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tam

October 19, 2011

Bekka, you are absolutely amazing. Something incredible is happening there and because you write about it, I feel like I get to be a part of it. I admire you and believe in you, and remember this: donors don't invest in the kids, really, they invest in the care that the kids get, and that's you. We all invest what we can in you.
With love and peace,
Tammy
(I'm posting this using my blog account. I'm pretty embarrassed of my blog. Let's consider it a work in progress. Lots of room for improvement, but no time soon.)
Baby Carriers

November 11, 2011

Baby sling are able to provide privacy when breastfeeding or nursing your baby in public. You can nestle the baby deep within the fabric of the sling to ensure privacy while monitoring that the baby’s head is relaxed and not squished upon its chest, which is important to maintain proper breathing.
Baby

November 16, 2011

Yeah Special besides your home or in the public place it is not easy to take care them or giving milk so baby carrier will be very helpful to both mom and baby……… Baby Slings
tam

November 29, 2011

Go Peace, Go! I'm happy to hear he's gained some weight. I can't wait to see how his next check-up goes! Thanks for posting!
Bekka Ross Russell

November 29, 2011

Us too! We rely on the mamas so much to do this work and it's thrilling for us AND for them when things start to go right. He's not out of the woods yet, but he's a little fighter and I KNOW it helps having all of you wonderful people pulling for him. Thank you!
Michele Gomez

December 17, 2011

Glad you are able to be back in the place the makes you the happiest for your birthday! Enjoy every moment. Miss you 🙂
Anonymous

December 22, 2011

Merry christmas to all of you! 🙂 -Emelie
Christian Bustamante

December 28, 2011

Happy Holidays!! No more vertical death slide???! YAY!! I'm very happy to hear you're there.. I'll be on the lookout for more posts xxx w/ love CB
chitlessfoodie

February 25, 2012

That is so cool. Y'all revamped the playground!
When I was there the kids were using the clothesline outback (yes, concrete underneath)
as a zipline!

I used to worried they were going to crack their heads open like a coconut, but they were very sneaky!

Do y'all know what happened to a baby boy named Iman?

I still miss him and often wonder what happened to him.

Great job with the new foundation.
That orphanage has a great spirit and with some TLC the children can really have a bright future.

Yes, the Mamas are truly special souls.

Thank you for everything that you are doing!

(I hope I get a reply about Iman) ;')
Rebecca Ross Russell

February 25, 2012

It's great to hear from another former volunteer! There are two Emans who are about 6, both thriving at USA River Academy with the help of The Foundation For Tomorrow and their sponsors (see the Education page for more details on the program). Big Eman has darker skin and a round face, whereas little Eman has medium tone skin and a heart shaped face. However, big Eman has spent his school breaks mostly with family and his sponsor, where little Eman has spent his breaks at the orphanage, so we have seen him more recently. If you let me know which little guy you're thinking of, I would be happy to send our most recent photos and videos. Thanks for getting in touch!
Anonymous

February 26, 2012

Hi Rebecca,
Thanks for replying!
Good to hear that both Emans are in school and thriving.
Eman was there on Dec 2007 and was about 1 1/2 old. Gentle, loving boy who was always trying to steal a cuddle. He was darker, oval face, high forehead, beautiful lips and smile.
At this time there were older (about 4) twin girls who used to ruled all the kids (lol!!), another younger set of boy/girl twins, and Abdul was a chubby smiley baby.
Not sure if he is 'Abdulli.'
He was a light skinned baby and his family used to visit, though, I believe his mother had already passed.
There was also a baby girl. She was happy and chubby named Elizabeth.

I am glad I found this site and would love to help.
Please email me at [email protected]
Anonymous

February 28, 2012

That quilt is amazing!! And you are doing som much good for the sweet and dear children at Nkoaranga!

Emelie
bettyfokker

March 6, 2012

She will always know you love her … I sincerely hope your adoption process goes smoothley.
Martina

March 8, 2012

I still don't know you Bekka, but I'm sure you're a really strong and nice person and I hope Zawadi will be your daughter soon! Goof luck for your studies and hope to know each other at Nkoaranga this summer.
Bekka Ross Russell

March 12, 2012

Thank you both! It's going to be a long slog, but I know it will be worth it.
natumaini

March 29, 2012

Gorgeous! x
Monique

April 25, 2012

Happy Birthday Maureen, Pray and Ericki!
Physician's Apprentice

May 24, 2012

Hmmm, beautiful testimony of a good work – thank you for sharing! Children do seem to have a way of transcending poverty, culture, petty differences . . . we could all learn so much if we took time in our lives to look through the eyes of a child.
care funding

May 29, 2012

It's good to know the donations are on their way to saving lives. With the accumulated sum of money so far, we'll be able to do so much for charity. A shoutout to all those who have generously opened their hearts to the needy.
Krista

May 30, 2012

I can tell from the photos and your stories that the love you have for these kids was definitely reciprocal! They were lucky kids to receive a piece of your love and you of theirs! I hope your experiences this coming summer will be just as exciting, for both you and for the those you are visiting!
speranzatanzania

June 14, 2012

Thank you Bekka and all the staff of The Small Things!!! We are very happy to work together with you and it was fun to collect all these items with our children here in Italy for your kids of Nkoaranga! So excited to see you soon. Have a nice trip!!!

Lorenzo and Martina – SperanzaTanzania
http://speranzatanzania.wordpress.com/
Network of African Youths for Development

June 18, 2012

I bet you can't wait to go back in December and 'catch up' 🙂
jim rae

June 19, 2012

Hello Emma and all the mammas at the orphanage What o lovely and moving account of life and the struggle for life in just another part of the great continent which is Africa Sounds like you have found more than some sick children and hard working mammas maybe you have found untapped emotions which will stay in your heart forever Now you will have to decide what to do with all that reallity which connfronts those who dare to venture there Thank you for sharing those special thoughts I am proud to know you Emma Jim x
vaileth pallangyo

August 13, 2012

pole sana ebeni i always pray for you.
Amy

August 20, 2012

Eman and his hats! So funny. And Shuja is so sweet. I don't mind if you use my pictures if you just put where you got them from. Thanks! Hope to see you sometime this week. Having tire issues with the car and can't go too far without losing all the air. Awaiting a new one, then we can get out there again. Hope you had a nice visit in the big city last week.
godwinfrank

September 20, 2012

wow;its realy a big step you have archieved i have been there several times but this time i came two weeks ago it has real changed;
BibiPray

October 17, 2012

I cannot believe Andrea is 5! I think if Amy could have adopted 2 children, Andrea would be Pray's brother. The summer before he turned 1, Andrea was sooo chubby (fat :). Amy took his picture as he fell asleep eating. She thinks he is such a sweet and smart boy. Happy Birthday to Andrea, Neema and Zi!
Bekka Ross Russell

October 17, 2012

Love it, Bibi! I'm so happy to be able to see all the gorgeous photos of the kids as younger babies thanks to Amy's meticulous documentation. Andrea and Pray would make great brothers under other circumstances – you and Amy are both so blessed to have your boy. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you that Pray will be home soon!
Network of African Youths for Development

February 5, 2013

Great pictures Emma!
Anonymous

February 28, 2013

I am very excited to see all of this going on! i've just sent an email to you wondering about volunteering with the orphanage this summer. Please contact me and let me know what I can do for all of these children and care providers! So excited!!!
sallie

August 8, 2013

I do hope that these are not the childrens real names – does Small Things and the orphanage have a child protectyion policy that includes a policy on the use of photographs?
david

August 9, 2013

Yes they are, and yes we do. The use of false names would not in any way 'protect' these kids. The policy focuses on not exploiting the children in any way. The reality is that providing loving, caring volunteers, and fundraising for projects that assist the Mamas in keeping the kids healthy, both physically and emotionally is our priority, and the blog post content is edited to insure that the welfare of the kids is first, but that includes informing others of their stories. Ultimately, to help these kids succeed we need sponsors who will help support their education and stay involved. That means connection, something these kids crave.
sallie

August 29, 2013

so pleased to see this thanks so much and sincerley hope other childcare institutions follow your example
Dorothy Goldberg

October 4, 2013

What an amazing act of love. I am in awe of you both!
Keith Thomson

January 10, 2014

Anne and I are so proud of what everyone is doing up at Nkoaranga. Our hearts are with you up there on the mountain!

Keith and Anne Thomson
Keith Thomson

January 31, 2014

This is really great, the kids look so happy!
Anonymous

March 13, 2014

So proud of you, Amy!!
Anonymous

March 14, 2014

I'm so very moved by this It brought me to tears. All you need is love. Those kids are lucky to have experienced your loving generous nature, and you theirs. A match made in heaven. I guess this is truly living. So happy for all of you.
Sarah Duncan

April 3, 2014

It's great that you're so engaged with concerns raised by supporters and your care and love for the children at Nkoaranga is abundantly evident in every post. Your work is incredibly important and valuable and hard – thankyou! Fanueli and Glory are blessed to have families that care for them and your organisation to help 'stand in the gap' where the families are struggling currently.

I do have questions about why you think a 'family style' children's village is in the best interests of children who are ageing out of the orphanage? Would you consider working to build up the culture of foster care and domestic adoption within Tanzania, and even further expand your outreach and prevention work?

I ask only because, after having worked in a similar organisation in Uganda for 2 years, it is abundantly clear very early on that there are very, very few children in Africa with absolutely NO immediate or extended family willing to take them in, were resources not an issue. Cousins, 2nd cousins, grandparents, distant aunts and uncles regularly take in orphaned children or children abandoned / neglected by their parents – if they know about them. I've seen cases of terrible neglect and abuse by parents, where the immediately obvious response is to remove from family care, but when grandparents, distant cousins living far away had no idea and were appalled when they found out. In many cases extended family are not fully consulted or searched for, and children can miss out on a loving home.

Where this is still not possible foster care or adoption would seem a healthier and more stable long-term environment than a 'children's village', where, eventually, the children still age out and still don't have a secure family base of people to support and love them through their whole lives. I absolutely believe in the love the staff at TST and Nkoaranga have for the children, but within a few years the Mama of each house may have seen dozens, if not eventually scores of children pass through her 'family style' house. It's a family while they're there, and possibly one after, but by its very nature it must be only a very diffuse and incredibly large one.

And when you say "recent research has shown that institutionalized care is not significantly more damaging than living in the community if the care in the community is not adequate – I'm not sure "isn't SIGNIFICANTLY more damaging" is something to aim for. So many studies have shown clearly the damage of institutional care of children, especially long-term institutional care. Just because care in a family is not adequate now doesn't mean it will never be, as you clearly understand with how Neema and Glory have received love, care and support from your organisation and have already, or will in the future, return home. Would children from the children's village also have this option?

I truly don't mean to be critical – your work is inspiring and life-changing and it's truly incredible what you've achieved in a small time with limited resources – you really should be proud, and I admire you immensely. I've just seen children's villages in action, and though some really do offer a place of love and stability for a child, they're not a family, and I think we should all be moving as close to that for every child as we can. Obviously, in developing country contexts where social welfare systems are precarious or nearly non-existent, this is very hard. But I hope we can all at least be moving in that direction!
Bekka Ross Russell

April 3, 2014

Hey Sarah – thanks for asking these questions. The blog was badly phrased – there is extensive research showing that severe poverty or unwilling carers can result in outcomes that are actually worse for children than a well run and caring institution. For instance, the Positive Outcomes for Orphans project, an international and well-respected research project run in partnership between Duke University and local research bodies, which actually included Tanzania in this study. To quote, "This study does not support the hypothesis that institutional care is systematically associated with poorer wellbeing than community care for OAC aged 6–12 in those countries facing the greatest OAC burden. Much greater variability among children within care settings was observed than among care settings type. Such characteristics may transcend the structural definitions of institutions or family homes. http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0008169.

In addition, we feel very strongly about listening to the voice of the community we work with. Our head Mama in particular had this vision exactly because they used to the children back to any living relative at age five. As you say, there are always second cousins, aunts, whatever – but there is no guarantee or even a very good chance that most of them have any true desire to care for these kids. Between a third and a half of children returned to the community were dead within a year. For 15 years she literally watched healthy children become abused, neglected, or dying because there was no willing and able carers. We NEVER advocate residential care over outreach care if there is a motivated family member or foster parent willing to take them on. However, that is often not the case, and we all – especially Mama Pendo – have seen enough children literally die because they were stuck in situations without able and willing carers. This is what the community is asking for in response to the problems that they face – and we believe that they deserve to have a voice.

As I said, I respect and appreciate your passion, but we have thought and studied and discussed this topic extensively, and I promise that we are doing what we strongly believe is right for these children, just as you are.
chrisbradley1209

October 31, 2014

Thanks so much for posting. Oh, how much I wish I were there. Perhaps that's a good occasion to plan my third trip back around….
chris
Dorothy Goldberg

December 5, 2014

I love your list, Rose! And I totally agree with it, though I might give Konyagi a miss 🙂 Dot
Amazing Jumps

February 23, 2016

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
David Ross Russell

August 19, 2016

Great comments, but fails to do justice to the amazing contribution this wonderful family has made to the kids and the staff at TST. Talk about making a difference…. And maybe the next one to make a difference like that could be you ???
holle newborn formula

September 22, 2016

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hipp bio

October 1, 2016

Yesterday my personal doctor said me to buy hipp bio for my baby. My best friend said me hipp bio very healthy and testy milk. Now i am thinking i will buy this product tomorrow. Thanks for accept me.
Penny McIntyre

October 27, 2016

This all sounds so exciting! Chris is a great friend of mine in Australia, we all wish him well and send positive thoughts your way. We shall miss him when he leaves, but are looking forward to watching this project unfold via social media. There are many of us here who plan to be involved through some fund raising events while he is away. All the best to you and your venture!
Asa kelleher

December 1, 2016

love The
Small
Things
Megan Phillips

January 26, 2017

Fantastic work and a truly inspiring man!
Jill Dyer

January 26, 2017

Chris you are kind, inspiring, generous & my hero. The world could do with a lot more of you x
AnnT

March 29, 2017

I love this! I had the opportunity to visit the workshop and see the beautiful jewelry that is being made there – what a happy and inspired community environment! I’m looking forward to following the progress of this program.
Susan Green

July 9, 2017

I am trying to get in touch with Michelle, She is my contact with Daniel Meshack, a young man I support through your nonprofit. She hasn’t responded to my e-mails, Daniel may need money to enroll in school. Is there a telephone number for your charity? Please help-this is frustrating, I can be reached at [email protected], or at 917-847-8935 or 718-279-1997. Thank you-Susan Green
Zarin Visram

October 30, 2017

Well done Shazi and freinds in the memory of your dad who is kept alive with your good deeds
Leesa Hall

January 24, 2018

Ii love the work you are doing for the children and am proud to be able to give what can when I can

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