Summer 2018 Volunteers join with REACH Shirati to Empower Girls!

Dear Friends and Supporters,

As you know, we like to feature our committed and hard working volunteers in these Newsletters. Many travel with us to Shirati and some find unexpected projects once they arrive. Today we’d like to introduce you to one of these dedicated people - Tara Roshan White. Her story is one example of how a meaningful and important activity can surface spontaneously during a visit to Shirati.

To learn more about how you can participate contact us.

“Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual ability.” --- John F. Kennedy

Meet Tara White,

REACH Shirati Volunteer!

 

Tara volunteered with REACH Shirati for the first time this Summer, and we hope it won’t be her last! Tara is going into her senior year at UCLA, with plans to go to medical school after she graduates. She spent five weeks in Shirati this summer, volunteering at Tina’s School and Shirati Hospital. Below Tara describes the project that won her heart:

"Every Tuesday after classes finish at Tina’s School, a group of 20 to 25 enthusiastic girls gather in one of the classrooms. Desks and benches are pushed aside, and under the guidance of teacher Madame Linda, the girls follow a routine, learning strength and conditioning exercises, and basic self-defense techniques. The class is in its early stages, and I have decided to make it my personal project to raise donations so that it can serve as many girls as possible.

Two issues became clear immediately. First, the girls were doing their exercises dressed in their school uniform skirts on a dirt floor. Second, many students come to school hungry, and the daily ugi (porridge) provided by Tina’s School isn’t enough to provide the calories needed for these girls to perform rigorous physical exercise – especially after a long day of classes.

As of today, through my fundraising project we have managed to provide all of the girls with brand new comfortable tracksuit uniforms and a tarp to practice on! The next step is to acquire more exercise equipment and a dependable supply of nutritious snacks for each practice.

One girl at a time, these young women from Tina’s School will help Shirati develop into a village full of strong, fearless females.”

Above are photos of girls performing conditioning exercises before and after getting their new tracksuit uniforms.

September Teacher Features 

Meet Mr. Julius

Mr. Julius was born and raised in Shirati, and has been teaching Class Seven Math at Tina’s Pre and Primary School for two years. Having worked at another school for over 12 years, Julius has had time to a develop a successful and highly regarded teaching style that reflects the needs of his students. When asked why he enjoys teaching, he states that he finds the profession interesting, and that his father being a teacher gave him an appreciation for the profession. Growing up around educators gives Mr. Julius confidence as a teacher, and he feels it is his calling.

Meet Madame Mary

Mary is a Class Six English, Math, and personal development teacher at Tina’s Pre and Primary School. She went to teacher’s college in Musoma, and after graduating and teaching primary school elsewhere for one year, she came to Shirati where she’s lived for five years, and taught for four. When asked what she enjoys most about Tina’s Pre and Primary school, she noted her appreciation for Tina’s being a school that “… chooses to help poor kids and families”, which in turn helps the community at large. Mary hopes that by teaching, she can help “children in our younger generation become somebody, so they can have a brighter future.” 

J​​​​oin a Teacher Support Circle Today!

 

Our teachers, who take such good care of the educational and health needs of the children, deserve the fair market wage we are now paying them. Please contribute to our Teacher Support Circles with an ongoing monthly donation! This is our most pressing financial challenge. Knowing that we can count on your $15, $20, $25 or $50 per month makes all the difference.

To support our mission of providing life-changing opportunities through education, healthcare and community development, please contact our Chief Financial Officer Laura Mason by phone 510-928-2730, or email at lbmason.REACHshirati@gmail.com.

 

"To educate girls is to reduce poverty." – Kofi Annan 

Donate Now

More Pictures from Our Volunteer!

Long time volunteers and coordinators of Tina's Teacher Project, Cherene and Jeff Fillingim-Selk brought back some terrific photos from this summers trip that we will be sharing with you in the coming weeks. Here is a classroom photo of proud students getting their papers graded and another photo of one of Tina's teachers, Madam Caroline with Cherene and Jeff.

Unique Kitenge Aprons Directly From Shirati!

Our volunteers had a great selection of fabrics to choose from for the dresses Mama Kiango made for them. These beautiful Kitenge fabrics are the same ones Mama Kiango uses to make beautiful aprons. If you'd like one, contact us! 

Tell us Your Volunteer Story!

We have many volunteers who tell us their trip to Shirati and Nyamagongo was a very impactful experience in their lives. If you have an experience or memory you treasure from a trips with REACH, please share it by contacting us!

 
Read REACH Volunteer Stories Here!
P.O. Box 7776, Berkeley, CA 94707-0776
510.273.9044

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