For the Love of Africa

By Penny Pitcher

“For me, arriving in Tanzania felt like coming home!” said Linda Ryder, Board Treasurer for the For the Love of Africa Society (with over 50 members) Linda had returned recently from her first trip to Tanzania where she worked on the Dodoma Technical Institute. Out of the group of 11, she was one of five newcomers, and was definitely the “most affected” by the experience, having the chance to visit all of the previous projects, and meeting the local community members who are equal participants in every project undertaken. 

The Society maintains a focus on Health and Education, feeling that these are two areas of critical importance to both Tanzania, and Africa in general. It all began in 2004, when 14 people helped to build the Kizota Student Centre in Dodoma, the capital city of Tanzania. This particular project, which includes a four room school, dining hall and administration building, is of direct benefit to 250 children aged three and up. At least 70% had suffered from malaria and, in addition, many had been touched by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Over the next three years, volunteers returned to help build a wall and washrooms, and finally, three years after the project had started, the Society sponsored three teachers who attended a teaching programme in Tanzania. By so doing, the Government of Tanzania took over support for the school, thereby guaranteeing long term stability.

And this was just the beginning!!

In October of 2007, a team travelled to Nkuhungu to work alongside local people to renovate a building that the Society had purchased. The following year, For the Love of Africa provided medical equipment and furnishings. A group of members with either medical or health administration experience helped to open the Nkuhungu Clinic, a non-profit medical facility in Dodoma, and in 2009, funds were provided to open a Reproductive and Child Health unit. The clinic provides outpatient treatment for malnutrition, as well as diseases such as malaria, typhoid, gastrointestinal disease, HIV/AIDS referrals etc. It provides vaccines, takes blood samples etc. A laboratory and pharmacy are also part of the clinic which operates two shifts with more than 1,000 patient visits per month.

It was due to the fundraising and hard work of a youth team in 2009 that the Galilaya Centre was built. The Centre now provides daycare, including pre-school activities, for 52 orphans and 92 vulnerable children. At night, the children are taken into local homes.

In 2011 and 2012, team members helped to complete building and renovating three schools in Dodoma: Ipagla School, Nkuhungu School, and St. Andrews School. St. Andrews is for three to six year olds in the kindergarten programme. There is also a tutorial programme for older children, as well as school on Saturdays for close to 300 students. Four qualified teachers run these programmes. Linda again stressed the fact that the people from Victoria work hand in hand with local workers and volunteers, who had already started the project. This is definitely NOT a case of arriving during the final phase and standing back to supervise – they get right in there engaged in physical labour. 

All of the projects that the Society undertakes have been put forward by local community leaders and are under their management. It is they who stress three imperatives in their schools – to teach English, to provide one nutritious meal per day, and to ensure the children’s safety. Families pay $600 per year, and from Kindergarten through Grade 6 they learn English. In most schools the students learn only Swahili but then confront the learning of English after Grade 7. As a result, many simply drop out of school, thus compounding the problem of poverty as they cannot find jobs.

Hence, the current project – financing and assisting in the planning and construction of a technical trade school, Dodoma Technical. Once again, the Society entered into an agreement with the local Board of a not-for-profit organization in Dodoma. While there IS a university in the city, there is little training available in the trades, especially necessary for those students mentioned above who leave school. The long term goal is to provide technical, vocational and trades skills training. The first phase will see the training of Bricklayers and Tailors, but there are plans to establish a whole campus, two classes at a time, offering subjects such as English, reading and writing, math, etc. – all of which will assist the most disadvantaged young people to learn a trade, get a job, and move forward with their lives. For the Love of Africa has committed to Phase 1.

Linda is tireless in promoting the Society in any way she can, and would like to encourage anyone interested to join them at one of their monthly meetings, held the first Wednesday of the month, 7:15 pm at 5238 Cordova Bay Road. 

On Saturday, April 9 Team Tanzania 2015 presents "The Amazing African Adventure of Volunteering in the Building of the Dodoma Technical Institute" from 2:00 - 4:00 pm at Cordova Bay United Church, 813 Claremont Avenue. This event is free of charge with all donations going to For the Love of Africa Society.

There are beautiful gardens in Victoria and some especially stunning ones in James Bay.  On July 9, the Society will hold its annual fund raising “Water Garden Tour.” For further information, or perhaps you would like YOUR garden to be included in the tour, follow this link

For more information on the Society itself, go to . Society members assist with fundraising and take an active role in decision making. Members also have the opportunity to volunteer to travel to Africa. Linda joined in 2014 and one year later was on her way to Tanzania. She has maintained a close connection with some of the people she met, was sad to leave them, and her face lights up as she talks about going back just as soon as she can. “After I’ve learned Swahili,” she laughed.