Fall 2015 - Friends of Tanzania

MbeguZaUrafiki
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Newsletter of the Friends of Tanzania / Marafiki wa Tanzania
F O U N D E D
1 9 9 1
Geita Girls Scholarship Funds
A Member-Sponsored Project
NEWSLETTER
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Geita Girls Scholarship
Funds
1
President’s Report
2
Save the Dates
2
Project News
3
Thanks to FOT
4-5
Ambassador Mulamula
5
Member Highlights
5
General Election
6
Financial Report
6
2016 Calendar
7
Membership Information:
Dues, Membership Form6-7
Reunions
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by Barbara Boyle Torrey [email protected]
eita was a dusty bump in the road west of Mwanza when Sally Davenport and I were there 50 years ago. Today there is electricity, two internet cafes, three banks and as many cell phones as people. But girls are
still disadvantaged when families have to pay secondary school fees from scarce
resources. Therefore, my husband and I started a girls’ scholarship program 11
years ago.
The two directors of the fund are a former student and a former head master
of a secondary school. They select the students from many applicants and then
provide annual reports showing the scholarship amount for each girl and their
academic progress for each year. We began with 90 percent becoming secondary
day students, but retention rates were low; now 75 percent of the students are
boarders and retention is over 90 percent. Sixty-two girls have finished Form IV;
11 Form VI. Currently six are in college with two completing this year.
Every fall I schedule a lunch with board members John Hatch and Candy
Warner to discuss the issues with the program and its future Funding. Once FOT
approves the program they transfer the funds to the Microfinance Bank in Geita,
which controls the fund distribution in country. Periodically we update the Memorandum of Understanding to be sure the Bank, the directors, FOT and we are all
on the same page.
On our most recent visit to Geita to review the program our hotel didn’t
have any water, but it didn’t matter. Frankly, this program is so rewarding that
it shouldn’t be tax deductible. I’d be glad to talk with anyone who wants to do
something similar through FOT.
Check out this provocative
documentary,
‘The Boy from Geita.’
S AV E T H E DAT E S
It’s about a boy from Tanzania
with Albinism.
Opened mid-October in
New York
and also available on
iTunes, Goggle Play, Amazon,
Xbox, & Vudu
September 23-25, 2016
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February 6, 2016
FOT Annual Winter Party
FOT celebrates 25 years
SAME WEEKEND AS
Peace Corps celebrates 55th!
Please see details on pg-2 inside.
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President’s Report
e have had a wet spring but eventually a hot
summer in Washington, DC -- great for growing
things! And FOT has been busy growing its outputs with
a total of eight projects approved for funding by Sept 1
and four under review; two Board members moving overseas but remain active and supportive thanks to modern
technology; this newsletter produced and our multi-media
outlets and membership lists kept up-to-date. Our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfTanzania) has
been ably keep current by Allison Eriksen and has over
1000 “Likes” and our website (www.FOTanzania.org) by
Maureen Ndoto.
The National Peace Corps Association’s Peacecorpsconnect.org chose FOT as its featured NPCA group on
its September blog. This issue of the FOT Newsletter
provides another and complementary set of information
about FOT and Tanzania.
In addition, all of these and other messages will help
to keep you informed about the preparations and plan-
FALL
2015
friends of Tanzania /
marafiki wa Tanzania
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Mbegu Za Urafiki
Mbegu Za Urafiki / Seeds of Friendship,
the newsletter of Friends of Tanzania,
is published twice a year.
FOT Board of Directors
John Hatch, President
Allison Eriksen, Vice President
Karumuna Kaijage, Treasurer
Malte von Mattheissen, Secretary
Candy Warner, Immediate
Past-President
Heidi Hawkins Blake, Membership
Committee Chair
Sue Green, Communications
Committee Chair
Patricia Kelley, Governance
Committee Chair
Susan Rabineau, Projects
Committee Chair
Robert Rwebangira, Outreach
Committee Co-Chair
Tom Katus
Maggy Msangi Shao
Karen Schaefer, Projects Coordinator
Heather Teixeira
Dennis Warner
Note: All Board members serve on at
least two Committees.
The following are not Directors but play
important management roles in FOT:
Lynn Heichel Kneedler, Outreach
Committee Co-Chair
Jennifer Kron, Membership
Coordinator
Maureen Ndoto, Website Coordinator
Ellen O’Hanlan, Web LINKS
Coordinator
John Ratigan, Treasurer’s Assistant
Please address correspondence to:
Friends of Tanzania / P.O. Box 9123
Arlington, VA 22219-1123
[email protected]
© Friends of Tanzania 2015
ning for FOT’s 2016 General Meeting of our membership
and celebration of FOT’s 25th Anniversary September 23-25.
Events then will include an Educational Event, festive dinner, auction/sale of Tanzaniana, and various reunions among members whose services and experiences
overlapped with one another. I look forward to seeing and
meeting you there!!!
This is your organization and is run by volunteers--we could use your help either as a Director, committee
member or taking on a small specific task, especially with
September 2016’s anniversary activities ahead.
Let me know of your interest and availability at:
[email protected].
Asante Sana
Thank you for supporting us in all the ways you
currently do and best wishes for all of the
end-of-the-year holidays!
John Hatch, President
S A V E T H E D AT E S
oFOT’s
Annual Winter Party will be
held in the evening of February 6, 2016.
St. Charles Borromeo Church in Arlington, VA has
graciously agreed to let us gather there once again. We
will invite the new Ambassador from Tanzania, Wilson
Mutagaywa Masilingi, to join us.
oFOT will celebrate its 25th Anniversary over
the weekend of September 23-25, 2016. A
planning committee is being put together and help is
welcomed ([email protected]) that will be
headed by Candy Warner. Celebrations will include
an Educational Event, sale of Tanzanian items, a FOT
General Meeting, and whatever reunion activities you
wish to organize. Space for events have been reserved
and 75 rooms to stay in, too, at the Arlington Court Suites
Hotel in Arlington, VA. Peace Corps will be
celebrating its 55th at the same time with events
jointly organized with NPCA so plan to
attend both!
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Friends of Tanzania Projects Funded through General Funds
by Karen Schaefer, Projects Committee Coordinator
FRIENDS OF TANZANIA Projects Funded from March 2015 through August 2015
n $3000 to the Community Health and Social Development Association in Shinyanga Region for
the purchase, transport, and installation of a dieselpowered milling machine. In addition to the milling
machinery, FOT funds will cover the cost of some
materials for the machine house and a water tank
and pipes for cooling the machine. The organization
will contribute labor and other materials for constructing the machine house. The profits from the
mill will help support local village women’s groups.
n $3,025 to establish a beekeeping project in Mara
Region. The Community Health and Development
Association will build an apiary to hold 40 beehives.
FOT funds will be used to purchase the hives and
the beekeeping equipment needed to harvest and
package the honey. After one year, the functioning apiary will be turned over to Upendo Umatu,
a group of people living with HIV/AIDS who will
continue to run the project and receive the profits
from the sale of the honey and other hive products.
n $4,520 for a fruit tree nursery and reforestation
project in Singida Region. The Uwamasi Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Society, a farmers’ cooperative, will plant drought resistant tree seedlings
throughout Iymbu Village to reforest and improve
the local environment. With the funds from FOT,
Uwamsi will also purchase mango and avocado tree
seeds. The fruit tree seeds will be sown on one acre
of land belonging to the co-op. When the fruit tree
seeds have sprouted and are ready for planting, they
will be distributed to community members to provide households with fruit for their consumption.
n $4,815 to the Students Integration in Community Development organization in Singida Region
for a milling machines project. FOT funds will be
used to purchase two cereal milling machines, connection materials and parts, and water tanks. After
the installation and the necessary training on operating the equipment, the project will be turned over
to two income generating groups who will manage
and run the project.
Revenues generated by the mills will help members
of the groups pay school fees and assist caregivers of
vulnerable children and the disabled.
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n $1,307 for chili fencing in Morogoro Region.
The Asasi ya Kuthibiti Tembo Maharaka organization will purchase sisal rope and used engine oil to
be used in the construction of chili fencing around
110 acres of maize and tomato fields in Maharaka
Village. The organization consists of local farmers
whose fields lie adjacent to Mikumi National park.
The fencing will provide farmers with a non-lethal
and humane method to prevent elephants from
raiding their crops. The community will contribute
the chili peppers, the fence poles, and the labor to
install the fencing.
n $2,473 to the Karagwe Development Association for a rainwater harvesting project in Kagera Region. FOT funds will cover the cost of a
50,000 liter concrete rainwater storage tank. After
construction, the local village water committee will
take over the maintenance and security of the water
tank. Water from the tank will be harvested through
gutters from the roof of the local school and will provide clean water for students at the school as well as
the residents of the neighboring community.
Needed: Caseworkers
on our Projects
Committee.
Members find this work very rewarding.
Please email us at
[email protected].
We need your help!
With Many Thanks to FOT
Notes and Comments from Recently Funded Grant Recipients
Compiled by Karen Schaefer, Projects Committee Coordinator
Uwamasi Agricultural Marketing
Cooperative Society received FOT funding
The Tanzania Voiceless Empowerment
Organization used FOT funding to construct
for tree seedlings and fruit tree seeds for
reforestation and environmental conservation in
and around Iymba Village.
On behalf of Uwamasi Agricultural Marketing
Cooperative Society and with much honor and respect
we wish to express our sincere gratitude to FOT and
its leadership, having received your kind financial
assistance. . . .THANK YOU AGAIN.
Goodluck Minja, Board Chairman
sanitary flush latrines and purchase two water tanks
for the Igagala Village Health Centre.
Kawiye Social Development
Organization used FOT funds to set up a
computer training center in Maswa town.
It is my pleasure to take this opportunity once again to
express sincere appreciation to FOT for your support
to our community and our organization through
apprenticeship computer training programme in Maswa.
One of our first graduates is going to join teaching
training for certificate in teaching this month. Another
is working at M-Pesa shop and another in a stationary
shop. This project has accredited our organization
and helped us to trusted by other donors (local and
international).
Ezekiel Kassanga, Executive Director
Igagla Village masons building septic tank
Plastering the latrine block
Students being instructed in the Kawiye Computer
Training Center.
Completed latrine block with water storage tanks
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FOT says farewell to
Tanzanian Ambassador
Liberata Mulamula
Continued from page 4
The Tanzania Voiceless Empowerment
Organization continued from page 4
The team involved in the project construction
was so excited on the type of the modern latrines
that were built. Igagala village members are not
used with latrines that are built with a separate septic
tank. They are used with the pit latrines that toilets walls
are built on the top of pit. Therefore this construction
process and structure was a new learning to Igagala
village Community Members. The village members
were so impressed with this support. Apart from the
labor contribution to the project some village members
organized themselves and incurred transport costs of the
two bought water storage tanks (5,000 liters each) from
Njombe town to Igagala Health Center Premises.
Wilbert Mwalongo, Director
Mr Mwalongo passed on these additional
comments from other Igagala villagers:
“Tunashukuru sana kwa huu mradi na kutuunga
mkono ni kitu ambacho hatukukitegemea
kabisa...” (Thank you very much for this
project and for joining hands, is some we did not
expect.)
Mr. Isdory, Igagala Village Chairperson
“Tunashukuru sana marafiki wa Tanzania
na TAVEO kwa kutusaidia kujenga vyoo vya
kisasa…” (Thanks to Friends of Tanzania
and TAVEO for helping us build modern toilets.)
Igagala Health Committee Member
“Ukisaidiwa nawe jisaidie, ahsanteni sana sisi
tutachangia gharama za kusafirisha matenki
haya kutoka hapa njombe hadi kijijini Igagala”
(Once supported you should respond positively
by contributing whatever you have within your
capacity, Thank you so much. We will incur
transport costs of the tanks from here--Njombe
town to Igagala village.)
Igagala villager residing in Njombe Town
“Haaa… ujio wa mradi huu umetufundisha
namna ya kujenga vyoo vya kisasa hata
majumbani kwetu, tumezoa kujenga vyoo juu ya
shimo” (Wow. The project has help us learn on how
to build modern toilets even in our homes, we used
to build toilets walls on the top of pit latrine.)
Igagala Villager
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Ambassador Liberata Mulamula is returning to Dar es
Salaam as the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Dennis
and Candy Warner, who attended her going away party
at the Embassy in July, 2015, expressed FOT’s good
wishes in her new position and our desire to see her
return to Washington, D.C. soon.
HIGHLIGHTING OUR
MEMBERS
Most of FOT’s members have made contributions
to society beyond their Tanzanian experiences. We
would like to recognize some of these members.
This new column will share brief look at members
who are making significant contributions to us all. Please make suggestions and we will follow up in
the future. Our first choice is:
Francis Koster (Tanzania-1963).
Dr. Koster, in retirement, writes “The Optimistic
Futurist” and will soon publish books of his columns. Fran explains an important societal problem briefly,
such as obesity or idling car pollution, and then
shares local examples of how communities are making
important changes that impact the problem. One
reads his short pieces feeling that we can make change
happen, that many communities can emulate his work.
He is very positive and thought provoking.
We recommend reading more about him at
http://theoptimisticfuturist.org/ where you can also join
his email list to receive his monthly articles.
FOT THANKS FRAN FOR HIS
CONTINUING WORK!
Election 2015
by Mugizi Robert Rwebangira, FOT Board Member
The Tanzanian general election
is scheduled to be held on October 25th, 2015. This will be the
fifth general election since the
restoration of multi-party democracy in 1992. All of the previous
general elections were won by the
ruling party, CCM (Chama Cha
Mapinduzi or “The Party of the
Revolution”), although the opposition has disputed some of those
election results claiming electoral
fraud and vote rigging, claims which
CCM has denied. CCM, under its
predecessor parties, TANU and ASP,
has ruled Tanzania mainland and
Zanzibar since independence in the
1960s.
This general election appears
to be far more competitive than any
previous mainly due to two factors.
First all of the major opposition parties have united and decided to field
a single candidate under the UKAWA (Umoja wa Katiba ya Wananchi
or “Union for a People’s Constitution”) banner. This has greatly increased the opposition’s appeal and
focused the energies of citizens who
want to vote for an alternative to
the ruling party. Second the former
prime minister, Edward Lowassa,
was expected to be the candidate
for CCM, but in a very surprising
development, he was denied the
nomination which went instead to
Minister of Works John Pombe Magufuli. Lowassa then defected to
the opposition and was nominated
as the presidential candidate for
UKAWA. This is the first serious
challenge to the ruling party’s political dominance since independence.
It will be very interesting to see the
ramifications however it plays out.
From the Treasurer’s Desk n September 9, 2015
Net Assets as of December 31, 2014 were $38,935. Since January 1, 2015 we have received $22,288 in dues, donations
and other income including calendars and miscellaneous sales. To date we have spent $24,875 including $19,439 on
six FOT Projects and $5,445.00 on two Member-Sponsored Projects. Other expenses amounted to $3,699 including
the Spring Newsletter, 2016 calendars, website, wire transfer fees, and other committee expenses. The balance remaining as of September 9, 2015 is $32,484.42.
All Donations – 100% – go to projects. This year we have received a number of donations in Memory of... people
who have strong connections with Tanzania. Your donation this year will help us fund more projects. We are very
grateful, especially as we have raised the ceiling on what we will fund to accommodate increasing costs in Tanzania.
While we continue funding projects this year, if you can add more to your gift we can fund other worthy projects we
have in the pipeline. Thank you for your consideration.
Karumuna Kaijage, Treasurer
Dues R emindeR n From the Membership Committee
Friends of Tanzania relies on your dues and donations to continue to help support development projects
in Tanzania including the most recent projects described on pages 3 of this newsletter.
If the number next to your name on the mailing label of this Newsletter is not 15 (for 2015) please renew your
membership right away by completing the form on page 7 and sending it to us with your dues and, we hope, a contribution to help support projects. You can also pay your dues and make a donation on our website. Your first year is free
if you have recently returned from volunteering in Tanzania.
At mid-summer 2015 we had around 380 active members and we would like to increase that number.
Donations can be made:
1. Via mail by using the Membership Form on page 7.
2. Via Paypal or Network for Good on our website: www.FOTanzania.org
3. Via stock donation to our brokerage bank account. Contact FOT’s Treasurer, at [email protected].
Your support is very appreciated.
Asanteni sana!
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T
anzania 10 recently celebrated their 50th Anniversary
Reunion in Nashotah, Wisconsin. In August, 1965, our group began
training at Syracuse University, and 45 of us arrived in Tanzania before
the end of the year as secondary teachers and one nurse. Many memories
and wonderful stories were shared during the weekend gathering hosted
by Ameila Williams (Helmholz) and Roger Howard. Asante Santa Neila
and Roger, and your helpers Gary and Lolly!
l to r kneeling: Fritz Snyder, Amelia Helmholz Williams,
Harriet Denison, and Ray Speigl;
l to r standing: Roger Howard, Charles Patterson, Malcolm Morris,
Winnie Golliday Deavens, Bill Gingrich, Vickie Macdonald Ruskin,
Dave Irwin, Bonnie Beaver Benbow, Dick Niemi and
Stephanie Grasso Gartner
2016
CALENDARS
For teachers, grandchildren, friends, colleagues,
thank you and holiday gifts.
The International Calendars from Madison, Wisconsin RPCVs
feature 12 countries with wonderful vibrant photos and facts of
the countries. These popular calendars are sold by FOT with
all profits going to our projects. You can buy them for $15 each
(including mailing), by using the Membership Form below.
Order 5, keep one for yourself and give 4 away. And you will
make some friends and Tanzanians very happy. Thank you!
2015 FOT Membership ~ New/Renewal Membership Form
Please print and return this with your check to:
Friends of Tanzania, P.O. Box 9123, Arlington VA 22219-1123
check one:
o new member o renewing member
Name:_____________________________________________________________________ Date:____________________________
Name in Tanzania (if different): ________________________________________________________________________________
o Check if address and phone #s are UNCHANGED from last year and skip to Service and Experience
Address:_ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
City:_ _______________________________________________________________ State: _ _____ Zip Code_________________
Telephone # (primary)_ ____________________________________ (secondary)_ ______________________________________
Email:______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Service/experience in Tanzania: ______________________________________________________________________________
Peace Corps _____ Teachers for East Africa _____ Visitor _____ Other:___________________________________________
Type of Work while there_________________________ Place of work: ________________________ When:__________________
Complete as appropriate: FOT Dues ($15.00 per person; $30.00 per couple; $5.00 student)____________________
Contribution for Development Projects_________________
Order # _____ Peace Corps 2016 Calendars at $15.00 each _________________
TOTAL__________________
FOT helps support projects with contributions from our members. Please be generous as every dollar of your contribution goes to projects in
Tanzania. (All FOT administrative expenses are covered by membership dues.) FOT is a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization and all contributions, including FOT dues, are tax deductible.
FOT’s membership year runs from January 1st to December 31st. See our privacy policy at www.FOTanzania.org.
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South Dakota Reunions
Photo of Tanganyika I and II RPCVs in front of Stav
Kirke, replica of 14th century Norwegian church in Rapid City,
South Dakota. The RPCVs had a memorial ceremony for their
fellow RPCVs who had died.
This is a photo of RPCVs at
KILI Radio Station, the Voice
of the Lakota Nation with
50,000 listeners. Tom Katus
interviewed fellow RPCVs
George Johnson and Susan
Tonskemper Proctor for their
noonday show.
l to r: Derrek Janis, Station Manager; Tom Katus; Susan Proctor;
George Johnson and Inday Washington, friend of Tom Katus.
Fifteen RPCVs from Tanganyika I and II and their PC doctor, two Tanzania IX and a Costa Rica RPCV and their spouses, significant others,
children and grandchildren, totaling 26 participated in a reunion September 2630, 2015, in Rapid City, South Dakota. This was the third combined reunion of
the two groups who had originally met in South Dakota eleven years ago.
They spent a day on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation as guests of the
Oglala Lakota Nation. Tribal President, John Steele, insisted they be special
guests and introduced at a full meeting of the Council in session. They also
visited Mt. Rushmore, held a memorial service for their fallen at Stav Kirke, a
replica of a 14th Century Norwegian church, and were special guests of Prairie
Berry Winery, owned by RPCV teachers who had to be evacuated during the
Embassy attacks in 1998.
A highlight of the reunion was a public forum, “Tanzania: Then and Now;
Peace Corps Volunteers’ Memories (1961-64)--Current Rotary and Rotaract
Projects (2009-2015).” This was perhaps the first significant outgrowth of an
accord signed by Peace Corps and Rotary International three years ago. RPCVs gather at Canyon Lake Resort
in Rapid City, SD for 54/53 Reunions,
respectively.
Mbegu Za Urafiki
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friends of Tanzania /
marafiki wa Tanzania
P.O. Box 9123, Arlington, VA 22219-1123, USA
www.FOTanzania.org
[email protected]
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