Tanzanian Children's Fund

After many years of raising children and living the life of a workaholic in the corporate world, I have chosen to give back to others and focus on someone other than myself and try and help those less fortunate than myself. I feel very blessed that I have come across such a wonderful organization as the Tanzanian Children’s Fund. http://www.tanzanianchildrensfund.org/ The following blog posts will keep track of my journey at the Rift Valley Children’s Village.

The Rift Valley Children’s Village (“Children’s Village”) is an orphanage located in Oldeani Village, Tanzania, which is adjacent to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in the Rift Valley of Tanzania. The Children’s Village provides a home, family and community for orphaned and vulnerable children. We prepare them to become informed, resourceful and responsible citizens in their community and Tanzania. As of January, 2009, the Children's Village is home for 55 orphaned and abandoned children.

In 2004 the people of Oldeani Village donated seven acres of land to the Rift Valley Children’s Fund to build the Children’s Village. We began construction of the Children's Village in 2005 and have completed 14 buildings (5 houses for children, staff housing, volunteer housing, an office and infirmary, library/pre-school, and recreation hall/community center). We completed construction of our last 2 Children's Houses in December 2008. By June 2009 we will be able to provide a home for 67 orphaned children.

The size of the Children’s Village has been limited to ensure that a sense of community and family can be created and maintained. There are 5 Children’s Houses. Each Children’s House is a family of 12 children, 2 Tanzanian housemothers, and 2 volunteers. In addition, 7 children will continue to live in the home of our Executive Director, India Howell. Our housemothers are women from the villages of Karatu District, whose own children are grown. Our volunteers have come from the U.S., Australia, U.K., and the Netherlands. We have hosted more than 200 volunteers since we opened our doors in January of 2004.

Many of our children have been orphaned because their parents have died from AIDS/HIV. Village leaders and church leaders inform the Children’s Village Director about unwanted or at-risk orphaned children in the area. After careful research by our social workers these children either come to join a family at the Children's Village or join our KLR Program (Kids Living with Relatives). When children first arrive at the Children’s Village, they are suffering from malnutrition, weakened immune systems, various infections, and broken hearts. With proper medical care, a balanced diet, and a loving environment, these children soon become healthy and radiant.

Aside from our Director, India Howell, all our staff at the Children’s Village are Tanzanian. Three of our senior staff-- our Managing Director and our 2 social workers-- are college educated. Our staff lives at the Children’s Village with our children. We believe this will enable our children to grow up with an understanding of their local and tribal traditions. The children and staff at the Children’s Village feel they are a part of a large family where there are tasks to be accomplished— purchasing supplies, making dinner, repairing vehicles, doing laundry, or tutoring children. However, there’s always free time for playing soccer and reading books together and of course, there are birthday parties, tummy aches, and ear infections to attend to. Everyone at the Children’s Village is included, appreciated, valued and loved.