Vivienne’s visit to Tanzania thanks to British Airways.
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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.