CHILDREN’S HOME and SCHOOL
Magu District, Mwanza Region, Tanzania, E. Africa
We are a small team of Christians working together to help the most
vulnerable children and people in a rural area of Tanzania. East Africa. We
are involved in providing financial support and volunteers to visit both long
and short term to share in the work both here and in Tanzania.
As of Jan. 2021 caring for more than 161 children at our Children’s home,
and 258 children in our school.
Contact: Graham Pountain
email: graham@pountain.net Tel 01254 879694
Topics of Interest:
Past news updates etc.
August - October 2020
June- August 2020
May to July 2020
March to May 2020
Jan-March 2020
Oct - Dec 2019
April - May 2019
Jan - March 2019
Oct - Dec - 2018
July - Oct 2018
May - August 2018
Jan - April -2018
Oct-Dec 2017
Aug - Sept 2017
June-July 2017
April-May 2017
Jan-March 2017
Oct- Dec 2016
June-July 2016
Jan to March 2016
Nov. to Dec 2015
May to October 2015
March - April 2015
Jan-Feb 2015
Nov-Dec news 2014
Sept-Oct news 2014
July-August news 2014
April - June 2014 news
Jan-Feb 2014 news
Monthly meetings
Gifts Policy
Past news
Meet the children
Supporting Bethany
Sponsoring children
Buy from our shop
Past Visitors
Powerpoint Presentation
Childcare Seminar verification
The Bethany Project (often referred to as the Bethany Family) is registered in Tanzania as an NGO no. 8059. It is administered by the The Bethany Project (Tanzania) UK
(Reg. Charity no 517995), Reg. Address: 2 Aspen Fold, Oswaldtwistle, Accrington, Lancashire. BB5 4PH. Tel 01254 879694. email: graham@pountain.net
Trustees: Graham Pountain, David Borland OBE, Heather Jeffrey, Isabel Jones, Paul Pountain
TESTIMONY
We have asked all our Bethany girls and
boys to write a testimony about their life,
before Bethany, at Bethany and after so
that you can hear from the children
themselves.
Here is a sample written by our
Headmistress
As an Atheist
by Mathew Parris Full article click here
If you are considering making a donation
either one off or regular please click on
‘Virgin money giving’ below:
JUNE 2019 Update
MONEY BOXES
Below are our new reusable plastic money
boxes suitable for shops/schools/churches
etc. etc.
Click here for more info
Our New Toyota 13 seater Landcruiser is on
order - Thanks to all those who contributed
Bethany Choir copied a video of Dave Wesley singing ‘God of
Angel Armies’. This video shows Dave Wesley talking about the
Bethany Choirs version
New Boys Dorm Progress - 2020
Below: Pictures of work in progress
Click here to see other photos taken by Mwita
July 2020
Latest News: We have finally been given the discounted price for a
new 13 seater Toyota Landcruiser. The price including the 2%
discount is $61822.30 (about £45,500). We have now put in a firm
order for the vehicle and have been told that it will be 2-3 months
before delivery. However that is not the end of the story. There is still
VAT to pay on top of $11128.02 (about £8,200). We are told that if we
apply to Customs and Excise with all the appropriate documents we
may be given exemption. You can imagine that Jesca is now working
hard on obtaining all the necessary forms and letters etc.
We have seen a video of this particular Landcruiser model on
youtube (see video clip below) and the good news is that all 13 rear
seat have seat belts!
The Proforma invoice is here
The Brochure is here.
Click here to see other photos taken by Mwita
August 2020
History Timeline Highlights 1989 - 2020
Click here
Children general: All the children are well both physically and mentally and are happy
to be at Bethany. They are using their mosquito nets and taking every precaution
against coronavirus. Of the 149 children on site 25 are at secondary School and the
rest are at our Bethany pre and Primary School. The children are doing as well as their
abilities allow. Those attending our Bethany Primary School generally do very well but
those at the Government Secondary school complain about lack of resources, teachers
and session they receive. Some times they only have two sessions per day and have to
rely on Bethany for extra help with their school work. John Waith a UK volunteer has
been helping with the teaching of Maths for which we are very grateful. Click here to
see photos.
Children’s behaviour: Generally speaking the children behave well. One of our
secondary school girls has been returned to her relatives. Also three of our boys in
form 2 at secondary school displayed dissapointing behaviour and since having been
‘spoken to’ have improved their behaviour.
Baptism: 24 of our older girls have been baptised in Lake Victoria. The girls made this
decision of their own free will and attended a local Church. Click here to see photos.
Other matters: We currently have 22 staff and 2 care-worker volunteers who receive a
small allowance of 30,000tsh (£10) per month. Also we have two bethany girls who
have finished high school. Ruth Juma helping at our Bethany school and Elizabeth
Joseph helping as a care-worker. Our new water project is presently on hold and we are
still working on the VAT exemption for our new vehicle. However Toyota are trying to
find a better price for us due to us being and NGO.
Bethany Pre and Primary School:
Emmakulatha reports that there are 30 students in Std 4 ( 16
Bethany children and 14 Village children) - 22 girls and 8 boys.
24 achieved grade A, 5 achieved grade B and 1 achieved grade C. It
must be remembered that our school is an English Medium School
and the children from the village have never spoken English before
attending our school. Link to the results are here.
In comparison our local government Primary School (Yitwimila)
which teaches in the national language (Kiswahili) results are as
follows: Students 140, 5 achieved grade A, 27 achieved grade B, 61
achieved grade C, 37 achieved grade D and 10 were ungraded.
To view other schools results in our area click here.
Click here to see other photos taken by Mwita
December 2020
To view our last update
Nov. - Dec. 2020 Click here
Below is a video of the Toyota Landcruiser we have on order
Results for ‘form 2’ Sogeska Government Secondary School
These results were outstanding for several reasons: Of the 11 students, 8 achieved
Division 1, 2 achieved division 2 and 1 achieved division 4.
Left: Form 2 students
Overall results for Sogeska Sec School
(government run) form 2: 166 students
(92 girls and 74 boys).
13 achieved division 1
12 achieved division 2
19 achieved division 3
111 achieved division 4
11 ungraded.
Full results are available here
More Photos of the group here
Only 5 girls achieved division 1 and all these girls were from Bethany:
Esther Cosmas, Eunice Leonard, Rose Daudi, Consolatha Wambura and Tabitha Biligea.
Of the eight boys who achieved division 1, 3 were from Bethany:
Shilinde Edward, Frank Deusi and Alex Mathias.
Three of our 11 children did not achieve division 1, 2 got division 2 and 1 got division 4
(Anna Lusesa div 2, Vincent Michael div 2 and Misoji Charles div 4)
A full breakdown of grades and points awarded for each child are here.
The students in ‘Form 2’ have all written about their results below:
Esther’s report, Shilinde’s report, Frank’s report, Eunice’s report,
Alex’s report, Rose’s report, Consolatha’s report, Tabitha’s report,
Anna’s report, Vincent’s report, Misoji’s report
Jesca has written a report about the results - Click here
As at December 2020 our Children’s home is caring for 161 children
To view their names, ages , DOB and forms they are in Click here
Our annual accounts have just been completed.
Please Click here to download a copy
New Boy’s Dormitory Feb 2021
Below is the latest video of the new Boy’s dorm with pictures of the shower room and toilet
room.All we are waiting for are the new bunk beds and the boys are looking forward to moving in.
Bumper Harvest from Bethany Crops
January 2021
Where possible the children grow as much food as possible
to subsidise the growing food requirements at Bethany.
Just a few photos of the children collecting the Maize
Harvest - click here
March Report (extracts) from Jesca - Coordinator
For the full report click here.
..... I have also been thinking of a more practical approach for the
children. I want them to reach out more into the community and this
could be as simple as volunteering at a local church to clean etc or
helping some of the families around who are very disadvantaged with
difficult chores etc. However, something I really thought about and will
attempt this during June holiday is to help provide shelter to families
who are really struggling. How will this work out? I thought we could
identify a family and our secondary school boys and girls can help
make mud bricks and get someone who will volunteer to construct the
mudhut and maybe some care-workers may donate some iron sheets
to go on the roof...that way children will be doing something practical
into the community using their energy and time.
Secondary school results: Form 1, Form 2
children. I want them to reach out more into the community and this
could be as simple as volunteering at a local church to clean etc or
helping some of the families around who are very disadvantaged with
difficult chores etc. However, something I really thought about and will
attempt this during June holiday is to help provide shelter to families
who are really struggling. How will this work out? I thought we could
identify a family and our secondary school boys and girls can help
make mud bricks and get someone who will volunteer to construct the
mudhut and maybe some care-workers may donate some iron sheets
to go on the roof...that way children will be doing something practical
into the community using their energy and time.
Secondary school results: Form 1, Form 2