Róisín's Tanzania Volunteering-Building a Safehouse-Teretta

Hello all,

I am going to volunteer with the Teretta Foundation in Moshi, Tanzania in September 2024. The Teretta Foundation aims to build a safe house for primary school children in the Kilimanjaro area, who are victims of sexual and physical abuse with no adult in their life to trust, love or care for them. It was set up by Lenore, from Cork and Teddy, from Tanzania. Recently, they purchased the land where the safe house will be and just last week, they broke ground. The money raised will go to building this safehouse.

On her June 2024 trip, Lenore tells of some reasons why this safe house is so vital to the community:

“After spending four weeks in Tanzania we have identified the priority of needs at present which include but are not limited to;

- The immediate build of a boundary wall, gate, watchmens hut and power room with generator. Electricity outages are the norm here as is the heartbreaking horrific reality that in upcoming election times - many children, particularly with albinism go missing. The most recent being a 2yr old child snatched out of her mothers arms and found deceased days later with limbs removed. Many believe that this can be used for good fortune or riches in witchcraft. Our wall and security is necessary to keep all those within the compound safe at all times.

- The urgent build of a classroom, toilet and kitchen facilities to house a teacher who lost her job we located, who is trying to teach over 25 pre school children currently in a dark room covered with plastic with no running water, 2 mattresses and a gas cylinder to get by.

- A view to build self sustainable accommodation which will help cover the running costs of the classroom, safehouse and wages of staff working.

- The build of a multi purpose centre to help teach adults or teens with no education a trade so that they can become self-sufficient and earn an income to support their families. To help educate parents about parenting and family needs and also to be a source of support for those isolated in the community who have no way to help their children with disabilities. One of whom we recently found who has tried to take her own life four times as she has no one to help.”

In Tanzania, some of the many things I will take part in will be:

I would be very grateful if you could spare any donations to put towards the construction of the new safehouse that will provide security and a safe place for these children.

Thank you all for the support,

Róisín