Well, today was a busy day! We did get 3 babies from Bugando Hospital today - although as I forewarned - the details do differ a little!

Sophia Lilly is a 6 month old baby girl. She was found on the roadside in Mwanza a few days ago. She is malnourished but seems relatively healthy.

Micheal is a one and a half year old boy. His Mum is a refugee from Rwanda and she is currently dying in hospital from advanced stages of AIDS. No other family are known. Michael is malnourished and quite shell shocked. I have just nipped up to say goodnight and he is sat with my night staff, awake and whimpering. We will take all 3 children from medicals tomorrow - and I am guessing Michael will have some ailments which need treatment.

Zawadi turned out to be a girl much to Lesley's surprise when she changed her nappy! She is about one and a half and although very unsteady on her feet and malnourished, she seems a happy and alert child - chattering away and copying everything she hears spoken.
Her Mum has got Bipolar depression and is sectioned in hospital - the Doctors do not think she will be able to return to her Mother so I am sure she must have other issues too.

So - that makes 22! The Baby Home still feels like there is room for more - but the bedroom space just wont allow for many more children unless we go ahead with our extension....the bedrooms are squashed to say the least!

And....if 3 new children didn't make it a busy enough day - we also have a new sickness and diaoreah bug going round the babies and Sammy is in hospital on a drip to prevent dehydration. Sammy, Mathias, Dotto, Molly and Omari have all got the bug - but Sammy was not able to keep any liquid down and was getting dehydrated. I am sure we will be able to bring him home in the morning.

Thank you to Chloe and Lesley who sorted out the new children today.....and to Social Welfare and the Hospital Staff who worked really hard to get these children out of hospital and into Forever Angels really quickly this time.

Photos of the new babies should be ready tonight......Ben is working on it as we speak!

Well - it seems that we are going to get 3 new children tomorrow....two 1 year old boys and a baby girl - all from Bugando Hospital......and I am actually quite upset about it as I LOVE collecting new children but I wont be able to go this time!?!

I am teaching at the local International School for a few weeks to help out - so Chloe and Lesley will be doing the honors. I wont write too much more about the babies here - as inevitably, by the time we collect them tomorrow - something will have changed!
As we currently understand it - the girl is an abandoned baby and the boys both have mothers who are unable to care for them due to psychiatric problems and ill health.....more on this tomorrow.....

I am also expecting to receive a 16 month old boy called David any day. I went with Mamma Angusa (the Social Worker) yesterday evening to visit the 'famiy' and check out the situation. We had a village meeting with the Chairman, Village Leader and several Village elders which was an experience - but after an hour of talking, we still do not think we have the full story!
Apparently - David is an abandoned baby - found by the man who came to Social Welfare. However - the man had the child's health record and a photograph of him as a baby - and the child did seem to have an attachment to this man.
Social Welfare believe that he is the father so they are investigating further - although they have no way of prooving it one way or the other?
What is certain - is that David is very malnourished and in need of a lot of love and care which no one in the village seems to be able to provide him with.
I hope Social Welfare find a resolution to this with David's interests being paramount.

With these new children arriving tomorrow - we are officially running out of space in the Baby Home. We have room for a few more tiny babies but do not really have room for any more toddler cots or beds unless we go ahead with our proposed extension.....and soon.
If the three children from Bugando do come tomorrow - we will be up to 22 babies......if anyone knows of somebody who would like to sponsor our extension for £4,500 to allow us to almost double our capacity - we would LOVE to hear from you.

The Government visitors due to come today cancelled at the last minute. Apparently the Minister was on a very tight schedule and was not able to visit Forever Angels this time. I am still quite pleased that we were 'chosen' though and hope his schedule allows for a visit in the future.

It has been another relatively quiet week.

Chloe and I went to Bugando Hospital where there are two little boys who may need to come to Forever Angels. They are both 1 year old and it seems they are both called Michael!? (I am sure the Doctor just mixed up the two boys!? - having the same name seems very unlikely!?)

One of them looked healthy. His Mum has epilepsy and is in hospital having major surgery. She has no other family - so a home is needed temporarily for him until his Mum recovers.

The other one is very sick. He has pneumonia, malaria and TB and suspected HIV. His Mum is dying in late stages of AIDS and he has no other known family. I think we will definately get this little boy - but for now he needs to be in the hospital as he is very sick.

Whilst we were in the Hospital Social Welfare Office discussing these two boys - Chloe saw paperwork about some more orphans in the hospital - so we will return on Monday to have another look.
Although the hospital does their best for these orphan children - they do not have the staff or time to care for them and they are often very neglected.....and they also frequently get 'lost' in the system if we do not go 'searching' for them.

Chloe, Lesley and I sat down this morning and wrote a detailed 'Volunteer Programme' giving lists of activities and trips we would like volunteers to take the children on each day. I hope this will give any future short term volunteers more structure to their time with us.

Mrs Misana called me out of the blue today and told me she was coming to the Baby Home with a Visitor. She arrived with the Deputy Minister for Youth and Community Development in Mwanza. They looked around the Baby Home and then told me that they were coming to see if I would allow the Commissioner for Youth, Sport and Social Welfare from Dar es Salaam to visit us next week on. He is coming to Mwanza from Dar es Salaam and wanted to visit an Orphanage. Mrs Misana and the Minister said that they wanted to show him an example of an excellent Children's Home - and chose Forever Angels which is wonderful......so apparently he will be arriving on Tuesday.

Happy Birthday To You,
Happy Birthday To You,
Happy Birthday Dear Forever Angels,
Happy Birthday To You.

One year ago today, Social Welfare phoned me and asked me to go to collect Yunisi.....a scared, hungry and queit 20 month old little girl.....and so Forever Angels began.

Yunisi is now a beautiful, clever, talkative and loving 2 and a half year old.

Since that day, in 12 months, we have had 28 wonderful children pass through Forever Angels. Today, we have 19 truly amazing children in our care.

To Yunisi, Sarah, Tuliza, Gracie, Charlie, Danny, Mwita, Salum, Bahati, Joseph, Haji, Pascal, Omari, Seba, Dotto, Maggie, Molly, Mathias, Sammy - you are all such special children and I know a great future lies out there for you all. Thank you for touching our lives.

Nine children have left Forever Angels in the past 12 months......

Four children have been returned to their biological familes and are now being cared for at home. We are still in touch with some of these familes and are supporting them financially when it deems necessary. Yohana, Kennike, Christina and Rama - we think of your often and wish you all well.

Two children have been transferred to Orphanages for older children. Bruno is now at Starehe and Aaron is at Tumaini. We have visited both children and they have settled in well and are very happy to be with children their own age and attending school.

One baby - Asha Gift - has been adopted into a new family and is now known as Beth. We could not have asked for a more devoted and loving family for this little girl and I see her regularly as she is best friends with my own daughter. She is now 1 years old and is currently in England visiting her new doting extended family.

Two babies have sadly died. Both were sick with HIV and didn't ever have the best prognosis. Nyanda and Eamon - you touched our lives and will always be in our hearts. I know you are now at peace with your Mum's in a better place. I love you.

There are a few families currently in the process of adopting in Mwanza - so a few of our children should also be going to new Forever Families in the next few months.

This has been a hard, long, tiring - but wonderfully sucessful first year. It just remains to say a HUGE 'Thank You' to you all. To everyone who reads this diary and who supports Forever Angels through Sponsorship, One off donations, Fundraising events, Donating toys and clothes and nappies, Spreading the word, Volunteering - or simply being a friend and supporting us emotionally......we truly could not have touched these children's lives and given them a chance at a future if it wasn't for you all.

People tell me that I am 'amazing' to do this job......but I am no such thing. These children are the amazing ones - and our Staff and Suporters who work tirelessly to make Forever Angels a truly wonderful place for these needy children to live while we work to find them a new home.
So - 'Thank you'.

A final 'Thank You' must go to our UK Trustees who work so hard to raise awareness of Forever Angels and to raise funds to keep us running.....especially my Mum and Dad - who supported me from the start of this 'crazy' dream and have continued to work SO hard to make Forever Angels a reality. Thank you - you are the best parents I could ever wish for.

Happy Birthday!

Well we have had another quiet weekend at the Baby Home.

Regina (one of my night staff) has been ill in hospital with Malaria but apart from that - the children are all well and happy.

Salum is looking really well right now and has energy and smiles aplenty.

This morning all the children were singing 'If you are Happy and you Know it' in English and as I walked in, Joseph and Yunisi ran up and said, 'Hello Mummy, how are you'?! The children all call the staff and volunteers 'Mama' which is usual in Tanzania for any lady who cares for you.....but the children always hear Barna and Tia (my children) calling me 'Mummy'.....so that is what I have become now!!

The pre school is going really well and the children can regularly be heard chanting the alphabet or counting!

The babies are all growing up fast! Seba, Omari and Maggie are all sitting up now and are on solid food - so we only have 2 'small babies' left - Mathias and Sammy. Actually - Sammy is 8 months old but he was very premature and so is still a little delayed in reaching his milestones. He had excema on his face recently - but it has cleared up now and he is forever smiling....even as he is being sick! Mathias is just beautiful! He has the 'prettiest' face ever and is such a lovely little boy.

Dotto and Bahati are both well - and ChaCha (their Mum) visits daily as she is working here and has lunch with them. They have both gained a lot of weight since they arrived - but are still very small! Dotto is 9 months, but looks about 3 months old! She sits up and even tries to walk whilst being held - but it does look bizarre on a baby so small!

All in all - the children are well and very happy and I am greatful for these 'quiet' times of healthy children!

Chloe is due back on Wednesday after a well deserved holiday - and I am sure she'll be pleased to know that we have not had any new children whilst she has been away....she doesn't like to miss anything!

Today we received a phone call from Social Welfare to say that a family would be visiting Forever Angels to choose their Foster child. They have already been approved to adopt so are now in the final stages of the adoption process.

The family are Tanzanian and spent about an hour at the Baby Home trying to make a choice. It is a very difficult decision and very hard for me who was asked many times 'who to pick?'.

They finally decided on Danny. The paperwork should be processed within 3 months and I hope they come back to visit him and bond in this time.

I am very happy that Danny will have a new family.

Hi all,

We have just been sorting out our Forever Angels Accounts and Expenditure.....

We currently receive £1,105 a month in total from Sponsors which we are TRULY greatful for.

This converts to about 2,760,000 Tanzanian Shillings a month, but our actual expenditure is around 5,500,000 shillings a month - double our income!

If you know of anyone who would like to sponsor a child, or donate regularly to Forever Angels - please pass on our details. The age-old saying, 'Every Little Helps' really is true.....

If 100 people could give us £10 a month each - we could cover all of our costs through sponsorships.

Please ask around and tell your friends and family about us.

Thank you

Ben and I have finally managed to update the website with new photos of all the children. Sorry for all of you who check regularly to see updated pictures of our angels that this has taken so long......and I hope they are worth waiting for!

Again - no news is good news and this week seems to have gone by without any major hiccups!

Today we took Charlie and Bahati swimming with my own children and Sally and Lesley, the volunteers. Charlie hated it (although he was quite happy sat on the side munching biscuits!) but Bahati had a great time!
It is nice to have all the children healthy and with us at the Baby Home rather than in hospital so we have the time to take the children out on trips like this.

We are just planning to plant hedges around the entire perimeter of the property as a security measure. We currently have temporary bamboo matting - but once the rains come it will not last long.....anyhow - Ben is on the case.

I have rearranged the toddlers afternoon schedule to break it up a bit as they were spending a lot of time playing outside with little structure. Now pre-school has started the toddlers are keen for more 'interactive' play so I am about to devise a staff training course on games and activities to entertain them!

Well so far it has been another quiet week at the Baby Home - though we have had a string of weird and wonderful bugs which I have never come accoss before?



First we have had a number of children with nose bleeds. We have been open for almost 12 months now and have only had 2 nose bleeds the whole time. This last 2 weeks, 7 different children had nosebleeds?



Then the is the 'foot mystery'.....we took Charlie for an x-ray last week as he had a sore foot and suddenly was unable to bear any weight on it. The x-ray was clear - so I assumed he'd be bitten by an insect of somesort and 2 days later - he was running round like it had never happened.

This morning however - Haji has woken up with the same foot pain and is unable to stand?

Very strange?!



Apart from our 'unknown lurgies' - the children are more healthy this week thank goodness. Seba and Omari and Maggie have flu - but apart from that, things are looking up!



Sally and Lesley, my 2 volunteers have started 'Pre-School' in the afternoons with the toddlers and so far it is going really well. They all seem to be enjoying the structured activities a lot. Haji may have to be 'expelled' as is not ready for the sessions at all and just causes meyhem!

Well, this week has flown by and although much calmer than the past few weeks - we have had a lot of ill children again - sometimes I feel like I am running a hospital not a Baby Home!

We try SO hard to keep the children healthy - but when one gets sick... they all do!

We have had a stomach bug going round all but four of the children and now many seem to have caught a cold/flu bug as well! Poor Yunisi is really suffering with flu, as is Omari and Dotto. Salum has also had high fevers again so I am hoping he has just picked up the virus too.
Many of my staff are also off sick which doesn't help matters!

Charlie hurt his foot yesterday and suddenly decided he couldn't walk. Nobody saw him fall or anything happen to it. Anyhow - I suspected a bite or a sting and put antihystemhine cream on it. This morning he still couldn't walk and had what looked like an allergic reaction rash so I took him to hospital. As I suspected, an x-ray showed no damage to his foot. He has been sat and cuddled all day and still refused to walk or put weight on his foot this evening.
Just before bed a few minutes ago - I did a 'test' and asked him to come and help me turn on the TV to watch teletubbies ....... he jumped off the chair, ran across the room and danced along with the rest of them! I am sure he really did hurt his foot initially, but he decided the attention was a good thing so kept up the 'pain' a little longer than necessary! Bless him!

I finally received the paperwork for Joseph from the hospital he came from and discovered his birthdate is 9/9/03 so he is almost 4 years old (though tiny!)

Ben is going to update the website this week with more photos of the children and our recent volunteers as we have been a bit slow in doing so since our internet broke.

The 'stranger' who brought Salum to Social Welfare a few weeks ago, today visited him at the Baby Home and told us, as I suspected, that he is in fact Salum's father. He was unable to care for Salum and his illness and has no work or money but Social Welfare would not help him....so he fabricated a story about 'finding' a child so that they would help his son. This man acted in real desperation and I really respect him for that. When Salum arrived at Forever Angels he was clinging for life and would not have lasted much longer at home. His father may have 'deceived the system' as it were - but he also saved his son's life. He has promised to visit every week and he truly cares about Salum - but has no way of helping him.
It is so sad that this country has such little power and no means to help those in real desperation that a man has to pretend that his own son is an abandoned child he happened to 'find' in order to get help for him?

ChaCha continues to work in the volunteer house and sees Dotto and Bahati each day for lunch. She and her children are happy and well and greatful for this opportunity to create a future for themselves.

Pascal is almost walking! He took 2 mini steps yesterday and got full applause from the entire Baby Home!

All the girls (including Maggie) have got their hair braided now and look so pretty! Seba still needs to grow some first - but I'm sure that as soon as she does, she'll soon have bobbles and plaits in like the others!

We've had a lot of great volunteers recently. Thank you SO much to Hannah who was with us for 3 months and did a wonderful job at the Baby Home and completed so many jobs which I never get round to completing......I hope that I have persuaded her to one day come back?

Thank you also to Chrissi, Rowena and Liz who worked so hard with the children and were adored by them all.

And now I have Sally and Lesley who are both enjoying their time at Forever Angels and just starting to teach a 'Pre-school' session every morning with the toddlers.
If anyone out there is reading - I am really keen to get a long term volunteer from Easter time next year. If anyone would like a change of scenery and a wonderful experience working with amazing children - please do get in touch.
Currently I have Chloe (who's in the UK having a well deserved break) but she will leave mid 2008 and when she does, I will be lost. I'd love another volunteer who is able to commit to at least 1 year here.....any takers?