A Big Thank You to Patrick Amerio

Patrick (on the left) after the race

Patrick was elated but tired on completion of his greatest challenge yet, the gruelling Beachy Head Marathon, on Saturday 25 October. His official time is still to be confirmed by the organisers.

A big thank you to him and everyone at Meath Green Junior School for raising over £500.

You can still sponsor Patrick by clicking here:http://www.justgiving.com/patrickamerio

For more information about Meath Green Junior, click here: http://www.mgjs.org

THANK YOU

We welcome our new Patron, Tony Smith,
England Rugby League Coach

Tony Smith

We are thrilled and delighted that Tony Smith, the England Rugby League Head Coach, has become our new Patron. Originally from New South Wales in Australia, the former rugby league player who has been coach with Huddersfield Giants and Leeds Rhinos will be getting to grips with raising the profile and widening support for our charity. On becoming the new patron Tony said:

"I feel very honoured and proud to have been asked to become involved. I'm going to give it my best shot and make sure that I do as much as I can to help the Tanzanian children who are struggling to survive."

One of Tony's first challenges is to help us increase the number of people donating on a regular basis. The goal is to get 100 new supporters to donate £10 a month, generating an extra £12,000. Through Tony's contacts we are also hoping to have a fundraising sportsman's dinner at Headingley in the New Year.

The Leeds 10k runners raise £1500

Leeds 10K Team

Thank you to our 10 runners who took part in the Leeds 10k on 22 June and raised almost £1500. The date of the run coincided with our announcement of our new Patron, Tony Smith, who took the time to meet our runners before the race and stayed on to congratulate them afterwards.

We have decided to make this an annual event and so support Jane Tomlinson's Appeal as well as raising funds for our charity. We will be looking for 10 runners to compete next year, if you are interested please contact us.

News From TEKUA

This year when Margaret and Garrie were in Tanzania, they visited a vocational college, Help to Self Help. This college provides vocational training in catering, needlework and electrical skills and Margaret and Garrie think this would be an ideal place to progress some of the students from TEKUA.

In July, 3 girls were chosen by TEKUA to attend the catering college for 4 months, paid for by your donations. The girls chosen are Beatrice, Antonia and Janeth. They are so happy to have been chosen and their parents came in person to TEKUA to thank you, their sponsors, for the new opportunity they have in life. We will keep you up to date with their progress.

More Spending 2008/9

Thanks to all our regular donors as well as sponsored events, we have been able to send some interim payments to the community groups we are helping. This is how we have spent your money:

• Welfare of 3 children for 12 months.......£1500
• Window frames, window glass, door frames, locks etc for 5 new classrooms.......£2175
• Generator.......£320
• Arts and Crafts Materials.......£790
• Teacher (part-time).......£315
• 2 Teachers (full time).......£1390
• 40 desks and chairs.......£1050
• Food and Soap.......£135
• 7 Goats plus concentrates and associated costs.......£600

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS DONATED

African Visit 2008 - Weekly Diary

Latest updates from the 2008 visit are available in the African Diary 2008 section.

New Way to Donate

Village Children

We are now registered with "Just Giving" which means that you can now donate online. It is simple, safe and secure and we receive your donation within days, including Gift Aid, if you are a UK taxpayer.

To donate click here:
http://www.justgiving.com/helpingafrica

You can also donate directly to our appeal for help with Living Water Children Centre's new classroom by clicking here:
http://www.justgiving.com/livingwaterchildrencentre

How we spent your donations in 2008

• Helped to provide a home and education for 37 abused, neglected and/or orphaned children.
• £ 1,500
• Helped in the purchase of land and bought building materials for a roof at a new Children Centre built to educate 125 children at primary level and provide living accommodation for those orphaned.
• £ 7,000
• Helped to provide a centre for 120 disadvantaged teenagers and including:
  • Art materials & wood carving tools
  • An English teacher.
  • Scholarships for 3 teenage girls to receive secondary education.
  • Sponsorship of 2 teenage boys to undertake vocational training at a Tour Guide College.
• £ 3,000

• Helped to provide a laboratory, living accommodation and a teacher for over 100 children at a secondary school centre.
• £ 2,200
• Provided a HIV/AIDS awareness. testing and counselling programme to a population of 1,200 in a remote mountain village.
• £ 1,200
• Purchased 7 goats and provided basic provisions as part of a local community project to sustain 25 widows/widowers caring for their families, including over 100 children devastated by the impact of HIV/AIDS.
• £ 900
• Provided a sewing machine and materials as an income generating activity for a disabled young woman.
• £ 100
• Helped to provide food, soap and education materials to a very poor village community.
• £ 100

GRAND TOTAL £ 16,000

KILIMANJARO SUMMIT - THEY MADE IT!!

Margaret & Garrie, together with their friends, Elizabeth and Robbie made it to Uhuru Peak, the roof of Africa, at 8.20am on 8 February 2008.

After 6 days trekking up the mountain, they began the final ascent at 12.00 midnight. An exhausting climb of 6.5 hours brought them to Gilmans Point, on the rim of the volcanic crater, now filled with glaciers. A further 1.5 hours, walking through 6 inches of snow and ice and they arrived at the highest point, 19,344 feet, Uhuru Peak.

They finally arrived back at the next base camp, 17 hours later. All 4 were elated although they agreed that it was the hardest physical challenge they had ever completed. What's more important to all of them is that nearly £3,000 raised will go such a long way towards helping the communities that we are supporting in Tanzania.

Thank you to all the supporters.

Preparing for the Kilimanjaro Challenge!

This year at the start of their trip back to Tanzania, Garrie & Margaret along with 2 friends Elizabeth and Robbie have decided to attempt the climb up Africa's highest peak, Kilimanjaro, 19,341 ft!!

For the last 4 years, Garrie and Margaret have been working in Arusha and have been able to see the peak of Kili, when the weather permitted. After spending a weekend at the Marangu Gate, one of the entrances to Kilimanjaro National Park, Garrie and Margaret decided they would one day climb to the peak as a great way of raising money for the charity.

The 4 are taking the Rongai route which starts from the north side of the mountain and return on the Marangu route in an 8 day camping trek starting on 1st February and ending 8th.

It will certainly be a challenge, especially the altitude and the extreme temperatures. They will be greatly encouraged by your support.

We wish them all GOOD LUCK!