In Kagera :

      The Tumaini Fund (TOSO) :

                                Tumaini in action :

• Over 30% of the population are HIV positive.
• There were over 250,000 orphans when The Tumaini Fund started in 2003 in Kagera alone.
• Although currently free, it is hard for families to access HIV medication.

• Encourages and facilitates HIV testing for all widows and orphans in their care.
• Provide practical support for widows or orphans through the team of Parish Workers.
• Supports access to medication.

• Approximately 7% of children are able to access secondary school.
• For orphans who fail their end of Primary exams, there is almost no way to progress in education.
• Primary to Secondary 4 are free but most orphans do not have uniform or compulsory school books.

• Have 5 vocational tailoring and 5 carpentry schools where students receive their tools on graduating, allowing them to start their own micro-enterprises.
• Support school, college and university students with provision of uniforms, books, bikes, solar lamps or a small amount of living expenses.

• 12% of children die before their first birthday with gastroenteritis.
• This is largely due to families having to drink from dirty water.
• The incidence of water-borne diseases like cholera and typhoid is also high amongst adults.

• Have sunk hundreds shallow and deep wells.
• Work with local village water committees and local authorities to maintain these wells and ensure community ownership
• Support the most vulnerable orphan headed families with water harvesting.
  

• 1 in 5 children under the age of 5 will die because of malaria.
• This preventable disease is still one of the biggest causes of death.

• Provide mosquito nets to all families in their care – each net sleeping up to three children beneath.
• A £4 net can save three lives.
  

• Most people are subsistence farmers who can expect to earn around £55 a year to provide for their families.
• The rains are unpredictable and so drought and crop failure are common.
• Farmers are often paid poorly for their crops.

• Are passionate about equipping families with sustainable and income-generating skills through vocational training and micro-enterprise as an alternative to farming.
• Support widows co-operatives like the succesful basket making enterprises.
  

• Many orphans and widows are found in very desperate conditions with derelict homes which are not safe.
• Heavy rains often destroy what little belongings families have.

• Have built hundreds of new houses for widows like Leokadia, a grandmother caring for her orphaned grandchildren.
• Usually with a “shamba” – a piece of land to farm alongside.