Q. How do I know where my money is going?

You don’t think your donations actually get spent on what they’re supposed to.

Many of us have had that experience; you hand over money and feel as though it’s just been swallowed up in some bureaucratic swamp. This is why it’s essential to find out up front what each dollar you donate is actually doing.

Here at One Person we have made a deliberate decision to not get too big. Our research has shown us that smaller NGO’s can be much more cost-effective than larger ones.

• There are no paid positions here in Canada. The Board and Committee volunteer their time and skills. And that amounts to thousands of hours and a deep-well of skills!
• We do pay a stipend to our One Person Agent. Emmanuel Mlau in Kahama, Tanzania. Program funds are sent to Emmanuel and he ensures that they are spent where they were intended to be spent and monitors the programs.  Emmanuel also contributes many unpaid hours to One Person!
• All our trips to Kahama are self-funded. Everyone pays their own way.
• Our Admin costs are low (around 1%) as the Board absorbs half of the costs – donating paper and ink for the brochures and flyers for example. A local business owner has also donated printing and paper. Running costs are equally low – one major expense being paying for our domain name and web-hosting which works out at around $100 a year. Renewing our Society status is $25 a year.                                                                            

One Person member Peter on a work-bee at the recently constructed orphanage

You can see your dollars in action on our facebook page, this blog and via our website. We are also featured regularly in BC newspapers and magazines, on the radio and in TV news reports.

Brenda (One Person President) holds information nights at her home, hosts presentations in the community, and each year creates a wonderful summary of progress, which is shown at our Annual Gala.

For more information, to volunteer or to make a donation contact me , mail to The One Person Project, 10108 Julia Street, Summerland, B.C. V0H 1Z5  donate on-line or make a payment into our account at the Summerland & District Credit Union.

What a difference windows make!

Thanks to sponsorship money and a $1,000 donation from Nancy Comeau (who donated the first $1,000 towards building the orphanage!) we have been able to put most of the glass panes into the Muvuma Orphanage. The secure metalwork was there from the beginning but the glass will protect the building from the rains and colder weather. 

Emmanuel (our Agent) on the right with James,
a youth with an albinism who has recently been sponsored.

Thank you to everyone who has supported the orphanage, and the community of Kahama.

Contact me if you would like to sponsor an orphan, 

or the orphanage as a whole. To learn more about the Muvuma Orphanage or our other programs scroll through the blog - or click on a label on the right. Check us out on facebook for the latest news and pictures.

You can donate on line www.theonepersonproject.org or at the Summerland Credit Union or mail to The One Person Project 10108 Julia Street, Summerland, V0H 1Z5 

Asante Sana!

8th Annual Gala Raises $6,000

Our successful Dinner-Dance and Auction raised just over $6,000! 
Thank you to everyone who helped make this evening a success, including Bobby Bovenzi & the Nankama Drummers & Dancers.

 Everyone loves the audience participation!

One Person President, Brenda Lowe gives an update of progress so far. Funds raised at the event will be used towards shipping our 5th 40' shipping-container to our sponsor-community in Kahama. 

Each year our supporters get to see where their dollars are directed, and see pictures of the children and families we are supporting. 

Tickets please! 

 Thank you to Knights of Columbus Jamie, pictured above and Lorne below, for tending the bar all evening. 

Your smiles were appreciated!

And many thanks to DJ Doug for once again donating his time and giving us the opportunity to dance 'till midnight! 

For more information, to volunteer or to make a donation contact me , mail to The One Person Project, 10108 Julia Street, Summerland, B.C. V0H 1Z5  donate on-line or make a payment into our account at the Summerland Credit Union (Summerland, British Columbia).  

Okanagan Youth Step Up Again

Thank you to the young people who volunteered at our 

8th Annual Fundraising Gala

Some have been involved in many of the events and some are exchange students from around the world! Many have formed the next generation of Junior TOPP and work to raise funds and awareness for the children of Kahama. 

From setting up the room in Penticton's Shatford Centre 

to helping to dish up the delicious food provided 

by The Breakfast Club

The servers receive training...

And have fun too! 

Thank you to everyone involved and a special Asante Sana to the The Breakfast Club for donating their time and skills preparing and cooking the delicious meal. 

UPDATE: The evening raised $6,000

Another Major Boost for the Kahama Maternity Ward!

Our thanks go out once again to Community Health Nurse, Elizabeth Ross who, with the help of the community of Kaslo. B.C. has raised another $1, 000 for the labour ward of the Kahama District Hospital. 

Liz took part in our 2009 medical trip and has remained a dedicated ambassador for Kahama, with a special interest in supporting maternal-child health. In 2010, she was honoured with the Canadian Health Care Association Marion Stephenson Award for Outstanding Contribution to Community Care, in part because of her visit to Kahama and her on-going fundraising for the hospital.

Our Agent Emmanuel handing over the donation of 1,500,000tsh

 to Dr. Fredrick Malunde, Assistant Head Doctor. 

Kahama Town Medical Officer Dr. Minja Bruno presents the purchased medical resources to Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bahati Ngowi and the matron, Miss Nyanjura Mujeberi. Items purchased included a fetal scope, MVA kits and vacuum extractors. 

Dr. Bruno wrote:

"I would like to extend my gratitude to Elizabeth Ross and all contributors of the donated funds and the project as whole and I ask you to extend our collaboration to achieve safe rooms for delivery in our council. I once again thank you so much."

Maternal and infant deaths remain staggeringly high in Tanzania. due in the most part to hemorrhages, infections, unsafe abortions, hypertensive disorders and obstructed labours. With your help - we can assist Dr. Bruno in turning these figures around in the Kahama Hospital.

Dr. Bruno and his team are working towards establishing a new. comprehensive maternity block in the hospital, with a specific theater for obstetric emergencies. Click on the Kahama Hospital link to the right to see the progress so far at the hospital. 

Thank you once gain to Liz and all our Kahama Ambassadors who continue to support us after their volunteer trips to our sponsor-community. 

UPDATE: Liz and the community of Kaslo have raised a further $885.00 in 2016 taking their grand total to $10,000!

For more information, to volunteer or to make a donation contact me , mail to The One Person Project, 10108 Julia Street, Summerland, B.C. V0H 1Z5  donate on-line or make a payment into our account at the Summerland Credit Union (Summerland, British Columbia).  

           

Asante Sana!

Thank you!

Like us on facebook to see all the latest pictures 

Muvuma Orphanage receives support from their own community

We receive frequent updates from the Muvuma ladies:

"The MUVUMA group has not been idle since Brenda’s last visit. We have knocked from one donor to another and this has produced some results, I am happy to let you know that 3 metal safety doors for the external doors have been installed. Other contributions include

• Sofa sets- 6 pieces
• Cooking pots- 8
• Refrigerator- 1
• Wardrobes- 6
• Bicycles- 3
• Mattresses- 11
• Electric cooker- 1
• School uniforms
• School equipments
• School fees(January to June 2015)
• Tables small size- 10
• Clothes
• Food
• Kahama Town Director provided Tshs 4,800,000  ($3,000 CDN)


So the work for The One Person Project has attracted other people to put their hand at the Orphanage Centre. The place looks really wonderful. We thank you a lot."

Contact me if you would like to sponsor an orphan, 

or the orphanage as a whole. To learn more about the Muvuma Orphanage or our other programs scroll through the blog - or click on a label on the right. Check us out on facebook for the latest news and pictures.

You can donate on line www.theonepersonproject.org or at the Summerland Credit Union or mail to The One Person Project 10108 Julia Street, Summerland, V0H 1Z5 

Asante Sana!

Thank you!

Like us on facebook to see all the latest pictures

Midwifery training in Kahama

Next week, midwife Sarilyn Zimmerman will be training midwives in Kahama; this is with another organization but she and her husband John will be visiting the Muvuma orphanage. John plans to help with any ongoing projects - perhaps putting in a part of the ceiling or building shelves. 

It is wonderful to have got to the stage where people seek us out and ask what they can do to help. Thank you Sarilyn and John!

Muvuma Progress & Local Support

www.theonepersonproject.org

New Compost Enclosure & Fire Pit

Garbage control and composting are not priorities in rural Tanzania when there are so many other issues to deal with and no funds to provide the solutions. Brenda talked with the children about the importance of keeping the grounds clean and arranged for the pits to be built.  Garbage is currently burned out in the open, which makes it easy for items to blow away but with a new brick machine in the area the orphanage now has a fire pit. The composting enclosure will ensure that the area is kept clean and that the orphanage gardens will be fertile. 

Support from the Community of Kahama

One of the Muvuma leaders, Flora, told us that our contribution in finishing the orphanage has encouraged local support. It must be deeply dispiriting when a project takes years to complete, but in this case because of the support of the Okanagan and BC public, we were able to facilitate the construction in months rather than years; a major boost to everyone concerned!  

We were delighted to learn that Barrick Gold, who operate nearby, constructed and fitted metal safety doors at the orphanage! We still need to raise funds for internal doors, floors and a ceiling (and much more!) but it's a relief to know that the safety issue has been resolved! The tireless Muvuma ladies have rallied more local support, which means that the orphanage now has more mattresses, small tables, chairs, cooking utensils and food donations. The Township of Kahama has also donated more funds.

The Shinyanga Region Tax Revenue Authority donated 200 large building blocks towards a perimeter fence, as well as 100kg of rice, 50kg of sugar and 20 litres of oil. 

Following photo credits to the Vijimambo blog

Muvuma Committee Member Eliulie Tina
shows the TRA Officers around the orphanage.

For more information, to volunteer or to make a donation contact me , mail to The One Person Project, 10108 Julia Street, Summerland, B.C. V0H 1Z5  donate on-line or make a payment into our account at the Summerland Credit Union (Summerland, British Columbia).  

         

Asante Sana!

Thank you!

Like us on facebook to see all the latest pictures 

Click on the Muvuma link on the right to see all the posts about Muvuma

Young People Today Just Want to Help

www.theonepersonproject.org

Young people throughout history have stepped forward to make a difference, but as a whole, the youth of today are certainly more globally aware, socially conscious, and environmentally friendly than any preceding generation!

Case in point, at 20 years old Chelsea H. has a summer-job and is studying to be a financial analyst; in the last few months she has started to make monthly payments to sponsor the Muvuma Orphanage. Not satisfied with that, she purchases Nesters Market shopping cards from us (Nesters donates 10% of the purchase price to One Person) and encourages her family to do the same.  On discovering the importance of sports in schools in Tanzania , Chelsea used facebook to ask friends and groups to donate soccer shirts, cleats and balls.

Thanks Chelsea!

As a youth Chelsea knows the value of recycling and was delighted to discover that we use bottle depot funds to feed children with HIV/Aids at the Kahama Hospital’s Care & Treatment Centre.  You guessed it – our recycle donations have gone up!

Kids these days -  hey?

Check out the previous youth blogs to read about the Okanagan children and youth who understand how interconnected we are with other cultures and are determined to make a difference. 

For more information, to volunteer or to make a donation contact me , mail to The One Person Project, 10108 Julia Street, Summerland, B.C. V0H 1Z5  donate on-line or make a payment into our account at the Summerland Credit Union (Summerland, British Columbia).  

           

Asante Sana!

Thank you!

Like us on facebook to see all the latest pictures 

2015 Volunteer Trip: Muhanga, Rwanda

Terimbere-Rwanda Organization

Brenda and Denise Ingabire from TRO  cutting the ribbon for the new sewing-room

We also, in a small way, support the Terimbere-Rwanda Organization (TRO) in Muhanga Rwanda.

We have provided some funding for the TRO Women’s Cooperative.  These women have led harsh lives; the majority of girls and women who survived the 1994 genocide were victims of sexual violence or were profoundly affected by it.  

Participation in the TRO Women’s Cooperative begins with extensive counselling and leads to income generating projects such as a pig cooperative and a sewing cooperative. We have given and passed on donations to purchase pigs and have shipped sewing machines. 

We have also donated books and classroom supplies to the Amizero Academy, a relatively new preschool/kindergarten. The plan is that the school will eventually go up to the 8^th grade. 

Resources are still limited but the children learn, play and receive nutrition.  The Academy is focused on helping vulnerable children, and the TRO founder, Costa Ndayisabye  ensures that the majority of students are girls.  

Ron and Brenda with the Women's Sewing Cooperative

Brenda at the Amizero Academy in 2013

Black & Whilte Photo Credits Soling Photography

Go to the Rwanda & TRO label on the right 

for more stories and pictures

www.theonepersonproject.org

Like us on facebook to see all the latest pictures 

2015 Trip: Kahama District Hospital

Unloading the Container in the Hospital Grounds
www.theonepersonproject.org

Peter (back) and Joseph and Emmanuel

The medical resources in our 4th shipping container (the 3rd donated to the District of Kahama) included hospital beds and mattresses, 300 boxes of medical supplies, 15 boxes of medical books, shelves, cribs, walkers and canes. The hospital also received 33 boxes of dehydrated food to be split between the wards and the children's Amani Clinic. 

Students from the nearby Nurses School pick up text books

We delivered baby clothes and knitted blankets and hats

For more information, to volunteer or to make a donation contact me , mail to The One Person Project, 10108 Julia Street, Summerland, B.C. V0H 1Z5  donate on-line or make a payment into our account at the Summerland Credit Union (Summerland, British Columbia).  

           

Asante Sana!

Thank you!

Like us on facebook to see all the latest pictures