With respect to the Home, there are now 15 children in full time residence, including one child from a nearby boarding school, who simply has nowhere else to call home. The most recent addition came about quite unexpectedly. While visiting the nearby Women’s Prison to provide soap and clothes to the inmates, Krystyna was approached by a mother. With a sense of urgency, she asked that her child be taken from the prison to the home. And so, a two year old little girl named Maua (‘flower’ in Swahili) became the latest resident of Saint Gabriel Home and she is by all accounts, bright and cheerful and a most welcome addition. The other children in the home, some of whom have been resident for many years (and many more years to come), are all in good health and flourishing in character, education and overall happiness.
Krystyna had the opportunity to speak with the eldest children individually and they were very forthcoming about their hopes, fears and dreams. The very fact these children now have the capacity to dream about the future is testament to their remarkable progress since escaping the hopelessness of prison.
In terms of the associated Saint Gemma Galgani School, which includes a developing primary school and kindergarten (pre-school), two more classrooms were built in 2010. Existing classrooms were equipped and furnished with desks and chairs for each student funded by a donation from the Rotary Club, Krakow-Wawel in Poland via the Saint Gabriel Home Foundation. Two additional classrooms were recently constructed and now require furnishing and equipping to accept children in the new (2011) school year. This will also be funded by the foundation.
At present, the school consists of two kindergarten classrooms and four primary school classrooms each accommodating 30 children. In future, the school needs to build and equip another two classrooms and a much-needed covered dining room to be fully complete and functional. With only 30 or so children in each class, this provides a good student to teacher ratio with each child receiving the attention they deserve. Compare this to the 100 + children per class (!) in other schools in the area and it’s easy to see why the St Gemma Galgani School is greatly valued by parents and offers a high standard of education.
The final target for the completed school will be 240-260 enrolled and fee paying children, and there are presently 130 students attending class. On average, the school fee per student is $350 per year, which includes two meals a day, one of porridge and a more substantial mid-day lunch since the children attend school until 3pm. Nutrition remains an essential aspect of education since many children come from poor households and the school meals they receive are often, the only meals of the day.
While most parents are able and most willing to pay, school fees are applied on an ability-to-pay basis. Namely, while most children pay fees, a number from extremely poor families attend school for free or at a reduced rate. This is only fair given the range of (low) family incomes and widespread poverty.
For the parents of children (often single parents – mothers only), socio-economic conditions in the Arusha region have proven most challenging. While the local economy has boomed in recent years with an increase in the cost-of-living and prices especially for food, land and accommodation, salaries have stagnated particularly at the lowest economic levels. This has created a growing ‘poverty gap’ and extreme demands on the low-income households from which many of the school children originate.
The school and home are located amongst a beautiful landscaped garden with a well-equipped children’s play area with slides and swings. A colourfully painted fence donated by an international volunteer has enhanced the play area, which is especially attractive for students at break-time.
International volunteers working as teachers and child care professionals are now a regular feature of the school and home. This year, volunteers from Europe will come to Mateves for a period of 3-6 months after which, they usually return home to continue studies. The contribution from international volunteers is especially important since they help strengthen the learning capacity and English language skills of the children, which is vitally important for future education and employment prospects.
In terms of staff levels, the home and school now engage seven Sisters from the Gemma Galgani Order as teachers, administrators and carers. In addition, there are two cooks/carers employed and a temporary worker to look after the livestock on the small farm. Three security personnel (night watchmen) are also employed, especially during night time since safety and security have become serious concerns.
In terms of the overall infrastructure, the fruit and vegetable garden is flourishing despite the recent drought and provides all the daily fruit/vegetable requirements for the home. Large rainwater collection tanks have been installed by volunteers to mitigate ground water and irrigation shortages should they occur.
Sadly this year, St Gabriel Home suffered two raids by thieves resulting in the theft of expensive equipment and also, the injury of the night watchmen during the attacks. The safety and security of the property, and especially resident children and staff is now an urgent priority.
Consequently, there are plans to erect a security fence around the entire property at a cost of approximately $22,000 US. These funds are not currently available but an application for funding has been submitted by the foundation to the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A decision regarding this financial support should be made in 2011. Until this time, there is concern for the overall security of the children and staff, especially at night and the need for extra vigilance. In addition, the fence will protect the cultivated land around the home from damage by wandering animals, which is a recurring problem.
Since the beginning of this project in 2002/3, the area around St Gabriel Home has rapidly developed from empty savannah into an expanding semi-rural community with farms, homes and buildings emerging everywhere, including infrastructure such as improved roads and a local hospital. This increase in the local population and economy has improved the level of available services but also increased the likelihood of crime. Unfortunately this is the ‘dark side’ of urbanization and development and not only in Africa.
The St Gabriel Home Foundation trustees are pleased with the progress over the past year at both the school and home. This is testament to the outstanding work, initiative and continued commitment of the Sisters, employees, volunteers and everyone involved locally. Saint Gabriel Home & School is well on track to reach its goal of financial sustainability in the next 2-4 years but significant work remains to be accomplished.
During her visit, Krystyna speaking on behalf of the foundation trustees reiterated her concerns and priorities to the Sisters at St Gabriel Home.
They include:
- Although the growth in the school (student numbers) is most welcome, the resident children in the original home must remain the priority for special care and attention.
- Given the global concern about appalling levels of child abuse occurring in many educational institutions worldwide, Krystyna on behalf of the foundation trustees stressed the importance of great vigilance and a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of abuse. This serious crime against children must never be allowed to occur and the personal safety, security, dignity and human rights of the children at Saint Gabriel Home remain absolutely paramount.
- Since many of the children in the home will be resident until early adulthood (with mothers imprisoned under long sentences), further education and vocational training will need to be secured in future. In summary, the renewed hope and happiness created in childhood must be supplemented with real opportunity and direction as the children mature into young adults.
Future Needs and Challenges:
Looking forward to 2011 (and beyond), the following represent priority needs:
1. The urgent construction of a security fence with improved lighting around the entire property to improve safety.
2. The building of two new classrooms and a covered dining area, which will effectively complete the primary school and the required infrastructure for future financial sustainability of both the home and school.
3. Planning for the long term education and vocational training of the resident children as they move beyond school into early adulthood. This includes developing an endowment system where each child will be sponsored for future training and education beyond St. Gabriel Home.
Although the living conditions and educational opportunities for the resident children are excellent, it is sobering to consider that for most of the children, St Gabriel Home is the only ‘family’ they have offering care, compassion, love and a sense of belonging. Maintaining this real sense of ‘family’ for the children over the long term remains an essential goal, which should never be taken for granted.
On behalf of everyone at the St Gabriel Home Foundation (Krakow); founders and trustees as well as the Sisters, staff and children in Tanzania, I would like to express (once again) our heartfelt thanks to all donors and supporters for your trust, kindness and generous support. While the funding we have received has been essential to progress in 2010, the wonderful gift of friendship from people of goodwill worldwide continues to touch and inspire everyone involved.
As they grow older and more conscious of the wider world, the children at St Gabriel Home become increasingly aware of the compassionate people – often at great distances – who care passionately about their well-being and future. This is an extraordinary gift and blessing and we remain grateful beyond words.
From the Saint Gabriel Home Family – we wish everyone joy, happiness and good health during the Christmas Season and may the coming new year be filled with many blessings and success. Asante Sana! Thank you!
Roman Pryjomko
Co-Founder and Trustee, Saint Gabriel Home Foundation