Monday 22 January

Further meeting with Trustees of T.E.K.U.A to discuss options for premises. Horace Nassari from Ndoombo joined us to help and advise the Trustees.

Made site visits to possible premises either to rent or purchase.

Disappointed that the premises that Horace offered did not seem to be an option for the Trustees as they were too far and expensive to travel.

Agreed to meet again on Thursday when we will be able to offer options of how Helping Africa 100 can help to get these teenagers operating again.

Tuesday 23 January

Met with Maffie from Ndoombo to discuss Garrie's lesson plan for the following day.

Visited Arusha Hotel Training Institute and met the principal, Flora Habebe. We were very impressed with the set up here, after the 2 year course, every student leaves with a job in the hotel industry. We discussed the possibility of sponsoring a teenager from T.E.K.U.A, and left with all the information we need to try to make this happen.

Ended that day by taking Joanne to meet Horace from Ndoombo, in the hope that through her network, she may be able to recommend future volunteers there.

Wednesday 24 January

Garrie spent the morning teaching the 2nd year class at Ndoombo.(see photo). A wonderful experience, enjoyed by the children, teachers and Garrie.

Garries Class at Ndoombo

Margaret spent the morning at St Lucia, the Nursing Home and Orphanage for HIV/AIDS patients. We were concerned that 2 of the children who had been here for the last 2 years, and had been attending school at Living Water Children Centre had been returned to live with their Grandfather.

The owners of Living Water were also concerned about these children and had already offered to give them a home at the Centre.

Visited the 2 children with a health worker and found they were living in some of the most squalid conditions that we have seen. Clearly, the grandfather is incapable of supporting them; they are under-nourished and neglected. We are determined to help these children from becoming "street kids".

Spoke with Mr Kimaro; he will visit tomorrow with the health worker. We are keeping our fingers crossed that he can get these children out of this squalor.

Thursday 25 January

Another busy day!! Today we are accompanying the home-based care workers from WAMATA (a charity that provides HIV/AIDS education and home based care for people living with HIV/AIDS), to see how your donations have been spent.

Home visits

This has reinforced to us just how devastating the HIV/AIDS epidemic really is. We helped in the distribution of food and clothes to rural families, where children were being cared for by either grandparents or a single parent, with no regular source of income.

To bring it home to us, Katarina (see photo) was looking after her remaining daughter and 2 grandchildren. Adjacent to her home were the graves of her husband, mother-in-law and her other 5 children.

Katarina and her family

Another visit was to an older man (see photo) who had suffered a recent stroke and was paralysed down the right hand side. He asked us if there were any medicines in the UK that would cure him.

Man with stroke

Re-visited the Trustees of T.E.K.U.A with proposition of a donation that will enable them to operate for a further 6 months. Really want to make this work, but they have to demonstrate sustainability within that time.

Friday 26 January

Visited Living Water Children Centre and gave a further donation to pay for the children's accommodation, education, food, clothes and medicines.

Visited St Judes Primary School, a very interesting experience and at the other end of the spectrum to our charity. St Judes support 800 primary school children, mainly from poor backgrounds, through direct sponsorship of children and huge financial support from a Rotary club in Australia.

Phone call in the evening from Living Water to hear that the 2 children had been taken from the squalor and arrived safe and sound at the Centre. Celebrated with a glass of wine!!

Saturday 27 January

Another early start to visit WAMATA's "kids club" for HIV/AIDS families. A challenge to entertain up to 25 children with a few pieces of Lego and a spongy ball. Garrie organised a "football" game, and Margaret finished off with a resounding chorus of "Hokey Cokey". Much to do here! (see photo)

Wamata kids club

Trailed Arusha town in soaring temperatures to find a sewing machine attachment for the disabled girl on the slopes of Mt Meru. Success, but takes 6 weeks to import.

Privileged to attend WAMATA's "adult club", (see photo) who meet to share their feelings and frustrations of being an HIV/AIDS victim. We cannot portray how appreciative they were that we had attended, and for the small donation of 2 sacks of maize. All summed up by a comment from the chairlady, "Our children will not be hungry tonight".

Wamata Adult Club