several trade qualifications. Over the past 16 years he has been a building contractor working for commercial and residential clients across Zimbabwe.

In 2019, he constructed a community library on the grounds of a primary school in the Muzarabani District, Mashonaland Central. During that time and during follow-up work in the District, he formed strong relationships with the local communities. Langton – feeling a strong desire to support disadvantaged local communities – decided to offer his local knowledge and ability to navigate an everchanging Zimbabwean operating environment to the No Barriers Education Foundation.

Langton was appointed in December 2020 as Country Director, Zimbabwe and since then has worked on liaising with local communities and government authorities. He co-ordinates a small NoBarriers team in Zimbabwe and works together with the Managing Director on the local implementation of NoBarriers’ initiatives.

Sigrid Pfaffle

Managing Director

Sigrid has worked as a management consultant for many years in Australia assisting corporate and public sector clients. More recently, she has worked in health, community and international development and humanitarian assistance internationally and in Australia.

For several years, Sigrid worked in Jordan as Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, Middle East and North Africa for Caritas Switzerland. She also implemented a scholarship and school fee support program in rural Zimbabwe. Prior to this, she worked as an advisor to the Philippine Red Cross in Manila.

In the first year of the pandemic 2020, she was approached by the principals of two secondary schools in the Muzarabani District, Zimbabwe seeking assistance to support their students. This approach triggered the inception of the Foundation.

Sigrid was appointed Managing Director, No Barriers Education Foundation in December 2020.

Eddie Sandrini

Director

Eddie Sandrini is an engineer with over 40 years of experience in design and construction management across a range of engineering sectors. He brings a thorough understanding of the project delivery process, including the management of risk, quality and safety to any of his assignments. He has worked across the building, infrastructure, and energy sectors throughout Australia. Eddie has a degree in Civil Engineering (Honours) and an MBA from the University of Adelaide.

Eddie, is a keen cyclist and as such, he has contributed to NoBarriers bicycle initiative for several years. His appreciation of the freedom a bike delivers and his desire to free-up children from the drudgery of daily long walks to school motivated him to join the NoBarriers’ Board in 2023. He is the organizer of NoBarriers annual “Ride for Bikes” community cycling event, to generate funds for the distribution of sturdy bikes to newly enrolled long-distance students.

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