About 70 supporters of CanaDares Society had an opportunity on Sunday, July 30, to learn about Vijaliwa Vingi’s plans to develop a primary school in Africa. CanaDares is the Sunshine Coast-based registered charity that raises funds to support the humanitarian project in rural Tanzania.
For some 15 years now, Vijaliwa Vingi, a Tanzanian registered society, has operated a residential facility for children in dangerous circumstances, supported completely by CanaDares and its donors. The two societies have a formal Joint Venture Agreement; CanaDares is a completely volunteer organization.
The project, which occupies a 20-acre site at Mlandizi, about 60 kilometres west of Dar es Salaam, has also conducted numerous outreach activities in the local area. The latest of these is the startup of a pre-school that has been met with enthusiastic community demand.
The project’s pre-school is unique in that it presents its program in both Swahili and English. It relies on positive discipline rather than any use of the cane, and it emphasizes Vijaliwa Vingi’s principles of honesty, respect and co-operation. While it is at present financially self-supporting, it is clear that any expansion of this activity will require funding far beyond CanaDares’ capacity. But preliminary financial plans indicate that the entire project could be self-supporting within five years.
The two societies are now engaged in identifying and applying for funding from government and philanthropic organizations, both in Tanzania and Canada. In the meantime, Vijaliwa Vingi continues its residential program, and Canadares continues its support.
The July 30 fundraising golf and dinner at the Sunshine Coast Golf and Country Club was the 10th annual John Nicholls Memorial event. Forty players enjoyed the sunshine on the course; the evening dinner featured presentations, a silent auction and the traditional raffle.
The hit of the evening was a live auction conducted to great effect by Ed Hill. Prizes and auction items were donated by numerous Sunshine Coast businesses and individuals, and the CanaDares board has expressed its great appreciation for the community’s generosity and its continuing support of its unique African project.
– Submitted
