Ukoma Hutibika – leprosy is curable!


RTL_logo_Colour 250 x 250Rufiji Leprosy Trust is a charitable trust supporting the Kindwitwi Leprosy Care Centre in the Rufiji area of Tanzania.

The care centre assists in:

~ finding and treating people living with leprosy in the Rufiji area
~ supporting people all people affected by leprosy throughout the Rufiji area
~ promoting self-sufficiency of people living with leprosy and their families.

As leprosy is curable, many think the disease is no longer a problem, however it is listed as a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) by the World Health Organisation, which means it is especially common in some of the world’s poorest areas.


The Trust prides itself on being totally managed by volunteer Trustees; the only paid employees are those who carry out the Trust’s work in Tanzania.

Please read on to find out more about our work, to make a donation or to catch up on the latest news.


Latest News

Trustee Trip to Kindwitwi - October 2023

In October of this year, two of our trustees Sarah Feather and Richard Luxmore, along with their partners, travelled to Kindwitwi. The aim was to review progress made since Geoff O’Donoghue and Jennifer Cosgrave visited at the same time in 2022. The trip to Tanzania, whilst always a privilege and exciting journey does require lots of planning, time away from work and responsibilities at home as well as personal expense.

Between 26 October and 1 November Sarah and Richard visited Kindwitwi. During this time, there was a special celebration in the village to mark 30 years since the death of Fr. Robin Lamburn. A mass was said in the newly renovated church, followed by a celebration that the whole village was able to participate in. This also coincided with the coming-of-age party for some of the girls in the village. There were speeches, dances from the local students and lots of special music.

During last year's visit the Church was in a sorry state, but thanks to your generous donations the damaged walls have been properly plastered and the roof fixed. This means the bats have moved out, making the church useable once more.

Renovated Church

Checking up on patients

 

Your support ensures that food, medicine and hygiene kits are provided to patients who still require full or partial care due to Leprosy.  When word got around that Sarah and Richard had arrived, several of those patients were keen to meet with the Trustees and send their thanks to you for your kind donations and continued support. Here are some of those patients.

Education

Your donations support education from the three-year-old kindergarten children through to young adults in college education. The trustees were pleased to hear progress reports of various students, mainly from leprosy affected families, who have been supported over the past five years.

SaidiThere are eight children from leprosy affected families being supported with their Primary School education. There are two children receiving secondary school support. One of whom has just finished Form 4 and results are awaited.

During the visit, Sarah and Richard met Rajabu who has completed his degree in Insurance and Risk Management. They also met Saidi, pictured here, who has recently started a rural planning course in Dodoma.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have you met Tatu?Tatu at a laptop

We would like to introduce you to Tatu, who does the book keeping in Kindwitwi and has worked with us for many years. As part of her development, Tatu can be seen here practicing her computer skills in the newly renovated office.

 

 

 

 

It's amazing what you find on your travels

Would you believe that someone from the village came to see Sarah and Richard to show them a copy of Fr Lamburn’s old passports. These documents had turned up during a recent tidy up of the Guest House. They are such treasures and we are so pleased to have had the chance to see them.

Father Robin Father Robin

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Legacies for Rufiji Leprosy Trust

Rufiji Leprosy Trust has benefitted from many legacies over the years - which have really changed the lives of people in Kindwitwi. We have used legacy income to support leprosy relief work, development of new needs for the village and within our daily support of the village. Thank you so much to everyone who has kindly left a bequest to us.

If you are planning to include a legacy as part of your estate’s giving to charity, please do consider the Rufiji Leprosy Trust. Legacies really help RLT to deliver our work and enable us to plan in to the medium and longer term. RLT is incredibly grateful to those of you who feel this is something you would like to do. If you have any questions about choosing RLT for a legacy, please do contact us at rufijilt@gmail.com

 

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Renovations in Kindwitwi - an update

You will remember from the last newsletter that the Rufiji Leprosy Trust made funding available for renovations to be made to several buildings in Kindwitwi. During the trustees visit in autumn of 2022, it was clear that the buildings were really run down and not safe or hygienic to work in nor for the children and teachers to run the kindergarten from.

We are happy to say that renovations to the two kindergarten buildings, the chapel and the administration building are largely complete. There are still some finishing touches needed, including connecting the buildings up so there’s electricity but work has most definitely progressed and the bats that were occupying the roofs of the buildings have now officially moved out! Here are some before and after pictures of the renovations:

Kindergarten

The roof has been raised for better ventilation and the building replastered and painted.

The teachers are also able to use the second kindergarten building once more. Previously it was too dangerous to use because of the bats and several holes in the floor. This means that the children are now properly separated by age and are much less cramped than before as all the children had to be in just the one room! This building (in the photo on the left) is directly next to the main kindergarten so the children still have lots of fun playing together during break and lunch time!

The children and teachers are really happy with their renovated classroom and say a big thank you to everyone who helped make this happen. THANK YOU!

      

Administration Building

In recent months, the team that carry out the work on behalf of RLT had no suitable place to work because the buildings were so run down (and again, the bats had moved into the roof). We are glad to say that Salum (centre manager), Tatu (finance controller) and the rest of the staff now have a safe place to work from. Below is the renovated building. If you visit Kindwitwi, it is one of the first buildings you see as it is situated right on the main road that leads you down to Utete.

Finally, in May of this year a small amount of funding was released to do general repairs to the house of one of our full care patients, Mr Kipoloya. We look forward to sharing photographs with you in our next newsletter.

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