Bylaw

Draft by-law: Alumni Association for Eritrean Refugees Secondary School, “UNESCO” in Kassala.

1 - Draft: By-LAW

DATE: 9th March 2024 Founding Conference
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION FOR ERITREAN REFUGEES SECONDARY SCHOOL in Kassala – The “UNESCO School Alumni”.

INTRODUCTION

The Eritrean Refugees Secondary School in Kassala, commonly known as “UNESCO School”, was set up with the backing of visionary Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) initiatives, and with funding of the United Nation High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1977. The UNHCR continued funding the school until 1999, providing Eritrean refugees the opportunity to continue receiving the high quality of education the school is renowned for in English medium of instruction.
It had run by a highly dedicated and experienced Eritrean School Administrators and teachers. Since its establishment in 1977, the school produced hundreds of outstanding graduates who have continued university level education or pursued other professions, and now are engaged in highly rewarding professional jobs around the world.
Following the withdrawal of financial support from UNHCR in 1999, the Catholic Church in Kassala stepped in to provide financial and material support to the school. However, following the COVID-19 global pandemic the Catholic Church cutting its funding to the school as the result of that, the school is facing serious existential challenges. Nevertheless and despite all the challenges, the school has continued rendering its renowned educational services to hundreds of Eritrean refugees in Kassala with generous help from Eritrean communities, including ex-student of the school.
It is now time for the school’s former students and teachers to reach out to each other and step up to establishing an Alumni Association to support the school in a systemic and sustainable way.

ARTICLE I: NAME

The name of the organization shall be the “Alumni Association for Eritrean Refugees Secondary School in Kassala, here referred as “UNESCO School Alumni”.

ARTICLE II: ADDRESS

The Association will be registered in a country with conducive laws to promote and achieve the objectives of the Association. The address of the Alumni Association shall be determined by the Administrative Committee (AC).

ARTICLE III: LOGO

A torch and the full name of the Association - Draft by-law: Alumni Association for Eritrean Refugees Secondary School, “UNESCO” in Kassala

ARTICLE IV: MISSION

Today, the students at the Eritrean Refugees Secondary School live in a temporary uncertain settlement in a precariously difficult conditions with minimum and insecure rights in a neighbouring country. The ‘UNESCO School Alumni’ envisions a world where the students at the Eritrean Refugees Secondary School in Kassala have a protection that guarantees them a safe place to live and to continue pursuing their education and career.

ARTICLE V: OBJECTIVES

The “UNESCO” School Alumni’ is a global association founded to relieve poverty and advance education, among Eritrean Refugees, attending the Eritrean Refugees Secondary School, by means of financial/grant, material and training support as well as by any other charitable ways determined by the Association from time to time.

ARTICLE VI. PURPOSE

The Association is established to support the “UNESCO” School in Kassala by:
Reconnecting and rekindling friendship among former teachers and students;
Providing financial and material support to the “UNESCO” school;
Promoting and supporting the work and mission of the “UNESCO” School;
Documenting the history of the “UNESCO” School;
Providing professional forums and opportunity for volunteering in support of the school;
Strengthening ties among the alumni to champion the “UNESCO” School in their communities;
Establishing schemes for sponsoring students and teachers;
Establishing links with pertinent schools and institutions for twining with the “UNESCO” School;
Connecting with international charitable organisations for sustainable support to the “UNESCO” School.

ARTICLE VII. MEMBERSHIP

All former students and teachers of the “UNESCO” Secondary School will be full members of the Alumni Association.
Membership is acquired by completing membership registration form and paying required fee agreed by the association – currently suggested $10 per month.
Membership to the Association shall be on the terms prescribed by this by-law from time to time. Draft by-law: Alumni Association for Eritrean Refugees Secondary School, “UNESCO” in Kassala.
Membership forms are kept with the Association secretary. The secretary presents the membership forms to the first meeting of the committee.

ARTICLE VIII. MEMBERSHIP RIGHTS AND DUTIES

The rights and duties of membership are not assignable and transferable to another person.
Paid up Members have the right to run for any administrative position (see article XIV) in the association. Members have the right to receive a receipt showing their payment of the prescribed contribution. Members are bound to abide by the articles of the Association, regulations, bylaws and decisions.
The rights and duties of membership are forfeited by the nullity or loss of membership. Membership is forfeited by resignation, refusal to pay the contribution, or death Membership will be terminated by a resolution of Board of Directors or the Conference and if despite three payment reminders a member fails to make annual membership payment. or fails to make payment for more than three months and doesn’t respond to the formal three reminders, the AC have the right to suspend membership.
A member who has grossly violated the interests of the Association can also be excluded from the Association by Board of Directors or the Conference resolution.

ARTICLE IX. HONORARY MEMBERSHIP

Honorary membership is granted to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to help the “UNESCO” School and its students.
Honorary members can participate in the Conference or General Meeting of the Association. Honorary members have no voting or decision-making rights.
Honorary members are not obliged to pay any fee or prescription but can voluntarily make financial and/or material contribution to help the Association and the school. Honorary membership will be granted by a set of criteria the Conference determines from time to time.

ARTICLE X. SUBSCRIPTION

Annual/monthly membership subscription shall be determined at the Conference of the Association. Draft by-law: Alumni Association for Eritrean Refugees Secondary School, “UNESCO” in Kassala. Annual membership subscription payments will be used solely for the advancement of the “UNESCO” School.
Annual membership subscriptions are paid during the period the Conference has determined. The AC have the right to arrange fund raising events to help the “UNESCO” School if it sees is necessary. Members who wish to contribute more should inform the Treasurer or the secretary of the Association.

ARTICLE XI. STRATEGY TO ACHIEVE OBJECTIVES

Create Task Forces to execute the various objectives/tasks of the Association. Active recruitment of Alumni and creating a digital network managed by designated officer. Linking with International Secondary Schools. Linking with International Organisations. Visiting the school and volunteer to serve for a given period of time

ARTICLE XII. CONFERENCE

The conference of the “UNESCO” School Alumni Association shall be held annually.
The conference shall be held by the decision of Board of Directors and at the invitation of the AC no later than 12 - 15 months from the last conference.
The conference shall consider the following affairs:
Follow up on the decisions and recommendations of the previous conference or the last General Meeting.
Discuss and approve the AC reports (written activity and financial reports) for the past year.
Discuss the features of the upcoming year’s plan.
Discuss and approve any new regulations, policies or decisions.
Election of the AC, the executive body that manages the affairs of the Alumni Association.
A member's right to run for candidacy or elections, if he/she for example has not paid the set prescription fee. If a member violates this Statute, the AC has the right to take the following actions: Alert and warning Suspension of membership for a specified period or until the matter is presented to the BoDs.
Presentation to the Conference to decide membership issues with the approval of two-thirds of the legal attendees. Draft by-law: Alumni Association for Eritrean Refugees Secondary School, “UNESCO” in Kassala. Notify in writing of any decision related to his membership. to promote members enjoy the right to run and be elected for any position in the association.

ARTICLE XIII. BOARD of DIRECTORS (BoDs)

BoDs is the highest legislative body between two conferences. The BoDs shall be composed from the regional representatives to promote the objectives and mission of the Alumni Association.
BoD members representing the USA (2)
BoD members representing the Canada (2) BoD members representing the Scandinavian (2)
BoD members representing mainland Europe and UK (3)
BoD members representing Australia (2)
BoD members representing New Zealand (2)
BoD member representing Middle East (1)
BoD member representing the Sudan (1)
BoD members representing former Teachers (2)
The number of BoDs members will be decided by the conference. Its members will be elected by representative regions setup and approved by the AC.

ARTICLE XIV. GENERAL MEETING

General Meeting of the members of the Association will be held between two conferences by the decision of Board of Directors and at the invitation of the AC or by collecting the signatures of two-thirds of the membership approving the holding of the General Meeting, and sending the signatures to the secretary of the committee. Only issues and agenda items for which it was held are discussed.
It is held in the first invitation with two-thirds of the membership, and if that is not possible, it is held in the second invitation with 50% plus 1 of the membership, at the third invitation with two-thirds of the AC membership. Abiding by the law in its contracts and decisions, and taking into account trade union custom.

ARTICLE XV. ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE (AC)

To be elected every two years in the Conference in addition to two reserves. Its main task is to build a strong, lifelong and mutually beneficial relationship between the Eritrean Refugees Secondary School, in Kassala, and the UNESCO Alumni Association membership. Draft by-law: Alumni Association for Eritrean Refugees Secondary School, “UNESCO” in Kassala.
Manages the affairs of the Association and represent it in forums.
To promote members enjoy the right to run and be elected for any position in the association. Consists of the following:
The Chair: manages the meetings of the BoDs and AC, represents the association in forums, and signs the financial authorizations.
The Vice Chair: Act on behalf of the Chair in his/her absence, assist him/her in his/her presence, and conduct the required contacts with all parties in cooperation and coordination with the Chair.
Treasurer: Responsible for financial resources and expenditures. He signs with the president the financial permissions, and keeps the financial books and receipts.
The Secretary and Media officer: keeps the archives, membership forms, seals, incoming and outgoing correspondence, supervises the mailbox, records the minutes of all BoDs, AC and general meetings, addresses the membership with any decisions of the committee and implements media policies.(data protection policy to be developed)
Database Officer: follows up the issue of historical documentation, and works to develop and update the database that relates to members. (data protection policy to be developed) If any position in the committee becomes vacant due to loss of membership, resignation or dismissal from the BoDs, the AC fills the position from the two reserves.

ARTICLE XVI. FINANCIAL AFFAIRS

The Conference determines the financial policies. The committee sets financial programs and follows up on their implementation. The Association's finances consist of the contributions and donations of members or any donations that do not conflict with the objectives of the association or any charitable projects adopted by the association. The financial year to Association shall end DD/MM/YYYY of every year, to which day the accounts shall be balanced and drawn. As soon as practicable, after the end of the financial year, there shall be prepared a statement of the assets of The Association at the end of the financial year, and a statement of income and expenditure during that year, which statement shall be audited by the auditor not less than twenty-eight (28) days before the Conference and Annual General Meeting. Copies of the audited accounts shall be sent to every Member with the notice. The Auditor shall be a professional Accountant and shall not be a Member of The Association. He/she shall be appointed by the Conference or BoDs and shall hold office until the end of the next following Conference and Annual General Meeting.
All subscriptions, funds and all other monies raised or received by way of donations or otherwise by The Association shall be paid into an account in the name of The Alumni Association for Eritrean Refugees Secondary School at bankers appointed by the Management Committee and all such subscriptions, funds and monies shall only be used in keeping with the objectives of the Association.
Draft by-law: Alumni Association for Eritrean Refugees Secondary School, “UNESCO” in Kassala.
Disbursements shall be approved by the Management and any withdrawals from the said Bank Account shall be by cheque and shall be on the signatures of two (2) of three (3) Members viz, the Chair, Honorary Secretary, or the Honorary Treasurer. None of the aforementioned subscriptions, funds, donations or money shall be used to the benefit of any Officer or Member of the Administration of the Association or any member of the Association either during the existence of The Association or on the dissolution thereof.

ARTICLE XVII. GENERAL RULES/GUIDE

General regulations and decisions are governed by the provisions of the law. The Association is registered according to the law of the country in which it is incorporated. In the event of cancellation of registration, the law determines the fate of the association's property.

ARTICLE XVIII. DISSOLUTION OF THE “UNESCO” SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

The UNESCO Alumni Association shall not be dissolved except by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the Members present and voting. Such voting shall be at an Extraordinary General Meeting called for such purpose and a proposal or decision or dissolution shall include provision for the proper winding-up of the financial and other affairs of the UNESCO Alumni Association. If any property remains after the discharge of all debts and liabilities of the UNESCO Alumni Association, it shall not be distributed amongst the members of the UNESCO Alumni Association but shall be applied to such other charitable organisations operating for the benefit of the UNESCO Secondary School in Kassala as the AC see fit and failing this for such other exclusively charitable purposes or purposes as the Administrative Committee see fit.
By-laws certified by Administrative Committee:
Dated: ______________________
Secretary, Administrative Committee: __________________________________
Chair, Administrative Committee: __________________________________