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Dear Friend, |
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In this edition of Habari! we are very happy to tell you about the progress made at Hai Technical Training Centre, one of our sponsored projects. We are also glad to introduce you to another of our students, Joseph Elias Qamara, who will make a very big difference in the lives of his fellow Tanzanians as a clincial officer at Karatu Lutheran Hospital.
We are also happy to report that two groups of Americans (thirty-one travelers in all!) are preparing to depart with "Discovery Safaris" to Tanzania in June and July, 2008. Our 2008 trips are fully booked, but we invite you to join us for our Discovery Safari in 2009 (tentatively July 8-22). If you are interested in traveling with us, click the "Contact us!" link in this newsletter and let us know. We will be in touch with you later this year with more details about the 2009 trip.
"Asante sana " (Swahili for "thank you very much") for your continuing support of Godparents for Tanzania! With your help, we are providing hope and opportunity to hundreds of young people in Tanzania.
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| Hai Technical Training Centre opens its doors |
 Hai Technical Training Centre (HTTC) is the dream of Mr. Peniel Shali, a civil engineer who lives in a community called Hai, located at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro, near the town of Moshi. HTTC has been developed by Mr. Shali and other Hai residents to provide vocational education to the community's young people. Recently, after years of planning and building, HTTC welcomed seventeen students and three teachers.
Godparents for Tanzania has been an important partner for HTTC over the past five years. In 2004, the "Virginia Wing" of the first building, a dormitory, was completed and dedicated. Since then, Godparents for Tanzania donors have helped HTTC bring municipal water to the property, purchase a generator to supply electricity to the dormitory, and continue construction on new kitchen/dining and classroom buildings.
The progress at HTTC was temporarily halted in January 2007, when a devastating wind storm destoyed the nearly completed classroom building. Fortunately, Trinity Ecumenical Parish (Smith Mountain Lake, VA), Christ Lutheran Church (Roanoke, VA), and other Godparents for Tanzania donors contributed more than $12,000 in 2007 for reconstruction of the classroom building. The new building, which houses four large classrooms, is now very close to completion; only blackboards, chairs, and desks are needed.
After years of hard work by Mr. Shali and Hai residents, seventeen young people are studying motor vehicle mechanics and masonry at HTTC. The students are also studying English. Currently, classes are held in the "Virginia Wing" of the dormitory, while students sleep in the other half. Once the classroom building is complete, the dormitory can house more students, and the enrollment will grow. HTTC will eventually provide education for up to 200 day and boarding students. Students are currently learning motor vehicle mechanics, masonry, and English. In the future, HTTC hopes to offer classes in carpentry, electrical installation, and other construction skills.
In an area where unemployment rates are high and opportunities for secondary education are few, Hai Technical Training Centre is providing hope for the future. Godparents for Tanzania is pleased and proud of its partnership with HTTC. To Mr. Shali and friends in the Hai community, we say hongera sana (Swahili for "hearty congratulations")!
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| Student Profile - Joseph Elias Qamara |
Joseph Elias Qamara, 24, grew up with his mother and siblings in the village of Bashay near Karatu. He is the eldest of four children, and his family is quite poor. His uncles and aunts helped pay his fees at Bashay Primary School, where he performed very well on his national exams. Joseph then entered Florian Secondary School. While he was often unable to pay the school fees, his teachers recognized that he was an exceptional student and allowed him to continue his studies. Friends helped Joseph to purchase a uniform and school supplies. Again scoring very well on his national exams, he hoped to continue his education to become a clinical officer (equivalent to a physician's assistant in the U.S.). However, he had no money to continue his education.
In 2007, our Godparents for Tanzania "Discovery Safari" travelers accepted a challenge to provide a one year scholarship for a clinical officer student from Karatu. Our twelve travelers rose to the challenge, raising almost $1500 for Joseph's first year at Machame Clinical Officer Training College (COTC). Prior to accepting this scholarship, Joseph signed a contract agreeing to work at Karatu Lutheran Hospital for at least five years after he graduates.
Clinical officers are truly the backbone of the health care system in Tanzania and other African countries. After Joseph completes his diploma in 2010, he will treat and prescribe medications for thousands of patients at Karatu Hospital. The hospital currently sees more than 150 patients per day. With only two doctors on staff, Karatu Hospital depends heavily on clincial officers to provide health care to the 180,000 people who live in the Karatu District.
 Joseph is doing very well in his studies and is very grateful for the opportunity to pursue his diploma. Godparents for Tanzania plans to sponsor Joseph for the remaining two years of his diploma program at Machame COTC. The anticipated cost is $2000 per year for tuition, books, and expenses. We also hope to sponsor more clincial officer students in the future. If you would like to help, please click the "Contact us!" link in this newsletter.
Photo: Pastor Yotham Baha, Godparents for Tanzania Coordinator, with Clinical Officer students, Joseph Elias Qamara and David Sabas Petro
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Godparents for Tanzania
is a 501(c)(3) public charity
incorporated in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Post: P.O. Box 20221, Roanoke, VA 24018
Voice: 540-353-6341
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