WHY WE EXIST
Tanzania is a stunning country full of natural wonders, home to 65 million people. At the same time, it is also a country afflicted by extreme poverty and an ongoing HIV/AIDS epidemic, whose population lacks opportunities to advance themselves and improve their lives.
USAID research shows that 2 million Tanzanian children are vulnerable, while SOS Children’s Villages research lists more than 1.3 million as having been orphaned due to HIV/AIDS.
Many orphaned children experience neglect and discrimination. They are also at much higher risk of not attending school.
HIV/AIDS is not the only cause of childhood vulnerability in Tanzania. There are abusive environments, children who live with sick parents or guardians, who are themselves disabled, who live in households led by children or elderly guardians, and whose families face absolute poverty.
All of these situations can make children vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, illness, withdrawal from school, emotional distress and trauma.
The government has limited resources and is unable to provide the help these children need.
with poor life prospects and no access to education and proper developmental support owing to their physical and economic situation.
The organization supports their integration into dignified long-term education,
as well as children in orphanages who suffer from untreated trauma or exploitation and are unable to support themselves.
The process of evaluating the children is exhaustive and provides prospects for children who have been left to fend for themselves
from a very young age or who the community is unable to support with the most basic needs.
Video editing: Shahak Boorchook
The HalevAfrica family is committed to working with local communities to drive change and give orphans and vulnerable children an opportunity to learn and grow.
With your help, we can make it possible!
DAVID'S
STORY
David was born in a small village called Chemka to very young parents.
When he was one week old, David contracted yellow fever. Following slow and inadequate treatment at his local hospital, his body was left with severe paralysis which stunted his development and left him wholly dependent on others.
David’s mother, unable to cope with her son’s disability, left him to be raised by his elderly grandfather.
During one of our visits to remote villages, we stopped by David’s village to distribute toys and supplies such as clothes, shoes and other necessities to vulnerable children.
David is an incredibly bright and determined child. He wanted to be like all the other kids gathered around us.
He crawled over to us and made eye contact, a big shy smile on his face, and tried to say something.
After talking with his grandfather, who he called Babu, and learning about his story, we understood that he lacked access to the equipment he desperately needed in order to develop. He was unable to attend school and was left alone at home while all the other children studied.
He was left dependent and vulnerable, when he should have been learning to walk, talk and care for himself.
His family struggled to look after him and couldn’t afford the special treatments he needed or even local school fees, and hence, he ended up staying at home.
We remembered David and decided to help him. HalevAfrica donors came forward to support his needs, including schooling and treatment.
Today David is learning in a good private school. He has made lots of friends and receives physiotherapy treatments with specialists every two months. HalevAfrica has provided David with a wheelchair, walker and treatment to help him get about. His progress has been unbelievable!
He is able to walk and talk better, he is eating more healthily, and has even learned to write the letters of the alphabet. But most of all — he feels like all the other children, capable and confident and so happy!
Thank you to David’s supporters! We couldn’t have done it without you!
Because good people refused to look away, his life has changed immeasurably for the better.
DAVID'S
STORY
MATTHEW
AND
PASCAL'S
STORY
Twins Matthew and Pascal were born in the small village of Rombo in northern Tanzania. They were orphaned at a very early age.
Pascal was smart, strong and healthy.
Matthew developed slower than his brother and had a lot of health issues.
They had three older brothers.
After their parents died, a social worker and a few neighbors tried to find them new homes. They found a small orphanage in Moshi that was willing to take all the brothers except Matthew, who would need more effort and resources to become independent owing to his medical and developmental needs — resources they didn’t have.
When Ayelet first came to volunteer at the orphanage, in the very early days of HalevAfrica, no one ever spoke of Matthew or mentioned that Pascal had an identical twin brother, being cared for in their distant village by one of their neighbors.
One day, Ayelet accompanied the social worker and the owner of the boys’ orphanage, a grandmother they called Bibi, to the boy’s village. On the way, they told her about Matthew.
Ayelet was shocked — she could not believe that a small boy could lose not only his parents but also be separated from his brothers and his identical twin!
In the village, they found Matthew, running around barefoot in the nearby forest.
He looked exactly like Pascal, but half his height, and was unable to speak a single word.
Ayelet had a small colorful ball with her. She extended her hands toward him and handed him the ball.
He was so happy and gave her a big smile.
Ayelet agreed with Bibi and the social worker that Matthew would come to live in the orphanage with his brothers, supported by HalevAfrica. When Matthew arrived at the orphanage, the other children were so excited and joyful. They sat down together and hugged each other and kept repeating “asante sana“, “thank you” in Kiswahili.
Today, Matthew and Pascal attend the same private school and they are inseparable.
Their education and health insurance is being covered by an amazing group of Israeli women in Australia.
Asante sana, ladies.
You are a ray of light to these wonderful children.
