OLASITI ORPHANS CENTER 2010 MID-YEAR REPORT AS OF 10TH JUNE

OLASITI  ORPHANS  CENTER

2010 MID-YEAR REPORT AS OF 10TH JUNE

Geography and Life in the village

It is winter here in Olasiti village.  Following the long rains, the weather is getting colder and colder together with unpredictable rain showers.

Farmers in the village can be seen going with a bush knife to the farm and returning with a bundle of husks, green beans, animal fodder, bananas, papaya and green veggies on their heads and some on their bicycles. Workers can be seen walking slowly and awkwardly across road ponds to reach their workplace. Some remove their shoes and socks to make it easier, but that doesn’t work. They reach their work places with mud scars as an indication that Nature/God is superior.

This year we had real good rains; nobody complains about the rainfall.

The children in our center were able to plant fruit trees, maize, bananas, sunflowers, and passion fruits; after that they planted sweet potatoes.

Project  implementation report

January–June 2010

EDUCATION SUPPORT: OOC was able to provide school supplies ranging from school uniforms (skirts, trousers, blouses, shirts, sweaters, socks, shoes) to supplies like backpacks, pens, pencils and exercise books for 58 primary school students and 56 secondary school students.

MEAL PROGRAM: We have been able to provide daily meals of millet porridge with sunflower oil, beans, maize and sugar, with the addition of fruit twice a month and buns two times a week. The children’s growth rate by weight and height has been increasing. For example, the height of Kassimu Shabani has increased from 150cm to 170 while his weight has increased from 60 to 74 kg.

FARMING PROGRAM: The children were able to participate in collaboration with teachers in farming. We have been able to care for and develop a thorny fence for 50% of the total area. Goats and pigs are doing well. In Feb-May the children were able to slaughter and share 4 pigs to improve the children’s nutrition. Sixteen children were able to raise tree seedlings for sale and planting around their homes. Jumanne Omari  and Fanuel were able to make 30,000 Tsh each, which enabled them to solve their personal problems/needs and wants.
News! Two of our goats have newborns and are now providing two liters of milk a day.

ARTS PROGRAM: Rashidi was able to sell several of his art works.  He made a total of $215 from the sales. However, we still face marketing problems.

CENTER ADMINISTRATION: The OOC was able to hire and manage four permanent human resources--a program manager, a teacher, a cook, and a night guard--who have been hard working staff in helping our children. The center was full of energy [and operation gears like stationery and others.] We collected 34 contributions to our suggestion box recommending good work and wishing blessings for all of us.

MEDICAL SERVICE: 58 were able to get worm vaccines and 24 got different medical services including treatment for 12 cases of malaria, 3 cases of typhoid, 9 cases of pneumonia, 3 cases of gastric ulcers, 4 cases of oral fungus, 2 cases of genital fungus, 2 cases of amoebic infections, 6 cases of toothache, 2 cases of headache, and 1 case of eye problems. Each of the cases has been resolved.

ENVIRONMENTAL  EDUCATION PROGRAM: OOC Birding Club was able to visit Arusha National Park two times, Tarangire three times, Manyara two times, and Engikaret eight times. The participants learned a lot from each day’s visit, mainly about terrestrial ecology and human-wildlife conflict.

SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAM: OOC was able to meet and talk to different school head teachers, district education offices and students. OOC has covered/paid all school payments (such as the cost of students’ meals, contributions for building repairs, and part of teachers’ salaries) for 42 students. In addition to school payments, OOC has provided all school supplies (books, uniforms) and tuition fees to 56 students.

OOC  has learned that 70% of our students are improving.

Good news! Four of our graduate students from Advanced secondary Education have passed their final exams with A, B and C averages. One is now enrolled at the University of Dar-es-Salaam and two boys are still expected to go to university. Two boys and one girl--Joseph John, Lightness Meloo and Baraka Malisa--are doing well in Green Ville High School in Uganda.


 ORPHANAGE CONSTRUCTION:

 
OOC was able to manage and implement the new orphanage plan. Now imaginations can be sensed by eyes! 40 young people from the same village benefited by getting temporary employment and learned new life skills. Some of them have been considered thieves and therefore non persons;  this gave them the opportunity to work with invitation around their homes. All participants were hard working and good people to work with. The first phase (foundation) is complete. We wait for the second phase (walls, columns, beams and slabs). Thank you God!

JEFF SCHOOL SUPPLIES PROGRAM: OOC was able to purchase and supply 12,500 large and small exercise books and 30,000 pens to Burka, Olasiti, Mateves, Murongoine, Mulala, New Hope and Sumawe primary schools in Arusha and two secondary schools: Ngiresi Secondary and Mateves Secondary. Each school received an average of 1,300 books and 333 pens, although some of the schools received more than others because of the large number of students and the size of the school.

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

To FOTO [www.tanzanianorphans.org] and particularly

Virginia Hinkle for coordinating/funding scholarships and the new orphanage construction programs

Shelly Wolfe for coordinating/funding Olasiti Orphans Center

Prof. Jeff Fadiman for coordinating/funding the school supplies program

Karen Sieverkropp for coordinating/funding the medical  program

Others:  Maureen, Paulette, Maria, Rob, Liz, Diane of God, Diana Chung, Diane Religh, Gloria Upchurch, Alex Moseson, Dr. Lew Lama, David, the Daudi Peterson Family, the Mike Peterson Family, the Thad Peterson Family, Gaye  Samson, Josh, Rosalyn, Lewis and Clark students, Kory, and many others.

In this way, we had lunch with God!

By Zenan Gasper

Program Manager

June 2010