Orphanage in East Africa, Tanzania - Tumaini Children's Foundation |
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Mr. Oddo Ndonde Mr. Oddo Joseph Ndonde was born in the village of Songea in southern Tanzania, August 23rd, 1964. The eldest of seven children he trained in the seminary and studied to become a Roman Catholic priest. He completed his studies which included Philosophy and Theology but chose in the end not to be ordained because of his sense of familial responsibility. He is married and has three healthy children. Oddo is well qualified to assist children in need and has attended several training programs and courses over the years including: Public and International Relations; African Traditional Studies; Conflict Resolutions; Children’s Rights; Clinical Pastoral Education (Counseling); Counseling for Traumatized Children; Project Planning and Management; Financial Management for Development Organizations; Gender and Good Governance and Civics Participation in Local Governance. Since 1997 Oddo has dedicated himself to working with vulnerable and orphaned children in different organizations before founding Tumaini Children’s Foundation (Tuchifo). He has held the positions of Central Manager, Project Manager, Counselor and Assistant Director and has been a member of the Executive Committee of the National Networking of Organizations working with Children in Tanzania (N.N.O.C.) and participated in forming the Forum for Child Concerned N.G.O.’s in Arusha (F.O.C.N.A.) Joining Mr. Oddo on a walk through the streets of Arusha is all the validation he requires as most adults and the many street children of “town” refer to him as “Teacher”.
Mrs. Cherie Szucs (Such) Born in Toronto, Ontario in 1961, Cherie grew up in typical, middle class neighborhoods in Mississauga, Burlington, Hamilton and most recently Simcoe, Ontario. She attended Mohawk College in Hamilton and has a bookkeeping background. Cherie has worked in real estate since 1980 including administration, accounting, management and sales and has been a ginseng farmer since 1992. Cherie worked for years as a volunteer with the Burlington Jaycees (Junior Chamber of Commerce); has been involved, for over a decade, with Girl Guides Canada as a troop leader and regional director; she has worked for several years as a mentor with the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization; and has volunteered on several different committees within her church. Early in 2009 Cherie tended to her dying father (prostate cancer) nursing him through to his death in April. Shortly after his funeral she vowed to realize a lifelong dream to “give back” some of the many blessings she has enjoyed over the years. Africa, and its’ terrible need has tugged at her heart for many years. A local newspaper ran an article on Tanzania and helping children and the link was Oddo. They met initially over the internet, Cherie decided to make a trip to Tanzania to investigate and the rest as they say is history. The two of them have teamed together and Tumaini Children’s Foundation was born. Registered in Tanzania as an N.G.O under The Non-Governmental Organization Act, 2002 (No. 00003232), on June 24th, 2009, and as of February 2010 we received our charitable status in Canada. The needs of the children of Tanzania are immeasurable by western standards. Deplorable living conditions, malaria, HIV/AIDS, all have contributed to an inhumane standard of living and we must help. A home has been leased for one year with a second option and (as of September, 2009) we are in the process of selecting twenty four children who are in desperate and immediate need We have continued through October, November and December to provide ongoing medical care and food supplies to Tumaini’s children. Please tour our site, meet our children and considering sponsorship. Asante sana!!
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