Debbie Carmichael’s paintings are familiar to anyone who’s visited Amani Children’s Home. Her images appear on gift cards for sale at Amani to benefit the kids.

Debbie has once again used her amazing artistic talents to benefit homeless and orphaned children. On 7 May her painting “Together” was unveiled at the Wortley Beck Health Centre in South Leeds, U.K. She has donated the proceeds from the painting to help purchase new clothes cupboards at the Amani home. 

Debbie, a retired children’s ophthalmologist, now devotes her time to her painting, a passion she has pursued for 18 years. She has been supporting the children at Amani in creative ways since 2003, when she and her husband Robin were first introduced to Amani.

“We fell in love with the place, its ethos and history – started by Tanzanians for Tanzanians and run according to Tanzanian culture. What else would work in Tanzania, we thought?” says Debbie. Robin joined Amani’s Board of Trustees and served for two years, offering healthcare advice and contributing his years of experience as a General Practitioner to the management team.  

Robin says, “Very occasionally in a lifetime you find yourself in the middle of something that you know is fundamentally good, right and presses all the wholesome buttons in your character. You feel - in exactly the right ratio - anger that such lovely kids have endured the tragedies that have driven them onto the streets; shame that the world is largely indifferent; joy and pleasure to be in a position to do something; and, lastly, pride to be associated with the people who, hour by hour, day after day, year in and year out work tirelessly to give back to those kids the things they have lost. They receive security, food, health care, a home, an education and lots and lots of what they most need: love.”

Amani is grateful for Robin and Debbie and the other Amani supporters around the world who bring hope and happiness into children’s lives.

Madeleine Wood, seasoned Kilimanjaro climber, is running the Edinburgh marathon on Sunday 31st May 2009 - and all sponsorship is for the Amani Children’s Home. Here is more info on the Edinburgh Marathon.

The Birmingham Navigator student group has been putting on a number of pub quizzes and all the money we have raised goes to the Amani Children’s Home. The students are very supportive of the cause and we are aiming to raise £500. Students do not generally have a lot of money, but they are keen to show off their talent for remembering trivia and pub quizzes are popular! There are always a number of rounds and we all have our specialist areas!

We have attracted around 30 students to each quiz and they cheerfully bring food and given spare change to support the Amani children. The Amani video always brings the cause to life and reminds us of why we are fundraising. Some of our students have visited the kids and spent time at Amani. They love to be reminded of their time there and tell the others about their trip.

The pub quizzes are great for our community of students and we enjoy them! We get to meet new students, have a great time, all the while raising money for a cause we really care about. Next one will be in the Autumn term…let us know if you’re interested in attending!

Mary Clark of Bristol recently completed a sponsored walk which raised £175 for Amani Children’s Home.

Has anyone else got plans for more sponsored events, regardless of how big or small? If so, let’s hear all about it!

Steven Harris, an Amani Ambassador from Edinburgh in Scotland visited the Amani children the first week of January.

Steven works as a chemistry researcher for a chemicals company in Scotland. “I really wanted to help and to make a difference. I got the very strong impression that Amani makes a big difference to the children it helps. I wanted to be part of that,” said Steven about his motivation to commit a week of his holiday volunteering at Amani.

Steven brought a Scottish flag, photographs from home, and a map showing his country’s historic castles. Many of the animals in Scotland were new to the Amani children and they were surprised to see cows with long hair and hear about Scotland’s famous Loch Ness Monster. Steven also donned a kilt, which made the children giggle. “I’m delighted to have been able to give the Amani kids a touch of insight into Scotland, to repay the loving insight into Tanzania that I am lucky enough to have experienced.”

Before coming to Tanzania, Steven opened his home to friends and family. He served mulled wine and mince pies and told them about Amani Children’s Home. “Then, I passed around a bucket and asked them to make a donation.” Steven also mailed out an email to his colleagues, asking them to visit Amani’s website. After hearing about his plans,

Steven’s employer made a donation to Amani through their corporate responsibility program.

Amani’s Ambassador Program gives supporters the opportunity to see first-hand Amani’s work with homeless and orphaned children by visiting us in Tanzania. Ambassadors raise awareness about child homelessness in their home communities and fundraise to help Amani rescue more children from the streets before their visit. If you’d like information about Amani’s volunteer program, visit the volunteer at Amani page.

Each year, sales of the Amani Christmas and Holiday Cards raise money to pay for tuition, uniforms, textbooks, and school lunches in the New Year. In 2008, Amani sponsored the education of 214 children. Next year, Amani hopes to be able to send even more children to school.

One of this year’s cards features some of Tanzania’s most adored animals beneath a festive Mt. Kilimanjaro, the other which highlights messages of peace from around the world. You can make a direct impact in the lives of Tanzania’s homeless children by purchasing your holiday cards from the Amani website. The cards are located in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom so you’ll be sure to receive your cards in plenty of time before the holidays.

Help us ensure that all children have the chance to learn. Supplies are limited so order your cards today at http://cards.amanikids.org.

Spread the word - get involved in the the new Amani Homes raffle and it’s possible to win a climb up Kilimanjaro! It’s kindly donated by Intrepid Guerba Travel which usually retails at US$2400.

The Prize will offer the following itinerary for 2 persons: -

• Day 1 - Transfer from Kilimanjaro International airport to Marangu Hotel.
• Day 2 - Visit Amani Children’s Home. Stay at Marangu Hotel. Meals B,L,D.
• Days 3, 4, 5 & 6 - Kilimanjaro. Marangu route. Meals B,L,D.
• Day 7 - Return to Marangu Hotel. Overnight hotel. Meals B,L,D.
• Day 8 - Transfer toKilimanjaroInternationalAirport. Meals B.

The winners will plan the dates with Intrepid Guerba and join a scheduled group departure. There are weekly departures every Sunday between June 2009 and April 2010. There will not be any local payment payable.

In addition Activenes Consultancy will contribute US$1000 per passenger towards flights.

All proceeds will go directly to Amani Children’s Home to provide hope and a future for homeless children in Tanzania.

Visit the Amani Homes raffle at the site below:
www.justgiving.com/brucethew

We received an email this week from Valerie to let us know that “the Amani playground is up - and it’s fantastic!”. Here is a photo:

“There are kids playing on it every moment that they’re not in class, and they’re actually eating lunch faster so they can run straight to the playground.”

Bristol annual Amani quiz night now has a date. It is neither of the two mentioned on the previous message  but Saturday 29th November at 7.30 at Frenchay Vallage Hall, Frenchay, Bristol BS16. If you have anything that you think would make a brilliant raffle prize please contact me. Many thanks

Tina

thamjam@aol.com

November Amani Quiz Night in Bristol!

Date to be finalised but the annual Amani quiz night at Frenchay Village Hall, Frenchay, Bristol will be either on Saturday 14th or Saturday 21st November, starting at 7.30pm.

As soon as the date is finalised I will post it on the site.

For those wishing to come to this (and anyone’s welcome) you need a team of 6 people. Teams have their own table and tickets will be £7 per person. Ticket price includes ploughman’s supper and wine and a very good evening.

There will also be a grand raffle and auction.

If you are interested in obtaining tickets contact Tina on 0117 9391007 or thamjam@aol.com. Tickets will go on sale from September and it’s first come first served. It has always been a sell out!