Hathaway Brown Alumni Profile

I am posting because Hathaway Brown (my Alma mater) recently published an article about my experiences in Africa. It is a lovely article and I was honored that they wanted to include my story in their magazine. The article gives a link to this blog - in order for people to read more about The African Orphan Education Fund. This site is my blog, which I used mostly while I lived in Tanzania this past year - but it doesn't have info on the Fund.

The website for The African Orphan Education Fund is:

www.africanorphanfund.org

If you are reading this, hoping to learn more about the Fund, please follow the link about to the actual site. Your interest is truly appreciated!

I am very grateful to HB for helping to raise awareness about the current situation in Tanzania and Africa. Orphans around the word deserve to go to school!

Thanks - Meredith

Introducing Caroline ...

This is Caroline Epe (with Addie and Coleton), the new FAME Volunteer Coordinator!

We are thrilled to have her here, she is already fitting in so well!

If anyone has inquiries about FAME and their volunteer program, Caroline is now the one to ask - famevolunteer@gmail.com

Karibu Caroline!

Under Construction!

FAME has broken ground! Take a look at the newest construction projects:


House for the generator!


Volunteer House #1



Volunteer House #2





Both Volunteer Houses

Garage and workshop!

Laboratory

Exciting new projects underway!

Weekend at Rift Valley

With September 10th fast approaching, I took this weekend off and went up to Rift Valley for some quality time with India and the kids. Everyone is doing so well, but boy is it different now with 60 kids at the Village. Having started at Rift Valley back in 2005, at first with only 11 kids, it is amazing how things have grown in the past four years!

A couple of new pictures ...

India with the kids!


Danielle, the Volunteer Coordinator, and Baby Ema

Nice big group shot!

Little Gabriella

Nada, making the transition to life at RVCV like a pro!

Kids playing ball in front of one of the new houses

Baby January -super cold up there, and he was dressed accordingly!

Such a Success Story!

Here is the update I just received about our AOEF Scholarship Recipient Josephat, from Andy Trotter, the Education Director at RVCV:

***

This kid's a star! First time I met Josephat was in May when he was up at Gyetighi helping to lead a community health seminar with village leaders. He wrapped up Form 6 earlier this year and got Division 1 (the highest possible) on the Form 6 exam. He hung out here at RVCV for a few weeks while he was looking for part-time work and applying to universities. Helped so much!

Was the lead teacher in setting up a tuition program (review course) for 4 weeks at Gyetighi for all our sponsored secondary schools and expanded it to most of the kids in the area who were home on vacation (more than 50 students). Taught classes five days per week from 8:00-4:30 for a small stipend and laid the groundwork to continue the program to keep these kids engaged in learning and away from negative influences during long school vacations. He even included counseling with the students to give them advice about staying out of trouble and handling peer pressure.

He's a pro-active leader, studious, respectful, and a great critical thinker. Now he's helping out with maize harvesting, etc at home until he starts university on Oct 17. He got accepted to multiple universities but decided on Dar University for a BA in Education. His dream is to start up a school of his own! I have no doubt we'll be sending kids to his school in the not so distant future. Dynamite and driven student! Worth every penny of investment. Asante sana for giving him a chance to shine!"

Thanks Andy for the update. And CONGRATS to Josephat on getting into COLLEGE!!!

We are so proud!

Winding Down

Dear All,

I apologize for not posting a blog in a while but things have been crazy here. I finalized my daughter's adoption at the beginning of July and it has been a whirlwind since then to get all of the paper work completed.

The babies and I (and our friend Ashley, without whom we would be lost!) then traveled to Dar to the American Embassy to file all of the paperwork so that we can come home! On September 8th I will have been here for a full year - one whole year abroad - without my family - so the time has come to go home! And luckily, the process in Dar went well and we have passports and visas for Addie and Coleton! One month and they will be American citizens!

My replacement here at FAME Medical will be arriving in a few weeks, a lovely girl named Caroline. I will get her settled and then head HOME!

My year here in Karatu has been an amazing one - filled with highs and lows - but the time has come to return to my family and friends!

One more month of work - hopefully some additional blogs - but I just wanted to share the good news with everyone!

Lots of Love, Meredith

Whats New

First of all, it is SO good to have Frank and Susan back in Tanzania and back at work here at FAME! It was a long seven weeks without them!

A couple of weeks ago I met a man in town, who approached me - knowing that I work at a clinic - because he is in need of a prosthetic foot. His leg/ankle/foot were cut off by a neighbor during a dispute of some kind. And although the injury is healed, he can't work because he can't walk.

I took my friend Amiri to see him. Amiri works for an organization dedicated to helping people with disabilities. With my very limited Swahili I wasn't much help, but this gentleman and Amiri had a good talk about what was required - cost, travel, etc. And the plans are in the works to get this man to a rehab center where he will be fitted for a prosthetic foot. Hopefully, he will then be able to work and help support his family.