Sponsor's update from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Child sponsorship update from the SOS Children's Village Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from Winter 2008.

Greetings of peace and joy from the entire family of SOS Children's Villages Dar es salaam!

Once again Christmas is just around the corner, and it’s time to send you warmest greetings from all the children, mothers and co-workers of the SOS Children’s Village Dar es salaam, together with an update on the current situation in the Village.

Since our last communication, SOS Children’s Village Dar es Salaam has registered a significant growth. We now have a total of 114 happy children who are proud to call this place their home and caregiver they can call mother. Our present number is now very close to reaching our maximum capacity of 130 children in 13 family houses.
This year in Dar es Salaam we have experienced a richer short rain season, which have been a rarity in the last several years. Trees, which were planted last year, are taking maximum advantage of the warm tropical climate to grow, with some of them already providing a significant shade at least for the playing children.

New Mothers /Aunts Trainees
At the end of August this year the Village received from the Regional Training and Resource Centre in Nairobi a batch of 11 new Mother Trainees after they had completed their three months basic skills training. These new arrivals have been a very useful addition to the Village community, which now have a total of 22 Mothers/ Aunties. Because of this addition, we are now able to have all the 13 houses in the Village headed by trained caregivers, with 9 Aunties in reserve ready to relieve off duty Mothers.

Projects supporting children and the community in Tanzania

Family Strengthening Programme(FSP)
This outreach programme, which started slowly by identification of beneficiaries, is now in full swing with two coordinators. So far the program is supporting 50 families with an average number of 5 beneficiaries per family; making a total of about 250 beneficiaries in Temeke District. The Program aims at supporting a total number of 800 beneficiaries by the end of next year. Plans are also in place to work with local authorities to support poor families in setting up income generating projects. Local authorities have already allocated land in which those families will establish vegetable gardens, while our program will provide seeds as well as training.

The Nursery School
Our nursery school has now closed for the end of the year break. On the 15th November we had the first graduation at the nursery school in which a total of 16 children received their certificates of successful completion. The ceremony was officiated by the councilor of the Sinza ward in which the Village is located. These children will now join primary schools across the city.

Activities in Dar es Salaam

Religion/Cultural activities
We respect the Children’s religious and cultural background so this year 8 Catholic children received their first Holy Communion at the local Catholic Church near our village. They had lunch at the village with other children. Also Muslim children took part in the fasting month of Ramadan.

Holiday activities and Village Life
On 13th of June, students from Manchester University visited our village. They had two days sport session with our children. They both had happy moments as they both time to learn from each other.

SOS Day is celebrated on 23rd of June each year. On this day Children played traditional dance, songs and poem. Our guest of honor was US Embassy first Secretary in Tanzania. It was followed by bites and drinks offered by Kilimanjaro Hotel Kempinski.

In July also kindergarten children visited International Trade Fair famously known as Sabasaba.They were so excited with animals like Leopard, Lion big snake, giraffe.

Our children continue to enjoy meals at Kilimanjaro Hotel Kempinski where every Sunday one family is invited for lunch. Apart from this lunch invitation, The Hotel and SOS Children’s Villages Tanzania has established partnership called Help Us Give (HUG); through which Kilimanjaro Hotel Kempinski fund raises on behalf of SOS Children’s Villages Tanzania.

On 19th of October, The Hotel invited children from SOS Children’s Village Dar es Salaam to participate in a drawing competition in the Hotel Ballroom. At the end of the contest, a drawing done by one of our SOS Children was declared by the panel of judges to be the winning drawing; having drawn a picture of a mother hugging a child. The winning drawing will be used on the Hotel’s Christmas and New Year cards marking the first anniversary of HUG, which the hotel will supply throughout the world. It was a tough competition as 35 children were involved.

Gradually the Village community is picking a life of its own and claiming a place of significance in the community around. This is evidenced by the many regular visitors who come to visit and share with us a moment of love. As beautiful as this can be, it would not have been possible without your generous support and kind donation for our children. Therefore on behalf of the children, the mothers and co-workers, I would once again like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation as we wish you a Merry Christmas, Prosperous New Year and Good Health.

Yours truly,
Dr. Alex Lengeju

Village Director