Medical Mission to Ukerewe Island, Tanzania

Since the fall of 2009, I’ve been traveling to Ukerewe Island in Tanzania with a dedicated team of volunteers. Over the years, this beautiful island has become a second home to me—filled with close friends and ongoing work that means the world to me.

During my time there, I will serve as a logistician—supporting the medical team in every way possible. This includes tasks like taking blood pressure, weighing patients, directing them to the right place, and even making sure the team has pens when needed. In short, logisticians handle everything behind the scenes so the medical team can focus fully on patient care.

While on the island, I also hope to meet with local village leaders. Their insight is invaluable in helping us ensure that CACHA (Canada Africa Community Health Alliance) is meeting the true needs of the community. These leaders know their people best, and I look forward to hearing how we can continue to improve our work.

This year is particularly special—I’ll be traveling with my niece and her son. My niece has grown up hearing stories about my time on Ukerewe, and now that she’s a nurse, she’s eager to contribute herself. I’m incredibly proud and excited to have inspired her to join. Bringing her son along will, I believe, be a life-changing experience for him. He’ll get to see a different way of life, one where people may have little in material wealth, but a great deal of joy and resilience.

In addition to our work on Ukerewe, the three of us will travel to the village of Terrat in Masai land to visit a new school I helped fund. I can’t wait to see the children learning in their new classrooms—it’s a dream come true.

To make this journey possible, I need your help. The cost is $5,500 - $3,500 of that covers field costs, and the rest is for airfare.

Field costs include:

* Medications we distribute

* Stipends for our Tanzanian partners

* Local transportation

* Accommodation and food for both Canadian and Tanzanian team members

* Surgeries and emergency medical care

* Transportation for patients

* A 5% contribution to the most urgent local projects

On Ukerewe, this 5% supports the Lake Victoria Children’s Organization Emergency Medical Fund, which helps provide critical medical care for children.

**Your donation, no matter the size, truly makes a difference. Every contribution helps improve lives, provide care, and bring hope to those who need it most. Thank you for helping us continue this important work.**