SHADE: New School Launched in January

SHADE Village School - Phase 1 was completed and classes started in January!!! Shade Helps provided master planning for this village. This first of, Lord willing, many buildings is constructed using shipping containers.

Following is the SHADE story:

Since 2014, Shade has been serving children with albinism in Shinyanga, Tanzania. Our mission is transforming lives by bringing the tangible love of Christ to children with albinism in Tanzania.

Albinism is an inherited genetic condition that results in a lack of the pigment melanin in the skin, hair, and eyes. This results in pale skin, light-colored hair, and low vision. The lack of skin pigmentation leaves people with albinism very sensitive to the sun and at risk of skin cancer. But the oppression goes even further. People with albinism are often seen as outcasts and the forgotten in Tanzania. Not only do they face discrimination, but also life-threatening attacks due to belief in witchcraft practices proporting that sacrificing the body parts of people with albinism will bring good luck.

Shade’s beliefs couldn’t be further from those beliefs. We believe in the deep LOVE that Jesus Christ has for them. We believe they are worthy of life and worthy of love. We feel called and convicted to protect, equip, and empower these ones with albinism.

God has given us a vision and is at work to provide a permanent place of hope for the region and the people with albinism we fight for. Our land is located in the village of Magobeko, just outside of Shinyanga town. In 2018, we drilled a well and hit sweet water, installed a solar water pump, and began to erect foundational buildings. The vision for the Shade campus includes a quality school, homes for vulnerable children, a clinic, prayer room, and resource center. Read more about the full vision here.

Thank you for joining with us to fight for the lives of children with albinism in Tanzania. Together, we can create hope for a better future for these most vulnerable ones.

ALI UGANDA CAMPUS

 ALI Uganda (https://aidchild.org) is a new ministry that my we've been able to work with. Following is a brief description of what ALI does:

A.L.I. (previously known as AidChild) is a grassroots initiative which has been serving children and youth in the Masaka, Mpigi, and Wakiso districts of Uganda since 2000. We were the first to provide free pediatric antiretroviral therapy (ARV) in the country--and among the first in the world to do so. We now have two NEW innovative efforts as we pursue our goal of an HIV-free generation:

My Helps architectural design associate, Dale Slusser worked with ALI founder, Dr. Nathaniel Dunigan in developing a master plan for a new campus for this ministry on an oddly shaped piece of land. Renderings were provided by a Chris Yust on a volunteer basis.

Following is a brief bio of Dr. Dunigan, and the founding of ALI, followed by some images of the children they have and are helping:

Nathaniel Dunigan first visited Uganda when he was Deputy Director of the Office of the Governor in Tucson, Arizona. A one-month assignment as a volunteer HIV-prevention educator had taken him to Africa where he met so many children who were suffering and dying. His return to the states was marked with a great resolve to make a difference. That resolve led Nathaniel to complete a feasibility study for his AidChild concept, and then to resign from his job, sell his home, car and belongings, and move to Uganda. He was 26 years old, and had an entire budget of $3,500. Two years later, AidChild was chosen by the Ugandan and American governments as a model of pediatric HIV/AIDS care for the entire continent of Africa. A second center was created just after that, as was a treatment laboratory that has served the needs of more than 3,000 children and adults living with AIDS. The organization earns 70% of its own budget thanks to businesses he created under the AidChild corporate label, and is 100% administratively self-sustained thanks to a Ugandan management team.

ALETHEIA MINISTRY HEADQUARTERS CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Last year the ground floor was completed for this 3-story new church and ministry training center. The church is able to meet on the ground floor; but eventually, this is intended to be used for housing when all three floors are constructed. Following are construction progress photos, followed by a brief update from Michael Turay, the ministry founder and pastor:

For the past few months, one of our main goals that we are locked-in on, is the completion of the building project. The main reason being that its availability for ministry will enhance our ministry effectiveness so much more. It will give us the chance to increase our outreach and training programs, which include:

1.      A “monthly 2-day word camp” for all believers who wants to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2.      The constructive training for more ministers of the word through our bible school, which is in the process of registration with, and will be recognize by the government of our nation.

3.      The establishment of our primary and vocational schools, which are based on “Christian education” principles, aiming at their salvation and spiritual growth process, during their education.

We are encouraged that our God Almighty continue to give us ministry opportunities to reach out to the lost, especially the muslims with the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to disciple His flock to spiritual maturity.

LEA HOSTEL CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS

Following are images of the hostel construction progress from last summer until this past February. They build as funds allow; these dorms are needed to provide housing for their growing school population (over 600), most of which are orphans. Wonderful school, wonderful orphanage, wonderful ministry!

LEA Hostel Progress

I can't say enough about this wonderful orphanage & school. LEA started in 2005 by Martin Tango, an orphan himself who was lovingly taken in by Pastor Zak and his wife (and quite a few other children without homes) at the age of 13. In 2005 the orphanage/school started with 20 children with financial help from a church in the Czech Republic. I first visited in November 2013, and they had nearly 300 students. My friend, Mark Croskrey spear headed an effort to provide a well for LEA and we both visited in July 2015 to see the well progress; at which time the school/orphanage had grown to 400 children. As of last summer, they had over 600 students. The education these children receive is top notch, and the classroom buildings meet government standards; but the housing is rented and subpar. My friend Mark is spearheading another effort, through Helps Ministries, to raise money to build dorms that I first designed back in 2014. The plans have been tweaked by a local designer to meet their growing needs, and even though funds for complete construction are not fully raised...they have started building this year anyhow; and it is so exciting to see. Mark and I will likely visit early in 2020 as the dorms get closer to completion. If you want to help them complete the dorms, go to:
https://helpsministries.org/funds/campaigns/lea-orphanage-hostel/

SHADE - a shipping container building

SHADE-Tanzania is a ministry to children with albinism in Tanzania; where they are at risk of having body parts removed by witch doctors who believe these body parts bring good luck. I was first introduced to SHADE in August 2015; and drew up some master plan drawings for a future village to contain schools housing, agriculture, soccer fields, and business development training. Purchase of the first piece of land fell through, but the Lord provided a much better parcel. A new master plan was developed...and the first of a village of buildings using shipping containers is well underway. This will serve as the school and office, with guest rooms on the upper level. In time, Lord willing, the office and guest housing will be in new shipping container buildings and this will be expanded for primary and secondary education. The photos below show some of the construction process of this first phase.

Master Plan