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THE ARUSHA
CHILDREN'S TRUST
Newsletter #7 December 2006
P.0. Box 223, Arusha, Tanzania,
East Africa.
www.arushachildrenstrust.org
E-mail:
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From
the Editor
To
all new readers, friends, supporters and donors in Tanzania and all
over the world. Welcome to our seventh annual newsletter.
The
Arusha Children's Trust has had a successful year for
fundraising and getting international recognition. This has been due
to the hard work of the volunteers and the new website which has
been designed and managed by Robert Gray of New Zealand. Robert and
his wife Mary visited Tanzania two years ago and wanted to help
schools in the bush which have little or no equipment. You can read
more about that further on.
Earthdance
for Peace, Arusha, sponsored by many companies and individuals and
hosted by Masai Camp was a very successful highlight in 2006. Money
raised is building a new classroom.
ACT
thanks everyone who has helped to make 2006 a success by supporting
our projects.
We
want to make 2007 an even better year for the children who need it
most. Your continued support is greatly needed to keep up and expand
existing projects and to fund new ones. Many thanks to Tropical
Trails/Wilderness Trails safari companies for services in Arusha.
Ishbel
Brydon.
Project
manager in Arusha.
Community
Centre News
The
community centre, built by the trust in Olmuringiringa village,
north of Arusha, is about to celebrate its 5th year. The
kindergarten in the centre has up to one hundred children daily,
aged between four and six. They receive a hot breakfast of porridge
and milk every day.
In
November 2006 thirty nine children graduated to start
Standard One in five different primary schools in the surrounding
area. The guest of honour at the ceremony was Mr. Julius Moruaro who
is the Ward Education officer. He spoke sincerely about the need for
more early childhood provision in Tanzania and praised the efforts
of the teachers and parents who have made the school a success.
From
the money raised by Earthdance for Peace in September 2006 we have
been able to start building a new classroom at the centre. Other
donations this year will enable us to furnish the classroom and to
provide new educational materials.
The
women's group in the centre has continued with Masai jewellery
making sessions and English classes.
Sibusiso,
the foundation for mentally handicapped children has continued to
hold monthly outreach clinics in the centre for the disadvantaged children
from the many small villages in the area.
In
May and June 2006 agriculturists from The African Conservation
Foundation, Nina Camfferman and Sixtus, gave interesting talks to
the community about the use of traditional, natural medicines for
cattle and the prevention of cattle diseases and organized a tree
planting session with the children.
The
kindergarten had been visited by tourists from overseas and has
received cash donations, educational equipment, toys and clothes.
Claudia
van Westen and Jannemiek de Jong, two enthusiastic fundraisers from
Holland gave $1100US to the new building project in order to buy
furniture and educational materials.
Fund-raising
in Arusha
The
Earthdance 2006 event for World Peace hosted by Masai
Camp in Arusha for the third year was one of the biggest music
festivals ever held in Tanzania. Held on September 16th
this local fundraising day and night of music and special
performances was a huge success thanks to the organizers, especially
Wieke van Leeuwen and her team, the many performers and all the
local businesses, organizations and individuals who sponsored the
event.
A
total of three million Tanzanian shillings ($2400US) was raised for
charity. ACT was the beneficiary of
the
event and the money is being used to build a new classroom for the
kindergarten in Olmuringiringa village.
Burn's
Night in Arusha
Is
there any country in the world which has not felt the influence of
the Scottish poet Burns? Masai camp in Arusha was the venue for an
energetic evening of Scottish songs, traditional dances and haggis.
Many thanks to Anne Colvin and Mairi-Louise Flavin for organizing
the event, to the enthusiastic band and to Bob Jessop for making the
haggis.
$157
was raised for ACT.
Fund
raising in UK
Old
friends of ACT the Robertsons and their friends were also busy
organizing a Burns Night in January and a cycle ride in April from
Newcastle in the north of England to Dundee in Scotland. Despite
horrendous weather conditions Bruce Robertson, Dave Cabrielli,
Richard Turland and David George completed their 490 km journey with
minimal mishaps (five punctures and one broken chain) in five days.
They
raised a total of 1190 pounds for ACT.
Anne
Colvin and friends organized various events in around Brighton and
came up with an amazing 950 pounds for ACT. Anne came to Arusha for
4 months to do volunteer work in schools and became especially
involved with a school for physically and learning disabled
children. Anne's many talents including dance enabled her to
form a special relationship with these children.
Some
students and teachers in schools in Scotland have been busy
organizing various events to raise money.
Many thanks go to Angela Irvine and the pupils of Woodlands Primary
School, Linwood, Renfrewshire, Kayren Hall, Waid Academy in Fife and
Christine Sumstine, Woodmuir Primary, Breich, West Lothian.
Angela
Irvine contacted Lochwinnoch International Aid,
Scotland
and they gave her 300 pounds to add to the 295 pounds raised by the
children for ACT.
Great
work UK!
Donations
to ACT
The
following companies and individuals (not already mentioned) have
donated or fundraised this year.
Robert
Gunn, USA
Julia
Aisbitt, UK
Robert
and Mary Gray, New Zealand
Ian
Robertson, Arusha
Chris
Morris, IntoAfricaUK Ltd,
Victoria
Dickinson, UK
Madeleine
Cox, Arusha
Mr.
& Mrs. A.D.S.Schneider, Holland
Ann
Camerlynck, Belgium
Alexander
Palmer, UK
Carmen
Nveno-Palap, Spain
Grant
Nelson, USA
Richard
King, UK
Andrea
Martin and friends, UK
Ishbel
Brydon.
Sponsorship
News
Robert
Gunn, USA, has been a dedicated supporter and donor to ACT for
several years. He is continuing to sponsor Naitira Ngare, a young
Masai from Bulati in the Ngorongoro Highlands. Having completed a
tour guide course Naitira is back in school in Form V and hopes to
continue to Form VI.
Footballs
and Netballs
Bulati
and Nainokanoka Primary schools in the Ngorongoro Highlands in
northern Tanzania were very happy to receive sports equipment in
June thanks to Robert and Mary Gray of New Zealand. Each school
received twenty footballs and twenty netballs.
The
Grays who had visited the schools during a walking safari the
previous year were struck by the great lack of resources in the
schools but were also moved by the resilience of the students and
teachers. The equipment was delivered by Tropical Trails.
How
can you help?
To
continue with our projects we rely on fundraising activities,
private sponsors and donations.
Donations
can be made directly to ACT through the website or by cheque/direct credit to the following address.
The
Bank of Scotland,
43,
Comely Bank Road.
Edinburgh
EH4
1AF
United
Kingdom.
Sterling
Acc no. 06002520
Branch
Sort Code: 80-11-05
Account
name: The Arusha Children's Trust.
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