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    Accommodation

    Mwagusi Safari Camp

    If you live in the USA, and would like to take a suitcase of medical supplies selected specifically for the medical project below, please contact oc@njt.net. We are pleased to partner with OC Not Just Tourists to provide useful and requested medical supplies for clinics and hospitals across the globe. Your only expense would be the cost of shipping from Not Just Tourists to you ($15-$25). If you choose to do this, you will make a Big Impact!
    Pack for a Purpose does not condone visiting orphanages, as this can often lead to negative impacts on children. The accommodation or tour company working with the orphanage will deliver the supplies in a coordinated and respectful way so that the children can benefit from them. Your generosity is not diminished because you do not interact with the children.

    Project #1

    The orphan center supported by Mwagusi Safari Camp is one of the many projects supported by the Foxes Community and Wildlife Conservation Trust (FCWCT).

    The FCWCT is a grassroots initiative of the Fox Family. This NGO aims to provide shelter, sustenance, education, and medical care to the increasing number of orphans and foster families in the Mufindi District of Tanzania.

    As a result of HIV/AIDS, many children are left orphaned, or worse: left to care and provide for their sick parents, grandparents, and siblings. To date, the NGO has built and staffed six orphanage dormitories, with plans to expand the orphan’s center to 60 beds and refurbish educational facilities. The NGO also aims to provide outreach services in local villages to AIDS orphans and construct a Counseling and Treatment Center to treat HIV/AIDS patients. Other projects include upgrading a local dispensary to a full-service hospital so those in the area don’t have to travel over 50 kilometers to the nearest hospital.

    Project #2

    The Kindergarten Village Outreach Program currently has two pre-school classes (ages 8 months through 1.5 years and 1.5 through 3 years) and two Kindergarten classes (ages 3 through 8 years) on-site.

    The teaching style is based on the Montessori-philosophy of child-directed learning. School curriculum uses culturally appropriate, independent activities that are organized into Montessori’s Five Sections of the Classroom: Practical Life, Sensorial, Math, Language, and Culture and Science.

    Project #3

    The Igoda Children’s Village is a happy, thriving community. Today, there are 6 Children’s Houses, each with their own “House Parent” to create a familial environment. Currently, ICV provides care for 50 children, from infants to 17 years of age.

    Each house has a Mother who cares for her children, feeds and supports them creating the boundaries of behaviour and discipline expected in any household. The children attend the village school, are expected to do chores at the house before playing with their friends from the village.

    Project #4

    Mdabulo Health Facility is located in the Mufindi District, in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. Mdabulo is the only Health Center for over 40,000 people.

    The community surrounding the facility is acutely affected by the HIV pandemic, with an overal prevalence of 35%! This has meant that its citizens have had to work with the challenge of the spread of many infectious diseases.

    Through a partnership with regional and local government, FCWC (Foxes’ NGO) has aimed to provide increasingly resourceful health care to the area.

    Initiatives Supported

    All the needs are current as of March 15, 2024
    Note: Location is approximated. If you see a lodging that is misplaced or missing, please contact us .
    Mwagusi Safari Camp

    Listed on this page are the specific needs requested by the community project(s) so you can choose exactly what to pack for a purpose and express your gratitude to the local community with the supplies you take them. If you prefer, you may reach out directly to them to inquire about items which may be available for purchase locally. Arranging visits to community projects is beyond the scope of our mission. If you wish to visit a project, contact the participant and they can let you know what is possible.

    Candy and balloons are not on the needs list as they are harmful for the children and the environment for the following reasons:
    • Few of the children benefiting from these projects have access to toothpaste, toothbrushes, or a dentist. The candy promotes cavities.
    • The balloons once they become deflated are a choking hazard for local wildlife.

    Instead of taking candy or balloons, use that space for additional requested supplies, as they are priceless.