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 May 2018 caring for more than 245 children at our Children’s home, our school and via fostering. Contact: Graham Pountain email: graham@pountain.net,  Tel 01254 879694
July - Oct  2018 - UPDATE
Greetings from Bethany,  This is our temporary web page due to the fact the old computer failed and at the moment I am unable to update the old pages. However, the old outdated Bethany main index page is here
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
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As an Atheist by Mathew Parris Full article click here
Other songs on Youtube - click on the title Imella,  Prayer song (Swahili),  Out-takes (funny?),  ‘Lord I life your name on high’
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Web pages are being updated from time to time
A multi purpose building at Bethany would be very useful. The cost would be about £25,000 for a building 9 metres by 16 metres.
NEWS - May 2018 Our new management team are making head way in various areas. Jesca has re-registered the NGO complying with new regulations in Tanzania. She has also visited Dodoma (12 hours on the bus) to process a new children’s home licence and also to visit the Ministry of Education.  All our staff now comply with all the labour law regulations. Bethany Primary School: Emmakulatha struggles to find teachers who can speak English well.  Many teachers have been trained over the last few years and many are waiting to be selected to be allocated to government schools.  Whilst many hold degrees some of our standard 7 students have better English than our teachers (exam results prove this). We are a non fee paying school and also an English medium school and our teachers share our vision and receive half the pay they might expect elsewhere.  Secondary School: we are now in a position to start negotiations with the local Education Officers regarding the building of a secondary school. Recently we have found out that only 2 children from the local government village school were selected for secondary education (out of a class of over 70 children). One primary school had no children selected for secondary education.
Our next monthly meeting ( Sunday 7th Oct) will include a report from me (Graham Pountain) who visited in September.  I have a great deal of news and a few short video clips of progress.
Bethany School  May 2018
Government Secondary School  May 2018
Bethany Children’s Home staff May 2018
Bethany School Staff  May 2018
Form 4 leavers  May 2018
Photos from the May 2018 trip
Above: Worship song led by Leah Charles  The song title is UTUTANGULIE BWANA. Which means asking God to guide us on our way as we long to reach to heaven. Also, we ask God to be with us in various issues  such as studies and life in general.
Peter and Kim Rawlinson visited Bethany  for two weeks in July 2018. Photos they took on their trip (click here)
Our first visit to the Bethany Project and what a life-changing experience this has been for us.   From seeing the Bethany choir at Goodshaw Baptist Church in 2016, we made a commitment to fundraise and visit the Bethany Orphanage and School this July 2018.  Our first impression on arrival at Bethany was that it was a little oasis for the children.  The children looked happy and healthy and there was a sense that this was a real family and home. The Evening Service was a highlight each day, with the children singing Swahili songs of prayer and worship. The school buildings are excellent and provide a good learning environment for the children.  Teachers are committed to providing the best education they can offer. We led evening bible studies with different age-groups each night and it was a joy to share our Christian faith with the children.  We also arranged a School Sports Day, with running races, sack races, egg and spoon and tug of war which the children enjoyed. Bethany has had such a difficult time over the last few years but with the new management team of Jesca and Emma, it is in a great place to further develop. We found it hard to leave Bethany.  This is such a well-run charity, with the money clearly getting through to the children and making a difference to their lives.  We want to get more involved and are planning a return trip next year. Thank you to the Trustees and UK Management Team – it is truly amazing what you are doing for these children.
Above photo shows nearly all our children resident at Bethany plus our boys staying at Kitongo.
We arrived at Bethany on Friday 10th August and were immediately overwhelmed by the welcome and acceptance of the children. During our stay we attended evening prayer sessions which were described as the nearest thing to heaven that we will experience on earth by one member of the group. There was a real sense of God’s presence and spirit during the children’s songs of prayer. We helped with the Sunday morning service touching on the story of the prodigal son and also speaking about standing up for what is godly and creating a Christian culture using Jesus as an example. The Tanzanian teachers asked if we could help the children with reading, grammar and maths which we did throughout the week. We also helped deliver RE sessions focused on being special and loved by God and the truth that God will never leave us. We helped the children reply to letters from the UK and helped with the numerous craft activities with the children.  We helped with homework time each evening after the evening prayers which was a great time of fellowship in which we got to know the children on a more personal level.  On The Friday we helped the Tanzanian teachers with sporting activities including cricket, netball and tag rugby which were very enjoyable but a little sweaty. While some of the group visited the school others were advising on the ongoing problem of the water pumps. Whilst there the 3 pumps that pump water from the lake to the well were fixed and cable was renewed to the water pump. This was a secondary problem which occurred because there was a problem with the circuit board in the control box for the pump.  As we left Mwita was waiting for an electrician to diagnose the problem. They also advised on how to service the tractor and gave some advice in using the full potential of the tractor and using it with the plough. They advised on a few problems with the Land Rover and also with other maintenance issues. We were very sad to leave Bethany on the 19th August with some members of the team wishing to remain and all hoping it is in Gods will to visit again in the future. All in all the trip was a very positive experience in which I saw so much progression in all areas since my last visit nearly 9 years ago.
Dave Shaw and a group of volunteers visited Bethany In August 2018
Take a look at 165 stunning photos taken during the visit (click here)