Tanzania Summer Project - support needed

This summer I have been blessed with the opportunity to go to Tanzania.

For the past four years my school has been engaged in a long-term partnership with the Hananasif orphanage Center (HOCET). HOCET is a non-profit, development-oriented organization serving orphaned and underprivileged children in the city and surrounding the city of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. HOCET has both a city and a rural branch. The latter (known as the Shamba) is where I will be spending the majority of the three week visit.

The Shamba is on a large area of rural land several hours drive south of Dar-es-Salaam. The Tanzanian Government gave HOCET this land for their cause. Currently, a group of dedicated individuals led by Miss Caroline G. Yambesi is in the process of developing it. This land remains in its early stages of development and both teachers and students alike must cope with the most basic of living conditions. During our last visit many of the children were three to a bed, highlighting the need for more dormitories. There is no kitchen to cook the children’s food in, and there is a major lack of nutrition at the school. The children do not have adequate school supplies.

I along with 5 other students from the United World College of the Atlantic, 3 students from the United World College in Costa Rica, 1 student from Armand Hammer United World College in the US, 3 from the Mostar UWC in Bosnia and 1 from the Singapore UWC will come together to serve the Hananasif Orphanage by:

1. Building a kitchen for the children to cook in
2. Paint the dormitory that was built in 2009
3. Teaching the students Sciences and Languages
4. Encouraging and helping with the sustainable development of the Orphanage
5. Continuing the long-standing partnership with the Orphanage

However, in order to be able to carry out this exciting project we need some help and support.

Below is a rough outline of where the money raised will go, and how it will be used.

The general costs are split up approximately as follows:

Building materials
£2,500
General school supplies to bring (books, stationary, basic sports equipment etc.)
£200
Food (at Shamba) 1 month
£100
TOTAL
£2,800


Any contributions are greatly appreciated, not only by me and my group members, but by the children in the orphanage as well.

We will be recording all aspects of the project through filming, photography and written work so that you can see our progress.
In the past this site has been used:
http://www.tanzania-atlanticcollege.blogspot.com/
and we plan to add to it as our journey unfolds.


On behalf of Tanzania Summer Project 2009
Jessica Stewart

[note: if you wish to donate money to help with this project, cheques can be made to my mother (Susan Stewart) and the money will then be sent to me - this is the easiest way to deal with currency change etc. Thank you!!]