gimme shelterjuly/august 2011

Manager on a Mission

Our intrepid Kesho Leo Manager, Mudi, recently travelled to South Africa to visit some other projects funded by one of our major donors, Golder Trust for Orphans. Although a first time flyer, Mudi set off confidently in the hope of discovering some new learnings to benefit Kesho Leo. He travelled to Johannesburg, Durban and Swaziland in the space of a few days and visited a variety of projects, which all support children. Mudi says: ‘The project I felt fws could learn lots from was Bulembu [in Swaziland], I was most impressed by their businesses and business ideas. In particular their dairy and honey production could be done by fws in Arusha [as income generation]’. Mudi adds that, despite the car breaking down on the way back from the airport, he was very happy to be home!

So many generous supporters have made end of financial year contributions. Huge thanks especially to Lyndon Beck ($1000); Melissa Ross for Normal Ross ($1200); and Michael Green ($2000). And to our several anonymous donors — we LOVE you! 70 places left for Families for Families — don’t miss out! For just $31 a month, you could join a sponsor family and help provide a Kesho family with all their living expenses. Go to www.foodwatershelter.org.au/sponsorships.aspx for all the information on how to make a huge difference in a simple way. Hongera (congratulations) to Lindsay Allen (Permaculture Manager) and Andrew Clinard who just got engaged in Zanzibar! Oyster mushroom production has started at Kesho Leo, fingers crossed this time next month we will be selling oyster mushrooms! Fishing haul! Kesho Leo Teachers, mamas and volunteers all joined in the recent Kesho Leo fishing harvest with over 100 fish caught. A recent online shopper browsing the fws shopping list decided to contribute funds for the employment and training of a Kesho Leo nurse. Hurrah recruitment can now begin! www.foodwatershelter.org.au/shoppinglist.aspx

this month's smileys...

Ready, set, go! It's a new school term

Mudi talks business ideas

in south Africa

Where there's smoke there's...honey!

To bee or not to bee...

Back to School

Chekechea (preschool) has started again this month and our Kesho Leo teachers Regina and Lucy have welcomed back 43 bubbly little kids in their bright red jerseys for another term of learning and fun. This term the students will be focusing on body parts, colours, shapes and learning about themselves. The start of the term also means our porridge program is up and running again. Thanks to the much needed support and sales on the fws shopping list, the kids are able to fill their tummies with a cup of warm and yummy porridge at the start of each school day. Karibuni tena watoto (Welcome back kids)!

It was an exciting afternoon out for 39 kids to the Meserani Snake Park and Maasai Cultural Museum.

Organised by Carmody, fws’ Education Manager, this school excursion was a reward to the Kesho Leo Tuition Kids for their 100% class attendance, enthusiasm and dedication for the past term. The excursion began with a Dala Dala (mini bus) ride with lots of cheering and chanting.

We were welcomed by the park’s expert snake guide, who showed us some of Africa’s most deadly snakes. Many of our gallant group then dared to hold a rear-fanged (only mildly venomous), Northern striped-bellied Sand Snake around their neck!

Next was a personal guided tour of the Maasai Cultural Museum. Here students learned important and interesting cultural information about traditional dancing, medicine, male and female circumcision and meat eating.

Did you know… Cattle play a central role in the life of the Maasai. Cattle represent food and power; the more cattle a Maasai has, the richer he is and therefore the more power and influence he will have in his tribe.

Just adjacent to the Maasai Museum, a herd of camels can be found lounging about in the

hot African sun awaiting their next camel rider. Many of the kids had a ride on a camel and many photos were taken of children with their new camel friends!

Hard work pays off! Francis Kealy Library

fws is now in its first phase of setting up Kesho Leo’s new library. The Kesho Leo Francis Kealy Library is being developed thanks to support from the Francis Kealy Fund, which commemorates the lives of Mr and Mrs Frank and Patricia Kealy Francis and their contribution to education in Tanzania. Frank and Patricia Kealy Francis moved to Tanzania in 1956 when Frank took up a position at a school in Mbeya. In 1959 he was invited to set up a secondary school in Iringa. This successful school was the first to offer education to both European and Tanzanian students. It is now known as Mkwawa College, named after a Tanzanian revolutionary.

In their search for the most appropriate library services and systems, plus books to fuel the imagination and knowledge of the hungry minds of Kesho Leo, fws staff have taken a local approach. Visiting local secondary school libraries has been of great value in seeing the most effective solutions to cataloguing/classification systems. Researching local book suppliers has seen our Kiswahili book collection get off to a good start of 75 hardcover and paperback books — with a focus on building this number each and every month. Our English book collection is looking very healthy thanks to the kind donation of 15 boxes of books ready to be sorted, catalogued and

translated. This is sure to keep our newly employed Tanzanian librarian, William, very busy. William proved to be the most suitable candidate out of ten applicants with his previous library experience as well as a positive outlook and

determination to continue to learn and expand his skill-set. Plans to design and construct display shelves for viewing the books is in order and we can’t wait to see the final product.

A massive, nine year project, the Francis Kealy Library will provide invaluable educational opportunities for Kesho Leo’s children, mamas, workers and the wider community. In time we will start a mobile library service, and for now, the Kesho Leo residents are itching to get their hands on the very first available books for loan.

Books: kindly donated to the new Francis Kealy Library

The bus trip begins!

Who's afraid of snakes????Not Selemani!

All aboard! Selemani and Amiri take a bumpy ride

Books, books, books!

city 2 surf is calling

Have you been looking for the perfect way to put your legs and lungs to the test and show your support for the residents and employees of Kesho Leo children’s village? The dedicated volunteers of fws are gathering participants from near and far for our very own team to tackle the world’s largest fun run on August 14 and raise money for Kesho Leo at the same time.

From Sydney’s CBD, through the King’s Cross tunnel, Rose Bay and up the monstrous but exhilarating ‘Heartbreak Hill’ this unstoppable team will run, jog, walk and push. Then with the first half under their belts they will meander down picturesque Military Road to the glory of the Bondi finish line.

The terrific team so far includes Kerry Renshaw, Nick Renshaw, Andrew Fisher, Janie Albert, Lance King, Glenn Ryan, James Davis, Daria Bodzak and Karen Champlin. The more the merrier (and the easier to push and pull each other up Heartbreak Hill!), so go to www.foodwatershelter.org.au/city2surf.aspx for all the details on how to join the team, or make a donation. Go Team Kesho!

Open for learning

At a meeting of the fws Arusha board in December 2010 it was suggested that foodwatershelter run an open day inviting the community to tour Kesho Leo, join in a lunch and meet with our Permaculture, Health and Education managers to discuss what topics they would like covered for community education classes.

The day was held on Saturday 18 June. It was well received by the community, with total attendees of around 40 or 50 people. There were questions for every aspect of the project, such as ‘how do the biogas work and can they be adapted for a small family to use?’; ‘how do we make natural pesticides?’; ‘how is tuition and chekechea run?’; ‘can fws have computer lessons as well as community English classes?’; ‘what health services do we offer?’; ‘can health services be extended to the wider community?’; ‘how many mamas and children do we have?’; ‘do we help people out of Kesho Leo who are vulnerable?’

Fabulous questions, and community education classes will start soon, now with clear direction on the topics people want covered. Come to think of it, maybe we can extend the learning, and gimme shelter can publish a few of the answers in coming editions!

Ever heard of a Rocket Stove? Permaculture Manager, Lindsay, recently educated residents, staff and a group of visitors to Kesho Leo, by building one.

The Rocket Stove that we were building, though simple in its make-up (1 banana stem, clay, sand and a heat resistant material for a shelf), allows greater efficiency than traditional cooking methods, by burning wood more effectively and cleanly, resulting in more heat generated and less smoke. Sounds great — and as we found out, also quite easy to make, especially with help of a visiting group of teens from Holy Ghost Preparatory School (Pennsylvania, USA) ready to get their hands dirty.

With a total of 14 workers (fws staff, Kesho Leo residents and enthusiastic visitors) many hands certainly made for lighter work. We sifted, lifted, mixed, watered, stomped, packed, pushed, patted and built up the sand-clay mixture into a big mound resembling a huge anthill holding up a pot. Just four hours later it was done, Kesho Leo’s first Rocket Stove!

A Rocket Stove… kweli (really)?

While Lauren Bartley, Kesho Leo Health Manager, has been hard at work, a budding little worker has been following her every move, eager to learn the ins and outs of basic first aid. Joseph, 15 years of age and son of Mama Ester, has showed great enthusiasm to learn how he can help his fellow Kesho residents with first aid concerns such as minor cuts, bites, stings and the like — under the watchful eye of ‘Nursey’ (aka Lauren) of course. We see great potential in Joseph, and recognise this will also help build confidence and self esteem as well as teamwork and communication skills. Mama Ester is very proud to see her son filled with such compassion and interest in helping others.

First Aid Next Nurse?

Join the fws team

Many hands make... a Rocket Stove!

If there’s anything you’d love us to tell you about

fws, please don’t hesitate to contact gimme shelter

at gimme.shelter@foodwatershelter.org.au.

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Tanzania • Kwaheri to Carmody

Forbes, fws Education Manager, after making an enormous contribution to the Education department here in Tanzania, you and your work will be sorely missed by the kids, mamas and fws volunteers. To thank ‘Camod’ for all that she has done, the mamas at Kesho Leo kindly organised a big traditional lunch attended by the residents, workers and staff followed by some song and dance. Asante sana ‘Carmod’ and good luck on your ventures back home!

• Julia Martin, our finance manager, has not said ‘good bye’ but ‘see you later’, as she continues supporting fws from her home in the US. Thank you!

Australia • A huge thanks to Anna Goode and Trina Johnson

for many years of combined efforts in our Communications team, as editor and photo editor respectively. Two hugely talented and generous ladies, we miss you already!

• Kate McNally has done an amazing job as Sponsorship Program Manager, and now leaves us to start her family. All the best Kate!

(goodbye)Kwaheri

Tanzania The fws Volunteer Village has welcomed two new additions this month — Elmina Joldic, the new fws Social Welfare Manager and Stacey Joseph, fws’ new Communications Manager. Both super excited about their new roles and eager to settle into life in Tanzania. Welcome!

Australia Jessica Whiteman has come to help us with marketing; Liam Lucas has joined the HR team; Laura Kearley is taking over the huge role of Sponsorship Program Manager; and Eve Archbold (previous Permaculture Manager) is taking over as gimme shelter’s photo editor. Welcome all to our ever-growing team!

(welcome)Karibu

I have just graduated Form 6 (Year 12) from Edmund Rice Secondary School.

Where are you studying?

Name: William Paolo MsiluAge: 23Location: Mbauda, Arusha

I have two years experience at Tugifunzie Community Library, in charge of cataloguing, classifying and shelving the books.

What is your library experience?

Learning new cultures, reading (especially history), watching movies.

What are your passions/hobbies in life?

One day to save enough money to go to university. I would really like to be teacher or to be a counsellor for people with HIV. My other career choice would be in computer science (IT/building software) I would like to be a computer master.

What are your career goals?

I would like to be a part of an organisation that is helping the wider community and especially teaching people and children about books and reading.

Why have you chosen to work with fws?

Education Manager Carmody made a huge

contributon in Kesho Leo.

Big song and dance to thank Carmody!

For information about these and other current fws volunteer opportunities in Australia and Tanzania, visit www.foodwatershelter.org.au/volunteerwithus.aspx

Farm Manager (Tanzania) 2011/12☛ time: Full-time position

☛ term: 13-month contract, available from September 2011

☛ where: Kesho Leo, accommodation provided

☛ salary package: $small stipend

☛ perks: Warm-fuzzies and the best spinach ever!

As a counterpart to our local Farm Manager, you’ll work with farm staff and the Kesho Leo residents on systems including compost toilets, organic gardens, aquaculture systems and many others. Skills & Experience:• Have completed, or are willing to complete, a

permaculture design certificate• Flexible and innovative• Love of dirt, plants and compostEmail osvolunteers@foodwatershelter.org.au

volunteer vacancies

Kesho Leo Handy Man(ager) 2011/12☛ time: Full-time position

☛ term: 3–13 month contracts, available now!

☛ where: Kesho Leo, accommodation provided

☛ salary package: $small stipend

☛ perks: Warm-fuzzies

You will be working with, and training, Tanzanian staff in maintaining buildings, infrastructure systems and vehicles at Kesho Leo.Skills & experience:• Experience in a variety of infrastructure areas• Basic carpentry and/or basic plumbing skills• Knowledge of motors and solar energy

systems a bonus• Innovative with resources• Team player and good communicatorIs this you? Please email osvolunteers@foodwatershelter.org.au

volunteer vacancies

Kesho Leo Education Manager☛ time: Full-time position

☛ term: 13 month contract, available now!

☛ where: Kesho Leo, accommodation provided

☛ salary package: $small stipend

☛ perks: Warm-fuzzies and the best PD you'll ever receive

In this dream teaching role you will be responsible for the management of all education programs. Working alongside Tanzanian staff, you will be responsible for the design, delivery and reporting of all educational services at Kesho Leo children’s village.Skills & Experience: • Teaching qualications and experience• Innovative with curriculum design and resources• Excellent relational and community liaison skills• Great communicatorFor more email osvolunteers@foodwatershelter.org.au

volunteer vacancies

Kesho Leo Project Manager 2012☛ time: Full-time position

☛ term: Minimum 13-month contract, beginning November 2011

☛ where: Kesho Leo, accommodation provided

☛ salary package: $small stipend

☛ perks: Warm-fuzzies

You'll be working with our Tanzanian manager to oversee the running of the Kesho Leo children’s village, as well as looking after the welfare of our volunteers in Tanzania and liaising with fws Australia. You'll be faced with many and varied challenges, sometimes when you least expect it, but the rewards will be overwhelming.Skills & experience: • Perceptive decision-making• Patience of a saint (i.e. great team skills)• Organised and proactiveFor more information and a job description, visit www.foodwatershelter.org.au/volunteer-kesho-leo-manager.aspx Please email osvolunteers@foodwatershelter.org.au by August 26.

volunteer vacancies

Golder Associates Corporation is a global ground-engineering and environmental services group. As part of its commitment to sustainability, it formed Golder Trust for Orphans in 2003, which supports sustainable development projects with a focus on services for orphaned or displaced children and families in Africa.

This makes it a perfect match with fws! In August 2009, Golder Trust generously contributed $26,800 that enabled fws to install a solar power system at Kesho Leo. Thank you!

Golder Trust For Orphans

solar!

Yep, there’s room for you. If you’re liking the sound of the work fws does and the innovative, professional and fun way in which we do it, and want to become part of it by becoming a project sponsor, please contact us! Email carolyn.nickson@foodwatershelter.org.au.

we’re after more friends…

In June 2009, the Goldman Sachs JBWere Foundation awarded a grant of $19,329 to fws for the fit-out of Kesho Leo’s bathroom, laundry, kitchen and sewing room. This enabled fws to deliver rainwater to the kitchen and buy cookware, benches, cupboards and even four kitchen sinks! Other items covered

included sewing machines to support a new small business, buckets, toilets, doors, a stepladder and a clothes line.

Goldman Sachs JBWere Foundation

sewing!

In 2007, Aussies For Orphans provided fws with grant funding to the tune of $36,000 to cover the costs of building accommodation for Kesho Leo's families. And in late 2009, AFO contributed another $1045 towards medical equipment and supplies for the health clinic. Thank you AFO!!

Aussies For Orphans

bomas!

The Planet Wheeler Foundation has been incredibly generous to fws, providing the set-up costs for the Kesho Leo permaculture systems and grounds through a $36,000 grant that paid for things like the biogas system, sheds, livestock and irrigation systems that now provide food for our mamas and kids, and organic produce now sold to bring direct income

to Kesho Leo. In 2010 Planet Wheeler again shone with kindness by donating a further $20,000 to purchase a Land Rover 4WD for safely transporting the Kesho Leo residents. Planet Wheeler was also incredibly supportive in covering many of fws’s expenses relating to security upgrades in 2008, for which fws is deeply and eternally grateful.

planet wheeler

permaculture!

The Cotton On Foundation has been donating to charities since 1991 and has now formed a relationship with fws. They have kindly contributed USD$7,490 to help fws expand the solar power system, USD$15,000 for a new generator and AUD$10,000 towards Kesho Leo infrastructure and maintenance costs. Thank you, Cotton On!

Cotton On Foundation

solar!

our project sponsorsfws proudly enjoys the support of the following organisations. Each contributes big, gorgeous dollarage to the various projects at Kesho Leo children’s village in Tanzania, East Africa

Read all about it! The Francis Kealy Fund has generously donated 9 years of funding to enable Kesho Leo to set up and run a library! The library will initially support Kesho Leo residents, students and workers and in time it will go mobile (yes, mobile!) into the local community.

Francis Kealy Fund

library!