Category: News

NEWS FROM MUFINDI TO MARCH 2021

MUFINDI NEWS 

8th March 2021 International Women’s Day: Over the week, we had the pleasure, on Media, to introduce and thank all the Office Staff, House Guardians, Cook, Nurse and Gardeners at the Igoda Children’s Village who work so hard looking after the Igoda Children’s  Village and caring for the children so well:  Here are Zilipa, ICV  Manager; Fausta, Accountant; Uzia, Social Welfare Officer and Nurse Sijali.  We were reluctant to leave the men out, so they were thanked and introduced at the end of the week. To see all the staff  please click on this link and scroll to see them all.  /https://www.facebook.com/OrphansInTheWild/photos/pcb.1843231852501515/1843228259168541/

In January two volunteers visited the ICV and gave all the little children an activity treat with rides on the horses from Fox Farm.

18th February 2021: The ICV had the privilege of  visit from David Concar, the UK’s High Commissioner to Tanzania. He was shown around the ICV by FCWC’s co-founder, Geoff Fox MBE, where he met some the children. He said he enjoyed his visit and  would come again.

3rd February 2021: We received a grant from The Royal Overseas League for all the ICV primary aged school children to be educated, including all costs, at the Madisi Primary School in Mufindi.  This has given us a great boost with the difficulties the Corona virus has created. Our sincere appreciation to ROSL.

January 2021: FCWC launched YAM supported in partnership by the Helsinki Deaconess Foundation Institute in Finland: The disabled often lead invisible lives in Tanzania (and are less likely to attend school or more likely to drop out at a younger age) while young people in Tanzania face an unreliable income once they leave school due to having to rely on informal income generation (with inadequate employment opportunities – 10% of 15-35 yr olds are unemployed and 75% of young people are dependent on seasonal agriculture.

FCWC led the way in tackling the HIV epidemic over the last 15 years but recognise that it has left behind many traumatised vulnerable young children who continue to need our help.

So we are delighted to announce a new partnership between the Helsinki Deaconess Foundation Institute (HDI) in Finland and FCWC in Tanzania enabling us to launch YAM (Youth Agency Mufindi Project) at the start of 2021 with MFA funding committed for 4 (possibly 5) years. The YAM project is designed to help disabled children solve life issues enabling them to lead dignified lives and also to help vulnerable young people to take control of their lives through improved motivation, skills and opportunities. FCWC will implement this pilot project in our neighbouring 16 villages, conducting outreach, needs assessments, rehabilitation, carer training, psychosocial support, Agricultural and Forestry training, entrepreneurship training, and wherever possible also help address gender equalities. Our hope is that once the project is shown to be successful in addressing these needs it is likely to be replicated in other parts of the district, region and country and we will be working closely with local government wherever possible advocating equal development and opportunity for vulnerable children and young people.

To achieve this, we have already established a Youth Project team and are in the process of establishing and strengthening Village Child Protection Committees, VCPCs, helping us to identify and deliver this project support and training and help solve the problems faced by disabled children and vulnerable young people.

We are working with the University of Iringa UoI and TAPCAP (Tanzanian Association for Professional Counsellors and Psychotherapists) to help FCWC by providing expertise in assessing needs, psychosocial support and the training of trainers while at the same time INUKA (Southern Highlands Rehab Centre) will be assisting us with addressing the rehabilitation needs of the Disabled.

The rains in January started with a vengeance making the roads in Mufindi and surrounding areas a quagmire.  Getting the children to their schools makes this exceedingly difficult, sometimes impossible! One of the main dirt roads is being tarmacked so this year the roads have not been graded as normal, hence the problem. Mufindi is in a very rural, remote area of the Southern Highlands of Tanzania!

ONCE AGAIN WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT 

In Memory of Naused Nyaganilwa – FCWCT Trustee

NEWS FROM MUFINDI OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2020

Shoes for Schools: In the previous newsletter we reported that £1,943.36 had been raised. We are delighted to let you know that the shoes arrived on 19^th December creating great excitement to all the children at the ICV. Any funds left over will go towards clothing.

During October, due to the Covid pandemic, our incoming funds reduced significantly. so we held an emergency fundraising campaign on all media sites, alongside the previous newsletter appeal £4368.50 has been raised also a few regular monthly direct debits have started. Once again this is hugely appreciated!

Dr Alex, our medical volunteer, her family and Ella, another volunteer, arrived from Finland early October. They brought with them hand knitted cardigans made by Dr Leena Pasanen, socks, clothes and many other items including footballs much to the delight of Hezron and and all the children. Ella worked hard helping the house mamas playing and making crafts with the children. Dr Alex started her medical rounds checking on the health and status of the children and then progressed on to visit many patients in the rural, remote outreach villages. She did this with the help of the Home Base Volunteer Team, who had previously assessed who most needed medical support. We shall miss them all as they return to Finland for Christmas. Thank you for everything you have done. 

Social Room: To give the older children more space to do their homework and provide somewhere to relax, a Social Room has been made using the old sewing room that had been unoccupied for a while. This was funded by an individual Triathlon challenge completed in the UK during lockdown, Alex Family and Geoff Fox. An old sofa was repaired and recovered. The large old table was sanded and varnished also an old bookshelf was rejuvenated and painted with a variety of different and colourful flags. Curtains were made. Rugs, tables, chairs, a radio/CD player and a refurbished TV were bought. Having already achieved so much Dr Alex and her family still found time to the help the older children from the Children’s Village set to cleaning, mending, sanding, painting and getting the room ready to open just before they were due to leave for Finland. To see all the activity involved please click on the link:

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=2151228301676712&set=pcb.2151290508337158

Thank you for all help and your support.

https://www.facebook.com/OrphansInTheWild/ https://www.instagram.com/orphansinthewild/

5 Unique, Hand-painted, Embroidered African Animal Portraits – Auction

5 Unique, hand-painted and free-motion embroidered African animal portraits, individually framed in a 15.7cms embroidery hoop.

https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/auction/Embroidered-African-Animal-Portraits-OITW

NEWS FROM MUFINDI JULY – OCTOBER 2020

NEWS FROM MUFINDI JULY-OCTOBER 2020

Like many charities “Orphans in the Wild” is suffering a marked downturn in donations. Donations by safari guests have dried up as the safaris were closed due to Covid 19 and remain so. We especially thank those who are currently supporting us through Direct Debits, and who have recently donated. All donations have a direct impact on the children and young people we are supporting in the Children’s Village.

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/save-the-mufindi-childrens-village?fbclid=IwAR0Ldp5faOWi9xhGPvIpJ8naSFRFLkKIGWqD4c__fpllBB6u3sa2a4nWJKw

The Vocational Training Centre, although under the FCWCT umbrella, is independently run allowing our own ICV students to train free of charge. One group, the Student Car Mechanics, have recently had an exciting and rare opportunity. Peter Fox along with his experienced mechanics, fabricators and builders, were converting Land Rovers chassis cabs into vehicles for safari game drives. The process was to convert these bullet proof snatch 2A 110’s (wheelbase) vehicles into longer 130 chassis cabs. What better experience could they get! It was a huge job  benefiting the students. Not many student mechanics get the opportunity to totally strip, stretch the chassis, respray, reinstate the parts, replace the engine, test, add a canopy and seats on all these vehicles! Peter Fox was hands on with his expert mechanics making sure all students were taught correctly and did the job to a high standard. 

25^th August – The Regional and District Commissioners came to officially open the Igoda Clinic, complete with a Maternity Suite, which will serve the surrounding area! This clinic has been generously sponsored together with all the equipment for the maternity unit. It is going to make such a difference to nearby villages. Thank you! Official Opening of the Igoda Clinic:  https://www.facebook.com/OrphansInTheWild/videos/2768477363382368

8^th September – A young 16 year old school girl, Aviva, spent a little time at the Igoda Children’s Village last year and was so taken with it she has set up her own charity to support them – https://www.future4children.org/! She organised a fundraise earlier this year to buy 70 new sweaters for all the primary school children (they are required to have two sets, one in blue and one maroon). We are delighted to report that these have now been purchased! Thank you to Aviva and her school friends for their support.

11th September – The latest news on Gloria! Her Grandmother had successfully applied to take her home and she will be reunited with her brother again. The Ikaning’ombe Child Protection Committee had approved and signed the legal documents necessary to make this move. It was a day of mixed feelings when Gloria left, sad to lose her from her extended family at the ICV but happy for her to be going home. Grandmother is building a new house. 

You may remember #babygloriamufindi came to the Igoda Children’s Village in February 2017 as her mother was mentally unable to look after her. She has had quite a difficult young life; Gloria was unable to feed due to a cleft lip and palate, and also she had an absorption problem and could not gain weight. In august 2019, she gained the weight needed and had her surgical repair. Since then she has come on in leaps and bounds. The Health Officer and our present Volunteer Doctor, Dr Alex, has recently visited the family and reported that Gloria has settled in very well and is actually calling Grandmother, Mama!

Three new Beehives:- Kashinde, our ICV handyman and volunteer’s translator, has hollowed out logs to make some extra beehives, not only to provide the CV with honey but for sale too. After hollowing out, the two sides are put back together with small holes, smeared with beeswax to encourage bees to make  them their new homes. The have been placed in the bush around the different houses. 

We are delighted to let you know that the ‘Shoes for Schools’ fundraise has raised £1,943.36. The Primary School Children are required to have two pairs of shoes and The Secondary School Children one pair. Any funds left over will go towards their uniforms. Thank you!

OITW Christmas cards are ready for sale. They come in packs of ten, five of each design for £4.75 per pack + additional Postage. 100% of the profit goes to the Igoda Children’s Village.

 Cost of UK Postage:

IGODA CHILDREN’S VILLAGE NEEDS YOUR HELP

Please share and support our Igoda Children’ Village.

The children need you. “These are the silent victims of Covid 19 and they desperately need our support.”

http://https://vimeo.com/184272058

ww.crowdfunder.co.uk/save-the-mufindi-childrens-village?fbclid=IwAR2LUipTTviAJoB_UO6feQgkxuqbHy_kmMsmCu9qtY109clx5aAZPjUE1cE

Thank you for your support, please contact us if you would like some more information

New School Sweaters for all the Children’s Village Primary Children!

Much Excitement for the primary children at the Children’s Village

A young 16 year old school girl, Aviva, spend a little time at the Igoda Children’s Village last year and was so taken with it she has set up her own charity to support them! https://www.future4children.org/

She organised a fundraise earlier this year to buy new sweaters for the primary school children; they have to have two sets. We are delighted to report that these have now been bought! Thank you to Aviva and her school friends for their support.

SHOES FOR SCHOOLS

CAN YOU HELP US GET NEW SHOES FOR SCHOOL PLEASE?

Can you imagine how many pairs of shoes the children get through at the Igoda Children’s Village, please can you help?

The children need new shoes for school, the Primary children need two pairs a year;  with your help we can do this. Please donate, however large or small, every penny helps:

Some of the children in their different school outfits.

NEWS FROM IGODA CHILDREN’S VILLAGE JUNE 2020

ACTIVITIES AT THE CHILDREN’S VILLAGE:

As the Igoda Children’s Village is still in lock-down for the safety of all concerned during the Corona virus pandemic, any staff from the surrounding villages have moved into the CV to keep movement to a minimum. Although everywhere is quiet, there is lots going on and to do to keeping  children busy and occupied. The Kindergarten numbers are small until local children from nearby villages are allowed to return. Whilst it’s still the same routine for the nursery – nap time and Loveness enjoys learning with such a lovely smile! 

John and Fadhili have been giving the children extra tuition. Some of them seen here taking one of the tests! When the lessons are done and in their free time, Fanuel and Nache are keeping themselves busy. They are always trying to find ways to make some pocket money, so here they are filling pouches to plant pine seeds which they then sell on as saplings. Fanual bought himself a small radio with his last pocket money, mentioned in the previous report.

The chickens are now producing lots of eggs so the children are benefiting from this donated program.

A little earlier this year, 3 Dentists Without Borders screened approximately 4,500 children in Mufindi in two weeks! They educated them in oral care, healthy diet and gave them toothbrushes with instructions on brushing correctly. 

8-9 different schools were visited including treating the children at ICV. Marie said it was magic and they loved every second. Sam Sofya arrived a little later and treated those that needed treatment at the dental clinic at Mdabulo, ably assisted by Mama Upendo. The dentists are looking forward to coming again next Spring.

All the children are helping out with chores, the older ones dug a new rubbish pit, many pulled up weeds, tidied and cleared the roads within the ICV in readiness for Environmental Day, they cut the grass in the playground, helped chop and stack wood, planted beans and banana plants.

Tula used her spare time practicing her new skill – basket weaving. This is a skill many women in Mufindi use to earn a living, to re-grass their roofs, send children to school etc. Looks like a nice tight weave, well done Tula!

Thank you to our amazing staff for all their love and care.

We are very grateful to those who have recently donated, some anonymously, our partners, and we give special thanks to those who contribute monthly. Funds, used to keep the children fed, cared for, medical needs and education requirements, especially during these difficult times, are always really appreciated!                               

Thank you

Stuck for a gift with a difference, gift vouchers are always available ?

If you would like further information, please do not hesitate to contact Marion Gough: +44(0)7759 219 708.

email: marion@wildorphans.org www.orphansinthewild.org/

https://www.facebook.com/OrphansInTheWild/        https:/www.goldengiving.com/charity/orphansinthewild

JAN/MARCH 2020 NEWS FROM MUFINDI

All precautions are in place at the Igoda Children’s Village to keep it as safe as possible from the Coronavirus. STAY HOME, KEEP SAFE!

Nache, Fanuel and Kaiza.  Nache was brought to our Children’s Village on death’s doorstep, battling daily to survive in May 2013. His CD4 was tested at count of 2, meaning he had virtually no immunity to any disease. His lungs were both failing due to prolonged lung disease. Since Nache has been at Igoda Children’s Village, he has had expensive lengthy stays at hospitals, where he battled TB, pneumonia, and shingles. We have been fortunate to have had several visiting health volunteers to help keep him alive. He is now on the ‘last line’ of Anti-Retro Viral treatment of HIV that is available in Tanzania as his body has become resistant to ‘first-line’ ARVs.  Incredibly his health turned for the better. After months in bed and visits inand out of the Hospital, he got his life back! Due to continuous illness, he never had the opportunity to go to school regularly, meaning he never learned how to read, write and do basic maths. He attended the kindergarten at the Children’sVillage everyday when he was 13 years old. Today Nache is in grade seven at Madisi primary school, he should sit for his national exams this year in September, if schools are reopened, and due to the tremendous success of his entire support system and his incredible will to survive, each one of us that has the pleasure of working with Nache walks away with admiration for this young man who has beaten so many odds. He is a special and wonderful person with a shy smile and a heart of gold.

Fanuel has always worked hard with his garden projects raising money for extras, he’s now managed to buy a small radio which he and his friends thoroughly enjoy.

Zulea sends greetings to all who know her and thanks to all ‘Mufindi Friends’ in Finland when she recently needed urgent medical help. Zulea gave permission to tell about her difficulties which is connected with her skin problem Xeroderma Pigmentosum.  She passed her Secondary school exams well and it was arranged for her to attend Kibao Catholic Girl’s School. It then turned out that she could not see the blackboard during her Maths, Physics and Chemistry lessons. Until then, she listened and made notes doing very well, she is a gifted girl!  Zulea was desperate when she had to leave the school but then things moved fast. With Mama Dorcus she caught an early bus at 4am, travelled to Ilembula, 150km away.  Eric Msigomba, the eye doctor, checked her and gave a referral letter to KCMC Low Vision Unit. Then by bus 200km to Iringa to stay overnight, onto to Moshi, almost 900km a 14 hours drive, where she had further eye examinations. The following day, Zulea was given a 6x Telescope for blackboard reading and a 6x Magnifier for close work.  She must always wear sunglasses outdoors. A very happy girl returned from the long journey and back to school. She has gone through a lot, from 2003 there were large wounds on her scalp from her condition and the dressings have been painful and troublesome. Zulea does has parents but the wound care was difficult to perform at home. As we have an onsite clinic with dressings available, Zulea has stayed at the Children’s Village since. She also had treatment in America paid for by visiting volunteer doctors. Her scalp is now fine, but keeps it protected with hats. Fingers crossed that everything goes well at school.

It takes a village...to decide how to help a little school girl whose mom had died a while ago, her dad is very old and had broken his hip, mentioned in our previous report, he cannot walk and stays with his younger brother in the neighbouring village because he requires help day and night and needs a relative to escort him to hospital. This little girl lived in a run down house with her 14 year old sister who was working on the tea fields and stole food sometimes for both of them in order to survive. She had not taken her daily medicine for about half a year and not at school nor at home for a couple of weeks when Dr Leena, our volunteer doctor, and Susan Vincent tried to find her with nobody knowing where she was.  She was later found at school, hungry, and on checking her house found there was  absolutely no food. Our Social welfare officer, Joseph, Village Chairman, Headmaster of the Primary School, Susan Vinton and Dr Leena thought that in order to survive she needed the care that the Children’s Village can offer.

Just received – 2/02/2020: “She has now settled and taking her HIV treatment as she skipped it for eight months. So she is fine and happy here. Her sister is also here and attending the hotel managent ( learning about different cookings) at the vocational training centre close to our CV. Now school has closed because of Corona and they are both at the children’s village” Joseph, Social Welfare Officer.

There are those who still say that home is the best place for children and all childrens’ homes should be banned! We would be very happy if all orphans/vulnerable children could stay with their relatives in the village but sometimes it is just not possible.

Thank you
For your continued support, if you feel you would like to help us keep the Children’s Village going through these difficult times, please click on the link below.
https://www.goldengiving.com/charity/orphansinthewild
Also much appreciation to those who continue supporting us through regular Direct Debits.. 
Please contact us if you would like further formation
email:  marion@wildorphans.org       Tel:  07759 219 708