The house has never been this quiet. We are all huddled around a 13" television in the living room watching the Lion King right now. It's a pretty funny site - 10 people from age 4 to 64, from all over the globe, watching the Lion King in English, and smiling and laughing every time we hear a Swahili word or phrase!
Today was a pretty lazy day. A bunch of us wandered into town this afternoon for an American/Italian lunch of brick oven pizza. Ironically, Fatouma decided to make pizza for us tonight! After boatloads of ugali over the past 3 weeks, none of us minded the pizza overload.
Tomorrow I start working at the home office of KIWAKKUKI in Moshi Town. Bree and I will leave the house by 7am to make it to their Monday morning meeting. With only 5 days left here in Tanzania, I am feeling like I have so much to do and not nearly enough time. I have 3 main goals for my remaining week here in Moshi:
1 - My hope is that tomorrow I will be able to get some questions answered about the sources of funding for KIWAKKUKI. Fighting HIV/AIDS is the main priority of USAID (funded by the U.S. State Department) in Tanzania. KIWAKKUKI is the largest HIV/AIDS non-profit organization in Tanzania and yet they do not receive any grant assistance from USAID. I would like to gather enough information this week to more effectively inquire about future funding from USAID.
2 - Bree will be working with KIWAKKUKI for the next 3 months. Last week was her first week and it was a bit disjointed. She's a little unsure about what she will be doing for the next 3 months. Throughout the week we are going to visit with different staff members to come up with a project that she can work on for the next 3 months.
3 - Ally is working hard on the continued construction of Good Hope Orphanage in Arusha. If you remember from an earlier post, he and his mother started the orphanage and the work they are doing there is some of the best I have seen during my time here. One of the other volunteers here in the house is currently raising funds to build an infirmary on the land and he plans to come back in 5 months to oversee construction and then run the infirmary for the local community and orphans for the first year. I am working with them to get a blog up and running. The purpose of the blog is to update donors on the progress made over the coming year.
In short, it will be a busy week. When I first arrived in Tanzania a month seemed like a long time. Now it feels as though it takes nearly a month to truly begin to understand where and how I can help. Thankfully, I am surrounded by a group of great volunteers. Everyone is committed to long-term improvement here in Tanzania and we are excited to continue to work together in the future.
Usually, the USAID does not provide funding directly to SNGOs but may provide funding through NNGOs instead.... What the orphanage may need to do is create partnerships with some NNGOs that may end up using the orphanage as an implementing partner for HIV/AIDS funding. The orphanage may get funding that way. But now that you know about this organization, you and the other volunteers may want to consider incorporating as a fundraising subsidiary and raise money for the nonprofit from this side? This however may also provide the organization with access to USAID funding..... It will be a lot of work.
ReplyDeleteHowever, that being said, I would also enquire about PEPFAR funds... this funding was creating by Pres. Bush to support HIV/AIDS and Education programs in select African countries.... Tanzania may be a designated recipient; albeit not directly. It is worth taking a look into.
I can't wait to hear about all your experiences Becky!!!! And to witness just how this trip has enriched you in a manner God only knew you needed and most importantly your encounter with Him through this incredible experience.
I love you kid... See you in a few weeks... after the jet lag of course!!!
Cheers...