Please help Tumaini supporter Dave Egles and friends in their fundraising climb of Mount Kilimanjaro!!

Dave Egles (Kelvin and Connie's sponsor) and friends are climbing Kilimanjaro in January and we'd love your support!  Please visit www.climbkilifortumaini.com for further information.  Asante!!

Help HES Build a New School for the Tumaini Orphanage in Tanzania! The Tumaini Children's Foundation is a Registered Canadian Charity that operates an orphanage near Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. HES has been working closely with Tumaini throughout the year, and has donated a PV system to light the orphanage at night and to run a refrigerator. A team of volunteers is heading over to Tanzania in January, and once finished, will assault the highest mountain in Africa - Mt. Kilimanjaro. HES has embarked on a more ambitious program for 2013 - to help build Tumaini a school. Only 4% of Tanzanians graduate from high school. A dedicated school would allow more kids access to quality education, and to prepare them for high school entrance exams. Our goal is to help more Tumaini kids complete their education and get better, well paying jobs. A small project can make a huge difference in a large number of kids. To help raise funds, HES has asked the solar industry for help. A number of quality manufacturers have agreed to sponsor HES's efforts. In addition we are hoping solar companies will also help contribute. Can you donate? For $250 we will put your name on a banner and carry it to the top of Kilimanjaro, and send you photos. Could you commit one or two cents for each meter of Kilimanjaro? The team will ascent 5895 m in total. For more information on our project, click on www.ClimbKiliforTumaini.com, or more information on Tumaini, see www.tuchifo.com. There are Paypal donate buttons on both these sites, or you can Donate Here. If you want to learn more about the project, become a sponsor, or other ways to get involved, call Dave Egles at 1-866-258-0110 or email degles@hespv.com. Dave Egles Sponsors Over Half Way To $30,000! Home Energy Solutions 320 Mary St. Victoria, BC V9A 3V9 degles@hespv.ca 1.886.258.0110

Home Energy Solutions | 320 Mary St. | Victoria | BC | V9A 3V9 | Canada

Tunaendeleaje vizuri Canada?

What is happening Lately? 

Fellow Tumaini Director and big sister (dada) Katy Wilson has returned to Tumaini, her "other" family and friends for the winter.  She has been sorely missed by everyone at Tumaini House and welcome her back happily!

Karibu tena Tanzania Dada!!  You will missed on this side of the pond!

DID YOU KNOW? -

That Kaka Michael McCann is "thisclose"
 to establishing Tumaini Australia????

That we raised more than $12,000.00 at our FIRST Scotiabank Tournament of HOPE this past September??

(Simcoe Branch Manager Deb Mather, 2nd from Right)

(Tumaini sponsor Brenda (Cooper) and husband Jim)

 Enormous thanks to Bonnie Wardell (in pink) from Tumaini Directors Lisa Engelhardt Robinson and Mama Dee (Cherie Szucs).


And let's not forget Treasurer John Davies (below).!

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Last night's "Hope for Children without Mothers" Charity Fashion Show raised awareness and more than $3,000.00 to help send our Tumaini children to school!  Fun was had by all and special thanks go out to Hostess (and her team) Diane Deloose of Tillsonburg, ON.

L/R - Lohai, new mom Jenna and Bibi Libby McDowell (sponsors for Latifa) with our host Diane Deloose . . . thank you all!

 A wonderful success where we raised more than $3,000.00!

 And Lohai found a girlfriend!!



DID YOU KNOW? That Kelvin is spending a term in Victoria, B.C. scholarshipped into Glenlyon Norfolk Middle School? Well he is, and not only is he on the running team and the soccer team and learning to play the flute (he called us here at the farm the other day to play "Three Blind Mice"), but is in an English Language Learning course, expanding his vocabulary and working hard in Math, Language Arts, Science, PE, and Information Technology learning about and working on computers! Baba David (Egles) and Mama Jackie worked with school officials and Kelvin was embraced by staff and students alike. He has made new friends (Noah and Oscar) and when he's not riding his bicycle around Victoria he feeds the seals at a nearby marina.

Kelvin with Baba Dave and (foster) sister Jordan.  Mama Jackie and Christopher had left for school

Kelvin had his own, personal tour guide in big (foster) sister Jordan, who gave us the tour and helped settle Kelvin in.

Loaded with bait and escorted by Jordan, we fed otters not seals this day.



A Happy Young Man in Victoria BC

Running in his first Canadian cross country race Kelvin earned 11th position out of about 65 people



Team GNS!!!!

And let's not forget football (soccer)!

I was so honored to travel out to BC and help get Kelvin enrolled and organized.  Thank you Dave and Jackie and Team GNS for helping to change this little boy's life!!

  

. . . and on the homefront!

Lohai helping Baba on the roof of the barn. . . he continues to learn!

No Tanzanians were injured in the taking of this photo!!



October 18th, 2012 - Tillsonburg, Ontario

What a beautiful, productive, busy (did I say busy) summer!  I will be posting photos from our 1st Annual Tournament of Hope which was an enormous success, as well as reporting on our fundraising efforts this past summer (again, overwhelmingly successful), but Ontario locals (and those of you who love to travel) please join us October 18th in Tillsonburg, Ontario for our Charity Fashion Show with all proceeds going directly to help our little ones!  I'll have updates on the children, we've got some great door prizes and silent auction items, AND, of course you'll LOVE the fashion show outfits especially chosen for us by Brian Bennett Men's and Ladies Clothier, My Top Drawer, Debbie's Basic Black from Paris, Norm Jacob Sales and Chantelle Lingerie!  Secure your tickets early to ensure seating and Asante Sana!!

Tumaini Thanks YOU!

Six year old Kendall . . .

Six year old Kendall Mychajluk, at HER birthday party, asked, not for gifts but Crocs and socks to be donated to our children at Tumaini!!  Big, big thanks go to her, brother Carter, Mom and Dad and her party-goers who collected more than fifty pairs of shoes/boots and more than 150 pairs of sox!!!  Asante Sana Kendall and Happy Birthday from watoto Tumaini!!

 

John (and Diane) Cooper

Incredible thanks to John Cooper, of Strawberry Tyme Farms,  (and Mama Diane who visited us at Tumaini House and fell in love with our children), who celebrated his 50th birthday recently where, in lieu of gifts, asked for donations to Tumaini Children's Foundation!  I was still in Tanzania awaiting our container arrival but heard that fun was had by all and more than $2,000.00 was raised to help our children!  Oh yes, and a goat!  Thank you so very much John and Diane for loving us!!

St. Stephen's Elementary School, Caledonia, ON

Enormous thanks to Mrs. Wuergler and St. Stephen's Elementary School in Caledonia where the young and caring students pictured above raised more than $750.00 to help us at Tumaini!  From our children to each of you . . . Asante Sana kwa upendo!!  Thank you very much for your love!

HOPE FOR CHILDREN WITHOUT MOTHERS!

Thank you SO very much to cousin Dianne and her team, Mamas Becky, Diane, and Kathy who attended and spoke about their experiences at Tumaini House for a wonderful and love filled luncheon where support monies were raised to help our new Neema (dangerously close to full blown AIDS and horribly malnourished) and Rashid who is fighting AIDS now and also suffering from terrible malnourishment!!  Thank you to supporters who so generously donated door prizes and gifts!  Asante Sana! 

Everyone had fun at the DolMor Euchre Evening for Tumaini!

DolMor Salon Euchre Night . . .

 Asante Sana to Mama Lisa (sponsor of little Tony and Tumaini director) for organizing our first euchre night!  Tumaini dada Katy and friends joined in with friends above for a fun filled evening where much needed monies were raised to help with the ongoing care of Neema.  Thank you so much for caring and sharing and to CD989 and Gerry Hamill for visiting us and broadcasting live!

And just a bit about our little ones . . .

Our youngest little man Liadi (now four) was recently ill, vomiting. We are extremely pro-active with our youngsters because bacteria, malaria, dehydration is so devastating, so he and Christina were rushed to Dr. Lyimo's office and treated.  No answers yet as to what it was but both are on the mend!

 Mary 

Our precious Mary . . . you may remember when we first brought this wonderful young lady to Tumaini that she was in failure with her ARVS.  (Mary is HIV+).  Her CD4 count (used to measure depth of infection) was just 21, and she was deathly ill.  Her meds were changed to a second (and final) tier.  Mary suffered quite an adjustment to her new medications, with continual stomach pain, bloating, nausea and fatigue, BUT, she has mended.

With the love and sponsorship of Aunt Mayre (who has supported Mary from the beginning) and Tom and Diane Goodman, Mary thrives today.  Her CD4 had climbed to 403 from that terrifying 21 and she is a happy young lady.  Mary just this week experienced a setback and Oddo rushed her to the Nkoranga Hospital (where Harriri had his surgery).  She was treated and released and is feeling better today.  Without you Aunt Mayre and you Tom and Diane, this little girl most likely would not be with us today . . . for your love and support . . . Asante Sana!

Christina  

I shared with you earlier that Christina recently struggled with malaria.  I can understand why, as she is a "flailer" when she sleeps and often, a foot or an arm are hanging outside of her mosquito netwen I check on her.  Our girl was treated and recovered from that, only to fall ill more recently with vomiting from some unknown source.  Vomiting, in Christina's case is particularly scary for us caregivers because she suffers from hydrocephalus where excess fluid produced in her brain builds up pressure, eventually killing the sufferer.  In Christina's fortunate case she has a plastic tube running down the side of her skull and neck and into her abdomen where the fluids are drained and expelled with normal body waste.  The fearful part in her case is that vomiting is an indicator that her tube has malfunctioned and pressure is building in her skull.  Luckily, Dr. Lyimo is familiar with her case and explained that in this case, her tube was fine.

FYI, Christina, whom we initially thought was learning challenged due to her drooling and behavioural patterns, has become one of our brightest students.  She enjoys making others smile and is constantly writing "love" letters to those she cares about.   Today she is feeling wonderful, in class and possibly anticipating her upcoming month long break from school in August, although, with Christina, and her love of writing, she may not want a break!!

RASHID 

This little man came to us in January on a full time basis.  We had been outreaching to him and our newest "Neema", two children from Majengo area, very near the Kilimanjaro Airport.  Rashid and Neema, who have lost their respective parents to AIDS, were living and suffering terribly with their grandmothers (Bibis).  We provided milk, eggs and vegetables to them and bus fare which enabled them to attend their monthly clinics.  Both suffer from HIV. 
Rashid is initially a quiet and serious little man who opens up lovingly once he becomes comfortable with a person and although quite sick presently fighting AIDS, still finds time for a smile and a hug several times daily.  He couldn't understand when I said goodbye and rushed away from the dinner table where I was doling out kisses before leaving to catch my flight.  I found him outside sitting on a half assembled play station we received in our container, sobbing quietly.  Rashid's English is not strong yet (he's only been with us since January) and my swahili is not great so it was difficult to explain that I had to leave but would return to him and all of the children as soon as I could.  He didn't understand collapsed into my arms and wouldn't let me go.  It was a tearful and wrenching goodbye for he, Harriri, who struggled with letting me leave and of course myself.  I cried all the way to the airport.

Sister sponsors Mariel (l) and Robyn (r)

With the good food we provide at Tumaini, proper dosing and timing of his meds and some time, our little Rashid should be good as new soon!  It took us two years to bring Mary's CD4 count from 21 to 403.  Let's hope this little guy progresses more quickly and with the help of new sponsor Robyn (sister to past volunteer Mariel), I am certain he will!  Thank you Robyn!

BIRTHDAY GIFTS FOR ESTHER

New sponsors for Esther, Sten, Caroline, Camilla and Lotte Hummelshoj sent beautiful packages not only for her birthday but LEGO for the rest of the children, so they wouldn't feel left out.  I have to share with sponsors that we've experienced challenges receiving packages.  These were "intercepted" once arriving in Tanzania and only released once we threatened further investigation/action.  It is frustrating for you, our sponsors to send gifts the children don't receive, not to mention expensive.  Please be cautious if you'd like to send a parcel and let us know in advance so that we might follow it!

Our Container Finally Arrived! 

After months of waiting, our second shipping container finally arrived at Tumaini!  I will include more photos in my next blog but this is a photo of the much anticipated container backing up to a "ramp" (think large pile of dirt), where we were able to offload our tractor.  It would have been tricky to drive it out the back door once we reached Tumaini and have it drop four feet from the floor of the container to the ground hmmmm?  What an experience being an (old, by Tanzanian standards) white woman driving through town with a beautifully updated, shiny tractor!  It was like a parade with our Tumaini truck flashing in front and my partner Oddo coming up the rear in his vehicle!  The traffic police didn't even give us a hard time!  More on our container to come but Thank you, thank you, thank you to contributors large and small for purchasing and shipping, filling, filing, following, and then offloading once home at Tumaini!  We are a VERY grateful family!!

My Last Night before returning to Canada . . .

 Many of you ask about my "home" while at Tumaini, my days, my adjusting from there to here and back to there again . . . Above is my bed and netted within are Harriri, Rashid, Glory, Esther and Liadi who ALL "slept" if you can call it that, over on my last night.  I often have sleepovers with a child or two (they rotate), but this was crazy fun and helped ease the pain of separation for all of us.  Not much sleep, but togetherness and some silliness shared. 

It is tremendously difficult to disengage from these children I love so much, from my Tumaini family, and return to my Canadian one . . . this last return was especially difficult for me.  Surprisingly so.  My heartfelt thanks go out to each of you for your support, encouragement and patience while I readjusted to fit back in here in Canada.  Special thanks to my family and personal friends for reaching out and providing a hug here and there and here again when I needed one.  This truly is one of the toughest jobs I could imagine and I couldn't imagine doing anything else . . . thanks to each of you from the bottom of my heart for helping us to make this possible . . . 

Tournament of Hope! September 23rd, 2012. Please join us . . . sponsor a hole . . . donate a prize! Thank you!