It took three days for people to get to know one another, and another two for us to bond as a team. Maybe we bonded during the two day bus trip across Tanzania when we broke down and had to stop for repairs that stretched into hours and an overnight stay. Maybe it was while driving through the Mikume National Park the next morning and oohing and aahing over the elephants, giraffes, water buffalo, antelope, boar, and baboons. But I think our real bonding experience was when we finally arrived in the remote mountain village of Bujela. It was late and we were exhausted. We bumped along the rutted road, our headlights barely cutting through the darkness. A jungle of banana trees loomed to either side, leaves swiping the sides of the bus. Then, up ahead, we saw something. As we drew near, we realized it was the entire village waiting for us. Hundreds of men, women, and children. As we drove slowly through the crowd, windows open, villagers waved and smiled, jumped with joy, and cried, “Karibuni! Karibuni!” — “Welcome! Welcome!” It was a moment that will live in our hearts forever.

After our arrival in Bujela, our work began in earnest. Pablo taught science classes at the Mwaji Secondary School, introducing students to such subjects as microbiology, static electricity, botany, and water sanitation. Paige and Leslie taught feminine hygiene and handed out washable, reusable kits assembled by Days For Girls and our own OA volunteers. Dave not only taught a calculator class, but he worked on the water well with Paige, eventually reinforcing it with a concrete superstructure. Monica took photographs of everything and even provided a photo display for villagers to come see. Meanwhile, Michele, Liza, and I (along with some of our volunteers) toured the school and new land and met with village leaders, teachers, and government officials, in an effort to continue construction and to get the school registered with the government. Of course we also handed out supplies given by OA donors: school supplies, blankets, shoes, clothing, and more!

But the Mwaji Secondary School in Bujela is only one of our school projects. We have three, and we visited and worked at all three projects. Whew! Needless to say, there’s too much news and work accomplished to list it all here. (Please visit the “News” section of our website to see full updates.) Our trip was an experience of a lifetime. At the end of three weeks of dusty travel, no running water or electricity, and near constant labor at our project sites, I asked our volunteers if they would do it again. I’ll sum up their answers by saying, “In a heartbeat.” Thank you to our volunteers for their amazing work! And thank you to OA donors for making all our good work possible.

Carl Gann, President, Co-Founder

Orphans Africa Nursery School

It’s no secret that money from donors makes things happen for the orphans in Tanzania through Orphans Africa.  Did you know you can also help raise funds through your online shopping?  Yes, you can!  Orphans Africa has already raised over $370 without any cost to Orphans Africa or those who are shopping.  The merchants pay a percentage of any purchase made by our iGive members.  Simply register HERE and designate Orphans Africa as the recipient charity.  Sign up today.  The Christmas shopping season will be here soon.  Take this opportunity to help!

Who among our followers can recruit the most new iGive members?  If you want to make an impact in the world, now is your chance to do it yourself and get others to help.  We need Champions to make it happen.  Get all of your friends registered today.  Asante!

Nav Balsara Crosses the Finish Line

Nav Balsara, an audiologist near Toronto Canada, took on the responsibility to do something for the orphans in Tanzania.  Nav ran the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon’s half-marathon this October to raise money for Orphans Africa.  After six months of training and a few injury setbacks, Nav crossed the finish line at about 3300 of 8400 contestants!  Great job!  Nav reports, “It was a great personal experience and one of the hardest things I have ever done and boy I’m glad it’s over.  A big thanks to those of you who have both sent in a cheque and pledged your support of my efforts on behalf of Orphans Africa.  Just knowing I had so much support in advance was a real boost and motivator even before the race started.”

Nav is still gathering the funds but his early report is that he raised $1500 for the orphans! Additionally, many more people know about the work of Orphans Africa based on his publicity of the run.  Thank you, Nav, for your kindness and dedication in helping the orphans in Tanzania.  Go Canada!  Asante sana, Nav!!!

Nav Balsara displays his Orphans Africa shirt at the race

Everyone knows that Orphans Africa couldn’t do their work without our fantastic donors and volunteers.  One fantastic volunteer has orchestrated a fundraiser on her own.  Gift wrapping will be provided by a team of volunteers at a couple of Barnes and Noble stores for donations.  The holiday season gift-wrapping will be done free for anyone purchasing something in the Barnes and Noble stores listed here below.  The team will accept donations for Orphans Africa.  Literature about Orphans Africa will also be available at the gift-wrapping area.  The two stores are Barnes and Noble, 3125 Pacific Highway in Federal Way, WA, USA on November 25 and November 26 from 9AM to 9PM each day and Lakewood Barnes and Noble, Town Square, Lakewood, WA, USA on December 4 noon to 6PM and December 17, 6PM to 9PM.  If you go to Barnes and Noble on those days, get some free gift-wrapping for the items you purchase and cheer on these great volunteers!

Orphans Africa is greatly appreciative for this creative and generous work by the organizer, Jerie Longacre, and to all the volunteers who said “yes” to her request for volunteers to help the orphans.  Thank you!  Asante sana!

If you have the desire to raise funds for Orphans Africa we would love to hear from you!  Take advantage this holiday season to help the orphans in Africa.  Contact us at info@orphansafrica.org.

Nursery School Children with OA and Tanzanian Staff

During our field visit in September 2011 we received a pleasant surprise. While visiting our 3rd school construction project, the Isandula Center, we learned that our field partners had started a nursery school for orphans in one of the two buildings we have constructed. Since this is our newest project with building number two just recently finished, we were not expecting any programs with orphan children until we have more construction completed. To our surprise, 40 orphan nursery school children (ages 3-5) were being provided education and care along with 30 paying nursery school children. Wow, 70 children receiving services with no funds from Orphans Africa for daily operations is amazing! Our field partners are doing a great job of executing the programs for these children. The model we operate is to have paying parents with children who provide the funds to operate the school and the orphans are free. It works! Orphans Africa provides construction, technical expertise and volunteers to make it all happen. These little children who have lost their parents now have daily security in knowing that they are receiving care just like other children in their community. Thank you, Orphans Africa donors!

Click here to see the children sing!

Isandula Center Nursery School Location

New Classroom and Bricks for More at the Isandula Center

We have 70 nursery students at the Isandula Center.  Forty are orphans.  We have 2 classroom buildings, toilets and a water well.  Funds are needed for continued construction and development. The Isandula Center is 80 acres in southwestern Tanzania, close to the Zambian border.

Nursery School Orphans Sing to Us

Click here for the satellite view.

Mwaji Secondary School and Construction

Our Mwaji Secondary School has 115 secondary students.  All but 10 of the students are orphans or abandoned children.  This school is located in rural southwestern Tanzania.  It is in a mountainous area and is 5100 feet in elevation (about 1700 meters).  The school continues under development.  Orphans Africa has built all of the school structures.

Mwaji Secondary School - First 3 Classrooms

Mwaji Secondary Students in One of the Classrooms

The friendly village residents are very supportive of the school.

Widows in the Bujela Community Make and Sell Makeka

Click here to see the satellite view of the Mwaji Secondary School.

Marilynn Primary School Students Sing and Dance

Majohe is a suburb of Dar Es Salaam and is about 1,000,000 people.  It is located near the Indian Ocean.  We have about 100 students there with slightly over the majority of students being orphans.  In 2010 the Marilynn School scored 4th out of 104 schools in their division on the national examinations.  We are extremely proud!  Click here to zoom in on the location from a satellite.

Marilynn Pre-and-Primary School Sign with Volunteers Pablo Rodriguez and Monica Arruda

2011 Orphans Africa Team

Eight people from three countries visited our Orphans Africa projects in Tanzania in September.  Six of us were from the U.S. with one Argentinian and one Brazilian.  We traveled to separate locations to visit each of our three schools.  The schools are the Marilynn Nursery and Primary School in Majohe, the Mwaji Secondary School in Bujela, and the Isandula Nursery School in Vwawa.  Three of our volunteers had never been to Africa before.  Needless to say, working in equatorial Africa is a unique experience for anyone but can be overwhelming for newcomers.  In spite of the heat and humidity, dust, insects, jet lag and long travel hours, everyone responded with tremendous spirit and persistent work to help the orphans and widows.

A huge number of activities were planned and executed during the visit.  The activities included water well crank upgrading, teaching games to children, teaching science, projects accounting, construction evaluation and planning, government official interfacing, school board and teachers meetings.  The volunteers also taught solar water disinfection (SODIS).

Donations to our projects were technology, which included solar calculators, cameras for project documentation, and microscopes.  Basic school supplies, feminine hygiene kits, baby quilts, bookmarks, clothing and shoes were also donated.

Additional work involved the widows’ hog farming project, bookkeeping training, and sanitation training.  The volunteers were busy with photography and videography documentation of the three projects.

There were so many great moments!  We are energized to continue the progress being made with the orphans and widows.  We will be posting stories of our many experiences.  Stay tuned.

Carl Gann, President

Prior to OA’s involvement, the students at the Mwaji Secondary School in Bujela, Tanzania, had to sit on rough-sawn planks of wood for the entire school day, holding their books and papers in their laps. As soon as we completed our first permanent classroom, we provided some desks and chairs. However, with 90+ students, we simply didn’t have enough desks and chairs for everyone.

So, at our last auction, twenty-two people raised their placards to “buy” a desk and chair for the school. As each set of desk and chair cost $100.00, we had $2,200.00 to send just for that purpose. Upon receipt of our funds, Ezekia, our project manager, ordered the desks and chairs to be built from wood. Now they’ve been constructed, shipped, and delivered to the school, and here they are! Ready to furnish our fourth new classroom! Cheers to everyone who contributed!! Little by little, we’re making it happen — giving a future of hope to these orphans, as well as more comfortable seating!