gimme shelter · esho — and to Jenna Green, racey Hartmann and the organising team! g ... First...

4
gimme shelter october 2009 Elizabeth and Nanci are settling in just fine. We’re thrilled to announce that on October 1, fws finally moved our eight Kesho Leo house mamas and their children into their new home: Kesho Leo children’s village. The Toyota ute got an all-day workout, ferrying mamas and their cherished possessions to Kesho, then U-turning to make its way to a new mama’s mud hut and load up all over again. Kesho volunteer Eve says, “Mudi and I moved the mamas one at a time (or three, in the case of Mary, Gladi and Helena who didn’t have very much to bring) while the rest of the Kesho Krew and mamas worked with Kesho volunteers Bec, Karen, Annie, Paddy, Janey and Kelsey to give their rooms a thorough clean and wash all the donated sheets, pillows and pillowcases.” As the mamas, kids and possessions arrived, the mamas got busy positioning their belongings in their new homes. Mama Elizabeth’s daughter Diana, in particular, was a fireball she saw to it that every single piece of her family’s belongings made it into their room. Then the school- age kids began showing up and exploring every nook and cranny of the entire hectare block, including snooping into their new neighbours’ homes. By the end of the day, everyone was exhausted yet triumphant. There were tears, excited squeals, singing, dancing, hugging and laughter, followed by some serious celebrating! At the end of the night, tired but still super-animated mamas and kids couldn’t wait to flop into their comfy new beds. For some kids, this was the first time they’d had their own bed, and it was all made possible by generous donations from local businesses: Tanfoam, who gave mattresses; Sopa Lodges, who donated bed linen; and A To Z Textile Mills, who gifted mosquito nets. fws and the Kesho mamas and kids would like to give enormous thanks to them, to photographer Liz Halloran, who came out to take photos of the day (some of them featuring here) and all our volunteers in Australia and Tanzania, members, contributors, program sponsors, grant donors and corporate sponsors for their support over the last five years. This momentous move-in is yours as much as ours. yay, we did it – the Kesho Leo mamas and kids have moved in! In Charters Towers, 63 walkerthon-ers aged 74 to five months (OK, she was in a stroller) raised $1,200 for fws! Sue Chapman rocks for organising the 15km Queensland event Massive thanks to all those lovely people who supported Sydney events manager Jada Bennett’s music fundraiser last month. You raised $1500! Brisbane Fame night was also a winner. Thanks if you supported it — you sent $2,000 direct to Kesho — and to Jenna Green, Tracey Hartmann and the organising team! Up for hosting an easy-as fundraising event of your own? Check out our fab how-to-do-it fundraising ideas or email fws public fundraiser officer Laura Kearley If you’re inspired by our mama move-in special, join up to support a mama and her family. Email Kate McNally about our Families For Families sponsorship program Even better, join our Final Founding Fifty — we're as keen as mustard to get the last of the fifty all signed up! this month ' s smileys... mama move-in special

Transcript of gimme shelter · esho — and to Jenna Green, racey Hartmann and the organising team! g ... First...

gimme shelteroctober 2009

Elizabeth and Nanci are settling in just fine.

We’re thrilled to announce that on October 1, fws finally moved our eight Kesho Leo house mamas and their children into their new home: Kesho Leo children’s village. The Toyota ute got an all-day workout, ferrying mamas and their cherished possessions to Kesho, then U-turning to make its way to a new mama’s mud hut and load up all over again. Kesho volunteer Eve says, “Mudi and I moved the mamas one at a time (or three, in the case of Mary, Gladi and Helena who didn’t have very much to bring) while the rest of the Kesho Krew and mamas worked with Kesho volunteers Bec, Karen, Annie, Paddy, Janey and Kelsey to give their rooms a thorough clean and wash all the donated sheets, pillows and pillowcases.” As the mamas, kids and possessions arrived, the mamas got busy positioning their belongings in their new homes. Mama Elizabeth’s daughter Diana, in particular, was a fireball — she saw to it that every single piece of her family’s

belongings made it into their room. Then the school-age kids began showing up and exploring every nook and cranny of the entire hectare block, including snooping into their new neighbours’ homes. By the end of the day, everyone was exhausted yet triumphant. There were tears, excited squeals, singing, dancing, hugging and laughter, followed by some serious celebrating! At the end of the night, tired but still super-animated mamas and kids couldn’t wait to flop into their comfy new beds. For some kids, this was the first time they’d had their own bed, and it was all made possible by generous donations from local businesses: Tanfoam, who gave mattresses; Sopa Lodges, who donated bed linen; and A To Z Textile Mills, who gifted mosquito nets. fws and the Kesho mamas and kids would like to give enormous thanks to them, to photographer Liz Halloran, who came out to take photos of the day (some of them featuring here) and all our volunteers in Australia and Tanzania, members, contributors, program sponsors, grant donors and corporate sponsors for their support over the last five years. This momentous move-in is yours as much as ours.

yay, we did it – the Kesho Leo mamas and kids have moved in!

In Charters Towers, 63 walkerthon-ers aged 74 to five months (OK, she was in a stroller) raised $1,200 for fws! Sue Chapman rocks for organising the 15km Queensland event Massive thanks to all those lovely people who supported Sydney events manager Jada Bennett’s music fundraiser last month. You raised $1500!

Brisbane Fame night was also a winner. Thanks if you supported it — you sent $2,000 direct to Kesho — and to Jenna Green, Tracey Hartmann and the organising team! Up for hosting an easy-as fundraising event of your own? Check out our fab how-to-do-it fundraising ideas or email fws public fundraiser officer Laura Kearley

If you’re inspired by our mama move-in special, join up to support a mama and her family. Email Kate McNally about our Families For Families sponsorship program Even better, join our Final Founding Fifty — we're as keen as mustard to get the last of the fifty all signed up!

this month's smileys...mama move-in special

mama move-in specialClockwise from left: Ester, Mary and Helena had fun food-shopping for the move-in party; behold Diana’s super-human strength!; Mudi and Omari handle the really heavy stuff; Sherida and Oliva unload their belongings; Neema contemplates her bright new future.

Clockwise from top left: our groaning ute; smashing new outfits for Diana, Ruth, Innocent and Mariam; mamas, volunteers and workers celebrate the moment; Sherida heads a hive of activity preparing the party food; Pascalina gets a helping hand from Roger.

Our latest Final Founding Fifty member is three months old! His name is Joshua Cronin, and yes, he’s the son of fws board members Amanda Pattison and Mick Cronin. Joshie wants to inspire another 17 of you to donate a tax deductible $2,000, 100 per cent of which goes direct to Kesho now. Become a Final Founding Fifty member and your names will adorn a plaque that sits in Kesho’s foyer.

just 17 to go...

final founding fifty

The Lovely Family

Ellen DeGenerousFran & Fabio Fabulous

Lesley Legend Archibald 'Ace' Bloke

Your name ..?

Max Moolah

fws Kesho volunteer Paddy “The Brave” Nash donned this matching-mama garb in public, full Partridge Family style, to celebrate the Kesho Leo mama move-in! To get into the spirit of the official celebration (to which village elders, local community and suppliers were invited), each volunteer drew a mama’s name from a hat for them to purchase fabric for and visit the tailor with, to be decked out in a new outfit — that the mamas insisted must match! The volunteers had a blast, watching mama Helena jumping behind shop counters and pulling out fabrics to display. At first the volunteers were a little nervous, but the outcome was some stunning outfits. It was a great sharing between mamas and volunteers, made even better by ex-Kesho volunteer Ben Schwabe donating money for the kids to get something new to wear too, and fws had some Fletcher Jones shirts set aside for the workers. All in all a huge deal, because in Tanzania, you rarely get new clothes in your lifetime.

frock til we drop!

gimme sheltera colossal to-do list

mama move-in special

Kelsey emailed us her basic to-do list for the week leading up to the move-in. We gawped and then did all we could to support it: found last-minute funding, sorted out some legal agreements, put the code of conduct on hold till a bit later…

saturday & sunday Toilets and bathrooms due to be finished off and louvre windows being fitted.mondayam: Spend time with my mum, aunty and Ruth.pm: Picking up all the fire extinguishers from Tanga General. Finalising the Kesho Leo house mamas’ Memorandum Of Understanding agreements about living and working at Kesho, with the board. Volunteer nurse Karen and social welfare officer Lucas and mamas are shopping for buckets and jugs. Mamas will be washing the fabulous sheets, pillows and pillowcases that were donated locally by Sopa Lodges. Mudi and I picked them up last Friday.tuesdayam: Signing mamas’ agreements with a village elder to verbally translate them.pm: Finish moving Kesho Leo assistant manager Mudi and his wife Neema and son Abdul-Basat into their onsite residence at Kesho Leo (they’ve already started bringing stuff).wednesdayam: Moving all eight house mamas and their kids into Kesho Leo. We plan to do this in four ute trips depending on how much stuff they have and how far away they live. Isn't it exciting to see that written?pm: Kesho Leo meeting with all staff and mamas. Cover some basic rules again and do fire training.thursdayThe celebration day! This encompasses a three-goat feast beginning at 2pm. Invited are the fws-Arusha board, elders, all past workers, all volunteers and some donor-suppliers we love.fridayFirst day of settling into a new home!

Work, work, busy, busy.Paddy and Helena looking Kesho-fabulous.

Seriously stylin', guys!

As the Kesho Krew welcomed mamas and kids, they hadn’t anticipated some furry and feathery family members, too. Kelsey explains: “After everyone had vigele gele'd [cheered] our last mama Ester into her home, we all turned around to see Franki and Haji proudly strutting up with chickens and chicks under their arms, heading straight to their room. I let them have their moment of glory then changed their direction to the fish ponds and said the chicks would be happiest living with the ducks in their new houses.” Eve says she too had some introductions to make. “After all the moving, Joseph boldly walked up, introduced his dog Snoop and informed us he would be our new guard dog!” Right, does this mean our trained guard dogs Maggie and Knucksy have to go..?

you'll never guess who turned up

Kesho volunteer Annie Raser-Rowland has done a poll after the kids’ first night in their new home: “Many of the children have declared love for their new beds — brand new mattresses, sheets, pillows and blankets all at once. Mama Gladi’s son Rashidi says he can sleep much better here, though he isn’t clear if this is down to the beds or the surroundings. Norah, mama Mary's daughter, says that even though she has explored the whole site, her favourite thing is to stay in her family's rooms and do her homework. Norah also says she wants to meet the foreign visitors, and that she will greet them in English because she isn't shy. On the culinary front, Mariam (daughter of mama Gladi) is excited there is an orange tree planted. Several kids are noticing the bananas are starting to fruit and say when they ripen, they will eat one in the afternoon, and one after dinner. They can't wait till the cows begin producing milk either. Kids are saying they’ve made new friends, and like looking at the view of the Mount Meru. Indeed, Gemini, mama Oliva's son, declares he wants to live here, at Kesho, for many, many years.”

what do the kesho kids reckon?

a moment with Mudi

Kesho Leo assistant manager Mudi Salim, 29, was fws’s first employee in Tanzania, hired the day after president Rebecka and building foreman Darren (RIP) arrived in Arusha in July 2008. He has been with fws ever since, integral in all elements of the creation of Kesho Leo. A phenomenally peaceful and wise man, we are honoured to have him celebrate this emotional day with us — and share a few words:How do you feel about living at Kesho Leo now that you’ve moved in?I really like it. It's a good place and I like the quiet.What are the best things about Kesho Leo?Providing better education for children. Plus ensuring safe water is so important, healthy food, teaching the mamas how to manage their daily lives and budgets and to care for the environment.What are you enjoying most about the celebration?Seeing people from the community have accepted Kesho Leo and they are so happy about the project.What will be the biggest challenge now?To show we really mean what we set out to do and we are giving people what we promised, especially the mamas. We need to learn how to support each other as a group and find solutions.What do you feel most proud about?That we have achieved what we have and are offering a home to the orphans. We collected rainwater in tanks a year ago and are still using it. I have been part of this massive building project from beginning to end, even when it didn't seem possible. I am happy the mamas have a safe place to live.

And we are happy they will be under your care from now on, Mudi. Thank you so much for your unwavering support over the years.

We couldn't have done it without

you, Mudi.

Eve meets Snoop, Kesho's fearsome

new guard dog.

Jump if you love Kesho!

If there’s anything you’d love us to tell you about

fws, please don’t hesitate to contact gimme shelter

at [email protected].

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Melbourne-based Fun(d)raising Events Manager☛ time: 2 hours per week (on average, more leading up to event)

☛ term: Forever would be nice

☛ where: Work from your home

☛ salary package: $zilch

☛ perks: Warm-fuzzies

Initially liasing with the fws president, you will create an exotic annual fundraiser in Melbourne, procuring must-see entertainment and brilliant auction prizes, and enticing the right crowd. Skills & Experience: • Experience in fundraising events management• Creativity by the bucket-load • Superb organisational skills• A proactive and results-driven personality If you're up to the task, send us an email at: [email protected]

volunteer vacancies

HR Manager☛ time: 5 hours per week (on average)

☛ term: Minimum 12-month commitment

☛ where: Work from your home

☛ salary package: $zilch

☛ perks: Warm-fuzzies

Reporting to the fws president, the HR manager has responsibility for the administration of human resources policies, procedures and programs. The role deals exclusively with volunteers and their training and development, and will focus on both overseas-based and Australian-based volunteers.Skills & Experience: • Experience in recruiting and retaining staff• Excellent communication skills• Ability to problem-solveFor more info and a full job description, visit www.foodwatershelter.org.au/HR-manager.aspx

volunteer vacancies

Australian-based Volunteer Recruitment Officer☛ time: 5 hours per week (on average)

☛ term: Minimum 12 month commitment

☛ where: Work from your home

☛ salary package: $zilch

☛ perks: Warm-fuzzies

As a member of the fws HR team, you'll be responsible for human resource planning plus the recruitment and training of all volunteers working for fws in Australia, ensuring all applicants receive excellent, friendly service and assistance. This involves processing and replying to applications, maintaining contact lists and supplying the fws Volunteer Welcome Pack to successful applicants.Skills & Experience:• Excellent communication skills• Strong organisational skills• Warm, understanding and nurturing personality• Desire to make a differenceIf you think you've got what it takes, send us an email at: [email protected]

Nurse (Tanzania) 2010☛ time: Full-time position

☛ term: 13 month posting, starting December 2009/January 2010

☛ where: Based at Kesho Leo, accommodation provided

☛ salary package: $small stipend

☛ perks: Warm-fuzzies

As resident fws nurse, you’ll help establish and run the Kesho Leo health clinic, keeping an eye on the general health of the mamas and children as well as providing first aid and TLC.Essential:• Nursing training and qualifications• Understanding of cross-cultural issuesDesirable:• Experience in pediatrics and HIV treatment

You’ll also be working with our teachers to deliver health education to Kesho Leo residents and the wider community. If you’re interested, please send us an email at: [email protected]

volunteer vacanciesvolunteer vacancies

For information about these and other current fws volunteer opportunities in Australia and Tanzania, visit www.foodwatershelter.org.au/volunteerwithus.aspx