Friends of Amani Tanzania (UK Registered Charity 1114281) Welcomes You
Trustee Visits
Bridget and Leslie - Trustee Visit - Aug-Sept 2023
We are pleased to share the report from Leslie and Bridget's visit to Amani in August 2023.
As always, if you are interested to find out more about the projects, challenges and how you can get involved, please do contact us using the details on the 'Contact Us' page.
Bridget and Leslie - Trustee Visit - Aug-Sept 2022
Leslie and Bridget’s visit to Amani in August-September 2022; the first by any of the Trustees in over two years due to Covid 19 restrictions.
Encouraging signs:
· Amani’s commitment to supporting children with disabilities despite many challenges (see below)
· Dedication of the young ‘Masista’ (Nuns) in caring for the children
· The benefits brought about by fresh water for human and animal consumption at Mikese Farm thanks to the borehole funded by Reading Rotary Club.
· Secondary education now underway at Amani’s Special School at Mvomero in new classrooms funded by FOAT
· The desire of the Ecumenical Group to expand to include the Lutheran Church to further its outreach to families of the disabled in the community
· Economic Social Empowerment Projects funded by FOAT improving the lives of families of the disabled in local communities.
· New partnership with the local Maasai Community.
Challenges:
· Drought, leading to poor harvest and lack of food supply
· Government reneging on its promise to pay teachers’ salaries at Amani’s Special School – high staff turnover
· On-going economic situation – lack of funds for food, building maintenance and to cover running costs
· Basic physiotherapy and farm equipment in need of repair
Visit by Bridget & Leslie Green, 24 August to 5 September 2019
Leslie and Bridget have made annual visits to Amani, with the exception of one year, since FOAT was registered in 2006. The purpose of these visits has been, and still is, to review the work of the Amani Centre, to check that funding sent by FOAT is used for the purposes for which it is designated, to hold discussions with staff and management to consider opportunities for developing the work of Amani, and to report back to FOAT.
In addition to reviewing the now quite extensive, project portfolio at Amani, Leslie and Bridget’s two week visit in August and September included;
• delivering four interactive ‘fun with Geography’ seminars to the children at Mvomero Special School;
• a series of formal and informal meetings with senior members of the RC and Anglican churches following changes in personnel in key positions, and,
• initiating meetings with three external organisations - Tanzanian Women’s Chamber of Commerce (TWCC), Rotary Club of Morogoro and the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) - to consider opportunities offered by these organisations to support Amani and its beneficiaries and/or work in partnership.
Some key highlights of their visit are outlined in more detail in the pdf link below and illustrated in the following images.
Meeting Rotary Club of Morogoro
Meeting Rotary Club of Morogoro
Meeting Rotary Club of Morogoro
Leslie, a Rotarian himself, here presenting Dr Edie with Reading Rotary Club banner.
Tailoring Project Graduation
Meeting Rotary Club of Morogoro
Meeting Rotary Club of Morogoro
Graduation Party for the three students who have reached Level 1 of the tailoring training at Amani Centre.
Helena Memorial Project
Meeting Rotary Club of Morogoro
Helena Memorial Project
This project, which began in February 2018, is funded by donations made in honour of the late Helena Green.
Amani Mvomero
Fun with Geography workshops
Helena Memorial Project
The kitchen at the Mvomero Centre. Father Beatus introduced Bridget and Leslie to the ladies, among the many other activities.
Fun with Geography workshops
Fun with Geography workshops
Fun with Geography workshops
Fr Beatus had requested that on their next visit, Bridget and Leslie chould assist the children with their studies - in this image geography.
Mpapa Dispensary
Fun with Geography workshops
Fun with Geography workshops
The remote Mpapa village is supported from the Mvomero Centre. After four years of fundraising and delays, the dispensary is finally being built.
An update from Cath Swanson regarding the physiotherapy service, January 2019.
As a FOAT trustee and also as someone who has just relocated from Morogoro after 16 years I know Amani well! I have regularly popped into the centre on spontaneous visits and love the happy hum that resonates from the physio room. It is hard to describe how crucial the CBR programme is at the centre in Chamwino. On any given Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the faithful community worker Thobias uses his very basic physio skills to give therapy to children with cerebral palsy and to show their mothers or carers how to continue these exercises at home. To me, one of the most powerful impacts of the physio room is the social support it creates for the carers. Suddenly, a child with disability ceases being an obstacle to social interaction or a source of shame, but rather becomes the gateway into friendship and peer support.
The great thing about Amani is that it is a provision to the whole community and not just chronically learning disabled children. Dennis (adjacent image) was an active happy 7- year old at primary school when he had a devastating stroke last year following a sickle cell crisis. He suffered profound hemiplegia and loss of his speech. I advised his bewildered mum to take him along to Amani - he has been going weekly for months and has thrived there and learned step-by-step to walk again.
None of what of what goes here could, by UK standards be described as sophisticated. But it is a gem of a place and there is nothing else quite like it. There is no government provision for these families or any safety net to catch them as they free- fall into entrenched poverty. All children are welcomed here and Amani families are encouraged to contribute a charge of what is about 40p towards the service. That might seem like peanuts, but it is significant: 40p could buy a 1kg bag of maize flour and feed 4 people. But expecting parents to pay for this service does two things: it helps to cover costs and also attributes a sense of dignity and worth to the activity. It means a cash strapped parent is saying to their child ‘you are worth it and your life matters’.
Tushikamane Community Group
Mvomero - Milling Machine Diagnosis
Tushikamane Community Group
Ed collected 6 bags from the group that had been 'ordered' in the UK via FOAT. The group were pleased to assist and the growth of internet usage in Tanzania could see the group experience more demand.
Mikese Farm
Mvomero - Milling Machine Diagnosis
Tushikamane Community Group
At the farm Ed met old friends and was shown around the activities; maize production; bee keeping; animal husbandry; the mango orchard and water storage. The latter was a concern due to the very late wet season and the largest tank was very low.
Mvomero - Milling Machine Diagnosis
Mvomero - Milling Machine Diagnosis
Mvomero - Milling Machine Diagnosis
A service engineer came on the wet Friday Ed was at Mvomero. He identified two main faults; the electric motor had burned out and the mill itself had worn components of now differing sizes, which was causing aggressive vibrations.
Mvomero - Worn Hammer Mill
New Washing Machine and Water Tank
Mvomero - Milling Machine Diagnosis
The 'Hammer Mill' parts of the milling machine need to be equal size for the machine to be balanced whilst it rotates. Excessive vibrations, associated with a lack of balance have caused damage to parts of the machine.
A Very Wet Mvomero
New Washing Machine and Water Tank
New Washing Machine and Water Tank
The wet season was late - it started at the end of April when it can 'normally' be expected in February. The heavy rain affected plans to visit other areas in Mvomero such as the Mpapa-Msufini Dispensary.
New Washing Machine and Water Tank
New Washing Machine and Water Tank
New Washing Machine and Water Tank
When Ed left Amani the concrete base was done for the water tank that will feed the new washing machine. The new tank and machine will be a great help for the youth who have so many clothes to wash each day.
More demand for Amani’s services
More demand for Amani’s services
More demand for Amani’s services
The extensive outreach work brought about by the Ecumenical Project has led to more coming to stay at Amani for various periods of time, some together with their mothers, others orphaned. This puts an ever increasing strain on Amani’s very limited resources, despite this, Amani has adapted its buildings at Chamwino, creating a room for six cots with a side room for one of the Masista (trainee nuns) to care for the babies with disabilities.
Daycare
More demand for Amani’s services
More demand for Amani’s services
Bridget and Leslie witnessed the challenges Amani was facing following the loss of experienced and committed staff in Daycare. With limited staffing, the group was confined to one classroom. It was encouraging though to learn of plans to recruit new teaching staff and helpers for this valuable service.
Physiotherapy
More demand for Amani’s services
Amani Mikese Farm - Mango Initiative
Bridget and Leslie were pleased to see Tobias continuing to take the lead, working tirelessly and very committed. He has trained Sijali Omari (Amani Community Worker) and one of the volunteers on placement to assist. The biggest challenge is the need to repair the three standing frames and if possible purchase two more so that more children can use these at the same time. FOAT has assisted in providing a financial contribution for this.
Amani Mikese Farm - Mango Initiative
Ecumenical Economic Social Empowerment Project (ESEP)
Amani Mikese Farm - Mango Initiative
They noted mango trees had just been sprayed to stop the flowers dropping and were expected to produce a good crop in December. This is one of a number of entrepreneurial income generating initiatives by Amani Centre.
Amani Mikese Farm - New Large Water Pit
Ecumenical Economic Social Empowerment Project (ESEP)
Ecumenical Economic Social Empowerment Project (ESEP)
They admired the progress made in farming despite the challenges of the harsh environment where water is scarce and mains electricity is still awaited. The large water pit, concreted after their visit last year, served the animal and crop needs through to the end of May.
Ecumenical Economic Social Empowerment Project (ESEP)
Ecumenical Economic Social Empowerment Project (ESEP)
Ecumenical Economic Social Empowerment Project (ESEP)
This project began in February 2018, funded by a grant of £10,000 secured from the Anglican Communion Fund (ACT). The ESEP project focussed on the settlements at Tunguli and Chalinze. The ecumenical group identified eight groups of families of disabled in each settlement, each group elected two members to attend a one-week training at Amani. Thereafter the groups selected a project for which start up funds and on-going support was given by the Ecumenical Working Group.
Bridget and Leslie met the groups, the furthest of which was a Masai community which had chosen to enhance their goat herd. All groups seemed to be doing well, had ideas on expansion and one had already started a ‘VECOBA’ (Microbank).
Courtyard Project
Courtyard Project
Courtyard Project
It was suggested that the area outside the café could be the focus of a ‘courtyard project’ - replanting vegetables; repainting and lighting; a round tables and chairs. If replenished, in the evenings this could be a very nice green space to sit with a meal and a drink.
Physiotherapy
Courtyard Project
Courtyard Project
Physiotherapy is conducted to a high standard given the resources and levels of expertise available. However, there is a shortage of equipment (e.g. repairs are required to two standing frames) and more are also needed. Ken met the fundi from Morogoro who estimated the costs of providing repairs for FOAT to potentially fund. It is also recommended that there is a marked increase in the amount of training for all Amani workers in basic physiotherapy exercises because of its importance.
Home Visits
Courtyard Project
Mpapa/Msufini dispensary project
Ken attended a total of four home visits. These currently function largely as social visits supported by the provision of small gifts for the family - important but insufficient. A new home visit form was trialled. This worked well because it provided a written record of the details of the visit; encouraged more checking, talking and with a focus on recording follow-up actions. It is strongly suggested that the form be adopted for all upcoming home visits, after having been translated into Swahili and the questions reviewed by the CBR Team.
Mpapa/Msufini dispensary project
Mpapa/Msufini dispensary project
Mpapa/Msufini dispensary project
The good news is that the Mpapa/Msufini dispensary project has commenced with the foundations having been dug during the visit.
The Farm
Mpapa/Msufini dispensary project
Mikese Outstation
The farm is producing grains, raising cows, pigs and chickens. It also has a milling machine that is used by local farmers and which provides a modest source of income and ‘pomba’ for the animals. The farm is producing grains, raising cows, pigs and chickens. The farm provides both food for the residents and bring in funds and has potential for higher levels of production now that a regular piped water supply has been secured.
Mikese Outstation
Mpapa/Msufini dispensary project
Mikese Outstation
This is a well-run farm that produce grains, fruits and rears dairy cows, goats, chickens and rabbits. It has nearly completed a dam which could alleviate its water problem. We agreed that Mikese should, for the time being, focus on animal rearing with the aim of growing a viable dairy herd. Good prices are to be had for milk and meat. There is also no reason why rabbits could not also be reared at Mvomero and Chamwino.
September 2016
Trustees Bridget and Leslie Green made a visit to Amani in September 2016. The purpose and aims of this friendly visit was to:
- Review the current operations of Amani (Chamwino) and its outposts at Mvomero and Mikese.
- To review the ‘Goat Project’ villages of Mpapa and Msufini.
- To hold discussions with the Director of Amani (Fr Beatus) and the Vicar General (Fr Patrick) about on-going support to Amani.
- To review the newly established community of ‘Masista’ (nuns) at Amani and their impact on supporting the disabled community.
- To hold discussions with the Anglican Bishop (Godfrey Sehaba ), Fr Patrick and Fr Beatus about;
- the next stage of the ecumenical project for joint outreach work to the disabled in the Morogoro Region;
- Identifying a new project leader from within the Anglican community; and
- Identify potential fundraising opportunities.