News

Pamoja’s Safe Drinking Water Project

Many of you know Proctor and Gamble as the company that makes your detergent and toothpaste. Di d you also know that they are one of the largest corporate donors to drinking water safety? Early in August Pamoja Project was contacted to lead an effort to bring P and G’s clean drinking water initiative to 300 Tanzanian families living with HIV, or with children under 5 years. Water borne disease is especially devastating to these populations, and the water in our service area is filled with bacteria, parasites, and other dangerous elements. » Read more

Responding to a Changing HIV/AIDS Pandemic

In Tanzania, the future for people living with HIV/AIDS is looking brighter all the time. Anti-retroviral drugs are available, stigma against those living with the disease is slowly being reduced, and fewer people are in bed at home waiting to die. This is not to say the epidemic has been contained, only that the needs of these folks have changed. What are the new set of needs? Well, the HIV/AIDS clinics are so full of patients that there is no time for doctors or other staff to discuss nutrition, medication adherence, or do any more than register a name and hand out some pills. Patients leave confused and without the support they need to re-engage with a healthy life. » Read more

A Year End Message From Carol

When our nation is in a period of crisis, it is difficult to look a bit further away at the effect upon our neighbors in the developing world. There has never been a time during which we were as economically interdependent, where when one nation suffers, the whole world suffers. It’s not just a matter of money, although that is part of the truth. It is also a matter of faith, and hope, and knowing we are all going to be ok. At this time of year, we are called to remember such things. And so, we at the Pamoja Project hope you will join us in supporting the continued health, education, and prosperity of Tanzanian children, as well as all children living on the planet. May you have a joyous and peaceful holiday season and New Year.

Neither sleet nor rain nor giant mud puddle…

It can be a challenge to visit sponsored orphans during the rainy season! We visit each sponsored child, either at home or at school, once each year to check in and share your messages of support. The rains have come early this year, with monsoonal downpours that turn the dirt roads into more than just a challenge for humans, animals, and the few vehicles that even attempt to travel them. We try to plan our visits to minimize being marooned in a distant location, mostly with success. Last week we met Eric Gardian at Nkoanrua Secondary School, where the Second Head of School vacated his office to facilitate our visit. » Read more

What Makes A Good Life?

In the last few weeks we have had conversations in “swanglish” (Swahili/English) with young orphans, asking them what their vision is of their future. If you asked an American child that question, you might hear that they wanted to be a pilot, or a movie star, or drive a cool car. Many told us that they wanted to have “a good life”. We probed a bit further, and asked what it meant to live a good life. Number one answer? Two meals a day. » Read more

Stories We Love To Tell

The changes in the lives of our microfinance loan recipients are just too wonderful. Tumaini Williams is a young HIV infected widow with an 8 year old son named Kelvin. Two years ago Tumaini joined WALIPO, WAMATA’s support group for those living with HIV/AIDS. When Pamoja Project made interest- free microfinance loans available to members of this group, Tumaini borrowed enough to buy a cow. With the milk generated by the cow, she has been able to not only support her son and pay off the loan, but has recently taken another loan to build an outdoor bathroom building near the Williams’ little house. This is Stella the cow, with her owners.

Tanzanian Children’s Rights Advocacy

Although Tanzania signed the African Charter for the Rights of the Child in 2004, little progress has been made other than lip service paid to the health care and educational needs of Tanzanian children. Presently, caning is an accepted punishment in schoolrooms across the country, and children are expected to be working members of the family without the right to an opinion. Recent movement in advocacy circles that aim to support not only the rights to health and education, but also the child’s right to dignity and emotional support, have begun to reach those in positions of authority. » Read more

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