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Copy of Steve Thomasson’s email to Mr. Dunford Makala
Commissioner for Social Welfare, Tanzania
24th August 2011
Dear Mr Makala,
I am a Baptist Pastor in the UK. I have had the privilege and joy of offering pastoral oversight for the young people from the Bethany Family Orphanage in Magu, whilst they have been living in the UK. I have frequently visited the home of Graham and Sheila Pountain where the girls live whilst studying in the UK. They provide a loving and safe home for the girls and are very much part of the family. I would highly commend Graham and Sheila Pountain for opening up their own home and expressing such generosity and care for the Bethany girls without seeking anything in return. The Bethany girls have been living with the Pountain family whilst taking advantage of the education offered by one of our local colleges. The Bethany girls attend the church every week with Mr and Mrs Pountian. They are very much part of our church family whilst in the UK. They are an absolute credit to Tanzania. They have shared with the church many times and have also been into local primary and secondary schools helping to educate and raise the awareness of life in Tanzania. We have seen them blossom and grow as young people and growing in confidence in speaking English. Considering the difficult start to life these young people have had, they are well balanced young people, caring, compassionate and eager to learn. Over the pass few years, Bethany family young people have come to the UK to complete child care and educational programmes and everyone has been enthusiastic to return back to Tanzania on completion to bring something back to Bethany and the local community. This is a project of compassion and care for the most vulnerable and needy in any society. The Project is well managed and structured and transparent with their accounts.
It is with great sadness that I learn that a further 3 girls, Deborah, Mpelwa and Rehema , who have worked hard to pass English exams and obtain a place on a course here in the UK are now being prevented from doing so. I believe that under the guardianship and care of the Bethany project these girls are being offered an opportunity that is in the best interests of the girls and indeed Tanzania. I would ask that you would please reconsider their application to study in the UK.
Yours Faithfully
Rev. Steve Thomasson BSc Hons, Dip Theo
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