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Tanzania
from Sweden regularly for a decade. But it was my first
time in sub-Saharan Africa, and I was shocked at the poverty.
Probably
your reaction, too, whether you're a tourist passing through
enroute to Zanzibar or a safari, a worker or researcher
on assignment in East Africa, an expat who's settled there,
or a spouse "back home" looking through this magazine
your mate brought home. We all want to make a difference
for Tanzanians - a friendly, hospitable people who work
hard to make the most of so little.
Most
of us have probably felt the philanthropical urge before,
and signed up to sponsor a child or sent off a check to
a worthy cause backed by a world-wide organization. That
felt good - but also distant, impersonal. And how much of
our money actually went to the people after administrative
overhead?
Money
and goods given to the Bibi (Kiswahili for "grandmother")
Jann Children's Care Trust goes directly to the people.
How do I know? Because I'm Bibi Jann, an American journalist
married recently to a Swedish doctor. Between us, we began
this late-life marriage with nine grandchildren between
us - but now happily answer to "bibi" and "babu"
to more than 50 Tanzanian children.
These
children are students ages 2 through 6 at a pre-school we
helped establish in suburban Mbagala, the two AIDS orphans
we sponsor to attend the school, and the AIDS-orphaned grandchildren
of the grandmothers aided by donors from the USA, Tanzania
and Australia through our GRANDMA-2-GRANDMA project.
Several
times yearly, my husband and/or myself visit the school
and meet the children, teachers and parents. I personally
interview and photograph each recipient bibi, so they may
have a personal connection with their sponsors, exchanging
photos and messages. A few have visited their bibi in person!
The potential recipients are located through the school
director and a traditional doctor nearby. Before receiving
any money, these grandmothers who've lost their own grown
children to AIDS attend a workshop to learn how to responsibly
manage their much-needed bonus income.
The idea is to make each grandparent self-supporting. A
generous sponsor in Dar has enabled the purchase of a sewing
machine for each grandmother to aid them in establishing
a business. One bibi - for whom we personally bought a machine
in March - has been able to purchase a small plot, enabling
her to eventually house her four grandchildren in something
better than the tiny single room they now rent!
Monthly, the program expands, thanks to people like yourself.
People who want to make a difference but - until now - just
weren't sure how.
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