Baskets, Goats and Scholarships

As Christmas Eve and the end of 2013 rapidly approach, here are three opportunities for those who want to support our Tanzanian partners.

1. Basket and handcraft sales -- so far in the last month, we've raised about $2000 for parish projects through the sales of baskets, jewelry and other handcraft items.  While most of our inventory of carvings and jewelry have been sold, we still have baskets in all colors and sizes.  We will not be holding any more public sales but if you are interested, we can arrange a private showing.  Contact Kirsten.Levorson@sotv.org for details.

The proceeds from handcraft sales go directly to our partners and are distributed to village congregations, where they are used to complete chapel construction or build homes for the evangelists.

2. A second opportunity for year end giving is through Shepherd of the Valley's Christmas Gift Giving program.  Monetary donations designated for our Tanzania Partnership are used to purchase goats for the evangelists in our parishes and for the orphanage in Iringa.  Goats provide a great source of nutrition and income!  Offspring of the goats we provide are shared with additional families, so your gift keeps on giving for years to come.

3. Finally, when you contribute to Shepherd of the Valley's Tanzania Scholarship Program, you change a life forever.  Just $380 provides a secondary scholarship for one year -- tuition, room and board for a student who otherwise would end their education after the sixth grade.

Shepherd of the Valley supports over 150 students each year -- your gifts have touched thousands of lives in the past ten years.

The students we sponsor bring their education back to the villages to make life better for the rest of their community.  Last year, Joyce Langasi (back row, in blue) returned to Mpalapande to teach these preschool children. Classes are housed in the Mpalapande Chapel while a primary school is being constructed.

Kambona Kanayaa completed his secondary education and is awaiting acceptance into university. He capably served as translator for one of our visiting groups of travelers.

Rachel Chengula completed her first degree, a bachelor's degree in engineering and technology.  She will work for several years, and already is planning to continue her education with a master's in engineering administration.

Happy Nyaulile completed her secondary education with SOTV support, and then taught at Idodi Secondary School while she worked to be admitted and gather the funds for her university studies.

Gloria Msigwa graduated just last month with a master's degree in education, focusing on curriculum development.  She is shown here with her husband, Rev. Lusungu Msigwa, who serves as Iringa Diocese Coordinator for Bega Kwa Bega.

And just a week ago, Rev. John Mhekwa and his wife Addy Msuva celebrated graduations at Mzumbe University.  John completed his master's in public administration, and Addy completed her bachelor's degree in business.

Your donations to the Tanzania Scholarship Program provide scholarships for secondary and university students, and also provide funds for special projects targeted to improve Iringa area schools for all the students who attend them.  In the past year, funds have been used to install solar power at Image Secondary School to power the computer lab; funds were provided to hold a teacher training workshop that gave teaching strategies to improve learning content while students are also learning English; and funds were provided to support Radio Furaha's weekly agricultural education programming.

At last count, we have received about $35,000 toward our big audacious goal of $60,000 for scholarships and education.  We could cover all of our scholarship commitments with just $50,000 for the coming year.  But this congregation has a history of generous and passionate support for education in Tanzania, and there are many more opportunities to provide support.

You can help us reach that big goal of $60,000.  Give here and remember to designate your gift for TZ Scholarships.

Thank you to all who so generously support our Tanzania Partnership!  Asante sana.