Teretta Foundation

Back in 2019 I sent an email to Teddy Chuwa asking how I could help the kids in the school beside where I would be staying whilst coming to Tanzania to climb Kilimanjaro.

Little did I know how one email would alter the course of both our lives forever.

The pandemic pushed out my plans to travel but yet it also subsequently gave me more time to fundraise at home and six Irish charities were lucky recipients of over €92,000 of huge fundraising efforts in 2021.

I went out to Tanzania as a tourist shortly after and found a sister, soul family and home and things havent been the same since.

My visit rippled in many directions and led to many wanting to join me, this led to some of my friends, colleagues & subsequent groups visiting and joining me in my efforts.

Firm friendships were made through our mutual love of Tanzania and most recently a group of secondary school students & teachers from Kinsale joined me in a remarkable, impactful very first trip of its kind, setting in motion plans for the future.

One decision to climb Kilimanjaro in 2018 seemed to spiral in many directions and left a huge impact on many lives on both sides of the World.

Trojan work and previous fundraising efforts in Ireland over the last few years for the community Ive grown to love out near Kilimanjaro has helped to send 26 people to college

Take 540 children on well deserved days out swimming and on a bus for the first time

has covered the cost of food for a full school year for two consecutive years

has sent over 5 pallets of donated items thanks to the kindness of people on my social media account, has helped contribute towards student doctors college fees in the community, given 53 children a graduation party, bought fruit for 340 children, helped support other organizations in the area including the purchase of over thirty wheelchairs for children with disabilities in the locality (through our friend Johnson Dickson), many of whom are locked inside, two of whom were kept in the darkness for 19 and 24 years respectively.

Look at the smile when he finally, after 19 years got to go outside as he said "even maize cant grow in the dark and needs sunlight"

We got word just in February last that one eight year old child with additional needs was going to be killed as she was a burden to her family but thanks to our collective community efforts with Johnson, is now a recipient of a wheelchair and has access to fresh air, sunlight and safety.

The lottery of life has somehow dictated for many children born into a country by chance that their birthplace, nationality and right to live in safety and dignity is down to luck.

I have seen first hand how life is an unjust human lottery and how we have a responsibility to stand by those and speak out for those who did not receive any tickets.

The stories of many of the children in the area are both horrific and heartbreaking. Each visit uncovers more truths and a rawness that you are never quite prepared for but yet are equally priviliged to be trusted enough for them to impart a bit more of their story to you as the bond begins to strengthen.

As mothers to a collective ten children ourselves, Teddy and I instinctively want to protect those who have noone to love or care for them but to do it without the corrupt, unjust politics that seem to play a huge part in how funds are used which more often than not, is not with the community or children in mind or even made a priority or consideration.

It was the recent joint combined efforts of both of us which helped to protect an eight year old child from a cycle of horrific abuse after weeks of trying to locate her and fight for her safety and right to an education after learning she had been assaulted. The circumstances were so upsetting and heartbreaking as this child was known to us whom we love dearly, this situation forced us to want to make a bigger difference. This child is now being looked after and supported by us both but we can only do so much with what we have.

This has now led us to join forces to set up Teretta Foundation a nod to our heritage, combining our love for our Grandmothers Teresa (Teddy) and Etta, where we both got our sense of community and heart to give back from.

It seems life and our loved ones in Spirit have made sure both Ireland and Tanzania have crossed paths for good reason, to continue the work they started in their own right.

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.

I cant stress how each day that passes is another day for them of living in fear and survival mode.

We are their only hope and the reason many are hanging on by a thread.

Building and providing a safe home for these children as fast as we can will alter the course of their future, as we scaffold and protect them so they can get the chance to just be a child, not live in fear of being abused and ultimately know what it is finally like to feel loved & protected in a family environment for the very first time in their short lives.

We are under no illusions and endeavour this to be a huge undertaking and ask that you please, please support our first ever solo project in what will be the most important mission we may ever do in our lives. 

Previous efforts were always for other organisations but this is for our own and our kids, where as women and Mothers, we will have full control and ensure funds are distributed exactly where they are needed.

Our plans are to build a safe home for the children, cottages for tourists and groups we can host who visit which will help sustain the running of the project and an eventual classroom as we grow, so we can provide the children with a safe trusted environment in one space that we can build from the ground up, oversee and have full proper control of running.

With our only priority, as always, being caring for as many children who are at high-risk that we possibly can, with as much love, care and attention to detail.

How better than combining both the traditions of their heritage in Tanzania and crossing over with new customs from Ireland which will ensure each child grows up knowing they are celebrated, important and loved.

Just like Catherine.

Her Mother was a housemaid at a house in Mailisita village and in the same house was a houseboy. They began a relationship and Catherine was born. Soon after they abandoned her there as the family didnt like her. The church moved her to two more houses where she was abused and horrifically mistreated.

Teddy came across her story when she attended Stella Maris school.

At the age of 6, she took her in when she was in grade one and has raised her ever since.

She was accepted to an excellent secondary school and did so well that the Government sponsored and chose her to attend an advanced school. She has just graduated this month and not only that but she was top of her class in history.

All because Teddy chose to ensure she was given a chance.

We know right now that so much is going on in the World, we are simply trying to look after one little corner.

Even if you are not in a position to help financially, getting the word out to family, friends and work costs nothing but can possibly lead to huge support and our abililty to pull this off.

The creation of this project means we can also take those of you out to Tanzania who have expressed an interest to help. This will mean you get to be a part of the process, meet the kids, give back and also get to see the sights and beauty of Tanzania, with us as your hosts.

We need help from you all now more than ever, to build a community takes a community.

Maybe you can host a coffee morning, a fundraising event, a sponsored walk, have your business perhaps sponsor or cover the cost of a room, name a classroom, bungalow or dormitory after a loved one or business would be both a huge honour and blessing - whilst also simultaneously giving back to help us to achieve our goal for the children, getting them to safety as quickly as possible and at the same time, also endeavour us to give back to the local community providing employment, fair wages and rights for those locally who work incredibly hard and are very often exploited and deserve the right to be paid fairly.

If you would like to help - please reach out, we would love to hear from you and are open to suggestions on fundraising ideas.

We would like to also take this opportunity to thank everyone who has ever donated in any capacity, our families for their unwavering support in all we do, our friends who are in the trenches with us, Kinsale Community School for their partnership and all those who travelled out previously to support our efforts.

We appreciate each and every one of you. It is because of you we were able to do so much and thanks to you, you gave us the strength and confidence to know we can do more.

Asante Sana Lenore, Teddy & family x

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A word & introduction from Ally:

"Hi everyone

My name is Ally I’m 29 and from Kildare. I am an early years educator with 8 years of experience working with children of all ages.

I have been following Lenore outinthestickswithsix since March 2019, as an early years educator I wanted to educate myself on the world of Autism and thought where better to learn than from real life experiences and perspectives.

I followed Len’s journey to Tanzania for the first time and was in awe of what she was doing for those over there and how much a little went a long way for them. When Len put out the call for people to join her in her second climb of Kilimanjaro to fundraise for Stella Maris, I just knew I had to apply, it was the experience I needed despite everyone around me thinking I was crazy for it!

It’s very hard to find the words to describe my first or any of my visits to Tanzania other than it kept a piece of my heart (quite a big one) and became my second home.

My next visit was in May of ‘23. This was a different trip as we spent so much more time with the children, building relationships and establishing trust. Following this trip, it confirmed what I already knew, that these children could not be left behind.

Each trip has brought something different. Always offering perspective. One thing I know for sure is that these children are facing adverse situations, seeing and experiencing things that no child should ever experience. As Len has often pointed out, the lives that these children live is purely down to where in the world they were born. I am beyond proud of the work Len has done over there with Teddy, the school, the guides and porters, Dr Joel, MAISHA outreach organization & Johnson.

On learning what some of these beautiful children had been exposed to and what had been forced upon them, without hesitation I am behind Len & Teddy and the Teretta Foundation in creating a safe place for these children, a second chance, a home and all of the love they deserve.

Over the coming months I will be doing whatever I can, pushing myself outside of my comfort zone in the hopes of raising funds to help get this safe home established as soon as possible. I really hope that people can get behind this as it takes a community to get this done.

I am beyond grateful to everyone who has previously supported what we have been trying to do and look forward to bringing everyone on the next journey with us!"

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A word & introduction from Joanne:

"Hi Everyone,

My name is Joanne O'Connor. I'm a teacher at Kinsale Community School in Cork, and I also work part time as a play therapist.

I've known Lenore since we were 8 years old, at school together in Crosshaven. Over the years, we've stayed connected, with the universe keeping us in each other's orbit, through autism, parenthood and everything in between!

Like everyone, I've been following Lenore's journey to Tanzania , with admiration, since she first had the idea to climb Kilimanjaro. This year, I've been fortunate enough to be part of the school trip with students and another teacher from KCS.

Having witnessed first- hand the incredible work that Lenore, Teddy and Johnson from MAISHA Outreach are doing, I couldn't help but get involved.

I'm fully committed to supporting Lenore and Teddy in their new project, Teretta Foundation. Please get behind us, to help us support the vulnerable girls in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.

Thank you"