Over 30 local orphans "out in the cold"
By Staff Writer
At least Tsh 60 Million is needed in order to complete a new orphanage and
dispensary facility being established by the St. Joseph Medical Daughters of
Mary organization at the Kiserian location of Moshono Ward in Arumeru district.
The beneficiaries of the Orphanage are however still out in the cold, waiting
eagerly for their new home, which is currently at the final stage but due to
lack of funds, the project, which was established in 1999 has stalled.
The project director, Chrispina Mnate told the The Arusha Times on Monday that
there are over 30 orphaned children aged between 3 and 14 years, who will find a
new home once the Medical Daughters of Mary premises are completed.
The orphanage, set to include a Community dispensary, four dormitories, an
office, recreation facilities and classrooms, have so far been built by local
efforts through individual material and cash contributions amounting to over
Tsh.10 Million.
According to Ms Mnate, the Bwawani village leadership, had donated the 5 acres
of land on which the project is currently located and part of it will be used as
a subsistence farming plot to supplement the orphanage requirement once the
project takes off.
The orphans who are currently being taken care by the Medical Daughters of Mary
are temporarily living in various households in the Arusha municipality, as
efforts to complete the orphanage are going on.
AWe appealed to good some Samaritans to be taking care of them for a while.@ She
said. The director also explained that some of the orphaned children were
actually dumped when still babies, while others are victims of the HIV-Aids
pandemic, which has claimed the lives of their parents.
Ms Mnate lives with seven other orphans in two small rented rooms in Mianzini
area, which apparently, doesn=t seem to be a very conducive environment for the
children as some of them are studying at home.
The aim of the Medical Daughters of Mary according to its director is to give as
many of the orphan children as possible, a sensible upbringing and education
while also enabling them to have avenues of self expression, security and even
responsibility.
The project is also intended to ensure that children without parents have a
place to go, regain dignity and are protected from harshness of life whenever
possible. The director, who is also a medical practitioner said the District
Commissioner, Fulgence Saria had given her a fund collecting permit number,
DC/AR/D.I/V/152 but is set to expire in January 2005.
All interested good Samaritans are requested to contact the Medical Daughters of
Mary through cell phone number: 0745-534867. Email:
crispina_75@hotmail.com. or
mailbox, 10006 Arusha Tanzania.
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