Godlisten

Last week we hosted a clinic, here at FAME, for children with disabilities.

I met a young man named Godlisten.

Godlisten has graduated from primary school and scored well enough on the National Exam to attend a local secondary school.

Godlisten suffers from paralysis of the legs, most likely caused by meningitis as a younger child. His secondary school is further away that his primary school was and is unable to find reliable transport (via bike or taxi) and has missed a lot of school so far because of that.

Both of Godlisten's parents died of AIDS and he now resides with neighbors.

What Godlisten needs is a special wheel chair (available locally here in Tanzania) in order to get to and from school. This wheel chair only costs $350.

If everyone who reads this blog donated a small amount, just a few dollars, we would have the funds for this wheel chair.

Please help Godlisten by donating. Go to http://www.africanorphanfund.org/ and click on the Network for Good link!

New pics

Just a few new pics of the clinic at work!

Introducing ...

Jasmin Ramadhani Mohamed

Jasmin is AOEF's newest scholarship recipient!

Jasmin is 16 years old. Born in 1993, her parents and three siblings moved to Karatu in early 2003. Later that year, both of her parents passed away due to AIDS related complications.

After the death of her parents, Jasmin and two of her siblings were taken in by their aunt. Her third sibling went to live with their grandmother in Moshi. Although her aunt wanted to care for Jasmin and her siblings, economic resources were scarce. Their aunt had six children of her own.

Shortly thereafter, Jasmin and her siblings were referred to Rift Valley Children's Village. Jasmin and her brother Rajabu were too old for RVCV, but their younger sister Fatuma was not and now lives there. That is how AOEF came to know about Jasmin, because I have know Fatuma since she arrived at the Terengire House!

Jasmin, is a very shy and quiet girl. She loves Math and English. She loves to read, and her favorite game to play is a game called ‘Ready’, which is very similar to Monkey in the Middle. Her favorite color is green.

Although Jasmin is a lovely and bright young woman, her primary schooling did not prepare her well enough to attend Secondary School. It is unfortunately so often the case here in Tanzania. Primary school is in Swahili, and English is taught among all of the other subjects. However, Secondary School is purely in English. So if a student has not mastered English by the time they graduate from Primary School then Secondary School becomes futile.

So, as opposed to Secondary School, Jasmin is attending Leguruki Vocational School to study economics. Luckily, vocational training is in Swahili.

AOEF is proud to sponsor Jasmin! Thank you to everyone who has so generously and graciously supported AOEF - despite the doom and gloom of the US economy - You have made this possible for Jasmin!

Message from Frank and Susan

Dear Friends of FAME,

It is that time of year again! We are gearing up for our Spring fundraising tour! Despite the challenging times we live in, we have learned that when people passionately and unwaveringly embrace a cause, there is nothing that can get in the way! We have been experiencing an absolutely staggering level of commitment and generosity from our supporters. THANK YOU for standing with us, over the long haul … through think and thin!!! THANK YOU for helping us to make a difference in this corner of the universe.

Please contact us if you are interested in hosting a benefit for FAME. It can be a small, very casual gathering, a black tie affair, or anything in between. We leave Tanzanian on April 24th for roughly 7 weeks. We look forward to hearing from you!

Love & Blessings! - Frank and Susan

(email Susan at sgusty@gmail.com)

FOUNDATION FOR AFRICAN MEDICINE & EDUCATION

www.fameafrica.org

Request for Laptop

Upgrading to a new PC?

Switching from a PC to a Mac?

Got an extra laptop sitting around?

Here at FAME, we are in search of a donated laptop for a medical student here in Tanzania. Unfortunately, the laptop has to be a PC, not a Mac, and can't be more than 3 years old. It needs to be already set up with Microsoft (word and excel) and a modem - otherwise just the basics - but "ready to go" per se.

If anyone has such a laptop and would be willing to donate it to a worthy Tanzanian medical student in need, please email me at

famevolunteer@gmail.com

We would be able to have it hand carried to Karatu via an upcoming volunteer.

Please ask with friends and family too - you never know who might have one just waiting for someone who needs it!

Thanks so much!

I would like you to meet ...

Winnie Nixon

Winnie is AOEFs newest scholarship recipient!

Winnie is 10 years old. Winnie’s mother, Lillian, passed away in 2002, due to HIV. Winnie’s father subsequently fell ill and passed away in 2006 (probably due to HIV as well, although he was undiagnosed, which is so often the case). Lillian's sister took Winnie and has raised her ever-since, here in Karatu.

Winnie is currently in the fifth grade – referred to as Standard Five in Tanzania – at Tumaini Junior Academy, here in Karatu, Tanzania. At the end of the 2008 school year (just this past December), all the children in the Karatu District take government assessment tests. Winnie scored the highest score of any child in the District, out of thousands of children. To say that she is bright is an understatement!

Asante sana (thank you) to Mr. Robert Olson, of Bellingham, Washington for being Winnie's sponsor! Your generosity will guarantee the best education available here for a little girl so full of potential!

Thank You AOEF Donors

I want to personally thank all of you who have donated to the African Orphan Education Fund!

And I wanted to give you yet another example of how your generosity is making a difference in the lives of needy children here in Tanzania.

Thanks to your donations, AOEF was able to cover the costs for Benjamin and Ester, siblings who attend Tumaini Junior Academy, to get glasses.

Benjamin and Ester - who are almost identical in looks - have been complaining about headaches and difficulty seeing the board since beginning at Tumaini months ago. Their father is unable to assist financially.

AOEF covered all of the costs for these two to see an ophthalmologist and to purchase their very own - and much needed - pair of glasses!

Benjamin

Ester

So a big THANK YOU from Benjamin and Ester!

Two more children in Tanzania, able to learn because of YOU!!!