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 2014 caring for a total of 128 children Contact: Graham Pountain email: graham@pountain.net,  Tel 01254 879694
Teachers in Training:  Above are our 8 students all at Blackburn College and looking for an opportunity to visit your church, school or organisation.  They are renown for their acappella singing from African tribal songs to English Christmas Carols.  They have sung at many different events including Spring Harvest, Church services, Schools, Exhibitions, Weddings,  from short 10 min slots to full 1 hour presentations.  If you have an opportunity for them to sing and perhaps hear their stories then please email: graham@pountain.net. (there is no charge for their visit) 
Nov - Dec  2014 - UPDATE
Photos from the Oct - Nov Trip 2014: Chores (52pics),  Family (7pics),  Farming (12pics) Memorial Plaque (3pics),  Pre-form one class (3pics),  Study (7pics),  Kitchen-dining hall (33pics) Individuals (36pics),  School building progress (33pics)      19,000+ Photos in over 550 Albums from May 2007 to Present 126 Youtube videos from August 2007 to present
Nearly all our children as at March 2013
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 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, Heather Jeffrey, Isabel Jones, Paul Pountain
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The large photo above shows the layout of the classrooms and staffroom. The inset photo shows a close-up of classrooms 3 & 4.  Below that we have a photo of the inside of one of the classrooms, the staffroom and head teachers office and finally a picture of the new toilet block nearing completion. All these photos were taken In October and November (2014).  See more photograps of progress here. Building Progress: I am happy to tell you phase one is almost complete with just the toilet block, septic tank and soak-away to finish.   Each classroom has its own large white board at one end and will have a black-board at the other end. We also have a number of electric sockets and 6 low watt bulbs for each classroom together with a wash-basin.  School Registration: We hope to eventually have registration in January 2015
From left to right: Deborah, Rehema, Fatuma, Sophia, Stella, Mpelwa, Nkamba and Elizabeth Bethany Girls always looking for an opportunity to tell others about their home Classrooms 1 and 2 on the left, Staffroom and Head teachers office in the centre and Classrooms 3 and 4 on the right
Jesca and Emma: The video below says it all.  You may notice that Emma smiles when we mention the time the video was shot as Emma rarely wakes before 7pm so 6.30pm was just that bit early.  Our new teachers are in the process of registering their UK qualifications with the Tanzanian Education Ministry to avoid any hold up with the school registration.  They will no doubt have to fly to Dar to present themselves in person.  On the day I left (7th Nov) Jesca was moving her class into the new classroom three whilst Emma was moving reception children into the classroom vacated by Jesca.
Why a School at Bethany: Many people ask why we need to have a school at Bethany when there are the local government schools which our children now attend.  Anyone who visits the local school will notice the lack of resources, the poor quality of the buildings often without water or electricity and the lack of teaching staff.  Two things visitors often miss is the fact that all to often the children will often received less than half the number of lessons on the timetable and they will be beaten frequently.
Above: Plaque erected in staff room in memory of Margaret Harbour surrounded by some of our primary school children who will benefit most from the new school
Above: Some of the Bethany girls collecting water for the crops
Below: Latest photo of most of the children
Update Page 1 Dec. 2014 PDF download
Update Page 2 Dec. 2014 PDF download
The Bethany girls help fund raise for Marie Curie Cancer Care by bag packing at Asda Accrington on Sunday afternoon the 23rd Nov 2014
Latest News 5-12-2014 Jesca and Emma have had their qualifications verified by the Tanzanian authorities so we can now apply for school registration. Latest News 11th Dec-  Bethany Christmas Concert: About 65 people attended and heard 14 different songs,  The girls performed a short sketch and told of their school days at the local Primary school.  Two of the girls talked about life before they came to Bethany.  Hopefully everyone enjoyed the evening and we are pleased to say we raised just over £400. Latest News 29th Dec 2014 Now the Christmas celebrations are over we are happy to report the following:  The girls sang at Tesco on 8 occasions and raised over £1,200, They also sang at Accrington Mkt Hall and raised £199. Not only did they raise money for Bethany but they also sang on two occasions and did an Asda Bag pack for Marie Curie (Cancer Care).  They also sang at a Christingle service raising money for The children’s society.  Also, on Tuesday the 16th December they sung two songs at Blackburn College’s Carol Service in Blackburn Cathedral. Other places they sang included, Padiham Parish Chrurch, Ernest Street Baptist Church, Tuesday Friends group, Ravenswing Care homes (x2) and St Nicholas Church, Rossendale.