The annual holiday party to benefit Majengo Children’s Home in Africa will be held on Sunday, Dec. 14.
The biannual fundraiser is organized by Lynn Connell and held at her Dunedin art retreat.
Majengo is an orphanage in Tanzania. It is locally run and supported by a network of donors.
Connell was teaching painting in Africa in 2007 when she was taken to visit a makeshift daycare and saw 52 starving children huddled together on a mud floor. With cofounder Charles Luoga, an HIV/AIDS project coordinator, she made a commitment to help those children.
Connell spread the word throughout the Creemore community and $23,000 was raised, enough to see the orphanage’s door open the following year.
Connell said many people in the Creemore area have supported the children’s home since it was founded in 2007.
“It’s been going for seven years and it’s pretty magical. It just keeps going,” said Connell.
The organization cares for 165 kids, 84 of whom are residents at a new home constructed on 10 acres of land donated by the local government.
The others benefit from programs that provide basic needs.
The children are cared for by a staff of 20 local people and the organization is managed by an NGO set up in Tanzania.
“It’s all local. Our whole thing is to support them in their own culture and not to go over there and tell them what to do,” said Connell.
She said the event is to raise money for basic needs of the children such as education, medical, clothing, sports, accommodation and staffing.
Toronto chef Lyndon Wiebe will be preparing an African inspired meal.
His sister is in Tanzania and, just over one year ago, Wiebe spent two weeks at the orphanage, where he collected recipes.
Simone Lee-Hamilton, who has been teaching at the school attended by the orphans, will be at the event, sharing stories.
There will also be live music by guitarist Cody McMillan.
The event takes place at Lynn’s Creativity Art Retreat inn Dunedin, located at 8961 County Road 9, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. There is no set fee for admission.
Donations are encouraged. All donations are tax deductible.
Everyone is welcome.
Anyone not able to attend the event but would like to support the project is welcome to donate online at www.majengo.org or send a cheque payable to Majengo Canada to 284 Major Street, Toronto, M5S 2L6.