Carmen Matadigo
Carmen's fundraising for Bethany family
Fundraising for The Bethany Project - Children's home - Tanzania
Story
The Bethany Family project
CHILDREN’S HOME
Magu District, Mwanza Region, Tanzania. East Africa
On 25th April 2008 I made a trip to the Bethany Family orphanage in Tanzania, East Africa. I volunteered for 2 weeks as an English and IT skills teacher.
There are 136 children orphaned and abandoned at the project all with their own heartbreaking story for being there. These children have suffered unimaginable sadness and loss but they are some of the happiest children I have ever come across. I never once heard them complaining about their misfortune and you very rarely heard a child cry. It really is an extraordinary place to behold.
HIV and AIDS are a major problem in Tanzania and infection rates average about 8%. Medication that might keep the disease under control is available but these drugs are too expensive for the majority of Tanzanians. The children infected with this deadly disease carry on with every day life like the other children. Treatment is available however the children still have to be transported to the nearest hospital which can be costly.
If you wish to know more about the project and their work please visit the website at www.bethanyfamily.net where you can sponsor a child for as little as £5 a month.
Below is some information on the costs of running such a project:
· £3 will buy one chicken for the children to eat at the orphanage
· £5 will buy a shirt and sweater for a school child
· £15 will pay for a check up and any medication required at the hospital for a child suffering with malaria
· £17 will buy one child a desk and chair to sit on in the classroom, otherwise they sit on the floor or on stones
· £25 will provide a meal including meat for all 136 children (including 10 staff)
· £32 buys enough fish for all the children orphaned at Bethany (these children eat fish once a week)
· £35 buys a box of white school socks for all primary school children at Bethany
· £42 will feed the entire orphanage for one day ( 3 meals )
· £50 will cover school fees and full school uniform for one child for the year
· £85 will cover the orphanages medical bill for one month
· £100 will supply enough beans for the entire orphanage for a month
· £190 will supply enough rice for the entire orphanage for a month
· £505 will buy school uniforms for all 84 primary school children at Bethany
· £1183 will provide enough food for the entire orphanage for one month
(all figures are based on monthly accounts from Feb 08 and will vary month on month. To see actuals please visit the Bethany website at www.bethanyfamily.net)
So as you can see, every little helps, from the smallest to the largest donation, a little goes a long way at Bethany. Any donations will go directly to the project. Every penny will be spent on essentials for day to day living. Any volunteer visits are completely self funded.
If you wish to support the project, please donate online from the Just Giving website and please give generously and if you feel that you can raise some sponsorship money please contact me at carmen.matadigo@uk.fujitsu.com
Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. The charity gets your money faster and, if you’re a taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.
Thanks for visiting my fundraising page!!!