Please help support my trip!

Thank you for visiting and sharing in this journey with me! As you know, I will be traveling to Tanzania, Africa this summer to volunteer in the community of Moshi (July 25 - August 29). I have requested to work with children, teaching English and music. I am nervous, exhilarated, but most of all excited! I believe with my whole heart that if each and every person picks a cause that they believe in and puts their full passion into it, then we can truly change the world. I love teaching, and by going to work with these children, I hope I can both educate and inspire them. I want to show them that they are not lost or forgotten, nor untouchable because of poverty or HIV, but that they are beautiful creatures of a divine universe. I believe it is important to show these children that the Western world has not disregarded them, but instead cares for them and understands and wants to help alleviate their suffering.

My fundraising efforts have been going well (thank you dear friends!), but I still have along way to go. In addition to the fee I pay Cross Cultural Solutions, the non-profit agency that is supporting me while I am in Africa, I must pay for airfare ($3,000) and numerous vaccinations /medications (approximately $500). Any contribution you choose to make is enormously appreciated! Please donate through paypal:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=4271940


Though Tanzania is a peaceful and quite beautiful country, it is consistently ranked as one of the poorest countries in the world. Some statistics about Tanzania:

• Around 38 million people live in Tanzania, including 1 million on the islands of Zanzibar. Population growth is about 3% a year.

• In 2001, 36% of people lived below the national poverty line.

• The average national income (GNI) per person is US$340 (compared to US$34,000 in the UK).

• Tanzania had its last elections in December 2005 and they were declared 'free and fair'.

• More than 1 in 10 children dies before their fifth birthday, although this rate has fallen by a quarter in the last five years.

• For every 1,000 births almost 6 women die in child birth. Tanzania has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in Africa.

• Just over 1 million adults aged 15 to 59 (7%) are infected with HIV.

• Only half the rural population has access to an improved water source.

Thank you for your support!!! With peace and love,

Julieanne =)