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It's time to spread Christmas Joy in 2019! We are now in our 4th year of spreading joy!
2018 Report
2018 was our third year as Christmas Joy. What a joy it is. In 2018 we increased our impact by partnering with a new organization , The Foundation Project; and adding a Christmas party at Mumburwi Primary School, in addition to donating stationary. We directly shared a meal and gave gifts to 300 + people, a 25% decrease from last year.
The decrease is unfortunate. It is because we did not give dried goods to homes as in the previous years. We were unable to connect with the homes. Additionally, we did not have the party scheduled on December 21 for the 140 children and teenagers living on the street as the organization in Zimbabwe that provides the space and coordinates the children closed earlier than originally planned.
We raised $1,350 in monetary gifts. We received clothing from Mike’s mum, as well as cards and gift tags from my friend Aida and her scrap-booking circle. Mike a friend & former work colleague from New Jersey, joined me in Zimbabwe last year to spread joy in person. Thank you Mike for the gift of your time.
• The total in our account last December was $2,715.29, with $1,350 raised from your monetary gifts in 2018 and $1,365.29 carried over from 2017.
• We spent $1,388.90 on the parties: $652.72 for food and $486.67 for gifts that included toys for each child at the Foundation project; a party favor gift for children at Bumburwi Primary School; and clothes for the folks at Ida Wekwako home for the elderly. This includes $285.51 we spent on 250 reusable drawstring that we give as prizes. We have enough bags to last for many years.
• In total we spent $1,388.90 in 2018 and have $1326.39 remaining. In addition, we still have the 3,000 grant from Advent Lutheran Church that is on hold for an on the ground healthcare implementation program for Ida Wekwako.
2018 Christmas Joy recipients were: Ida Wekwakwo Old Aged Home, Bumburwi Primary School and the Foundation Project.
Our Mission
Our mission remains the same: to celebrate Christmas with those who do not have the resources.
How We Work
We partner with established organizations in Zimbabwe that work with vulnerable populations. The organizations do not have the resources for Christmas celebrations. We plan, organize entertainment, provide a meal and give gifts.
I will be in Zimbabwe from December 14, 2019 to January 3, 2020. Below is the schedule for the parties:
• The first party is with Bumburwi Primary school on December 16. We are inviting the whole school 516 kids from grade 0 to 7.
• The second party is December 17 for 25 seniors at Ida Wekwako Old aged home. Due to the hardship this year we will have a tea party and donate dried goods for longer lasting impact.
• The third party is December 18 with about 150 children, from toddlers to 10 years of age. This is our second year with the Foundation Project. http://foundationsproject.org/.
Join us!
Last year, when I learnt that we would not have the party for the children living on the streets, I emailed my contact at Mumburwi Primary School, a rural school, and asked if they would be open for a party. He said yes and asked how many kids. I thought of a fair way to select the kids and said maybe the top performers in each grade with maximum of 50. So that was the plan. On the day we had more like 100 kids, including kids from the neighboring homes. As the teachers and parents from the neighboring homes watched the kids laughing and having fun, they kept saying all the school children should be here to enjoy the party. So, this year we are doing that, inviting the whole school to a Christmas joy party. The idea of entertaining 550 + kids makes me so happy and excited. I can’t wait to see their smiling, joyful faces.
I invite you to help spread the joy of Christmas to as many people as we can. My friend Mike enjoyed the experience so much he is joining me again this year. Two of my friends, Minal and Brandon, have also caught the Christmas Joy bug and will join me in Zimbabwe this year. If you would like to join me in Zimbabwe, you are more than welcome! I have housing available.
As is our implementation method, the charitable organizations in Zimbabwe help with logistics, but funding will come from the Christmas Joy project. I have $2,000 of my personal funds set aside for any work that is beyond the funds we receive.
All money raised will go towards the celebrations and food provision as well as the school. If money is left over, it will be used next Christmas.
Please join us to spread Christmas Joy!
Thank you,
Blessing N. Tawengwa
2018 Report
2018 was our third year as Christmas Joy. What a joy it is. In 2018 we increased our impact by partnering with a new organization , The Foundation Project; and adding a Christmas party at Mumburwi Primary School, in addition to donating stationary. We directly shared a meal and gave gifts to 300 + people, a 25% decrease from last year.
The decrease is unfortunate. It is because we did not give dried goods to homes as in the previous years. We were unable to connect with the homes. Additionally, we did not have the party scheduled on December 21 for the 140 children and teenagers living on the street as the organization in Zimbabwe that provides the space and coordinates the children closed earlier than originally planned.
We raised $1,350 in monetary gifts. We received clothing from Mike’s mum, as well as cards and gift tags from my friend Aida and her scrap-booking circle. Mike a friend & former work colleague from New Jersey, joined me in Zimbabwe last year to spread joy in person. Thank you Mike for the gift of your time.
• The total in our account last December was $2,715.29, with $1,350 raised from your monetary gifts in 2018 and $1,365.29 carried over from 2017.
• We spent $1,388.90 on the parties: $652.72 for food and $486.67 for gifts that included toys for each child at the Foundation project; a party favor gift for children at Bumburwi Primary School; and clothes for the folks at Ida Wekwako home for the elderly. This includes $285.51 we spent on 250 reusable drawstring that we give as prizes. We have enough bags to last for many years.
• In total we spent $1,388.90 in 2018 and have $1326.39 remaining. In addition, we still have the 3,000 grant from Advent Lutheran Church that is on hold for an on the ground healthcare implementation program for Ida Wekwako.
2018 Christmas Joy recipients were: Ida Wekwakwo Old Aged Home, Bumburwi Primary School and the Foundation Project.
Our Mission
Our mission remains the same: to celebrate Christmas with those who do not have the resources.
How We Work
We partner with established organizations in Zimbabwe that work with vulnerable populations. The organizations do not have the resources for Christmas celebrations. We plan, organize entertainment, provide a meal and give gifts.
I will be in Zimbabwe from December 14, 2019 to January 3, 2020. Below is the schedule for the parties:
• The first party is with Bumburwi Primary school on December 16. We are inviting the whole school 516 kids from grade 0 to 7.
• The second party is December 17 for 25 seniors at Ida Wekwako Old aged home. Due to the hardship this year we will have a tea party and donate dried goods for longer lasting impact.
• The third party is December 18 with about 150 children, from toddlers to 10 years of age. This is our second year with the Foundation Project. http://foundationsproject.org/.
Join us!
Last year, when I learnt that we would not have the party for the children living on the streets, I emailed my contact at Mumburwi Primary School, a rural school, and asked if they would be open for a party. He said yes and asked how many kids. I thought of a fair way to select the kids and said maybe the top performers in each grade with maximum of 50. So that was the plan. On the day we had more like 100 kids, including kids from the neighboring homes. As the teachers and parents from the neighboring homes watched the kids laughing and having fun, they kept saying all the school children should be here to enjoy the party. So, this year we are doing that, inviting the whole school to a Christmas joy party. The idea of entertaining 550 + kids makes me so happy and excited. I can’t wait to see their smiling, joyful faces.
I invite you to help spread the joy of Christmas to as many people as we can. My friend Mike enjoyed the experience so much he is joining me again this year. Two of my friends, Minal and Brandon, have also caught the Christmas Joy bug and will join me in Zimbabwe this year. If you would like to join me in Zimbabwe, you are more than welcome! I have housing available.
As is our implementation method, the charitable organizations in Zimbabwe help with logistics, but funding will come from the Christmas Joy project. I have $2,000 of my personal funds set aside for any work that is beyond the funds we receive.
All money raised will go towards the celebrations and food provision as well as the school. If money is left over, it will be used next Christmas.
Please join us to spread Christmas Joy!
Thank you,
Blessing N. Tawengwa