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Copy of Sheila Pountain’s email to Mr. Dunford Makala
Commissioner for Social Welfare, Tanzania
19th August 2011
Dear Sir,
My name is Sheila Pountain , the wife of Graham Pountain (the UK coordinator of the Bethany Project), and I am also the carer of the Bethany girls whilst they are living in the UK. I have also visited Bethany many times over the last ten years the most recent visit being just a month ago.
The purpose of this email is to try to explain my reasons for believing that the girls from Bethany should be allowed to take up the opportunity offered to them by Accrington and Rossendale College.
Since 2007 I have had the privilege of giving a home to eight of these girls and have endeavoured to treat them as I would treat my own three children who are now grown up, married and have children of their own. During this time I have come to know the girls really well and have been very proud of their achievements due to their hard work and determination to do their best at all times.
Only one has been a disappointment to me and that was Eva Sitta who sadly, it seems, came to England to get as much for herself as she could resulting in her going one step too far and stealing a mobile phone from a school she happened to have the privilege of having a college placement (for teaching experience). She only avoided the embarrassment of being arrested by the police when she was returned to Tanzania and an apology was given to the school by the other two Bethany girls ( Rehema Hamadi and Jesca Paulo) who were also on placement at the same school leaving them both feeling extremely embarrassed by her behaviour. Fortunately the apology was accepted by the head teacher in the knowledge that Eva had been returned to Tanzania and would not be returning to her school. However, on her return to Bethany a job was found for Eva in the hope that she had learned her lesson and would change her ways.
Of the other girls, Rehema Hamadi is gainfully employed and has remained a credit to Bethany and has a bright future ahead of her.
Also another girl China Paulo is now working in a school and due to her work ethic has proved to be an extremely loyal and supportive member of the staff. She was promoted to being in charge pre-school and std1 and std2 after showing her commitment and enthusiasm for teaching from the experience she obtained whilst being on placements in several primary schools in the UK. She also is a credit to the Bethany family and has a promising future ahead of her.
Minza Onesmo returned to Tanzania after completing her two year diploma course in July 2011 and is now working in the home she was brought in (Bethany) after being abandoned by her parents. She is helping the younger children by passing on the knowledge she has gained whilst being on placements in several schools in the UK. She has a promising future and can decide whether to stay working at Bethany in the future or look elsewhere for a job.
Fatuma Mfaume also returned to Tanzania after completing her two year diploma course in July 2011 and has the same opportunities in Tanzania as those given to Minza. At present she has chosen to stay at Bethany to help with the teaching of the children but may choose to use the skills she learned in the UK elsewhere some time in the future.
Of the other three girls two are going into their second year of a degree course from Lancaster University and one will be starting her first year at the same university. These girls are Emmakulatha Bujiku and Jesca Paulo and the younger girl is Sophia Joseph, all are girls to be proud of for their commitment to work and their loyalty to return to help the people in their own country.
The hearts of these girls are definitely for going back to Tanzania when they finish their studies but realise the opportunity given to them by Accrington and Rossendale College has been second to none and are very grateful for the care and expertise the staff gave to them at the college.
To deny the three girls Rehema, Deborah and Mpelwa would be such an injustice to them and also an insult to Accrington and Rossendale College who have shown such compassion and commitment in helping the girls as well as paying out money in order for them to study here.
Please Mr Makala I ask you to consider very carefully your decision on whether it is in the best interests of these girls to finish their studies in their secondary school in Tanzania with few amenities or missing the once in a lifetime opportunity of having the privilege of studying in a college offering all the amenities they require whilst living with people who truly care for their wellbeing.
Also I ask of you not to just take the statement of a young woman who has a grievance with the people who cared for her both at Bethany and whilst she lived in the UK but to seek out the truth from the other four girls who have had the same English experience as Eva but have now returned to Tanzania and easily interviewed.
Thank you for taking the time to read this email and I hope you realise how much I care for these girls and want to see them succeed.
Yours faithfully,
Sheila Pountain
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