FOXES COMMUNITY & WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ANNUAL REPORT 2025
Category: News
News from the Igoda children’s Village in Mufindi, Tz
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Indigo Earth Foundation for their generous support. We are incredibly grateful for their partnership and invite you to read their latest blog about our work: https://www.indigoearthfoundation.com/organizations/orphans-in-the-wild
James Evans Kihongole, fondly known as Jamsi. Born on 21 October 2005, joined ICV on 12 April 2013. This month, James was reunited with his family. He is continuing his education at Luhunga Secondary School, where he is currently in Form Two. We wish James every success and happiness for the future. 
Celebrating YAM Graduates. Congratulations to the YAM (Youth Agency Mufindi) sewing students on their graduation. Pictured with the beautiful dresses they created, the students’ achievements are a wonderful reflection of their hard work, skill and determination.
The YAM programme is generously sponsored by the Deaconess Foundation of Finland. This support provides vocational training and rehabilitation for vulnerable and orphaned young people in Mufindi, Tanzania, helping them gain practical skills and build brighter, more independent futures.
Congratulations also go to the YAM carpentry and briquette-making students on their graduation. These practical skills will open valuable employment and self-sufficiency opportunities in the remote rural communities of Mufindi.
HYDROPOWER PROJECT NEARS COMPLETION. We are delighted to report that our hydropower project is nearing completion. Most of the installation and technical work is now complete, and we expect the system to be fully operational soon.
Once complete, this important project will make a significant contribution to the long-term sustainability of our organisation, helping us operate more efficiently and continue supporting the children and young people of Mufindi for years to come.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support our work and help create brighter futures for the children and young people of Mufindi.
For regular news, please visit: https://orphansinthewild.org/category/news/
If you require any further details or have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Email: bruce@wildorphans.org or +44 (0) 7759219708, marion@wildorphans.org
NEWS FROM THE IGODA CHILDREN’S VILLAGE, MUFINDI, TZ.
Dr Alexandra and Ronja Kulamati had the opportunity to visit Mufindi. During their visit, they reached out to many villagers and participated in the ICV. Ronja kindly offered physiotherapy to several young children, and we truly appreciate her caring efforts.
They als
o introduced the art of beading, which the older children really enjoyed.
In the afternoon, nursery and kindergarten children from nearby villages happily head home after a lovely day of learning and play.
Following Dentists Without Borders’ visit, the children were given toothbrushes and dentalhygiene advice. Many thanks for your visit and support!
Sam Sofya, who has visited the Children’s Village many times, truly enjoyed a delightful afternoon catching up with the staff and children. The little tent also provides so much fun! Ella and Fadhil, who are also regular visitors, joined Sam. Thank you for your ongoing support and generous donations that bring happiness to the children.
On 8 March, the ICV community marked International Women’s Day by expressing sincere gratitude to all the wonderful Mamas who tirelessly care for and support the children. Their ongoing dedication and hard work are truly appreciated as they play a vital role in nurturing and shaping the young lives of those at the ICV.
We are extremely grateful to all our supporters, several of whom are anonymous, for their invaluable support.
For regular news, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/OrphansInTheWild/
If you require additional details or have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Email: bruce@wildorphans.org or +44 (0) 7759219708 marion@wildorphans.org
News from the Igoda Children’s Village, Mufindi.
On June 1st, The Loh family from Singapore delighted the children with four boxes filled with assorted items, for which we thank them; sparking a great deal of excitement.
13th July and 31st August: Geoff and Vicky Fox celebrated their birthdays. Now retired and residing full-time at Fox Farm in Mufindi, Geoff continues to maintain his connection with ICV, periodically visiting to greet both the children and staff.
Beverley cycled 4,800 miles in a year, raising £936.25 for ICV bus tyres and seat covers. In August, Pippa and Nicola also completed a cycling challenge, raising £1,372.75 for the ICV. Lots of energy!! Thank you for being so supportive.
Representatives from The Deaconess Foundation of Finland visited Mufindi in September to view the YAM projects and discuss plans. Their meeting with FCWCT staff and Trustees reinforced a strong partnership and a shared commitment to supporting local youth.
On 18th September, a team of dentists from Tandläkare utan gränser, Dentists Without Borders, visited Mufindi. They provided vital dental treatment to young patients. They also delivered dental education sessions in local schools to equip pupils with practical knowledge about oral hygiene.
Students from another primary school visited ICV, beginning their day with breakfast of tea, eggs, and bread. The children were then given a tour of the area. The visit continued with a range of playful activities, providing an opportunity for the pupils to socialise and enjoy themselves. Later, everyone gathered for lunch. The day proved to be both enjoyable and eventful for all involved, and it was a busy day for the ICV staff, who worked hard to ensure the visit ran smoothly.
We are extremely grateful to all our supporters, several of whom are anonymous, for their invaluable support.
For regular news, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/OrphansInTheWild/
If you require additional details or have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Email: bruce@wildorphans.org or +44 (0) 7759219708 marion@wildorphans.org
YAM (Youth Agency Mufindi Project) Annual Report 2024
The YAM project started in 2021 with the FCWC NGO receiving a contract donation for four yeas from Helsinki Deaconess Institute Foundation enabling FCWC to implement a project named as Youth Agency Mufindi (YAM)
The project’s main objective is too improve livelihoods of the most vulnerable young people by ensuring they are better equipped to take charge of their own lives as a result of improved motivation, skills, and opportunities. The project provides these young people with psychosocial support as well as equip them with skills and knowledge to act as successful entrepreneurs. YAM also advocates for the rights of people living with disabilities and assist with those in need of treatment, rehabilitation, occupational therapy and aims to help those wanting to find employment or self employment to acquire the necessary skills and opportunities accordingly
The YAM project is operated within 3 wards names Luhunga, Mdabulo and Ihanu which altogether makes a total of 16 villages.
YAM Annual report 2024 YAM results
Quarterly News from the Igoda Children’s Village, Mufindi.
YAM (Youth Agency Mufindi) sponsored by The Deaconess Foundation of Finland. During the first phase of YAM, 420 of the most vulnerable youth from 16 villages, plus 94 young people with disabilities (PWD) were given skills training followed by 6 months of apprenticeships. YAM also subsidised 25 young PWD’s for 6-month internship placements with Mufindi Tea Company and Private Forestry Programme
2025 will focus on young people with disabilities to lift their livelihoods and make them less invisible in society. There are currently 131 children, and 97 youth identified within the 16 villages, and this will increase over time. These will get treatment, rehabilitation and assistance with supporting devices followed by psychosocial, entrepreneurship, agricultural and skills training, like the last 4 years. Skills training incorporates sewing, carpentry, briquette making, mechanics, forestry and basket weaving. They will then also benefit from 6 months of apprenticeship training
It is inevitable that some PWD’s will not be able to be employed and therefore we aim to establish an arts and crafts project to support the livelihoods of support careers. This would be assisted by volunteers able to inspire product range and teach the necessary skills. This output is still waiting for a budget and a source of enthusiastic and skilled volunteers. .
The children and youth from our Children’s Village naturally benefit from these trainings. For example, there is a waiter employed at the Ruaha River Lodge who had a very traumatic youth and lacked any self-confidence. Following the training programmes he has come on in leaps and bounds and able to develop the skills requited for his job.
These are two little ones, who live in the baby house with the other babies and their two house mamas, whose physical development is slow and need extra help. They go to Ineka Rehabilitation Centre for check-ups and advice. Tina, shown here, came to the Igoda Children’s Village with Dr Leena Pasanen to see, help and learn about children and those in outreach.
Dentists Without Borders: Marie Löfström and her team from arrived in October, visited the ICV together with several schools in the area, checked their teeth and educated them on dental hygiene, showing them the correct way of brushing their teeth. A valuable lesson as there is a lot of sugar cane grown. 
The Catholic Women’s group and priest from Mdabulo held a church service at the ICV on the 22nd of October with joyful singing all day! They also very generously donated beans, maize, sugar, soap, rice, cooking oil, vegetables, potatoes, clothes, toothpaste, wheat flour and shoes
The Mafinga Lutheran Church prayed for the ICV children and provided them with food before their trip to Ruaha. How kind and generous! A few hours later and after lunch at the picnic site, they carried on and arrived at Ruaha River Lodge where refreshments were had.
They did see a lot of animals and one little girl said, “We saw an elephant as big as a house but no lions.” At the River Lodge there is always something to watch, whether it be animals on the banks of the river, monkeys cavorting about, birds etc. After a long, tiring day, they left for home with a five-hour journey ahead of them! A trip they will never forget. Thank you to everyone at the River Lodge for their kind hospitality and for kind donors who helped make this happen
With huge thanks to the sponsors and for all the donations received to cover new clothes, school bags, shoes, toothbrushes, toothpastes, soap, food etc. helping to make this happen, you are very special and certainly enriches the children’s lives!
For regular news, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/OrphansInTheWild/
Progress from the Igoda Children’s Village, Mufindi, Tz.
There have been many refurbishments and repairs going on over the last few months. Shown here the guard’s shelter and bridge connecting the office, stores, nursery/kindergarten/ playground etc. to the children’s houses.
The Yam Project: This project, sponsored by The Deaconess Foundation of Finland is progressing well. These young students are learning carpentry skills whilst some of the girls are learning to sew with treadle sewing machines. The young primary school graduates loved showing off their new dresses made by the apprentice machinists.
The washing machine at the ICV completely broke down and despite numerous repairs, could not be brought back to life! A fundraise on Facebook was started and within a week, with thanks to generous donors, a Defy Twin Tub washing machine was ordered and on the way. This hardy machine will cope with the poor power quality they have and the clothes get spun much drier than by an automatic machine – great for our weather where washing takes two days to dry when hand washed
Nyamalongolo HYDRO Project: These photos are from the 1st phase of starting the dam wall and the canal, as well as the offloading of the penstock pipes. Numerous rocks were removed by drilling holes for explosives to blast them away. It didn’t take long for the water to start damming up.
The penstock pipes arrived and the team came from the supplier in Dar es Salaam to help; it is such a big job! The pipes have to be heat welded together as it snakes through the forest. There is still a way to go and as it progresses we sh on Facebook until the next newsletter.
They have cleared an access road through the blue gum plantation that leads to the powerhouse (still to be built), such a pretty access!
THANK YOU!
To all our donors, friends running events and fundraising for the children, the Tanzanian staff and volunteers; your continuing support is really appreciated. The Igoda Children’s Village wouldn’t be here without your help.
News from the Igoda Children’s Village, Mufindi, Tz.
https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/fund…/miles-for-mufindi Marnus Lottering is running in the 86km Comrades Marathon! Wow! Not long to go now for Marnus to begin his awesome epic adventure to support Foxes Community & Wildlife Conservation Trust (FCWCT)! He has been training mentally and physically for months now to tackle the gruelling marathon in South Africa on 9th June raising funds for us. Please support Marnus in this endeavour by donating. Please follow the link, read his story and share the post!
Chris Fox (Foxes’ Community and Wildlife Conservation) and his anti-poaching Tanzanian team keep the Mufindi forest free of poaching. They have been protecting the forest since 2014, removed well over 25,000 snares so far, planted and continue to nurture over 30,000 indigenous rainforest trees to enrich areas depleted by human abuses. They patrol an area of 80 km walking about 1,000 km each month. Chris is dedicated to conservation.
International Woman’s Day on 8th March was celebrated showing some of our hard-working mamas who give love, care and attention to the children, outreach and large vegetable fields
Ella visited the ICV from Finland for a short time and gave these lovely skirts for the girls and knitwear for the boys, made by her and her friends. Karibu sana Ella and thank you all!
THANK YOU!
To all our donors, friends running events and fundraising for the children, the Tanzanian staff and volunteers; your continuing support is really appreciated. The Igoda Children’s Village wouldn’t be here without your help.
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