Vivienne’s visit to Tanzania thanks to British Airways.
Album 1
Thank you also to Heatons Ireland, Ulster Teachers’ Union. Santa’s wee
Village and all those individuals and companies that supported
Vivienne’s visit.
My
visit to Tanzania proved an inspiration, this was a follow on from my
last trip in 2008 a lot had happened then as they say a vision in
progress. They were able to feed and give English medium pre school
teaching to 130 little children in their village programme. Along with
this they had built a kitchen, Bio-Gas Unit put in a foot pump, as well
as a cottage for volunteers. They had begun the building of a
Nutrition/early learning house for the little children. It was a
privilege to help the children and friends of Tanzania with the care of
the children and the progress of their project.
In that year of my visit there still remained many challenges, which I'm
pleased to say they have risen to. It was the last year of contract
with the house that had been the orphan children home for the past 5
years in Dare es Salaam. They faced the challenge to build a sustainable
farm and home. What I saw in this trip was very impressive.
Their new home in Kerege is a wonder and a great example to
organisations and individuals looking to make a difference to
underprivileged or abandoned children. Friends of Tanzania have worked
very hard to make it happens and it shows.
The new building houses the 16 children and their adopted mothers they
are a lovely family and it was a pleasure to be around them. They are
great singers, music is their message and they can belt out beautiful
songs. During a visit by the American Navy, whilst I was there, they
showed us how.( few pictures attached show them singing)
This leads onto another moving and heart felt event that took place
whilst I was there. An American Navy ship touring the coast of East and
Southern Africa were looking to take part in a project that would make
an immediate difference. They were put in touch with Friends of
Tanzania, and came up with the plan. The idea was for the guys and girls
from the Navy to come along an help paint on the orphan house in Kerege
in a day.( More pics to show this) As they say many hands make light
work the job was done in no time. The kids had fun as the navy
bought many gifts and as a thank you they sang a beautiful Swahili
song, they are really little stars.
Examples of success stories of the children at Kerege
3 years ago two boys twin boys Hassan and Assan were found, barely alive
due to malnutrition and disease, today they are happy and healthy.
Zai ( picture of her with her yellow teddy bear)
When her mommy and daddy died in the village, Zai and her siblings were
taken in by her grandmother in Dar. As time went on Bibi( grandmother)
found it difficult to care for Zai as she was little, as well as work to
feed 8 other children that she cared for. After only 2 weeks of being at
the orphanage the grandmother came to see her and was happy to see the
little girl settling in, joining in the fun and gaining weight.
What friends of Tanzania have achieved has been through alot of hard
work, prayer and the generous funding and donation through organisations
and individuals. Going on this trip as a representative of A Ray of Hope
allowed me to participate in the kids care, food, cooking, cleaning,
fetching water from the well and teaching the younger ones. I was able
to take part in the decorating of the orphanage as well as provide the
children with much needed clothes donated by A Ray of hope. These were
warmly and gratefully received as they are very much needed as winter
approaches and they will all need to keep warm.
What they have in the pipeline...
The nutrition and early learning and health centre is well on is way.
They are still short of funds but they hope to have this project in
session by Easter, with a medical officer coming weekly to monitor the
health of the young children and thus prevent under 5 mortality ( Still
high in Tanzania) and proper weight gain and mental growth for young
children. One man and his children bicycled more than 10 KM so they can
have a good childhood education, and every time they are in the area the
" come to our village" invites many.
Safari For Life Aids Awareness for Youth. Friends of Tanzania still
dream to get this project on the road as it has much potential. They are
interested to fin anyone interested in making a difference to the youth
of Tanzania in the area of HIV and aids? They are desperate for funds
for this project.
A sincere thank you to British Airways for making this visit possible.