Charity Commission ‘looking into’ Agapao activities

Christine Bulling spends much of her time fundraising in order to support the 13 remaining street children

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The Charity Commission has confirmed that it is ‘looking into’ the activities of the the troubled charity Agapao International, which recently moved from Rossendale to its new home in Drake Street, Rochdale. The charity’s operations were reported last week on Rochdale Online and have also been reported in the satirical magazine, ‘Private Eye’.

Although the Charity Commission say that this measure falls short of a formal investigation, it comes after months of concerns being raised by Christine Bulling, who had seen Agapao’s work at close hand during her visit to one of the charity’s projects in Jinja, Uganda, at which she was accompanied by controversial Agapao founder, Louise Chicot.

Ms Bulling was so concerned by what she found there that she raised these concerns with Prime Minister, David Cameron in July last year. The Cabinet Office passed her concerns on to the Charity Commission who failed to act. Several others, including local MP, Graham Jones have also raised issues with the Charity Commissioners and in Parliament.

Ms Bulling’s disquiet centres round the activities of the Ms Chicot who took 20 children off the streets without any long term financing or plans in place to support them although some temporary structures were built that were legal only for 6 months under Ugandan law.

Ms Bulling, an American from Los Angeles who has settled in the UK for 11 years, first came into contact with Agapao when she went out to Uganda via Impact Holidays, an Agapao subsidiary, but because of her concerns about what she witnessed and, after raising complaints, she severed her links with the charity.

Ms Bulling subsequently paid another visit to Uganda, travelling on her own in order to check on the progress on of the children and to see what she could do to help. She now spends much of her time fundraising in order to support the 13 remaining street children who have been left totally unsupported by the charity and whose ages range from 7 to 14.

Ms Bulling told Rochdale Online that she had spent several thousands of pounds of her own money to support the children. “I don’t want Ugandans to think that all Westerners operate in the way that Agapao has,” she said.

In January 2012, Ms Chicot admitted some her shortcomings in a written statement to staff, seen by Rochdale Online. She says: “As I reflect, I can admit that I have made mistakes, upset people and let people down over the past 6 months and hope that I am in some way able to apologise, repair and recover the trust that has been lost. Using the excuse that 'it was done for the best intentions' does not excuse the damage that has been caused. Unfortunately, I cannot go back, so must endeavour to make amends in the future…” 

Agapao Uganda suspended and later severed its relationship with Agapao International after raising its own concerns. In a letter to Ms Chicot, Michael Kasede, the Chairman of Agapao Uganda accuses the UK organisation of a “failure to provide accountability for funds raised in the UK for Agapao Uganda, violation of the Agapao constitution, misuse of funds and failure to be ‘a good example to the leaders of Agapao Uganda in as far as honesty, trust and integrity are concerned…” He advised Ms Chicot, “not to interfere” with any future operations of the group.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news/78711/troubled-charity-sets-up-home-in-rochdale