In 2010, Tumaini was introduced to Canada at St. Mary’s Anglican Church in the community of Nanoose Bay on Vancouver Island. Dr. Susan Wilson traveled to Canada to talk personally about her charity and explain its work, its needs and hopes for the future.
Regular group sessions of volunteers began meeting in St. Mary’s church hall to make much needed items for the AIDS orphans.
Support for Tumaini’s urgent work grew, and with the pro-bono assistance of Vancouver lawyers Blakes, Cassels & Graydon LLP, the Tumaini Fund Canada was incorporated in 2012.
In 2013, Tumaini Fund Canada received approval as a registered Canadian charity. (Charity Reg.No. 84352 7938 RR0001).
Donations to Tumaini are wire transferred periodically from Canada to Kagera. All funds are spent by Tumaini Orphan Support Organisation (TOSO) staff in Kagera in accordance with our charitable status: either as designated by donors or with undesignated funds assigned to where the financial need is greatest on the advice of Dr. Wilson who is in daily contact with Kagera staff.
Tumaini Crafters and Friends encompass all the Canadian volunteers who work to make the beautiful blankets and personal care kits so needed and appreciated by our Tumaini orphans and families.
On the third Wednesday of each month at St. Mary’s church hall in Nanoose Bay, the volunteer Crafters, from sister churches and the local community, meet to enjoy the social interaction and know they are helping those so desperately in need in Kagera and neighbouring areas. Some Crafters work at home in distant areas.
Thanks to the dedicated leadership of Grace Tanaka, a chapter of Tumaini Fund Canada was established under the sponsorship of Holy Trinity Church in Vancouver, where volunteers knit blankets squares and Izzy dolls for the children.
Dr. Susan Wilson visits Canada periodically to provide Tumaini Crafters and Friends news of how Tumaini is changing lives in Kagera and the new initiatives and plans for the future.
In June 2018 she was warmly welcomed once again to Nanoose Bay on Vancouver Island. Board members of Tumaini Fund Canada keep in touch with Dr. Susan via email and Skype.
Dr. Wilson visits Kagera annually, welcomed by the TOSO teams in Kagera, eager to show the progress that is being made, and anxious to show the still desperate need for help by so many orphans and poor families.
In her own words: “The work is inspired by Jesus … We are 100% convinced that he is willing this work forward and has enabled all that has been achieved so far.”
Personal Care Kits These washable kits are urgently needed by female orphans who in the past have lost many days of school each month due to no sanitary protection. School girls receiving these kits are so delighted and grateful to be able to attend school full time. Each kit contains 20 items, including the washable shields, pads and carry bags made by our crafters. As of May 2023 a total of 1866 kits have been assembled and shipped from Nanoose Bay.
Child Sponsorship gives an orphan a new life. For approximately $100 per year (or $2 per week) Tumaini provides shelter, food, clothing, school books and supplies.
We welcome new sponsors to share in this ongoing commitment to support our Tumaini orphans.
FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES
RECYCLING of refundable bottles and cans is the main fundraiser of our small group. Many in the community now save their cans and bottles year-round in support of Tumaini. Each week members sort and transport the items to the local Bottle Depot.
Our first full year of fundraising in 2014 was a busy and successful year, and some of the highlights are shown in our 2014 ANNUAL REVIEW Dec2014 CLICK HERE for the review.
Strawberry Teas were held in the summers of 2015, 2016 and 2018. These popular events, supported by the community, included the sale of Tumaini items and bake sales to raise additional funds.
Birthday Box At each Sunday morning service at St. Mary’s Church in Nanoose Bay, parishioners donate small change to celebrate their birthdays, anniversaries or special events. The funds collected are for outreach programs. Tumaini Fund Canada is so grateful to share in these donations.
A Very Generous Donation from a donor was received in June 2023 and wire transferred as quickly as possible to help with the many education needs.
RR Smith Memorial Foundation
In June 2018, this charitable arm of BC Retired Teachers Association, generously donated $1,000 to buy Daftari notebooks for Secondary School students in Kayanga and Ngara districts, a wonderful gift enabling 67 students to register for school. In 2019, Tumaini’s grant application was approved with another generous donation of $1,250 to fund college tuition for 10 students for the first year of a two-year course in the career of their choice. In 2020 a donation for their second year of college was gratefully received. In 2021 a wonderful gift of $2,000 was received for other students to go to college. In 2022 the Foundation granted $2,500 for A Level students and in 2023 a grant of $3,000 was gratefully received for sewing machines for the tailoring schools. Tumaini supported hard working students are very appreciative of the opportunity to further their education and work their way from poverty.
Rotary After presentations to local Rotary clubs, Tumaini Fund Canada was delighted to receive two generous donations:
– In October 2018 a cheque for $1,000 from Nanaimo Oceanside Rotary to assist with building a fresh water well in Kagera.
– In November 2018 a cheque for $1,000 from Lantzville Rotary to purchase fabric for school uniforms being sewn in Tailoring Workshops in Kagera.
TRANSPORTING DONATED GOODS FROM CANADA TO KAGERA Shipping has been done in various ways: In 2014 Tumaini Fund Canada was delighted to receive the gift from ICROSS Canada of a 40′ container and transportation costs to Kagera. With the contents and loading from Compassionate Resource Warehouse in Victoria, this huge container was packed with a precious cargo of urgently needed supplies. After a long sea voyage from Canada, the vessel docked in Dar es Salaam. Following customs clearance and a difficult overland journey by truck, it finally arrived in Muleba. The container was welcomed with joy by the Tumaini staff and local hospitals, schools and communities who shared in the wonderful donations that were unloaded, including hospital equipment, school supplies, clothing, medical equipment, tools and toys for the children. The container was moved to a permanent site to provide storage space. Click HERE
Transport in personal luggage
Personal Care Kits, urgently needed by Tumaini school girls, have been carried by kind volunteers travelling from Canada to the UK and Guernsey; then onward by visitors to Kagera or included in the next Guernsey container to Kagera.
Pallets containing about 600 pounds of items have become increasingly expensive to ship.
The first pallet shipment was in 2011, the second in 2016.
Both shipments made the long, perilous journey from Nanoose Bay by rail, then ship and finally overland truck from Dar es Salaam to Kagera.
A third pallet in 2018, a fourth pallet in 2020, and a fifth and sixth pallet in 2023 were shipped from Nanoose Bay to Guernsey with the contents to be included in the next Guernsey containers to Kagera… a safer journey for the more vulnerable pallet contents.
Tumaini Crafters and supporters are always delighted to eventually see photos of the happy smiles on the grateful recipients.
Financial donations for shipping are always welcome.
GETTING INVOLVED
See our brochure 2023 TFC brochure
We are a small charity and very much appreciate any help that you can offer. Some suggestions:
Sponsor a child or family.
Donate for secondary school costs, Daftari notebooks, a house, bicycle, solar lamp, goat or a well.
General Donations will be used where most urgently needed.
Donate your deposit-fee recyclables.
Volunteer to sew or knit at home, help at events.
Please pray for the children of Kagera and the work of the Tumaini Orphan Support Organisation (TOSO).
Share Ideas: We are grateful for your inspiration and enthusiasm and welcome you to join the team.