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Published: April 30th 2008
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The Carpenter’s Kids Programme was established two years ago to address a problem faced by many of the children of this Diocese.
Since 2002 Tanzanian children have been entitled to a free primary education, from Reception (Kindergarten) up to Grade 7, known here as Standard 7. Prior to that time, fees had to be paid to attend and as a result only about 50% of children actually went to school. While there are now no fees for primary school, to attend, a child must be in possession of a school uniform, black shoes and school supplies. So, if a child cannot afford to purchase these things they may not attend school.
It is estimated that in the Diocese of Central Tanganyika there are roughly 40000 children who are orphans, cared for by a grandmother or someone else in their village or extended family. Many of these children have lost one or both parents to AIDS. Others are orphaned by accident and other illnesses. The majority of these children are destitute; they have nothing, cannot afford to buy a school uniform, shoes and school supplies and so may not attend school. As a result they are excluded not just from
the education on offer but also from the social life of their peers that naturally comes from attending school together.
It seems so simple - buy these kids some uniforms so they can go to school! Easy to say but not so easy to do. Fortunately, however, our Bishop in partnership with the Bishop of New York decided to initiate a programme to begin to address this problem and ‘Carpenters Kids’ was born. Through Carpenter’s Kids a parish in our diocese here is linked with a parish in the Episcopal Diocese of New York. Fifty needy children are identified in the Tanzanian parish and enrolled in the programme. The New York parish then makes a donation of $50 per child per year. With that money a school uniform, a pair of black shoes and a bag of school supplies are purchased for each child. Chronic malnutrition is a serious problem here so in addition, on every school day for the year each child receives a morning meal - all this for $50! There are now roughly 3000 children enrolled as Carpenter’s Kids. As there are 200 parishes in the Diocese, each parish has on average 200 of these orphaned
children so while progress is being made the need to grow the programme is obvious.
In March Gerry and I were fortunate enough to participate in the distribution of uniforms, etc. to the village of Lamaiti. Although Lamaiti is only 50 km from Dodoma, it took us close to two hours to get there as it is reached off road. We were greeted warmly by the people of the village and provided with refreshments of chai (very sweet milky tea) and mandazi (a donut like deep fried bun). The Carpenters Kids and their guardians were then invited into the meeting hall and after some introductory remarks the presentation of uniforms and school supplies was made individually to each child and their guardian. The children then slipped outside, changed into their new clothes and returned to the hall to receive their shoes. There was great excitement throughout the process as everyone admired each other.
After short speeches by both the donors and the recipients we said our good byes and were on our way. Among the most touching words spoken were offered by an elderly lady who thanked us all for what we had brought and said that before
we came she thought that she had been forgotten by God. But in receiving these gifts that would allow her child to attend school and be healthy she realized that God had not forgotten her and would continue to provide her needs. I felt very humbled by her remarks and wished some of the people from the sister parish somewhere in New York could have heard her words first hand. It is odd how one comes bearing gifts and leaves feeling you have received more than you have given.
It is remarkable to think that a mere $50 is enough to ensure that for a year a child who would otherwise be left out, can attend school and receive a meal a day, a meal that that child would otherwise go without. It all seems so simple to put right but of course what appears simple can be very difficult in practice. It is wonderful that some good people decided to just deal with the details and make the Carpenter’s Kids happen. God bless them!
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