NEWS

February 2009

January 2009 Trip (Over 650 Photos)
Best Photos (26pics), Jemma’s photos (109pics),  Karen’s photos (51pics),
Letters Received (16pics), Temporary Dining room (21pics), Choir (31pics)

Prospective UK students (3pics),  Local Village School (13pics), Classrooms (7pics),
New Dining Room and Kitchen (12pics), Rain water harvesting (7pics),  For Training (13pics),
Fun and Games (44pics), Individual Children (33pics),  Chores (56pics),
Groups (22pics), Eva and Rehema (17pics), First day at School (22pics),
Funny faces (4pics),  Baptisms (109pics), Sunrise-set (42pics)
NEW NEW NEW VIDEO CLIPS now on GOOGLE PICASA

Video Clips (via google picasa web album)
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January Trip:

David Borland and Sheila Jackson arrived as planned, Sheila to help with the education and David as treasurer to check the accounts. Due to problems arising from a visit by the local Social Welfare officer and misunderstandings regarding various issues it was decided that Graham Pountain (UK co-ordinator) together with his wife Sheila should visit to clarify Bethany’s position. Below is a report of that meeting
Social Welfare; secondary education - vocational training - long and short term volunteers - study in the UK. etc.

After a meeting with the Social Welfare Officers in Magu we are happy to report that our long term volunteers have now each received a letter of recommendation to enable their residents permits to be processed. We have also explained our policy regarding secondary education and vocational training. In short we believe that vocational training (which leads to a job) for the less able of our children is better than 4 years of secondary education. In our local secondary school of all those who left at the end of form 4 only one got a job - and that was with Bethany (to help with the education of our toddlers). Our policy of sending some of our older (more able) students to England for study at Accrington and Rossendale College was also accepted as a positive benefit enabling them to find employment on their return. Our policy of sending volunteers for two weeks whenever possible to help with the teaching of English was also applauded even if this meant that some lessons at the local school needed to be rescheduled.

Dave and Vicky Shaw returned to the UK on the 14th December due to problems with Visas. These issues are now being resolved and they return after their short break on the 17th February. 
Jemma Turner and Karen Ross are still ‘making a difference’.  Please view the pictures they have taken.
Jemma’s photos (109pics),  Karen’s photos (51pics),

Students in England: China, Emma and Jesca are doing well and have just received the marks for their first assignments. They all got a grade A  (Jesca 91%, China 87%, Emma 83%). Elaine Earnshaw continues taking them for GCSE Maths and English which they hope to sit in June this year.  Jesca has passed an IT exam and Emma takes hers after half term.  They still find life in England difficult (especially the weather) and are home sick from time to time. They enjoy visiting various schools and churches representing Bethany to talk about their former lives before Bethany, whilst at Bethany and beyond. They usually sing a couple of songs and demonstrate how water is carried (on their heads). If you are interested in such a short presentation please email me. for pics: UK Students

Inappropriate Behaviour:
We are pleased to tell you that we have not received any reports of inappropriate behaviour since the last update.

Older Children (leavers):

Angelina Cosmos is still working part time for both Forever Angels and also for an English couple. We visited her on this trip and she seemed very happy and has a ‘five year plan’. We didn’t go into detail but hope everything goes well for her

Rehema Kasimu and Eva Joseph are still doing well at Isamilo International School where they teach English curriculum in English using English methods. We visited their rooms and took some photos for you to see. Eva also provided us with a meal and they both accompanied us back to Bethany to spend the weekend at home with their brothers and sisters. Click here to see the video clip. 

Mwita and Labanai are doing well. Mr. Bryson has given Mwita a permanent contract and believes he could do well. Hopefully a permanent position for Labani will follow.

Frank: has now left Mr. Bryson’s employment and has returned to family members who are providing him with 4 years of secondary education and to help run a ‘family’ business.

Immakulatha: continues with her pregnancy. The alleged father says he is waiting to see if the baby looks like him before taking any responsibility for the child. No other pregnancies to report.

Mwanaidi, Neema and Hollo: All appear to be doing well and are still at Forever Angels.

Sophia, Fatuma and Minza: all doing well and making progress with their English, Child Care and IT studies in preparation for their study if accepted at Accrington and Rossendale College..

Other standard 7 Leavers:

Boys: Bujimbu Zacharia is now at the local secondary school.

Emmanuel Charles, John Juma, Joseph Pius, Kulwa Mussa,   Labazu Daniel, Daniel Juma, Ramadani Thobias are all doing various VETA vocational training courses.

Peter Chezela, is now working at Fortes Garage.
Tabaji Chezela, will join Rwechungura and Kwekwe to do some computer training.
Kwekwe ( Moses) Shibandiko: failed to pass the exam to do the electricians course at VETA and is now doing two short computer courses in Mwanza with Tabaji and Rwechungura.

Evarist Shaban: Now left Bethany and living with an uncle who is prepared to provide secondary education for him.

Girls: Mpelwa Juma is now at the local secondary school:

Pendo Malale Jesca Juma and Sumai Makoye are now receiving training at Forever Angels

Ghati (Pendo) Wambura is now training for a full time job at Hillfront hotel. See pics

Rwechungura: is now sharing a room (in Mwanza) with Tabaji and Kwekwe as they start the next computer course
Ghati Daudi is to work in the library at Isamilo School on a trial basis.

Secondary school children:
Boys: Phabian Juma, Hamza Issa, Nyamarige Mussa, Bujimbu Zacharia and Elijah Benard are all working hard at secondary school.

Girls: Rehema Joseph is doing well and is now joined by Mpelwa Juma. Sumai has left secondary education as she found the work too difficult (she is now training at Forever Angels)
Bore-holes:
No further developments

New Children: No new children

Children: All doing well.

Choir: Still enjoying practicing hard and looking forward to visiting England again this year if funds permit.

Building work progress: Three major projects. To firstly double the size of the dining room,  build a new boys dormitory and a half way house for the older boys.

New boys dormitory: No Progress. As you may already know we have the drawings for the new boys dorm. It will hold a maximum of 148 boys which  will double our accommodation capability from 130/140 to over double that number. The plans show two toilet blocks and one shower block, 7 dormitories and 2 smaller rooms for older boys/ storage. David our Treasurer has estimated the cost to be about £80,000 which we haven’t got so we will build as funds allow. Click here to see the plans  (Click here for pics of our present boys dorm).

Dining room and Kitchen: Demolition is now complete and the building work had started but now stopped - see below. A temporary dining room has been constructed. Temporary - New

Global Financial Crisis and how it affects Bethany:

As reported in our last update the exchange rate has affected our monthly expenditure and shows little signs of improving in the short term. We have slowed down the building work on the new dining room and just finishing the block work up to roof level. To save on air fares our three students (China, Emma and Jesca) will not be returning to Tanzania this July but stay in the UK to complete their two year course.

Half Way House: We believe it would be beneficial to  provide accommodation for our older boys away from the Bethany site for various reasons.

Children’s health:   No problems at present.

Children’s behaviour: No problems at present now that some of the older boys have left.
Monthly Supporters / Enquirers Meetings: The dates for the next 5 meetings which are all on Sundays at 2pm are:   1st March, 5th April, 3rd May,  7th June, 5th July 2009. They are held at Christ Church Hall, Christ Church Street, Roughlee Road, Christ Church Square, Accrington Lancashire. BB5 2LU. Everyone welcome. (click here for details)
Pen pals group web site: This group continues to write to our children with letters of encouragement. We are always hopeful that some pen pals will one day become sponsors. Our visiting teams help write letters for the children. Click on the headings to see the photos:
Letters received,


Future Trips: See details on our home / index page.

Please email if you are at all interested

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Sponsorship - Finance: As ever - finance is an ongoing concern. For those still considering sponsoring or co-sponsoring please see our list of names for sponsorship. Click here
To learn more about sponsorship we have produced a 4 page Question and Answer sheet (click here).
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Money boxes: As you can see our total collected from the money boxes is over £10,326.29 as of 29/10/2008. Cathy Riley is still looking after the new money boxes, both issuing them, banking the proceeds and issuing receipts. If you want one email Bex and she will pass on your request to Cathy.

Satellite Internet: No further news. Still too expensive

Possible bore hole: See above

Mains Power: No news - still waiting but they say our job is next!!!!!!!!!!!

UK team changes: Please visit the home page for a link to details of our UK team members.

Tanzania team changes: Please visit the home page for details.

OTHER NEWS

And Finally: Thank you so much for being interested enough in our work to be reading this. Even more if by your donation you have made this work possible.

N.B. (Please note that this web site is accessible world wide and so we are very careful to only publish the bare facts as truthfully as possible. There are often circumstances upon which decisions have been made which we feel unable to publish. Please contact us directly if you need to know more)

 

Visit our Kanga website:
all proceeds to Bethany.
Click here for details

J & K 3

If you have anything that you are happy to donate and would be suitable to sell on eBay please let us know and if suitable we will advertise it.
 --- email me ---

boys dorm plan v2 - 200pix

Plans for new boys dorm to accommodate 148 boys.
click here for larger plan

Support/Sponsorship Click here

November Trip (Over 1,700 Photos)
Selection (39pics), Houses around Bethany (39pics), Cow (6pics), Farming (22pics)
Staff/workers (19pics), Meal Time (15pics), Cooking-Food (36pics), Volunteers (13pics)
Prospective UK Students (4pics),  Children and ex-children (533pics), Karen’s photos (128pics)
Football - boys versus girls (88pics), Letters received (47pics), Sunrise/set (55pics)
 Girls Netball/football (50pics), Choir Practice (41pics), Chores (109pics)
Play (59pics), Building progress (59pics), Wildlife (15pics), Views (29pics)
Teaching (21pics), Hired Tractor (19pics), Groups (39pics), Individuals (49pics)
Jemma’s photos (80pics),  Dave and Vicky’s photos (114pics), UK Students (5pics)

Extract from a letter from a teacher at a supporting school

August Trip Photos (108 assorted pics), Festival of Song (38pics)
Students in England (19pics), Bethany students visit Hollins School (7pics)

November Trip.

Dave, Vicky and Karen (32pics), Children (42pics), Bethany Leavers (6pics),
Growing things (25pics), Building work (27pics)
Photos from the July 2008 trip (over 300)

Parachute Fun (11pics), Serengeti trip (25pics), Jesca’s village (38pics),
Various (10pics), Letters (48pics), Eva’s boys (12pics), Returned students (2pics),
Chores (33pics), Prospective students (7pics),  Individual children (15pics),

 Choir Practice (34pics), Groups (22pics), Volunteer teachers (12pics),
Volunteers (36pics)

Photos taken during the April - May trip 2008 (over 400)

Chores (64pics), Hippings School (6pics),  Letters (51pics), Computers (10pics),
Assembly and Presentations (12pics), Choir Practice (109pics),  Building work (30pics),

Volunteers (83pics), Girls at Forever Angels (2pics),  Games (6pics), Groups (27 pics),

Individual Children (69pics), New girls (6pics)

Photos taken during the January -February trip (over 500)

Agriculture (54 pics),  Dairy Cows (37 pics),  Toddlers Dorms -refurbishment (39 pics),

UV Filter (8 pics), Small solar water heater tower (78 pics),

Large solar water heater tower (92 pics), Groups of Children ( 40pics ), Sunday Service (26pics),

Individual Children (99pics),   Boys Portrait Pics ( 61pics),  Girls Portrait Pics (62pics),

Standard 1 Children (9pics),  Swinging Fun ( 20pics),  January trip volunteers (38pics),

Letters received (31pics), Danger children at work ( 81pics),  Views around the site (22pics),

Sunrise-sets (40 pics),  David’s Pictures (69pics), Eliada and Daniel’s new baby (4 pics),
(Captions with names of children have been added by Eva, Jesca and Rehema)

Extract from ‘Amy’s News’ from the Forever Angels web -site

Photos from the September trip 2007 (over 500)

Mwanza Lion’s visit ( 3pics), David’s Pics ( 30pics), New Manager’s house (14pics)

Around the site (12pics), Beans and Rice! ( 16pics), Old Boys dorm (17pics),

Tint Tots dorm (13pics), Letter writing ( 28pics), Local school bore-hole (4pics)

At Play ( 19pics), Agriculture (23pics), New Multi-purpose building (16pics),

Education ( 6pics), Letters received ( 85pics), Groups of children (26pics)

 Singing and Dancing ( 62pics), Individual children (81pics), Chores (59pics)

 Ian Redfearn (15pics),   Sunrise/sets (34pics), Best Photo’s (36pics)

Report: by Ian Redfearn

Latest News September 2007: Our 8 students have now just finished their first day at Accrington and Rossendale College. Here are the latest pictures:
Welcome for Students at Accrington and Rossendale College (65pics)

Day out to Lord’s House Farm (30 pics)

A walk in the countryside (72 pics)

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Photo’s from the July-August trips: (over 600pics)

Mkula Orphanage (3pics),  Letter writing (43pics), Rounders (36pics),

Letter received (44pics), Skipping (23pics), Play (21pics), Football (8pics),

Crop growing (38pics), Groups of children (36pics), Lessons (13pics)  Chores (64pics),
New Children (9pics),  Individual Children (71pics), Singing Practice (45pics),

Building progress (26pics), Visitors (52pics), Views (39pics), Thumbnails (40pics),
Minibus (9pics), Accrington College students (8pics)

Photos from the May trip (800+)

New wedge-wood Shoes (16 pics),  New children (11 pics),  New bike (12 pics),
Volunteer joiners (120 pics),  Chores (28 pics),  Building work progress (29 pics),
Letters received (16 pics),  Lessons (77 pics),  Games (15pics), Play (25 pics),

Singing practice (126 pics), Groups of children (45 pics),  Individual children (65 pics),
May visitors (65 pics),  Village school (38 pics), Views (120 pics),

Last day at Bethany - all children with work done (67 pics)

Reports from May trip:

Report by John Brindle and Pat Bridge,  Report by Victoria Delaney,

Education facilities (as of May 2007),
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Photos from the April trip (52): Assorted (52 pics)
Report from April Trip:
by Heather Jeffery

Pictures from the March 2007 Trip (over 500)

Maize harvest (40 pics), New Children (8 pics), Letters received ( 51 pics),
Letter writing (17 pics),  Individual children (50 pics), New multipurpose block (29 pics),
New volunteers accommodation (22 pics), Choir (58 pics), Children playing (20 pics),
Children at Work (24 pics), Food! (22 pics), Groups of children (22 pics),
Jemma and Roy (25 pics), Jemma’s (51 pics), Roy’s (66 pics),

Sky (47 pics)

Photos taken on the January 2007 trip (over 300)

Portrait Pics of girls (57pics), Portrait Pics of Boys (49pics), New Children (3pics)

Children at work (47pics), Groups Children (36pics), Individual Children (48pics)

Letters log-book (4pics), Accy College Students (8pics),  New Exercise books (13pics)

Sunrise-sets (152 pics)

Photos taken before, during and after
the children’s visit to the UK
(Sept 21st - Nov 6th) (many)
Thumb nail pics (27pics), Manchester Science Museum (47pics), Letters received (75pics)
Nyangeta’s new leg (6pics), Baby Ruth (22pics), Forever Angels (1 pic), 
Groups of children (43 pics), Singing Practice (73 pics),  Blackpool Zoo (142 pics),
Asda Accrington (9 pics), Fire Station - Accrington (50 pics), Ger-Hana (47pics)
Blackburn Rovers (24 pics), Gifts from America (7 pics), October 20th (36 pics),
Accrington College awards (15 pics), Bethany Hillside Nursery (19 pics),
Paul and Rebecca’s wedding (66 pics), September 28th (25 pics), Trutex Boxes arrive (4 pics)
St. Thomas’s Centre (43 pics), An English Playground (10 pics), Schools Work (92 pics)
B&Q visit (14pics), Ripon Cathedral (9pics), Central Gospel Mission, Nelson (27pics),
Local Primary School Tanz. (23 pics), Jemma’s Pics (23pics)
Children at work (32 pics), At Play - Tanz (14pics) Individual children (101 pics),
Water carrying (20 pics), Hapiness (2 pics), Manchester and Doha Airports (13 pics)
Arrival - Bethany (17 pics), Nairobi Airport 4hour wait (27 pics), Trampoline (18pics),
York visit (19pics)

Video footage:

Accrington College presentation (2.28mins - 28meg)

Photos taken on the July - August trip (over 800)

New outfits for the Bethany Choir (34pics), Doing the chores (16pics), Line dancing! (96pics)

English Lessons (34pics), Skipping and Games (25pics), Groups of Children (14pics)

Individual children (56pics), Donated percussion Instruments (9pics), Letters received (46pics)

Letters sent (3pics), Letter writing (67pics), New children (12pics), Return trip (52pics)

Singing practice (137pics), Sunrise - sunsets (70pics), Donated towels & clothes (11pics)

Trip -outbound (38pics), Views from the water tank (14pics), Visiting Teams (70pics)

Wildlife (20pics)

REPORTS by visiting group members: Cathy Riley, Rebecca Dyer, Karen Ross,

Photos taken on the July trip:

Letters received, (53pics), General interest (24pics)

Photos taken on the June-July Trip (over 750)

Dave at work (11pics), Amy Tew (15 pics),  New girl - Pendo (4pics)

Building work (30pics), Rhona and Stanley Burns (12pics), English Exams (32pics)

Stanley and Rhona’s photos (63pics), July Volunteer’s children (17pics),

Children working (21pics), Children Playing (29pics) Individual Children (79pics),

Groups children (16pics), Waiting for the bus (38pics), Sleepinn arrival (50pics),

 Sleepinn breakfast (24pics), Children with passports group A (12pics),

Children with passports group B (11pics), Children with passports group C (11pics),

Bus depot -1 (28pics), Bus depot -2 (20pics), Children and chips (17pics),

Letters received (43pics), Letter writing (33pics), Satellite Dish (11pics)
Children practicing dance and singing (95pics), Sunrise (34pics)

 

2min VIDEO ‘FUN DANCE PRACTICE’
click here to download (low qualilty), click here to download (medium qualilty)

 

Photos from the April trip (over 550 photos)

New Children (13pics), Children at work (31pics), ‘100th Child’ party (50pics)

Building work-new classrooms etc. (28pics),  Letters received (34pics),

Letter writing (12pics), Joinery work (50pics), Plumbing work (26pics),
Teaching the children (English) (17pics), Children’s tooth care (9pics), Play (27pics),
Games (14pics), New seesaw (21pics), Singers (30pics), Visiting team (43pics),
Sponsored children (28pics), Groups of children (35pics), Individual children (50pics),

Members of the July Trip (4pics),  Sunrise/sets (29pics)
Reports on the trip by: John Brindle, Wendy Whitaker
and from a previous trip July 2005 by Gary Nolan

Photos from the March Trip (over 360) click on the various headings

Airport (15pics), Building work (29pics), Famine relief (8pics), Food! (37pics),
Groups of children (57pics), Individual children (88pics), Letters received (35pics),
Letter writing (25pics), Melissa (7pics), New children (22pics), Sunrise/sets (46pics)
Children working the land (22pics)

Photos from the January 2006 Trip (over 300) click on the various headings

New children (8pics), The visiting team (65pics), Villagers (105pics)

Inividual children (108pics), Groups of children (19pics), Activities (9pics)

Dining room (17pics), Singing (45pics), Awards (9pics), Letters (70pics)

 

Return to home page

Click on pictures to enlarge

 

For seven years of past news reports  click here

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The far-away tree

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Funny faces

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Little ones

FUNDRAISING?
We have  joined ‘JUSTGIVING’
which should be a great help for those thinking of raising money through sponsored events
(e.g. Marathons etc.)
Click here for more information

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Baptisms

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Far away tree - take 2

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Forever Angels - Girls

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Hanging out the washing

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New Dining room and Kitchen

 - YouTube -
January 2009
New Video clip
Message from
Eva and Rehema

Link to all 40
video clips

Video Nov 2008

Bethany intro 4mins
Videos added Nov 2008
I have decided to follow
Sukuma tribal wedding song
Gateway Ch. York visit 2004
Medley of songs for visit 2006
Whim away-Lion sleeps tonight

Video July 2008
Visitor’s Choir - John3:16
Visitor’s choir- Thank you
Bethany choir song
Parachute fun
Soon and very soon
Oh be careful little eyes
Kum Ba Yah
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Video May 2008
Sunday Service song

Our God is an awesome God

Sunday Service fun time
Eva Joseph teaching
How great thou art
It would be really helpful if supporters would rate and comment on the videos via Youtube

 89 children still need
sponsors/co-sponsors.

Here are some of them
Click here to go to our sponsorship page

Countries wealth compared
For every £7 the Tanzanian government has to spend (GDP) on each person these are the figures for comparison

Tanzania

£7

Kenya

£12

Uganda

£17

South Africa

£121

United Kingdom

£309

As you can see both Kenya and Uganda have nearly twice as much money to spend per person as Tanzania whilst the South African government has 17 times the amount to spend on it’s people.
The UK government has 44 times the amount to spend per person.
Click here to see  the source of these figures.

FREE DOWNLOADS

Click here to download MP3
‘Our God is an awesome God’

Click here to download Video
‘Our God is an awesome God’

Click here for short
Video tour of the new dorm

dorm 2000202

Below are listed the videoed songs in WMV format.
Even though each one lasts no more than a few minutes they are large files and may take several minutes to download
(especially if you only have a dial-up modem).
Click on the title to download

Blessed Assurance

The lion sleeps tonight

Any dream will do (Joseph’s - dreamcoat)

I the Lord of sea and Sky

My Jesus my Saviour

Lord I lift your name on high