CHILDREN’S HOME and SCHOOLMagu District, Mwanza Region, Tanzania, E. AfricaWe 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 251 children at our Children’s home, our school and via fostering. Contact: Graham Pountain email: graham@pountain.net Tel 01254 879694
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 However, the old outdated Bethany main index page is here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.netTrustees: Graham Pountain, David Borland OBE, Heather Jeffrey, Isabel Jones, Paul Pountain
If you are considering making a donation either one off or regular please click on ‘Virgin money giving’ below:
A multi purpose building at Bethany would be very useful. The cost would be about £23,000 for a building 8 metres by 14 metres.
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.
News from Bethany September 2018 ( trip by Graham Pountain )
We are pleased to report that our Primary school has a total of 227 children. The split is about 50/50, half from our children’s home and half from the local village. Our children’s home is supporting 142 children and 10 students in Higher Education. Of the 142 children 114 are of Primary school age and 28 are of secondary school age. 18 of our older boys are supported via foster care.
Headteacher’s House: is now almost complete and Emmakulatha and her husband Zephania moved in on Friday 21st September. This will be a great help as Emma and Zeph will be available 24/7. Photos: Please see the various photos of activities around Bethany by clicking on the links under the photos. Outside Toilet block: The four toilet block has been built and now needs fitting out with 4 squat toilets, tap and light fittings.Water Pump: We have had problems with our underground cable and have decided to ask Tanesco (local utility firm) to provide a direct mains overhead supply.
Tractor: Our tractor is very busy with building work bringing sand, stones and cement as well as fetching water from the lake.Chapel/classroom: The land has been marked out and the new building will be 8 metres by 14 metres and be able to seat over 250 children plus be used as a classroom when not being used as an assembly hall.Access Road: From the main road to our site is about 400 metres which we have to maintain. During the rainy season water needs to drain across our access road so we have had to build a small bridge.Primary School children: All are doing well. Std Seven children have completed their national exams and hope to pass to go to secondary school. All other children are progressing and will change classes in January the start of a new school year.Primary school: Our headteacher Emmakulatha has asked for some of the classrooms to be repainted as the paint is peeling off the walls and also for more tables, chairs and shelves. We intend to tackle these jobs as funds permit.Higher education: 6 of our students have been given the opportunity to go on to higher education. 4 to go to high school (6th form) and 2 to be trained as teachers. They will be awarded loans to complete these studies.Outdoor sink units: Jesca and Mwita want to provide 10 concrete sinks at the end of our dining hall so that children have better facilities for washing their clothes as against a large bowl on the ground.Laptops and I.T. training: Few of our teachers have laptops and our higher education students need them as well. We have several donated laptops which we use for training but we could do with more second-hand laptops. notebooks. If you are able to help by donating an old one we would be very grateful.Daniel and Eliada Bujiku: Ex managers of Bethany are still waiting for a conclusion to the rape case (Daniel) and the kidnap case (Eliada)Fares Mussa and Onesmo Malundi: Both ex Bethany managers who were dismissed from Bethany and proceeded to be employed by Compassion. Sadly they no longer work for compassion as there has been a reported 10 million Tanzania shillings unaccounted for (over £3,000). Senior Bethany Management team: Jesca, our coordinator, Mwita our assistant coordinator and Emmakulatha our headmistress are making good progress in all areas. All three of our senior leadership team received higher education in the UK and are coping well with different challenges with staff and government officials etc. Trustees meeting: The trustees are: Jesca, Mwita, Emmakulatha, Duttu (our Lawyer), Sophia (ex Bethany girl now working with Forever Angels baby home) and Fatuma (ex Bethany girl teaching in Arusha). Held on Saturday the 15th Sept they discussed various issues but the overall impression was that we are now in a better position to move forward after the upset and damage done to Bethany by its previous managers.Accountability: David Borland our treasurer who is visiting In October tells me he is much happier with the record keeping and budgets now that Jesca is overseeing the accounts at Bethany. As always he will go through every invoice on his next visit.MORE NEWS and Videos coming shortly
Above: Jesca in her Office
Bethany Boy Timotheo age 9yrs does a bible reading - requested by a visitor
Mariam and Anna talk about their forthcoming Teacher Training course
A few of our children talking about life at Bethany
A few of our children talking about life at Bethany
An Aerial View of Bethany
Bethany Tridah Zephaniah born 24/11/2018 to Emmakulatha and Zephania.CONGRATULATIONS
The Bethany Project BOOKis now availableEver wanted to know how Bethany started, the people involved and the children it serves then this book is for you. The cost has been met by special donations and the book is available for a donation of £5 plus postage ( all the proceeds to Bethany funds) If you would like one then contact any of the team or email me: graham@pountain.net