Celebrating Strong Fathers

FFHC seeks to serve the poorest of the poor in their community.  This often includes women who have been widowed or abandoned.  But we are also proud to serve and work "bega kwa bega" (shoulder to shoulder) with Tanzanian fathers.  These men stand by their families and are assests to their communities.  As we in America celebrate fathers and men of character here, we also we also want to recognize the fathers in Tanzania.  They are each from the Bassodawish project, one of 4 project areas Food For His Children serves in in the Karatu District.

Gwandu Tlemu has 7 children, 4 girls and 3 boys.  He earns the equivalent of a $1.00 a dollar a day.  In 2009 Gwandu and his family were given a hybrid dairy goat.  He said now the future is more hopeful for his family.  They are getting about a liter of milk a day from their goats.  The family's health is very good now, the children are happy and playing thanks to the nutritients found in the goat's milk.  They are also using the manure to fertilize their crops.  He says Food For His Children is the "grace of God coming to me."  When FFHC leadership visited his home in November 2011, Gwandu was proud to show off his family and growing herd of goats.  He is a leader in his community and a champion for Food For His Children.  He serves as chairperson on the FFHC committee in the Bassodawish project.  He wishes to thank the donors who have helped his family and hopes the program will be able to expand.       

Barnabas Safari has 2 daughters.  He earns 20,000 Tanzanian schillings a month, roughly $20 making shoes out of old car tires.  He is only able to do this when is can find tires to use.  Before recieving a goat the family didn’t drink milk.  Now they have it twice a day.  The family is healthier now.  His wife had been sick but after drinking the milk is doing well.  FFHC leadership have been able to visit Barnabas twice during the last couple years.  Each time he has taken the time to make shoes for any who are interested.  The flat handmade sandal-type shoes are actually quite comfortable and are sturdy in the rugged and dusty terrain.   

Pastor Calvin Kessy and his wife  has a son and another child on the way.  He has a degree in theology and is pastor in charge of the Bassodawish parish.  He joined with Food For His Children in 2009 when his village was approached for partnership.  He says that he wants to be "a voice for the voiceless,"  "FFHC is one particle of being the voice."  Each project has a committee made up of goat recipients, community leadership, and pastors.  Pastor Kessy serves on the committee for the Bassodawish project.