SUPPORTERS of a charity which gives hope to vulnerable children in rural Tanzania are celebrating after two recent successes.
About 160 people turned out to a farewell party for two girls, Jesca and Emma, who are returning to Tanzania to work as volunteer teachers after completing their teacher training with the Bethany Project. The charity has a home and education centre in the east African country, where it is building a school where Jesca and Emma will teach.
The farewell party, at Ernest Street Baptist Church in Oswaldtwistle, included a video of the Bethany Project’s work in Tanzania, and Jesca and Emma did a sketch about what it was like to live in England, followed by a talk on what they intend to do when they return. People gave generously to the cause, raising more than £1,200 and the duo have promised to keep people informed of their work on their website www.emje-tanzania.org.
The Bethany Summer Saunter fundraising event was also a huge success. Walkers came from far and wide for the seven and a half mile walk, starting from Junction 7 business park in Clayton-le-Moors. The 78 walkers raised around £2,500, which will go towards funding the school at the Bethany home.
A winter walk is now being planned, this time with walkers carrying a 10-litre bucket of water on their heads, something Tanzanians have to do every day.
Graham Pountain, from the charity, thanked everyone for their support.
He said: “It was a very emotional day. We had tutors from Blackburn College who had been teaching the girls come. There were a lot of tears and people queueing up to say their goodbyes.”
