01 Oct 2009
A new place to call home
BCDSA operates a home for 25 children in Mkula, Tanzania. Some of the children live at the center for a short time, until they are able to return to their families. Others have nowhere else to turn - and now call Mkula Children’s Center their home.
BCDSA has been a SAIDIA Partner for two years, and in that time have received 10 volunteers, all of whom have worked with BCDSA to improve their working process and build their capacity.
When the Mkula Children’s Centre was initially opened, the plan was for the children’s needs to be met by means of contributions from the Boards of Directors and Trustees, Unfortunately due to unavoidable circumstances the contributors have been unable to uphold their commitment, leaving BCDSA with the responsibility of feeding, educating, clothing, and caring for the 25 children unassisted. So far they have managed simply by appealing to the kinder side of the Mwanza community for donations that have gone towards these needs, but this cannot function as a sustainable source of funding – not to mention that the staff must dedicate majority of their time to the pursuit of these much needed funds.
This year the family that owns the land and building where the Children’s Centre is located, have requested that the children be vacated from the premises by the end of 2009. Unfortunately all of the aforementioned needs require a substantial amount of money, which in turn makes it difficult for BCDSA (who have no financial structure in place to cater to these children) to dedicate a suitable amount of effort to fundraising for a new Centre.
Together, BCDSA and SAIDIA Tanzania sought solutions to the two key problems that the Centre is facing.
1. A lack of consistent funds with which to provide the children with all of their basic needs
In response to this difficult situation, SAIDIA, with the help of brilliant ex-volunteer Molly Matheson came up with a new initiative called the Community Table. This is a campaign to collect in-kind donations of food for the Children’s Center from local business right here in Mwanza. The campaign is gaining ground and a few businesses have committed themselves already.
In addition to the Community Table Campaign, SAIDIA is in the process of setting up a sponsor-a-child programme specifically for the children at Mkula. Sharing the burden of the children’s wellbeing across various selfless individuals ought to ensure that the Centre shall never be faced with the prospect of the children going hungry, without food or proper care and attention.
2. The absence of funds with which to build a new Children’s centre by 2009
Upon petitioning the local Government administration, BCDSA was granted an alternative piece of land on which to build a new centre for the children. It is in an area called Mayega, and is close to Lake Victoria, which should make it quite easy for the Centre to grow some – if not all – of its own food. In addition, it is also more easily accessible by road than the Mkula premises.
The construction plans for the new building have been drawn up, and the construction budget amounts to a total of Tanzania Shillings 36,094,750. We have also sought the support of various corporate entities within Mwanza and have received informal pledges from a few but as yet no formal agreements have been made.
J.Renju
SAIDIA Tanzania
23 Sep 2009
60s & 70s Fancy Dress Fundraiser!
As always, the SAIDIA volunteers have come up with some brilliant ideas for fundraising! On the 19th of this month, we held a 60’s & 70’s Fancy Dress party at Tunza Lodge. It was a great success and we managed to raise Tshillings 730,000 for the kids at Mkula, as well as attract a few pledges of building materials in aid of the new Children’s Centre.
Our appreciation goes out to Tunza Lodge for letting us use their space, and a big thanks to all of you wonderful people who attended and contributed.
Asanteni!
J.Renju
SAIDIA Admin
17 Jun 2009
Volunteering with SAIDIA now costs even LESS!!
Potential volunteers will be happy to hear that the SAIDIA Programme Fee is set to drop significantly for the rest of 2009!
We feel it is our responsibility to make it as easy as possible for potential volunteers to have the opportunity to do some good, even in the current financial climate. The new fees shall be as follows:
2 Weeks: USD 300
1 Month*: USD 450
*And every month thereafter
As always the Programme fee is inclusive of the volunteer’s accommodation, orientation, SAIDIA-led excursions, language classes, administrative fees, airport transfers, and full in-country support upon arrival.
So help us to spread the word. It's meaningful and affordable!
Volunteer with SAIDIA Today!!
SAIDIA Admin
SAIDIA Tanzania
11 Mar 2009
SAIDIA has a new Partner!
SAIDIA was on the lookout for new partners to work with, and found an organisation with so much potential that we just HAD to work with them!
Binti Maringo, is a non-profit Café and Training centre for youth and street children in Mwanza. It gives youngsters who are out of school an opportunity to learn a trade, along with all of the skills that come with it!
Though it is a more recent SAIDIA Partner, Binti has also had a favourable turn of events, with the arrival of Andrea Wolfson who came out and worked more than she was asked to.
She helped to simplify the working process of the Binti Maringo Café, helped them to improve their accounting skills, held workshops on customer service, and in doing so ensured that Binti Maringo would have a fighting chance and good food too!
Asante SANA Andrea! You shall be missed.
SAIDIA Admin
SAIDIA Tanzania
21 Jan 2009
Another SAIDIA Volunteer makes a difference
BCDSA (Busega Children’s and Development Services Assistance) is a grassroots organisation supported by SAIDIA. In November 2008, BCDSA – with the help of a SAIDIA Volunteer Molly Matheson – wrote an application for funding to the annual Mwanza Charity Ball. Today BCDSA received news that their application was successful and that they shall receive 690,000 Tanzania Shillings (approximately £350)!!!
This money will enable them to purchase a plough and oxen in order to farm enough land to provide staple food for the 24 children at Mkula Children’s Centre. Every week has been a struggle for BCDSA to find food for the children. This grant shall make all the difference, bringing BCDSA that one step closer to a sustainable source of food for all the kids.
Congratulations BCDSA, and thank you Molly!!!
SAIDIA Admin
SAIDIA
13 Jan 2009
Why PAY to volunteer??
This is undoubtedly (and understandably) one of the first questions people ask themselves. The idea of paying to volunteer suprises some people. But is there a logical reason for it?
If you look around and try to pin-point the volunteer organisations that receive non-paying volunteers it becomes apparent that most if not all, are either multi-national and funded or semi governmental. They also have a tendency to generally accept people who have a professional background suited to the task at hand. And these are all long-term(1yr+) programs.
Just about ALL short-term international volunteer programs have a project fee that covers the expenses of running the program.
Have a look at this extract from "HOW TO LIVE YOUR DREAM OF VOLUNTEERING OVERSEAS" by Joseph Collins, Stefano DeZerega, and Zahara Heckscher
The local organizations and projects with which you volunteer overseas have limited resources and are seldom able to subsidize your trip or cover the costs of hosting you. (These costs include housing, feeding and transporting you, among numerous other things.) If they did have the financial resources to pay an international volunteer, it would almost certainly be more beneficial and cost-effective to hire a local person instead, someone who already knows the language and culture and is likely to stick around.
Identifying appropriate host organizations overseas and working with them is time-consuming, takes resources, and requires an experienced and professional staff.
The costs of recruiting volunteers, producing literature, answering the phones, sending mailings, developing a website, and interviewing potential volunteers are significant.
Anyway, at the end of the day, programme fee or no, the important thing is that the communites benefit. Sadly, there are ALOT of good organisations and individuals alike that don't seem to be focusing on SUSTAINABLE change. Placements are becoming dependent on volunteers. With SAIDIA, it's policy.
So let us know what YOU think.
SAIDIA Admin
SAIDIA Tanzania
01 Jan 2009
SAIDIA Newsletter 2008
Greetings!
All of us at SAIDIA Tanzania would like to wish each and every one of you the best that 2009 has to offer. 2008 was a great year for SAIDIA. A year in which we were blessed enough to grow as an organisation. Thank you to all the special people who have given us their support and encouraged us to push on against the odds.
This is the first SAIDIA Newsletter and we will endeavour to keep the communication lines open and more active. We aim to have monthly updates of our activities on networking sites (facebook, YouTube etc) and a bi-annual news letter… so watch this space!
Please subscribe to our newsletter to learn more about SAIDIA and help us to spread the word!
SAIDIA Admin
SAIDIA Tanzania
01 Dec 2008
World Aids Day Charity Walk
On the 1st of December 2008, SAIDIA supported DEFESCO in their sponsored walk. Over 50 people (including two SAIDIA volunteers) met early in the morning at Mwanza airport; from there they walked the 6kms into town. In town a series of talks and awareness raising activities took place in front of large crowds and the National press.
SAIDIA provided drinking water for the duration of the walk. Each child was sponsored to complete the walk and the proceeds went towards the children’s school fees.
SAIDIA Admin
SAIDIA Tanzania