Shirati Project list

Many of you have asked us how you can help. Here are lists of some much needed projects. Any size of contribution has the potential to radically change the life of a Tanzanian. Thanks!

GIFTS OF EDUCATION

1. Johanes Solar Obeto
We first met Solar in August 2005 when he agreed to watch our house while we attended language training in Nairobi, Kenya. Solar was a teacher at a local private secondary school. Since that time we have become very good friends with Solar. He is often at our home and plays games and watches movies with the family. Solar tutors our oldest son Alex in physics twice a week. When we spend the night away from Shirati, he stays at our home.

Solar is now 24 years old. From the time we first met him, he has talked of becoming a doctor and returning to Shirati Hospital to serve his home community. We committed to helping him achieve his goal as best we can. Recently, Solar had an opportunity to join the Shirati Hospital staff. He is now working there full time and is taking advantage of this opportunity to learn more about the medical field from the doctors and nurses at the hospital.

Solar was accepted to International Medical and Technological University in Dar es Salaam for the fall semester. This is a 4 ½ year program. The total cost per year including board is $7,500. Shirati Hospital is able to contribute $1000 per year to his study. Depending on Solar’s performance he may be eligible for Government assistance beginning in his second year.

Fund per year $7,500 Total funding need $33,750

2. Antonio Orbbato
Antonio is a friend of Alex and Gerry’s who lives here in Shirati with his Uncle. His father died when he was young and his mother lives and works in Nairobi Kenya. Antonio speaks and reads English very well. He has spent a lot of time with Alex and Gerry and has gone on many day trips with us. Antonio was accepted at a very good secondary school several hours from Shirati. He left in mid-January to attend. We have paid the cost for the first semester of school for him. He will attend Form 1 to 4.

Cost per year including board $400 Total funding need $1,600

3. Kezia
Kezia is one of our house helpers. Her daily responsibilities include doing dishes and our laundry. She is 24 years old, married with an 18 month old daughter. Kezia has a wonderful a laugh and loves to play jokes on people. She is a child at heart.

Kezia will not have a job once the Hummel’s leave Shirati. She has come to us and shared she would like to go to Shirati Hospital School of Nursing. She would like to become a nurse and help people here in the community. The nursing program is 3 years. The program requires students to live at the school so the fees include room and board.

Cost per year $425 Total funding need $1275—funded!!!



4. Michael Murshel
Michael works at a shop next the kindergarten where Leah attended. Leah met him first and would talk about her friend Michael. One day he walked her home from school. He has been coming ever since. Michael’s parents both have died and he now lives in a small room he rents. Michael is 18 years old. He would like to finish his last two years of secondary school so he can go for advanced studies in computer technology.

Michael brought us information about a school in Dar es Salaam, Modern Commercial Institute where he can work on both together. Two years form 3 and 4 and Business Administration and Computer studies.

Total cost without room and board $1,100

5. Phineas
Phineas needs help with school fees to attend the local primary school. Please see Hummel children’s gifts of love for more details.

Annual cost $75 Total cost for 6 more years of school $450

6. General Education
If you would like to make a general contribution to education for students from Shirati we will see that is used for worthy students. Excess donations to above individuals will be placed in this fund.

Funding need - unlimited

CHURCH PROJECTS

1. Shirati Mennonite Church
Several years ago previous missionaries provided some funds to build a Sunday School building for the children of the church. The building was not completed because the missionaries left before finishing the project. The church needs between $2,000 and $3,000 to complete the work and make the building user friendly for teaching the children. Currently the kids sit on concert floor in a very large open space. The church would like to divide the space into several smaller rooms. This would allow the children to be grouped by age. They would also like to buy some tables and chairs.

The church dreams of starting a pre-school to utilize the building during the week. If the building is finished they can start the pre-school without outside help.

Total project cost $3,000

2. Shirati Mennonite Diocese Community Center
The Diocese community center would like to build a playground for the children of the community to come and play throughout the week. This would consist of swings, slides and see-saws. This would give the children of the community a safe place to come and play.

Total project cost $2,000
Small Hospital Needs for Special Project Funding


1. Patient Gowns/uniforms
The hospital currently has very few patient gowns/uniforms. Patients stay in their own clothes. This presents a number of problems for the hospital and staff. The two largest being identification of patients and hygiene. Patient gowns are made by the hospital tailor. The hospital needs 300 gowns. Donations can be made for a specific number of uniforms or for all 300 gowns.

Cost per gown $7.50 each Total funding need $2,250.00

2. Bed Sheets
The hospital bed sheets are very old with many having stains or tears. The hospital needs a minimum of 300 new bed sheets. Bed sheets are purchased locally in Mwanza from the Tanzanian Medical Store Department (MSD). Funds can be donated for a specific number of sheets or for all 300 bed sheets.

Bed Sheets cost $4.75 each. Total funding need $1,425.00

3. Mackintosh (Plastic covering sheets for mattresses)
Mackintosh is a plastic/vinyl material that comes in sheet rolls and is used to place between bed sheets and mattresses to protect the mattresses from fluids. The hospital needs a minimum of 12 rolls. Funds can be donated for a specific number of rolls or for all 12 rolls.

Cost per roll $50.00 Total funding need $600.00

4. Security Guard Uniforms
The hospital currently has 12 security guards who watch the front entrance gate and patrol the grounds at night. They currently wear their own street clothes. This creates a problem whenever there is a crowd as to who is in charge. The hospital wants to provide the 12 guards with 2 standard uniforms. Total need 24 uniforms.

Cost per uniform $12.50 Total funding need $300.00

5. Digital camera
The hospital needs a digital camera to take pictures to send to donors and to prepare proposals.

Total Funding need $300.00

6. Hospital Based Financial Software Accounting program
The hospital currently does not have an accounting software package. They use an Access-based cash recording system that does not allow for proper accounting and ledger journaling. The hospital would like to purchase an accounting software package that is available through the Christian Social Service Council of Tanzania. The cost includes training.

Total Funding need $2000.00
7. Hospital Business Shop Building fund
The hospital sits along the main road in the Village of Shirati. The hospital would like to build 10 small shops to rent to businesses along the open road area. The shops would replace the wire security fence; become a security wall and generate a monthly income. The monthly income would be between $10 to $15 per month per shop.
Cost per unit $750 Total Funding need $7,500

8. Technology Fund
The hospital has various ongoing technology needs including: purchase of new computers, networking equipment, consultants and technicians to work on the hospital computer network on an as needed basis and computer supplies.

Total funding no limit. This is a revolving fund

9. Ezra’s Bill
Ezra is a young man who was admitted to the hospital with severe burns. He worked on motorcycle engines for his livelihood. What that means here is that he had a few tools with a shaded area under which to work. Somehow when he was working on an engine he got some fuel on his arms and legs and it ignited burning over 60% of his body. No one expected him to survive, but he did. He has actually had a remarkable recovery. He underwent multiple skin grafting operations. The staff arranged for a physical therapist from another hospital 6 hours away to come several times. She taught the staff treatments to keep Ezra from getting sever contractures as he healed. He was here for almost a year. Ezra speaks and reads English well. Ellen and the kids visited him about every week, taking him books and magazines to read. When Ezra was finally ready to leave the hospital we drove him to his village which is about 20 kilometers from here and said good bye.

He and his family have managed to pay 37,000 shillings on his bill of 1,029,440. 37,000 shillings is about one month’s salary here which is about $30 US. This is a bill that he and his family will never be able to pay. The hospital will ultimately write it off.
This gift will allow someone to give twice. The hospital has agreed to take $800 and write off Ezra’s bill as paid and then use the money for another project such as bed sheets.
Total funding need $800.00

10. Charity Care
There is a never-ending line of people who have significant medical problems that come to the hospital and have no way to pay the bill. Ellen and I have a Charity Care Fund at the hospital. The CEO and Chaplain determine the neediest patients and use money from the fund to help with their bills.

Total funding need unlimited

11. Small Renovation & Maintenance needs
The hospital needs money to do many small renovations and repairs such as painting, window glass and screen repairs etc.

Total funding needs unlimited


12. General Funding
The hospital needs just about everything. If you have a particular interest, the hospital will benefit from your gift.

Hummel Children Gifts of Love

Alex and Gerry Projects

1. Eric’s House
Eric is a friend of Gerry and Alex. Gerry, Eric and Alex have spent many days building a tree house which is very novel here in Tanzania. One day Gerry came home and told us Eric’s house had no screens and he did not have a mosquito net. Gerry had taken his allowance money and purchased Eric a mosquito net and some new screens for his bedroom window. Later Gerry purchased a gallon of paint to paint Eric’s bedroom walls.

Gerry and Alex would like to buy new screens for all the house windows and paint for all the rooms of the house.
Total project cost estimate $600

2. Phineas’ Bike
Phineas lives with his Grandfather because his parents have both died. Phineas is very bright and makes many different toys and gadgets out of trash that he finds. Phineas is also very motivated. He is often seen pushing a wheelbarrow filled with plants to sell from house to house trying to earn money for his family.

Phineas would like a bike to ride the several kilometers he now walks each day to school.
Total Project cost $120

Leah’s Project
1. Leah has many young girls that come to play with her each day. They all love her dolls especially the African (dark colored) dolls. Leah shares her dolls freely but her friends are always asking if they can have them to take home. Leah would like to buy dolls and accessories to give to her friends
Total cost of her project $200

The Hummels have many speaking engagements over the next 5 weeks. If you would like to make a contribution, please send your gift to the address below: Please designate how you want your gift to be used. If the project you give to has excess funding we would like your blessing to use your gift for another area of need.

Blessings,


The Hummels
Keith, Ellen, Alex, Gerry & Leah

CONTRIBUTIONS TO: Payable to: Bowmansville Mennonite Church
BOWMANSVILLE MENNONITE CHURCH
C/O Mim Zimmerman
129 Pleasant Valley Road
East earl, PA 17519

Donations are tax deductible. Amounts over $250 will be receipted. Shirati Hospital will acknowledge all donors who provide a mailing address.