The Amani Care & Treatment Centre

The Amani Clubhouse at the Kahama District Hospital 

The Kahama District Hospital has a children's Care and Treatment Clinic that provides treatment services and counselling for children with HIV/AIDS.  In 2009 the hospital created a much-need social support group for around 20 children, and asked if we would add our support. And we did. Nine years later the clinic caters to over 200 children!

We ordered tables, chairs and bookshelves from local carpenters, and shipped resources and extra furnishings in the One Person sea-containers, including sewing machines to help the young women practise for their tailoring apprenticeships. We created and funded a food program, which is now mostly being covered by the City of Kahama and local donations. 

We visit on each trip and deliver resources and stay up-to-date with progress and possible needs. Our visits are also a cause for great celebration as we hold a party for the children and their families each time we go. 

The 2018 team purchased the provisions from the local market 

and helped to prepare the food, and the Amani ladies 

cooked for around 400 people. 

The menu was rice, beef, beans and and watermelon. 

The children also received small gifts 

and practical resources for their family. 

 A satisfying, but exhausting day! 

 

  Most families in the Kahama region survive through subsistence farming and live in huts without furniture, running water or power. There are few paved roads and for most people a journey to the clinic means a walk of several hours or more.  

Imagine making this walk when your child, and probably you, are sick and hungry. Imagine being a child and arriving at the Amani clubhouse and being given food, life-saving medicines and having the opportunity to play with toys and books, skipping ropes and soccer balls. 

Read more about the Amani Clinic & Clubhouse. 

Visit our facebook page for more photos.

Contact us to find out how to volunteer or to make a donation. 

You can also donate now online. 

Asante Sana - Thank You! 

The 2016 Volunteers

This is Peter's second trip to Kahama. He also volunteers tirelessly throughout the year. This is Brenda's tenth visit to Kahama! Just a reminder here that everyone pays their own way on these trips.   

The Muvuma ladies presented Brenda with gifts as a thank you for all she has done for the orphanage and the community of Kahama. 
(Brenda came up with the idea of helping in rural Tanzania and co-founded The One Person Project. As President of the organization she dedicates a huge percentage of her time and energies to One Person.) 

The harder the work the better 
as far as Peter is concerned! 

As long-time volunteers you will see the Barkley family from Peachland B.C. mentioned a number of times throughout this blog!

Over the years the family has also raised funds, collected soccer uniforms and equipment, and sponsored children in Kahama. Finally they have achieved their goal of visiting our sponsor-community and making a difference at the Muvuma Orphanage.

Matthew, Bryan and Nathan at Muvuma, taking a break from painting, building steps, helping build a chicken coop 
and much more! 

Becca and Maureen sorting donated resources in the old shipping container. The new shipment should arrive soon! Meanwhile there are a lot of tasks to help with around the orphanage. 
And one of the most important aspects of our volunteer trips  -  spending time with the children! 

Learning through play

Soccer - the universal language!

Monica Miller keeping the children enthralled! 

Preparing Christmas dinner

The second wave of volunteers on the 2016/2017 trip

This is Ron's second trip to Kahama. Ron and his friends Bill and Lawrence have donated a number of brick machines for us to provide employment locally; we buy the bricks back to use at Muvuma. Ron is organizing and partially funding the construction of a water tower for the orphanage

Margaret, Gloria and Jeannie are nurses from Redwater, Alberta. They volunteered at the orphanage and Kahama Hospital, and hosted the Amani Christmas party. Amani is the name of the children's clubhouse that we set up at the hospital for the children receiving long-term weekly care. 

Each volunteer took donated resources in their suitcases!

The ladies taking donated items to the tailoring store that we have set up for Mwanaidi (second left) and Deo (second right).

Visit our facebook page for more photos.

Contact us to find out how to volunteer or to make a donation. 

You can also donate now online. 

Asante Sana - Thank You! 

www.theonepersonproject.org 

2016 Trip: The Amani Clinic

The Kahama District Hospital has a children's Care and Treatment Clinic that provides treatment services and counselling. In 2009 Dr Subi provided a clubhouse and some funding to set up a much-need social support group and asked if we would add our support. The group quickly grew from under 20 children to over 200! We ordered chairs, tables and shelves, which were made locally.  As well as many other donations, we have supplied a VHS player, TV screen & videos  to while away some of the hours of waiting-time and to help improve their English. We also set up and partially fund a food program. 

Brenda always arranges a party on each visit, with food for the children and their siblings and caregivers. 

Do contact me if you would like to donate to the Amani clinic or make a regular donation towards the food. 

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 

2015 Volunteer Trip: Amani Group

www.theonepersonproject.org

We always check in with the Amani children and host a party.

Brenda Lowe in the Amani meeting area, which is adjacent to the clubhouse. 

The Kahama District Hospital has a children's Care and Treatment Clinic that provides AIDS treatment services, an HIV prevention program, and counselling and testing. In 2009 Dr Subi provided a clubhouse and some funding to set up a much-need social support group and asked if we would add our support.

The children chose the name Amani, which means peace in Kiswahili, and we became a part of their lives. The group quickly grew from under 20 children to over 200! Melinda, one of our committee members ensures that the children receive letters; she writes many of them herself and has solicited friends to write the rest. We provided funds to purchase tables and chairs for the clubhouse and have shipped educational resources, a TV/VCR, sewing machines and other resources.

A volunteer in our home-base in Summerland, B.C has donated around a thousand home-made cloth bags over the years and each child received one, filled with small gifts donated by members of our B.C. community.

Led by Nurse Flora the children sing a few songs as a thank you

We aim to provide up to $200 a month to provide food for the clinic. In their treatment the children receive antiretroviral drugs, which are are highly toxic; patients risk malnutrition and harmful side effects unless they can increase their overall caloric intake by as much as 40 percent. In addition, people with HIV/AIDS are more likely to be malnourished in the first place and extreme hunger is a cruel side-effect of the drugs. 

Thanks to the Okanagan Gleaners we were able to ship 74 boxes of dehydrated food (soup and fruit) to Kahama this year, and delivered a large portion of it to the clinic. 

Do contact me if you would like to donate to the Amani clinic or make a regular donation towards the food. 

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 

Help feed a child at the Amani HIV Clinic

www.theonepersonproject.org

Brenda with Abdul at the July 2012 Celebration at the Kahama District Hospital

One Person donates funds and resources to the Amani Group, a club house created for around 200 children who attend the Kahama Hospital's HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment Clinic  (CRT).  
The Amani club aims to improve quality of life by providing social support and a safe environment in order to encourage families and caregivers to bring children for regular assessment and treatment. There is still a great deal of social stigma attached to being identified as being HIV positive
We intend to provide funding towards food for the children who attend the clinic to receive antiretroviral (ARV) drugs. ARV’s are highly toxic and patients risk malnutrition and harmful side effects unless they can increase their overall caloric intake by as much as 40 percent. In addition, people with HIV/AIDS are more likely to be malnourished in the first place and extreme hunger is a cruel side-effect of the drugs. The Amani clinic receives funding for food from the local council but needs an additional $200 per month to ensure that each child can receive a simple meal on the day of treatment.  (2014 Update: Thanks to individual donations and people donating refundable beverage container money at our local Bottle Depot - we have been able to provide up to $200 a month.)

Or send a cheque to The One Person Project, 10108 Julia Street, Summerland, B.C. V0H 1Z5, donate on-line or email me. 

. 

The children look forward to our One Person visits!

THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed
in any way to supporting the Amani Children!  



Contact me to set up a regular monthly donation to the food program.

Strengthen one person - strengthen the family - strengthen the community.

Read the April 2nd 2013 blog to find out more about the Amani food program

Read the Sept. 4th 2012 blog for more details and photos of the Amani children.

Help 15 Families - Chicken Cooperative

www.theonepersonproject.org

Help put 15 families on the road to self-sustainability.  We are providing funding for a poultry cooperative for some of Kahama township's most vulnerable families.

Nurse Guardian of the cooperative, Anna and two of the fifteen co-op members -

Martha, Chair Person and Chausiku

We support the Amani Club, a social support group for children who attend a clinic at the Kahama Hospital for treatment of HIV/AIDS. Most of the children are from woman-headed households. Fifteen women who have taken in orphans have been chosen for the first cooperative; Chausike, Martha, Veronica, Jamilah, Zena, Monica, Kuluthum, Shardia, Sauda, Asha, Leticia, Khadija, Regina, Angelina and Fortuna.

Read the April 10th 2013 blog for more chicken co-op and Amani Children details
Read the Sept. 4th 2012 blog for more Amani pictures and details.

Why Poultry? Chickens provide maximum production for minimum costs compared to most livestock. The chickens will address basic nutritional needs as well as generate income for the Amani families and the Amani Clinic. (Meat, eggs and manure.)

Hybrid Chickens. The local breed of chicken is small and weak and produces only around 40 eggs a year, so they will be cross-bred with sturdier imported cockerels to improve body mass and output.

Funds Required. Start up costs will include building a structure, the drinkers and feeders, purchasing 50 chickens, 3 cockerels and initial vaccinations and feed. Ongoing costs will include vaccinations and treatments, security and admin costs. 

Impact. Reducing the burden of care on the women who have taken in orphans and are already struggling to support their own families, by providing food and income. An increased family income will help with shelter, nutrition, healthcare and education. The women will learn skills, which they will pass on to their children and to a second group of women who will form a co-operative (and so on...). Cooperatives for women  provide opportunities for the members to participate in decision making and provide a route towards self-empowerment and self-sustainability.

Funds will also be directed back to the children's Amani Clinic.

Strengthen one person - strengthen the family - strengthen the community

To make a donation send a cheque to The One Person Project, 10108 Julia Street, Summerland, B.C. V0H 1Z5, donate on-line or email me.





Kahama District - Distributing the Shipping Container Resources / 2013

www.theonepersonproject.org

 

Dr Andrew and Athanis happy to see the shipping container arrive at the Kahama District Hospital. The leaves on the Kahama Friendship tree were purchased and signed by our supporters in Canada;  we raise around $16,000 to purchase and ship each container. See the Nov. 9th 2012 blog for a list of contents.

Beds and other medical resources were carried in to the hospital and a further160 barrels and boxes went to the Amani Clubhouse at the far end of the compound. Classroom and teacher resources were taken into the Teacher Resource Centre, and library and text books were transferred to the previous shipping container to be stored before processing. Both beautifully decorated containers have been donated to the hospital.

LeAnne, Brenda and a team of helpers from the hospital spent a 12 hour day visiting 11 schools in 11 remote villages to distribute soccer/netball uniforms and pumps and balls.

The children hold messages thanking Iron Man Canada for the donated shirts

A decent soccer ball costs $50 US, about as much as many Tanzanians earn a month in a full time job!

One Person believes in the concept of sport for development – that sport is not just an end in itself, but also an effective tool to help improve the lives of children, families and communities. Participating in sports allows young men to have a sense of pride and something to strive towards and allows girls to have status and opportunities they do not usually receive. Even the presence of one soccer ball can increase school attendance, which is doubly important as most schools and sports teams have HIV Prevention Programs.

Next the truck headed out to the men's woodworking co-op in Llomelo. We passed on donations of hand/power tools and a much needed generator.

The delivery team were entertained with food, and traditional dance and music. The woodworkers then presented Brenda with this beautiful wooden map of the Shinyanga Region (North Tanzania) with the district of Kahama in the middle.

 We have supported the Llomelo men's co-op for a number of years, donating tools and commissioning desks and tables for the Kahama Teacher Resource Centre.  The photos below are from the 2012 trip.

Before

And after

 Strengthen one person - strengthen the family - strengthen the community

For more information or to make a donation contact me , mail to The One Person Project, 10108 Julia Street, Summerland, B.C. V0H 1Z5 or donate on-line  

Kahama Hospital - Amani Clinic & Chicken Co-op /2013

www.theonepersonproject.org

In the Sept. 4th 2012 blog I spoke of how we met with the Amani nurses Philomena and Flora and set in motion a plan to fund a poultry cooperative for the clinic's most vulnerable families. An initial group would be selected from women- headed households.  At that time we donated $200, and on this trip we have donated a further $1,100.

Philomena has retired and Anna has taken over. Thank you Philomena for your helping us to set up a workable program. We so admire your total dedication to the children and your role in the Amani Clinic & Clubhouse!

A cooperative of 15 women has been formed, with the help of a member of the community who has experience in setting up poultry cooperatives. The women will have on site training and will in the future, pass on their skills to a second cooperative.

 



Kahama Hospital nurse Anna, Brenda and Chicken Co-op participants.

As well as being able to support their children, these women will be learning and sharing entrepreneurial and marketing skills.



The new chicken enclosure will be similar to this one in Kahama.
 

As usual, we held a celebration day with the Amani children and their families/caregivers, and delivered donated gifts and resources for the clinic and the families. We have a Friends of Amani Group here in Summerland who keep in contact with the children and also donate resources. This party was larger than usual as many of the doctors, medical officers and staff also attended the formal presentation of  $1,100 for the Amani Chicken Cooperative as well as a further $1,000 for the new Muvuma orphanage!  We usually provide snacks for the children, but the importance of the occasion called for a full meal for everyone!

 The chicken co-op ladies prepare and cook for around 200 people.

An interesting half-day of shopping for Brenda and the team at the local markets!

 

 

Anna and LeAnne help keep the children entertained!

 Brenda, One Person President and co-founder with two of the chicken co-op members

who are holding thank you messages for everyone who has donated towards
the formation of the first cooperative.

 

 

To make a donation send a cheque to The One Person Project, 10108 Julia Street, Summerland, B.C. V0H 1Z5, donate on-line or email me.

Kahama Hospital - Amani Clinic/ Food Program

www.theonepersonproject.org

 

Children washing hands before eating at the

One Person Celebration for the Amani children and caregivers.

One Person helped set up the Amani Club, a social support group for children who attend a clinic at the Kahama Hospital for treatment of HIV/AIDS. We funded the refurbishment of a small building, purchased shelves chairs and tables and we deliver donated toys, books and other resources such as a video player & TV and videos.  (More details and pictures in the Sept 4th 2012 blog.)

OUR GOAL IS TO RAISE $200 a month to subsidise the cost of providing meals for the (almost) 200 children so that we can reduce the impact of taking antiretroviral medication (ARV'S) without  food. ARVs increase appetite and can lead to intolerable hunger, and medication side affects such as extreme stomach pain are exacerbated in the absence of food. Also, due to the nature of the condition, children with HIV/AIDS are malnourished to begin with, and without adequate nutrition are more likely to succumb to common childhood illnesses and opportunistic infections.

CONTACT ME if you would like to make a regular or one-off payment towards the Amani food program. We will post pictures and updates.



  We met this young girl in July 2012. At 2 years of age she is the size of a typical 6 month child.

The father abandoned the family when he learned that the children were also HIV positive.

2012 Trip /Tanzania/ Kahama Hospital / Amani Group

www.theonepersonproject.org

As an organization we strive to ensure that the support we provide leads to self-sustainability for the communities and organizations we have connected with and I am delighted to report that we are extremely successful in this, but being there confirmed that sometimes a quick-fix is also essential; and thanks to your donations we are able to offer both short and long-term solutions to families affected by poverty.

We visited with Philomena and Flora who run the Amani group, a social support group for children who attend a clinic at the Kahama Hospital for treatment of HIV/AIDS.

We always meet with staff, officials and organizations to ensure that we are providing what is actually needed and to monitor progress. The funds we raise allow us to ship donated items such as a TV and video recorder, toys and books, which make the waiting and treatments more bearable and will also encourage children and adults to attend for testing, education and treatment. We also ordered tables, chairs and shelves for the room – or clubhouse as the children call it!

We hope in the future to provide funding towards food for children who attend the clinic to receive antiretroviral (ARV) drugs as the highly-toxic medications cause severe side-effects if taken on an empty stomach. 

In keeping with our belief that one community can help another at all levels, the wonderful staff from the Summerland Ministry of Children & Family Development have created the Friends of Amani Group, and write to the children and send gifts and supplies in the shipping container!



We held a party for the children and their mothers/grandmothers/aunts.
Most of the children are from women headed households or are orphans.

Mary was the official photographer for the trip. Janeth is so excited to see her own picture!
Flora holding a camera donated by the Friends of Amani Group.
Read Mary's account of the trip

Erin chats with Lucas and Ibrahim as they sign a poster for the Friends of Amani Group

 

 Brenda loves to share stories with the women in the community.
Read Brenda's account of the trip

This is Jochim. His written and spoken English is excellent. Before he left he gave me the bracelet he had been wearing and said, "Please accept this little touch of Africa to remember me by." I didn't know whether to laugh or cry - so just grinned for the camera!

Fun with bubbles!

The children were delighted with the skipping ropes and soccer balls!

 

Further long-term support examples:

After discussions with the dedicated and resourceful Philomena and Flora we left US $200 to be used to create a women’s co-operative, where six or so of the mothers of the most vulnerable families will chose a project – poultry for example – and will work together to purchase and rear the chickens, which will provide both food and income for the families, who will eventually be able to donate a little money to the Amani Clinic and also pass on chickens to another group of mothers to create a second co-operative.

We have donated a sewing machine from the shipping container and will provide more so that the older youth can create sewing co-operatives. We hope in the future to provide funding for scholarships for school leavers to attend a nearby Sewing and Training Centre.

Short-term example: 

We discreetly gave 30,000 Tanzanian shillings (US $20) to one mother whose children were very sick; her husband had left and she was unable to earn even the less-than-a-dollar-a-day that most Tanzanian families survive on. We were able to help her through a month or so, and with your help we can work towards creating a strong community, which will come up with strategies and solutions to eliminate extreme poverty.

With so much fun and laughter it was sometimes hard to remember why we were there.
A bitter-sweet day.

Click here if you would like to volunteer here in the Okanagan B.C or offer support from elsewhere.

Click here if you would like to make an on-line donation or email us at info@theonepersonproject.org if you can save us the on-line fees and mail a cheque!