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.