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Zenan's Field Report for 1st Quarter 2007

Everything is going well here in Olasiti village. There was gentle rain early in January but stopped later, the end of short rains, though spring season has started recently. Rainfall is a great grace here in Tanzania, but when it exceeds normal it becomes disastrous and hard for life. At this moment green is everywhere, and living things are celebrating this grace from God. When I look on my left hand outside the windows there is a rainbow in the sky, which our elders say is a sign from God as a promise that He will give us rain and we shall not die by drought.

That entire tale about rain has an important connection with our village. Firstly, it is a grace. When the community has a prosperous livelihood, that is when we are grateful for agriculture. Everyone shares the success of farmers. Also, in this time of rainfall, various types of insects prosper and parts of them are used for nutrition.

However, sometimes some of these insects are dangerous in our life because they cause diseases, pains, skin problems, and even death. Harmful insects include malaria mosquitoes and flies that cause dysentery and cholera. The truth is that many people possess only small property and dispose of rubbish near their homes. This stimulates the outbreak of cholera and other diseases.

Children who live under hard situations and orphans like ours are more vulnerable. In order to reduce the risk of disease, we need mosquito nets and we need to treat drinking water, which is expensive. To stay healthy, children also need quality nutrition. That is one reason for our orphans community garden.

HOW YOUR DONATION HELPED DURING THESE 3 MONTHS

Program manager (Zenan)
Tutors for students
Night guard
Small stipend for AIDS Club peer educators
30 uniforms for the new 2007 school year
150 notebooks and pens
Food for the Olasiti Orphan Center afterschool meal, averaging 130 children per day.
Glasses for secondary school student Lightness Meloo
Hose for the Garden Club
Field trips to nearby plains and Arusha National Park
Fuel for the center's generator and motorcycle. The generator provides electric power for the computer session and educational video at the center.

GOOD NEWS

Shelly Wolfe, Jeff Fadiman, and his nieces Helen and Anna came with different supplies for kids, including books and pens. They spent two weeks visiting and teaching.

We are extending a second classroom in a former storage area.

The Birding Club enjoyed their field trip to see Beasley's Larks. Thanks to Dorobo Safaris, children also got a trip to Arusha National Park. None of the orphans had been at Arusha N.P. before and all enjoyed it.

Fourteen students passed their exams and completed primary school. Sponsors have been found who will pay for them to go on to secondary school or vocational school.

Some grown orphans helped younger children. Eva Mathias, whose sponsor paid for a sewing machine, has been teaching the other kids at the center. Amina Yahaya has been mending children's clothes.

Our Arts Club was able to run by itself and generated 350,000 shillings (about $290 US dollars) after artwork sales, which they shared among themselves. They built new work tables. This project has the potential for business income in their future.

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