NyotaStar

We are a community project that strives to give basic care and love to all in need, particularly orphaned children, widows and the poor in the communities. Many children in this area are orphaned due to poverty and disease. Most of the orphans live with a guardian, but we have found that some of these guardians are either very old grandparents or poor relatives, struggling to raise these children in a very harsh environment. Some of them live in mud huts that are dilapidated. Currently, there are 7 children residing at the orphanage.

The Project is in Tanzania, East Africa in the Ugweno valley of the North Pare Mountains, with a spectacular view of Mt Kilimanjaro to the north. Encompassing the Villages of Kwanyange, Kivisini and beyond, the Project is 20 minutes drive from the little town of Kifaru and 45 minutes from the district town of Mwanga. The nearest large town is Moshi, 1 ½ hours away.

Nyota means Star in Kiswahili language so we used both languages to name our Project – thus the name translates from Swahili to English as StarStar!
Jesus said, "I am the Root and the Offspring of David and the Bright and Morning Star." Rev 22:16

At the project, the Matron has full responsibility and is very close and loving to all the children. The Matron and the Community Manager give the children health checks and make an assessment of their home life. Some of the primary school children come from very poor homes. It is necessary to meet their needs by providing them with uniforms and school items. All needs and reports are forwarded to the project’s Managing Director and the Child Welfare Officer in Tanzania.

The community children come to the orphanage every Saturday. Together they attend Bible studies conducted by the resident Pastor. They sing hymns and afterwards and they share a simple meal. They then have games and recreation in the grounds.

This care has alleviated a lot of suffering and has given the parents or guardians hope. There are basic medical clinics in the villages, but there is a clear need for a small hospital as the nearest hospitals are over 40 miles away, and there is no public transport for any emergencies.

We have up to 70 children who come to the Centre on Saturdays. They are from all around the valley up to over 12 kilometres away, and they walk there and back. We have simple play areas and a play field with swings and other ball games. The orphans of the valley live at home with their guardians, but we have found that most of the guardians are very old and poor grandparents. Some live with their aunties and uncles or brothers and sisters. Widows are very poor and struggling to bring the children up; they live in mud huts which are dilapidated, with roofs that leak when it rains.

There is no employment or public transport in the valley for people to travel daily or regularly to the towns for employment. The majority of the people are very poor, relying on tilling their plots of land for food and all necessities. The land is semi-arid and has poor soil. There are droughts that can last as long as 3 years, causing death to livestock and poverty to inhabitants. The nearest town is only very small.

The majority of our children are those in nursery school (up to 35 in number). Government Primary School starts at age 7, so we have found it necessary to open a nursery school at the Project so that the little ones from as young as 2 ½ years old can attend, Monday to Friday. We have employed a capable, salaried teacher trained for nursery school. This releases guardians/parents to go and find food and do other chores. The children learn basic reading and writing at this early age, but are also given a simple meal before they go home in the afternoon.

On Saturdays they all come together with the Primary School children for recreation and social activities. The Christian children receive Bible Studies and they praise and worship God. We have a resident Pastor who lives in the premises and takes care of the community church that is in operation at the Project. Our children are multicultural and multi faith. All are treated equally and are loved very much.

Water Project

We are back from mission. Thank you all for sending us. We did a lot in the three weeks we spent in Africa.

This year we went with our daughter Eva and her three children. Their father sacrificed a lot of money to send us all, including us, the grandparents, to show them one of the greatest wonders of CREATION, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti Plain. We saw thousands of different animals as it was time they were preparing for migration to Maasai Mara in Kenya. We sang “All Things Bright and Beautiful” in great chorus while we were in the bush. It was awesome. Victor, Eva and I had been there before, but this time it was even better, to show the children.

We returned to Arusha where we refreshed before going to mission at NyotaStar Christian Centre. It was like a different place, for with your help we found so many changes since we were there last year.

The URC Church, Abington, Northampton visited four years ago. They came back and through the Peter Robertson Fund, they financed the drilling and supply of water. It was a miracle. We witnessed great celebrations by the community as there is now a water distribution system; a sophisticated water pump, water storage tank, five outdoor taps and showers and flushing toilets for the orphans. The people no longer have to rely on the government tap which is often out of use for weeks at a time.

One of our community widow was living in a dilapidated mud/grass hut. Many individuals and churches donated towards this. Now the widow, who is bringing up three orphaned grandchildren, is in a safe two bedroomed house of baked clay bricks and corrugated iron roof with a hard floor. This widow is thanking God for all of you who helped. Her oldest grandchild Joyce is in Form Four this year. We give thanks to those who are sponsoring her, as well as the initial donations for building her house. Please see her house below.

How to Contribute

Ways You Can Help To Make A Difference

Sponsor a child through Secondary School£20 per month
Sponsor a child in primary school and under£10 per month
Sponsor a widow£10 per month
Regular donation towards project running costs£ any amount

If you would like more information about sponsorship programme, email us.

If you want to subscribe to our quarterly news update, please email us.

Mission

Our mission is inspired by the Christian Faith and is four fold.

First - to spread the good news and hope that is in Jesus our Saviour.

Second - to alleviate poverty among individuals including poor children, orphans, widows, and the sick of the Ugweno valley.

Third - to provide projects that will create jobs and employment for the community of Ugweno valley.

Fourth - to improve housing for the poor and to enhance education for children and adults alike.

Education

The first stage of education in Tanzania is nursery school, which caters for children age 2 and half to 5 years. The next stage is pre-school which educates children from 5 to 7 years old. Pre-school is not free. The children then move on to primary school at age 7 until 14 years old. Currently, primary education is free. Children from the age of 14 onwards attend secondary school which is not free.

Because the local community is very poor most children don't have the opportunity to go through all stages of education.

Hope for the Future Generation

When we started the charity back in 2004, we did not know how to go about helping this community, but as soon as we saw the condition of the children, we straight away knew where to start. Buy uniforms for those whose uniforms were really tatty or have no uniform at all. We also provided school books and pens, pencils etc. for this group.

Then, after a year there, we started getting requests for help from the community and made a list of those who were really desperately poor. This was done with the officials of the local government who know the community. We quickly identified the need to help children beyond primary education. Parents cannot afford to buy the school items needed let alone school fees. Secondary School in Tanzania incurs a fee. So we turned to sponsors here in England who have responded in a wonderful way. We started helping 7 children in 2009 and in 2010 an additional 5 were added. All 12 children have sponsors here in the UK. This year, 2010 we have 3 who we know of, that are in our list. If they pass their exam, they will need to be sponsored for Secondary Education too. We trust that sponsors will come forth. Those children who did not get the grade to enter Secondary School have been sponsored too: 1 boy is doing Carpentry and another boy is trainig as a mechanic and welding. 6 girls are doing tailoring.

The nursery school at NyotaStar is very busy and cares for 30 to 40 little ones. Tragically, the nursery school children will be unable to move up to the pre-school as it has been closed. Parents have not been able to pay the school fees. Therefore the little ones age between 5 and 7 years old miss out on pre-school education. We have recognised the need to build a pre-school and nursery school at the Centre next year. The building for kitchen and dining rooms has been completed.

Fundraising

Thanks to those who help us with carboot sale items and those who come to help. We are grateful for Morrison supermarket stores in our region who allow us to collect there.

We thank each and everyone, young and old who have contributed in different ways throught the 8 years of operation helping the project to grow.

Thank you

We acknowledge and give thanks to everyone who has prayed, participated, donated and been an encouragement during these events and at any other time.







EventGiftKey players
Disco during March 2009£1500Thanks to Alison Francis
Disco during March 2008£2500Thanks to Alison Francis
Sponsored slim during March 2008£250Thanks to Bob Wilson of All Nations Fellowship Church
Sponsored 6.5 mile walk on the 9th of April 2008£500Thanks to Ann Bentley of All Nations Fellowship Church
Charity Gospel Concert On the 8th of March 2008£1500Thanks to Denise Gordon and Abington Avenue United Reform Church
Little Houghton CE Primary School Shoe Appeal of September 2008Shoes and school itemsThanks to the children and teachers of Little Houghton School

Finance

Income and Expenditure Accounts

2009-2010
INCOME£18233.87
EXPENDITURE£18085.38
SURPLUS £148.49
2010-2011
INCOME£23,436.85
EXPENDITURE£21,899.82
CASH IN HAND £1537.03
2011-2012
INCOME£21,187.01
EXPENDITURE£18,121.67
SURPLUS £3,065.34

Contact Us

Founders:Victor and Elvida Hildyard.
Managing Director:Solomon Daudi.
Child Welfare Officer:Mrs Gladys Daudi.

Trustees:
Victor Hildyard
Elvida Hildyard
Penelope Bailey.
Eva Trkulja.
Momcilo Trkulja.
Denise Gordon.
David Exley.


Address:
NyotaStar Christian Centre 249 Main Road
Duston
Northampton
Northamptonshire
NN5 6PR
United Kingdom

Email:

Friends

Friends of NyotaStar

Africa Travel Bureau is an owner-managed tour operating company in Tanzania based in Arusha with over 20 years experience.www.africatravelbureau.com
Wheels4Life plans to provide a substantial number of bikes to the people, allowing villagers to gather water more quickly and efficiently, take their crops of maize to the mill and their goods to the market as well as get their children to town for school or to visit the doctor. www.wheels4life.org