Amani Foundation

THE AMANI FOUNDATION IS A 501(C)3 NGO BASED IN AMERICA WHICH AIDS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF AMANI CHILDREN'S HOME AND FUNDRAISES ON ITS BEHALF. THE TWO BRANCHES (THE AMANI' CHILDREN'S HOME AND THE AMANI FOUNDATION) ARE HERE COLLECTIVELY REFERRED TO AS AMANI. AMANI SEEKS NOT ONLY PROVIDE A SAFE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN LIVING ON SITE, BUT ACCESS TO A QUALITY PRIVATE EDUCATION, EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES THAT FUEL A CHILD'S PERSONAL AND INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT, AND MENTORSHIP THAT CONNECTS CHILD TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PROVIDES THEM WITH THE SKILLS AND RELATIONSHIPS THEY WILL NEED TO SUCCEED IN ADULTHOOD. AMANI ALSO SERVES THE COMMUNITY THROUGH OUTREACH INITIATIVES, SPECIFICALLY WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGNS. THROUGH A COMBINATION OF ILLUSTRATION AND TRANSLATION, AMANI SEEKS TO MAKE SCIENTIFIC AND MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE ACCESSIBLE TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS REGARDLESS OF LANGUAGE AND LITERACY BARRIERS.

AMANI CHILDREN'S HOME COVERS THE COST OF CHILD CARE THROUGH SPONSORSHIPS AND INDEPENDENT DONATIONS. BY PLEDGING TO SUPPORT A CHILD THROUGH OUR SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM, YOU COVER THE PER-CAPITA COSTS OF FOOD, MEDICAL CARE, CHILD CARE, EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND STAFF SUPERVISION. AWARDED BASED ON MERIT, THESE SCHOLARSHIPS COVER TUITION TO A LOCAL PRIVATE SCHOOL, AS WELL AS STUDENT'S BASIC NEEDS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, AND TRANSPORT. THESE OPPORTUNITIES ARE TRULY LIFE CHANGERS FOR OUR STUDENTS. ACCORDING TO UNICEF, IN TANZANIA ONLY 62% OF CHILDREN FINISH PRIMARY SCHOOL, AND ONLY 53.5% OF THOSE STUDENTS CONTINUE ON TO SECONDARY SCHOOL. THE LITERACY RATE IN TANZANIA IS ONLY 67.8%. FOR OUR CHILDREN, A SOLID PRIMARY SCHOOL EDUCATION IS A CRUCIAL FOUNDATION TO PASSING NATIONAL EXAMS AND EXCELLING LATER ON IN THEIR EDUCATIONAL CAREER. SPONSORSHIPS ENSURE OUR CHILDREN'S NEEDS, BOTH PERSONAL AND ACADEMIC, ARE FULLY COVERED FOR YEARS TO COME. OUR SPONSORSHIP COVERAGE HAS DOUBLED IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. HOWEVER, THERE ARE STILL 25 CHILDREN WAITING ON OUR PRIORITY SCHOLARSHIP LIST.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE TWO CLASSROOMS FOR NURSERY SCHOOL. THIS FALL, WE MADE THE DECISION TO TURN ONE INTO A LIBRARY. CHILDREN FROM OUTSIDE IN THE LARGER COMMUNITY LACK A SAFE PLACE TO WORK ON HOMEWORK, TO RECEIVE TUTORING, AND TO ACCESS EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS. OUR OWN CHILDREN PREVIOUSLY DID EVENING HOMEWORK IN OUR OPEN-AIR DINING PAVILION, WHICH IS SUBJECT TO POWER OUTAGES AND RAINY WINDS DURING THE WET SEASON. FURTHERMORE, TEXTBOOKS IN TANZANIA ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY REQUIRED FOR ALL PUBLIC-SCHOOL STUDENTS AND PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE. WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WE WERE ABLE TO TRANSFORM OUR FREE ROOM INTO THE FIRST LIBRARY IN OUR TOWN. WE STARTED BY COMMISSIONING BIG, WIDE TABLES FOR HOMEWORK AND FIFTY CHILD-SIZE CHAIRS. WE ORDERED SHELVES TO HOUSE FRESHLY DONATED BOOKS AND DESKS FOR NEWLY PURCHASED LAPTOPS. WE HIRED LOCAL PAINTERS TO TRANSFORM THE WALLS INTO FIELD GUIDES, COVERING EMPTY SPACE WITH FLOWERS, ACACIA TREES CLIMBING TOWARDS THE CEILING, BEARING MONKEYS AND BIRDS ON THEIR BRANCHES. WE ALLOWED OUR OLDEST CHILDREN TO HELP PICK THE INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES THAT NOW DECORATE THE WALLS. DONORS FROM ALL OVER LONG ISLAND, ESPECIALLY HAMPTON BAYS PUBLIC LIBRARY, CONTRIBUTED TO OUR COLLECTION OF FICTION BOOKS. DONATIONS FROM IVY LEAGUE PRIVATE SCHOOL ALLOWED US TO PURCHASE SWAHILI-ENGLISH BILINGUAL BOOKS AND A FULL COLLECTION OF TEXTBOOKS FOR PRESCHOOL THROUGH STANDARD SEVEN. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO FOSTER A READINGCULTURE WITHIN OUR CENTER, AND THE LARGER COMMUNITY.

AMANI CHILDREN'S HOME IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT RESIDENTIAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN IN MTO WA MBU, TANZANIA. AMANI PROVIDE SAFE HOUSING, NUTRITIOUS FOOD, QUALITY EDUCATION AND HEALTHY SOCIALIZATION FOR 46 ORPHANS AND CHILDREN OF UNABLE PARENTS. CHILDREN ARE BROUGHT TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICE OF MTO WA MBU, AT WHICH TIME GUARDIANS LEGALLY RELINQUISH CUSTODIAL RIGHTS, AND ARE LATER PLACED AT AMANI BY A SOCIAL WORKER.

GENERALIZED UPKEEP AND EXPENSES FOR THE CHILDREN'S HOME (INCLUDING CHILD CARE, MEDICAL BILLS, REPAIRS TO BUILDINGS ETC)