Tanzanian Bracelets

The bracelets made in Tanzania have arrived. Do you want to buy one? We are selling them for $10. All proceeds go to a support fund that allows teenagers, who have been orphaned because of HIV/AIDS, to attend secondary school. The fund pays for tuition, uniforms, shoes, school books and supplies, a mattress, and blanket. Supplies are limited. Act fast.

Take the "I Get Tanzania Quiz"

Do you think you really know Tanzania? Do you know the facts? Well, then take on the "I Get Tanzania" Quiz at http://www.gotoquiz.com/i_get_tanzania_quiz.

If you do really well, then post you're results back here. Do I hear, "Prizes anyone?"

Letter from a Carpenter's Kids high school student

This is a letter from a high school student who is benefiting from the support of the Carpenter's Kids. He is one of the first nine students in this program. Notice in his letter the hopes and dreams he has. Double click on the letter to get a better view.

Interview Continued...

The photo to the right is of Pastor Noah (left) and Mmoti while they were in New York City.

CL: How many high school students do you currently support?
Fr. Masai: We currently support 9 students. Five students are from the City of Dodoma. Two are from the town of Mundemu and two are from other villages.

CL: What year are they in school?
Mmoti: They are finishing their first year.

CL: When does their school year end?
Fr. Masai: It ends about now (the end of November) and begins early next year.

CL: Is that because it is summer in Tanzania now?
Mmoti: Yes.

CL: Do students have to take additional examinations during their high school career?
Fr. Masai: Yes, to stay in school they must pass examinations at the end of their second year. If they pass then they can study for two more years. If not, they do not continue their schooling.

CL: Do you expect to have more students entering high school for the first time next year?
Fr. Masai: Yes, we anticipate having a larger group of entering students (freshman) this next year. We don't know the number yet. It is these new students that we need Changing Lives to help us support.

Interview with Pastor Noah Masia and Mmoti Sudayi

On November 19, 2007, Changing Lives met with two of the Tanzanian leaders of the Carpenter's Kids program. We met in Mount Vernon, New York at Ascension Church. Pastor Noah, a tall man who is gentle and thoughtful, is the director of the Carpenter's Kids program in Tanzania. Mmoti is a young man who is bright and cheerful also works at the Carpenter's Kids offices in Tanzania.

CL: How does the Carpenter's Kids program help orphaned or vulnerable Tanzanian teenagers?
Father Noah: When Tanzanian grade school children graduate, they must take an examination to go to secondary school. So far, several of the students, who are orphaned or vulnerable because of HIV/AIDS that are in the Carpenter's Kids program, have passed the examination. Each year, we anticipate that more students will pass the examination and go to secondary school. The Carpenter's Kids program financially supports these students so they can continue their education.

CL: How much does it cost to support a teenager in secondary school?
Mmoti: $250 each year.

CL: What does that money go for?
Father Noah and Mmoti: It pays for their tuition, uniforms, shoes, school books and other school supplies. It also buys them a mattress to sleep on and blanket.

To be continued... (We will post more of the interview in our next post)

Imagine sleeping on the floor of your bedroom with no blanket and going to school the next day. Okay. So how do you want to help?

Project for 2008

We are pleased to announce our newest project! We will be working with the Carpenter's Kids program to financially support orphaned teenagers in Tanzania. Our funds will allow these students to have a high school education. It cost approximately $250 U.S. per year for a student to go to high school. Our goal will be to support as many students as possible.

More details will be coming soon, but spread the word and start strategizing ways to raise funds!

Changing Lives, Inc. in Action

After the conference in June of 2006, the members decided to support the Zambian Children's Fund. This is a U.S. based agency that supports the Chishawasha Children's Home in Lusaka, Zambia. Every two years, ZCF fills a large container of material, which it then ships to the orphanage. Everything from toilets to book supplies, even a tractor, goes into the container. We learned from ZCF that even though it can be more expensive, ZCF gathers many supplies in the U.S. because the quality and variety of goods is much better.

After consulting with ZCF, we decided to do a clothing drive with a twist. The only clothing collected was items that would be worn by teenagers. So, over the course of a couple of months the members collected clothing at school and church. The drive was very successful and everyone had a great time. Then the group gather to do a sort and pack (see the picture). We sent 700 lbs. of clothing to the orphans.