The Inauguration of "Dunia ya Heri"

Report by Samuel Koranteng-Pipim, Ph.D 

On the weekend of June 9-11, 2017, I was privileged to be a special guest at the inauguration of “Dunia ya Heri”  Children's Home (or Orphanage) in a small rural village called Yale Yale Puna, in the Kigamboni District of Tanzania. The newly constructed Children's Home for 20 children was officially opened on Sunday, June 11, 2017, by Dr. Ulisubisya Mpoki, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health in Tanzania. The facility is the first phase of the "African Family & Health Care" project.

“Dunia ya Heri” is a Swahili word that means "Land of Blessing" or “Blessing to the World.” Besides other government officials, the mayor of the region, the local chief of the area, and the news media, friends of “Dunia ya Heri” from several countries (e.g., Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, USA, etc.) were present to grace the occasion. It was a pleasant surprise to hear from the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mpoki, that he knew me, and that he had positively been impacted by my Bible lectures more 14 years ago, when he was a student at the university.

“Dunia ya Heri” received its first child on December 2, 2016. The little boy was found extremely malnourished and close to death, abandoned in an empty house that was being demolished. He was apparently left there by his parents on purpose. When he was found, he was first taken to the Catholic “Missionaries of Charity - Mother Teresa’s Children’s Home” (which operates one of the largest orphanages in Tanzania). There, the Sisters decided the child should be placed in an orphanage where he could stay long term. That’s how “Dunia ya Heri” got its first child, Amani. 

The search for his parents has not been successful. Meanwhile, Amani is doing extremely well in the “Dunia” Children’s home. Each of the children there has a unique story, revealing some of the vulnerabilities facing children in Africa: Some of them are too young to care for themselves but considered too much of a burden by those who gave them life; others have suffered abuses at the hands of parents suffering from severe mental health issues; still others have lost both parents or custodians either through HIV AIDS, other diseases, or adverse circumstances.  

Your generous support would aid the work for vulnerable children like Amani, whose plight keeps growing every passing day. (In fact, before returning to the States, we also visited the Catholic “Mission of Charity” in Dar es Salaam. Overwhelmed by so many cases of abandoned children, it had requested “Dunia ya Heri”  to come for other vulnerable children.)

“Dunia ya Heri” is the fruition of the 20-year dream of an elderly woman in Germany. Upon the tragic loss of her only son (through an accident in a bathtub) and the loss of her husband (through cancer), she committed to honoring their memory by investing her means into developing an "African Family & Health Care" project—a special project that seeks to apply Christian principles or inspired counsels to child guidance and health & well-being. The Children’s Home or Orphanage that was officially opened on June 11, 2017, at Yale Yale Puna is just the beginning of the first phase of the project.

Central to their care is unconditional love and a focus on developing a balanced character. “Dunia ya Heri” provides a healthy, natural environment for the children to develop enduring qualities as compassion, honesty, personal responsibility, service, diligence, consistency, and spirituality. Additionally, specific talents and skills (e.g. playing musical instruments, language proficiency, kitchen work, and gardening) are essential components of the children’s training.

Here are some things you can pray for and do: (1) Pray for the dedicated German couple that has moved to Tanzania to oversee the project and ensure its success. (2) Pray for God to shower his blessings upon the work to make this world a better place for the children of “Dunia ya Heri.” (3) And pray also that this “Land of Blessing” in Tanzania will become a blessing to the world. (4) Support this work with your one-time or monthly donations (You can do so by sending your tax-deductible contribution through “Restore A Child” or “Outpost Centers International; for more, visit http://en.dunia-ya-heri.org/). Thanks for your generous support. Even the smallest support will go a long way.

For photos of “Dunia” and my recent trip, visit my Facebook page at this link: http://tinyurl.com/yaww9c8o.

--Samuel Koranteng-Pipim, PhD

June 15, 2017