Child Sponsorship
Neema Crafts administers a child sponsorship scheme which was set up and run by a UK based charity called Robin Hood Ministries. This charity has been a supporter of Neema Crafts since its inception and indeed was one of the sponsors that helped to initiate the whole project, with a gift of £400. The child sponsorship scheme has started with 11 children and we hope that the scheme will grow and many more children will find sponsors from other countries.
The cost for sponsors is just £20 per month. In Africa this small sum goes a very long way so the Neema Crafts Child Sponsorship administrator is able to ensure that the money provided by sponsors can be put to good use well beyond the individual children being sponsored.
Nearly half the monthly contribution is paid directly to the parent of the child. This money must be spent on food, clothing and medicines for the child and his or her siblings if any, for school uniform and the occasional toy.
One quarter of the money is put into a bank account in the child's name and will be saved for them until the child goes to secondary school, since secondary education is not provided free in Tanzania, with the remaining savings being kept until the child is 18 when his or sponsorship will cease. This ensures the young adult will have some ongoing support as they move into further education or the world of work. This money is available before the child is 18, subject to the agreement of the Trustees if the child (not the family) suffers an emergency for which the family (not they) cannot pay. Medical care in Tanzania is not free.
A small amount of the monthly fee is kept to provide a Christmas Party for all the children and a small gift for each.
The balance of the contribution is pooled and will be used at the discretion of the Neema Crafts Child Sponsorship Trustees for the benefit of disabled children in Iringa. One of the plans for this is to provide a "drop in" facility at Neema Crafts Centre for parents and their disabled children where they will be able to get help and support with the care of their children.
