The vision of ABCD: Art Building Children’s Dreams is a world where vulnerable children can achieve their dreams. We are a Canadian charity that raises funds to help children in rural Tanzania complete their education.
ABCD:
Art Building Children's Dreams
PO Box 1113
Mount Albert ON L0G 1M0
Canada
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Posted by Frank, January 21st, 2009  
With the anticipation of a very long day ahead we started our day with a taxi ride further up Mt.Kilimanjaro to the Marangu West area. It’s about a kilometre from the edge of the rainforest. From here we hiked to Kitowo Village to meet with Amedeusi, Audifasi, Emanuel, Gaspari, Geraldi, Honest Peter, Jakson, Oscar, and Oskar.
During our visits with our children and their teachers we heard stories about other children in need of support. The school year has just begun and many children arriving at school are sent home since their families have not paid for their daily school lunch of beans and maize. We took on a few more children. It is very difficult not to! As always, we were made to feel very welcome in each school and with each family that we visited.
All our children are very polite, always offering to carry our bags with a smile. Despite the challenges these children face in their home life they are all performing at an average level in school. The small gifts and cards from Canadian children that were handed out brought smiles to faces of many.
After giving each child their gifts from Canada, taking more photographs for sponsors and our web page, and after receiving a new drawing from each child, we started our descent to our home at Kilema hospital. The walk back was enjoyably long. The breeze at the higher altitude kept us comfortable as the sun was setting on another satisfying day. Frank, Joseph and I arrived back at Kilema in time for dinner at 7:00 pm. Tomorrow we shop till we drop for school supplies!
Posted by Frank, January 20th, 2009 A very hot day today in Kilema! After a lengthy but productive organizational meeting with Joseph in which we planned out the next few days of visits to homes, schools and extensive shopping in Moshi and Marangu for uniforms and school supplies, we headed out to visit 4 of our children’s schools to make arrangements for payment of school costs.
At Kisuluni Secondary School we met with Head Teacher Mr. Kado and made the banking arrangements to deposit the funds needed for Anna’s school fees… these even include an overnight school trip which Anna’s family would never be able to afford (about $33). While waiting for our meeting, we chatted with one of the teachers and learned about a boy who has just entered this secondary school. His mom came to the school crying because she didn’t know how she was going to pay… there’s no dad on the scene… needless to say we are looking into this situation.
We then moved on to Kisuluni Primary School where we met with Mr. Lyruu the Head Teacher. At this school we gave him the money for the lunches for a year for Airini, Yasinta and Monica (a 6 year old new addition we mentioned in a previous post!). We also learned that Airini, who has malaria, has been admitted to the Kilema Hospital. Hopefully we can visit her.
Next stop was Kichilioni Public School where we met with Elizabeth Mushi, the Head Teacher. The lunches for Christina and Emanueli were paid there.
Finally we arrived at Kilema Public School where we paid for the lunches for one year for Abeli and Nobati. Once again, at all schools, contract agreements were signed by all parties, receipts written and ‘ceremonial’ photographs taken.
This week we will be meeting with the kindergarten teacher at St. Anna Maria Kindergarten School where we will pay for the lunches for another new 6 year old addition named Veronica!
All of the above children will be provided with new uniforms, shoes, socks, rain wear, and school supplies. We have decided to shop for them ourselves to save some funds. This means that all their shoe sizes have to be measured at the visit to their homes!
Posted by Frank, January 19th, 2009     We had a day of rest yesterday and got the opportunity to visit a nearby waterfall operated as a tourist conservation attraction by Joseph. It’s called Kilasiya Falls and is quite spectacular to see during and after the steep climb down the gorge. On the walk back from the falls we met by chance 3 of our children; Rose, Tumaini and David… and we were all delighted to see each other. The children were happy to hear we’d be visiting them at their homes soon.
Today, since our destination was so far away in Marangu West, Joseph arranged a local taxi to come to pick us up and drive us there. The speed is no more than 15 mph on these roads with huge stones and holes…don’t know how these cars survive at all on them. We had an appointment to meet with a local group in Marangu called UMWI which was formed a few years ago with the purpose of helping the community, adults and children, who are suffering with HIV\AIDS. We met the director and his staff and learned all about the operation of this organization which has several programs such as Home Based Care, Psycho-Social assistance, Orphans and Vulnerable Child Care. We were received very hospitably and learned a great deal about dealing with the finances involved in giving donated funding to schools for childrens care. We also ascertained that none of our children are on their files.
From there, we took a daladala on to Kilaremo PS where 9 of our children are enrolled. The head teacher Mr. Tilya, was expecting us and we were led to the office for a meeting with him, Mr. Mosha (English teacher) and the staff member who handles the funds in the school. We explained the ABCD: Art Building Children’s Dreams vision and mission and told him the names of our 9 children. They readily agreed that these children were from very poor families and needed help. They were very happy to see that we had come with the purpose of paying the school costs for these children. The arrangement we had decided on earlier was to pay the costs of the childrens lunches for the year and buy their school uniforms and school supplies ourselves to save some money by buying in quantity. So, smiling photos were taken, agreements signed and receipts written, as we handed over 135,000 shillings (just over 100 dollars) which will pay for these 9 children’s lunches for 1 entire year! You can imagine how good that felt.
Then we were taken to the classrooms of the children: Adeline, Gabriel, David, Rose, Tumaini, Joseph, Arini, Godfrey and Delivina. At the first classroom, as we walked in were were treated to a song of welcome as the children stood up and greeted us. This was the kind of reception we got at every classroom. We took the children’s photos at their desks, and told them we’d be seeing them at their homes soon and we will be telling their parents or caregivers that they do not have to worry about anymore school costs for their children. Needless to say it was a joyful and rewarding time at the school.
Posted by Frank, January 17th, 2009 We set out this morning with Joseph and with our backpacks full of art materials, cameras, records binder and packed lunches for a full day of hiking through the hills of Kilema on our way to the homes of 8 children. We saw beautiful panoramas of forests and hills on our way along the red clay trails.
The first home we arrived at was that of the Mbuya family* and we were greeted very warmly by the mom and dad and the children; Abeli, Richardi, Anna, Emanueli. You can see them in the picture above. It was heart warming to be remembered so fondly by them all. So the procedure for these visits was established… interviewing the children and parents, recording the data, photographing, giving out the gifts and art from Canada and getting the children to do more drawing for us. The best part was, telling the parents that the education of the children was being paid for by ABCD: Art Building Children’s Dreams! They were so happy and grateful. We are happy also to report that a fifth child from this family has been added: Veronica, who just turned 6 on Jan. 1.
When we moved on to Christina’s family we also added 6 year old Monica who is being looked after by her grandparents. The grandfather, Godfrey, is disabled and the grandmother is 67 years old. Glad to report that Christina is doing well. You can see them above in the picture.
After a brief stop for lunch and rest we carried on to Airini’s home. Airini is recovering from malaria and should be back at school next week. Her mom was proud to tell us that she was 3rd in her class of 27 last year in school.
Next stop was the home of Nobati. He had a huge grin on his face when he saw us and was also proud to report that he was 2nd in his class of 50 last year! We’ve been giving the family one of the printed posters and when Nobati’s mom saw hers she was moved to tears. Nobati signed his artwork by himself this year without assistance.
Last stop for the day was Yasinta. This family is living is dire poverty and needs help with clothing and food. Yasinta requires some medical help which we are arranging through Kilema Hospital.
All in all it was an exhausing day both physically and emotionally but we feel we are definitely going to make a difference in these children’s lives.
Posted by Frank, January 17th, 2009   Joseph introduced us to John de Ronde, a VSO (Volunteer Services Overseas) volunteer teaching at the Teacher Training college at Marangu. He generously shared his experiences with Tanzanian culture over his past 3 year assignment that will be of tremendous help in our decision making regarding the best process to ensure that our children receive the school support they need.
We then went with Joseph to meet the teachers of each of the children’s schools in the Kilema region. At these 4 schools: Kilema PS, Kisuluni PS, Kisuluni SS, Kichilioni PS, the teachers shared with us their understanding of the immediate needs of each student; Abeli, Airini, Anna, Emanueli, Christina, Nobati, Yasinta and Richardi. It was wonderful to see the children again after a year and to reconnect with them at their schools!
These children often arrive at school hungry from having no breakfast and in rainy season arrive at school wet with no change of clothing. Special concern was felt for Airini who has not attended school this week as she is home sick with malaria.
Today is the end of the first week of the school year and school support payments are now due. We have planned to go shopping with Joseph in Moshi to buy: uniforms, shoes and socks, exercise books, laundry soap, vaseline for skin, shoe polish and perhaps some umbrellas. The possibility of purchasing 100 kilo bags of maize for the Mbuya family and others is being explored.
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