In order for children to be able to study and perform well at school their basic needs like food and nutrition, clothing, shelter, and their physical and emotional well-being have to be fulfilled. Non-education projects that focus on clean water and sanitation, income generation, athletic and academic enrichment, and sustainable agriculture, have been supported by the Tanzania initiative of the Rotary Club of Windsor (1918) as well as the Rotary Club of Toronto Skyline.  

 

On August 16, 2018, the SASCO Community Resource Centre - a Windsor (1918) Legacy Project - officially opened. School Children now have a place to learn - and grow.

 

The Centre is located on 2.5 acres of land about three kilometers from the town of Boma Ng’ombe in the HAI District of Tanzania. It is situated along a main road between Boma and several Maasai villages, in close proximity to a government primary as well as secondary school. Since government funded schools are under-resourced, the location is ideal to fulfill the aim of the Centre which is to provide a place for children to do homework, have access to curriculum resources and computers, and to get teaching assistance. The Centre only occupies a portion of the site. The remaining area is to be used for sports, the cultivation and storage of crops, and for future expansion. 

 

In 2015, water storage tanks were installed in Majengo Kia, TZ supplying three Masaai villages (7000 people of whom 5000 were children) with a reliable source of safe, clean water.

 

In 2014, a rooftop water collection system and 2 holding tanks were installed at Isangha School, Dodoma TZ providing 750 students with water.

 

In 2013, water storage tanks were installed in the village of Kipera, TZ providing the community with a reliable, local source of safe, clean water.

 

In 2012, Clean Water and Sanitation Education Seminars discussing the importance of clean water, methods of cleaning water, waste management and how to maintain a sanitary living environment where held in 12 rural Tanzanian villages.

 

To improve the access of sponsored children to nutritious food, from2012 to 2016, financial support was provided to SASCO to cultivate 15 acres of land for corn. Yield from the crop was distributed to the families or caretakers of sponsored children, donated to local orphanages, or sold. Revenue was reinvested in the next year’s crop and used to fund SASCO initiatives. In 2015, two corn tanks were purchased with money provided by St. Augustine Church, Windsor ON, to allow for the long term storage of the crop.

 

The purchase of the SASCO van was facilitated in 2014 as a means of reducing the significant expenses incurred in the implementation and monitoring of the education program, agriculture project, water initiatives, and other endeavors. Having a vehicle at its disposal also provided SASCO with a potential source of income through rentals to be used to cover SASCO expenses and projects.  The van was indispensable in chauffeuring sponsors, Rotarians, and visitors when visiting Tanzania.

 

In 2012, a 3 wheeled taxi vehicle known as a bajaj was purchased to be used as a source of daily income to help  meet the needs of sponsored students living in the foster care of Joyce Massawe. In 2015, a replacement bajaj was purchased since the original vehicle was no longer road-worthy.

 

In Sept. 2015 the 3^rd Annual SASCO Cup Sports and Academic Competition was held in Kiroka, Morogoro and Moshi.  More than 1600 students in 18 schools across these areas participated. Activities included tug of war, netball, track and field, football, volleyball and English and Math contests.  The event was inclusive and fostered physical fitness, leadership and the development of sportsmanship, self-esteem, self-confidence, discipline, school spirit and pride, and community engagement.  School attendance was observed to increase as a result of soccer balls being provided to the schools.

 

In December 2012 an emergency message was received from Tanzania indicating the rent on the house occupied by Joyce and the 9 sponsored students in her foster-care was inexplicably doubled to  250,000 TSH per month, well beyond her capability. Joyce had been evicted and was living in a partially completed house she and her husband Yona were constructing in phases. The new house had no roof, electricity, water, toilet, doors or windows and walls of some rooms were only partially completed.  Funds received from EarthTones and private donors allowed construction to proceed at a pace reducing the number of months Joyce and the girls had to endure inadequate housing.