Our Artist in Residence..Ms Heather Haynes

We were so lucky to be able to spend 6 weeks with Kingston artist and friend Heather Haynes and her family, husband and musician Mr. Jeff Montgomery as well as her two wonderful kids, Sully and Whit. Heather and her family spent a lot of tinme preparing for this trip through their World's Collide project which initially began on Heather's trip to Uganda 2 years ago. As a lead up to this year's trip she partnered with her sons' school and all of the teachers and staff prepared hand painted T shirts and accompanying packages with a photo, letter and small gift from a child at South Crosby School. Some of the T-shirts were very inspiring. Heather then made connections with several programs here in Tanzania that care for kids that are living in vulnerable situations or are orphans. There are unfortunately MANY vulnerable kids here due to poverty and the end result of several decades of HIV/AIDS...they have lost one or both parents. We visited the Tegemeo Orphan project at Kilema Hospital (pictures attached). I have also included a picture of a traditional 'African soccer ball' that Roman found in the supply room where the food rations are stored by the program.

Heather and the kids also visited the Mkombozi Centre for street children and the Msamaria centre for street children. The T-shirts and gift bags were welcomed with many cheers at Msamaria and Heather developed a great relationship with the Mkombozi boys who run an amateur artist project called the The Hard-Life artists group.
Luckily for us...Heather also painted while she was here. These beautiful paintings are displayed in our new women's centre and in the Guest House (our income generating project). Thanks Heather!