Street Children at Iringa, Tanzania

FISCH

FISCH = Future for Iringa Street Children

Looking Back

19 November 2019

Speaking of our grants, Rich Gercke (FISCH's Co-Founder) says, "These were such a blessing, particularly the uniforms and stationery which we had a real need for at that time. It's been amazing to see how God has blessed and grown FISCH. Although the needs continue to grow, we have seen God continue to provide and we are so thankful to people such as you who have supported us to change so many lives!"

Here are a few highlights:

Sewing Machines

These have been extremely useful. During the past year a small group of 3 girls have been receiving training three days a week from Eva, and one of the original FISCH girls they trained up and is now self-employed).

The plan is that when ready, FISCH will support these girls to set up a business together. This may happen in the new year.

At present, this group is currently being paid by FISCH to make some of the items of uniform for the new school year in January.

Uniform and Stationery

As mentioned above, this had been a real pressing need. For kids in Tanzania, Primary and Secondary school is now free in government schools. However the big hurdles for kids living in poverty are the hidden barriers, which are uniform and stationary. Without these items kids are turned away.

Education - Promina

At the time of our grant, Promina was in her last year of education and had shown potential for making it to university.

We are delighted to hear that she was successful in getting into University, and has completed her first year! She is doing a Bachelor degree in Human Resources Planning Management and has done pretty well so far.

FISCH Church & Bibles

The sounds system equipment that we provided has transformed the services, and FISCH Church has been blessed significantly as a result. The team at Iringa are always proud to show off the sound system!

See attached film clip and listen for yourself!

The bibles are shared out at the beginning and returned at the end of each service.

Medicine Supplies

There is always a steady stream of medical needs to attend to, arising from a variety of injuries and illnesses.

Roof Repairs

The toilet at the drop in centre was in desperate need of repair, and our support enabled FISCH to achieve that. A big thank-you from many grateful kids during the wet season!

Vocational Training - Taxi Drivers

FISCH tries to support vocational training, as continuing in education is not the answer for a number of the kids. The big increase in cars in Iringa, and also especially motorbikes and tuk-tuks, is providing a source of income for many young adults. FISCH has supported about 6 kids a year to complete their driving licence and make use of this opportunity. In fact just this last month 2 more boys qualified.

Vocational Training continues to be an area that FISCH are looking to grow.

Gallery

Gifts from Natalya's Fund

Some of the items bought

Our Initial Support

The initial grant given to FISCH was £2,835.

This sum was for the following:

3 sewing machines
keyboard, microphone and speaker/amplifier
40 Bibles
6 months' supply of washing powder
180 bars of soap
43 pairs of shoes
41 school jumpers
school stationery for 39 children
school socks for 42 children
tracksuits for 24 children
204 school exercise books
medicine and first aid supplies for nurse to administer
repairs to computers to allow use in teaching computer skills to the children
roof repairs
training for boy to become a taxi driver

Personal Link

Natasha, the daughter of a friend of ours, visited East Africa, helped with the building of an orphanage, and spent time with the orphans. Tragically however, back home in 2013, she died from Toxic Shock Syndrome at the age of 14. As a positive legacy, her family have been supporting FISCH, a local charity which works in Tanzania. FISCH raised money for a permanent Drop-in-Centre - a place where vulnerable children can go to find love and support. The charity is also engaged in a number of other activities:

The FISCH Sewing Club teaches girls to learn the trade of sewing and provides sewing machines with a view to them being able to set up in business to provide for themselves and, as their income grows, to repay the cost of their machine. To continue the project FISCH needs more sewing machines.

FISCH Church meets at the Drop-in-Centre, where tea and bread is provided and the children can praise God together and receive teaching. To that end they have requested Bibles and musical instruments.

The FISCH United football team builds confidence in the youngsters. Last year the team, all under 18, was invited to join the Easter League for players aged 23‑25. One thing the team needs is laundry soap for washing their kit.

To find out more about FISCH, see www.gofisch.org

To find out more about Toxic Shock Syndrome, see www.tssaware.org.uk

Count Your Blessings

During Lent 2017 we supported FISCH by counting our blessings and raising money with a view to purchasing some of the items they needed: sewing machines, musical instruments, Bibles and laundry detergent.

How Did it Work?

A 'Count Your Blessings' calendar was available for download. Every day during Lent the calendar directed participants to count up something they had available - things which we usually take for granted - like electric sockets or doctors' surgeries - and pay a certain small sum for each item they counted. They collected the money, and donated it to our Iringa Street Children Fund after Easter.

Money is still coming in, but the total raised so far is:

£331.52

Walking the Yorkshire Wolds Way

Heather, one of our trustees, walked the Yorkshire Wolds Way over Easter, raising money through sponsorship to add to the Iringa Street Children Fund. Read more here. Net of fees taken by Stewardship, the charity which runs our fundraising web pages, she raised:

£240.32.

Other Donations

Other donations we have received for the Iringa Fund have been so generous that we have been able to exceed our target and include many other items that we had not initially considered.

On behalf of the Iringa Street Children and those working to help them, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!