The Charlotte Jewish News - January 2024 - Page 15 Religious Life
Temple Beth El Congregants Make a Difference in Tanzania With Nonprofit Supporting Education By Judy Coco It began as a safari vacation, evolved into a fundraiser, and ultimately transformed into a nonprofit organization. Just over ten years ago, Kelly and Roger Gaines, along with their daughter Allie, planned a safari vacation. Wanting to assist the orphanage affiliated with their travel agency, Allie decided to turn her summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro into a fundraiser to provide much-needed textbooks. Allie successfully raised funds to purchase 443 textbooks and teaching aids. However, the intended orphanage required only 50 books. The travel agency proposed delivering the surplus books to a remote town, leading to another adventure. They discovered that the remote town struggled to secure teachers, so the Gaines family provided additional funding to collaborate with local contractors in constructing living quarters for the teachers. This achievement became the catalyst
for TanzaCare, a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing education in rural Tanzania. Many schools in the area lack adequate facilities, including classrooms, textbooks, and learning materials, hindering effective learning for children. Twice a year, Kelly and Roger visit Tanzania to meet with government officials, school boards, elders, and non-governmental organizations to assess educational needs in rural areas and monitor proposed construction projects for supported schools. By working with this mix of local resources, Kelly and Roger gain a comprehensive understanding of needs and allocate funding appropriately. They also rely on Yesaya Mwashala, the director of operations, who keeps them informed throughout the year. Mwashala is encouraged by TanzaCare's impact, stating that the organization "positively affects children in rural areas." TanzaCare supports three primary schools (grades 1 through 7) and sponsors nearly 40 students to attend secondary school
and beyond. Secondary school funding covers expenses such as room and board, tuition, uniforms, and stipends for personal items. To encourage educators to relocate, TanzaCare offers free housing and basic necessities. Sponsored students must maintain their grades to continue their education. Currently, two graduates of TanzaCare's sponsorship program are attending a university, three students have become electricians, and many others return to their villages to tutor. All serve as role models and encourage students to apply for sponsorship, which is granted based on a student's demon- TanzaCare supports educational needs in Tanzania strated ability to continue their education and available funding. It costs approximately $1,000 Rainwater Harvesting Systems support. As a child, Kelly was told that she could achieve anyannually to support a student for each school. Kelly, the executive director, thing — a philosophy she conthrough four years of secondary and Roger, the CFO, are mem- tinues to live by and promote toschool. During one of their visits bers of Temple Beth El. They day. We are grateful to Kelly and to Tanzania, Kelly and Roger want you to know that they wel- Roger for making a significant learned that villagers had to walk come volunteers every July to difference in the lives of many. To learn more about Tana significant distance to fetch assist in the schools, and 100% water from a pond. This discov- of all donations directly benefit zaCare, visit www.tanzacare.org. ery led to the development of the schools and the students they
Temple Beth El’s Mitzvah Day Is Now a YearRound Mitzvah Market By Nicole Sidman Mitzvah Day is a cherished tradition among TBE families, and when it had to be put on hold due to COVID, we received numerous requests to bring it back. We’re excited to announce that it’s back … reimagined. At Temple Beth El, we firmly believe that giving back to our community is a fundamental aspect of Judaism and an essential part of our way of life. We asked ourselves how we could extend the spirit of Mitzvah Day beyond a single day and throughout the entire year. While there are many opportunities to assist in Charlotte, we decided it was crucial to explore how mitzvot, or acts of kindness, could be performed right here in our Shalom Park community. As a result, we are reinventing Mitzvah Day and introducing the inaugural Mitzvah Market! This "market" is unique because it's not about shopping for physical goods; instead, it's an opportunity to discover ways to get involved in and support your community. We have retained all the cherished moments from our traditional in-person Mitzvah Days. We will come together as a community in the sanctuary at 9 a.m. to sing, pray, and, of course, enjoy bagels! Children in the Religious School will
then participate in special activities with their classes before visiting the Mitzvah Market as a group. Meanwhile, adults will have the chance to engage in acts of service and learn about various ways to remain involved throughout the year. We encourage congregants of all ages to join us at 9 a.m., but you are wel-
come to arrive anytime between 9 a.m. and noon. All of these activities will take place in one central location within Temple Beth El. Without leaving the temple grounds, you can participate in service projects and discover 13 different programs happening right here at Shalom Park. We hope you
will join us as we gather in the community, standing together in our shared commitment to making Charlotte a better place. The Mitzvah Market has received partial funding through a grant from the Lenora Stein Fund for Community Creative Learning. This grant was awarded to support Temple Beth El's "Living
Jewish Values Initiative," which aims to help children and families view community service as a powerful expression of their Jewish identity.
