Seven students will spend three weeks in May volunteering and tutoring orphaned children in Bagamoyo, Tanzania.

At right: A fundraising raffle was held at Champlain to help defray the costs of the trip to Tanzaniza to work in a school for orphaned children. From left to right, Laura Greaney, Amanda Mahony, Shannon Maguire, Elisha Kottler, Beth Fitzgerald, Lindsey Ganslow, and Marguerite Dibble (Not shown: Brodie Henry). 

“This is the first international community service trip to this area,” explained Beth Fitzgerald, Champlain's Student Activities Coordinator, who will chaperone the seven women on the trip. “Our student volunteers will be working at the orphanage combining our skills to care for and to teach the children English, math, computer skills, and some physical education,” she added.

The IMUMA: Imani, Upendo na Matumaini Orphan and Vulnerable Children Centre in Bagamoyo, Tanzania is where the students will focus their efforts during the trip. Champlain College Elisha Kottler translated the name, “Imani, Upendo na Matumaini translates to Faith, Hope and Love, and these are the things we would like to bring to these children. Faith that there are compassionate people in this world who care about them, Hope for their future, and of course the Love and care they all deserve.”

Kottler went to Tanzania last year worked with the children. “I am going back because there is a great need for volunteers at IMUMA and I want to help the kids there.I organized this trip because it is important for Champlain students to experience what it is like in a third world country and as Champlain College students we have a lot of tools to help IMUMA. The people in the group have a variety of majors, which lets each one of us focus on something different to bring to” Kottler explained.

“IMUMA is not just for orphans. It is for vulnerable children too. We are receiving money from a number of places but we have not gotten any giant donations. The people that are in charge of sending finals gift packages to students are donating $500 to our trip, SGA donated some money, and so did Champlain in general. This has really been a grassroots effort,” she said.

Also participating, Laura Greaney of Mystic CT, a sophomore in Early Childhood Education; Amanda Mahony of East Durham, NY, a freshman in Public Relations; Shannon Maguire of West Milford, NJ, a senior in Graphic Design; Elisha Kottler of Westborough, MA, a junior in Social Work and Nonprofit Management; Lindsey Ganslow of Wells, ME, a senior in Secondary Education and History and Social Sciences; Marguerite Dibble of Landgrove, VT, a freshman in Game Art and Animation; and Brodie Henry of Fairfield, CT, a junior in International Business.

Fitzgerald said the trip will cost approximately $18,000. Participating students are actively fundraising in the community with raffles, coin collection and soliciting local businesses for support. A percentage of the money raised will be directed toward supporting the orphanage financially.

“We have pledged to donate a percentage to the orphanage, where a little goes a long way. While this seems like an overwhelming sum, this is where you can help. While Imuma volunteers are providing basic needs and a better education than what the children otherwise would receive, this service is only a short-term solution. Many of these children are not able to go to public school, as they do not have the $100 required to attend school for a year. We also hope to raise enough to helping to sponsor the education of many of the 48 children at Imuma,” she said.

For more information about the trip or to learn how to help support the effort, contact Beth Fitzgerald by email or calling 865-6436. Visit the website: www.teach4tomorrow.org.

Champlain College was founded in 1878, and at its core is a bricks and mortar school, offering professionally focused majors. It has 2,000 campus-based undergraduate students on campus and is ranked in the top tier of Best Baccalaureate Colleges in the North by 2009 America's Best Colleges, published by U.S. News & World Report. Champlain offers study abroad programs in Montreal, Quebec and Dublin, Ireland. To learn more about Champlain College, visit www.champlain.edu.