Orphan, Bibi House Dedicated in Tanzania
By Jann Mitchell

Five FAWCO members, the Dutch ambassador, one Muslim iman and two Christian pastors helped dedicate the Gerrit Brokx/FAWCO House for AIDS orphans and the grandmothers raising them February 2, 2009 near Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Officials planted a ceremonial tree, orphans danced, bibis (grandmothers) cheered, guests applauded and everyone ate Tanzanian food for the celebration. Five bibis and their children will move into the complex this spring.

Eleanor Bowe, of North American Connection in England, spoke on behalf of FAWCO. NAC in the East Midlands raised $10,000 toward the bibi house – the most of all the FAWCO clubs, which have raised some $20,000 toward the $60,000 project. The house includes bedrooms, boys’ dorm, guest rooms, toilets, living room/meeting space, kitchen and four shops.

Funding came from FAWCO clubs and individual donors. The Gerrit Brokx Trust in The Netherlands donated $26,000 - a referral from FAWCO member Anne van Oorschot Warwick in Holland, whose husband chairs the trust (building housing in developing countries). See the invaluable connections one makes as a FAWCO member? The Wicklow (Ireland) Rotary Club donated $10,000, and Tanzanian sponsors have also helped.

FAWCO members present included: Judy Vlastnik-Jansson (AWC in Stockholm), who spearheaded a charity walk and donated a generous amount in honor of her mother’s 80th birthday; AWC Beth Andersson (AWC in Malmo, Sweden), who raised money for the house and for 180 pairs of school shoes for orphans through the Goteborg International School where she teaches; Andree’ Kublius (AWC Luxemborg); Bowe; and Jann Mitchell (AWC in Stockholm), cofounder of Bibi Jann Children’s Care Trust and its GRANDMA-2-GRANDMA project.

AWC in Stockholm has previously purchased playground equipment for the BJ school.

The five were among 17 Americans, Swedes and a Brit traveling on a 10-day safari to the project, around Dar, to Mikumi National Park and to the island of Zanzibar. They also attended the world premiere of the American documentary about the BJCCT, “GRANDMOTHER TO GRANDMOTHER: New York to Tanzania,” by Old Dog Documentaries. The premiere was in conjunction with an exhibit of Bibi Jann’s quilted African wall-hangings. Sales netted another $1,000 for the bibis.

Everyone’s favorite part of the trip was spending time with people at our project in Mbagala village - and most wanted more. Here’s what Judy said: “’Educaton, Education is the Gateway!’ Clearly the children enrolled at Bibi Jann’s school are fervent believers in their school’s motto.

“Watching the bright faces of the children as they entertained the ‘dignitaries’ with songs sung proudly about their school brought smiles to our faces and pride to our hearts. Yes, the buildings are simple by our standards and there is more need than you can fathom whichever way you
look, but the overriding impression that I and my family took away was not of despair, but of joy. The smiling faces. The small hand slipped into yours as you’re walking down the street. The beaming faces of the bibis as they sang their welcome. Such warmth. “Our visit to Dar was absolutely about education. The education of my family and I. And no doubt, it is the gateway!” Beth from Goteborg adds, “Having time with the bibis and the kids will stay with me a lifetime.”

A hanging depicting the bibi house - bordered with club and individual contributors’ names - will be displayed in the living room. A 2008 FAWCO Development Grant of $3,500 was used for a villagewide seminar on HIV/AIDS prevention and to complete, open and supply a bibi shop to sell crafts to help support their families. Some of the bibis and orphans are HIV-positive.

Members interested in more information about the bibi house, GRANDMA-2- GRANDMA OR a subsequent Tanzanian tour may contact Bibi Jann at jannmmitchell@aol.com.

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American Grandparent can help Grandchildren become US Citizens!

Did you know that grandparents can help their foreign-born grandchildren become naturalized US citizens? Grandchildren born abroad of a US citizen parent (who can not pass on American citizenship to their children because they don’t meet the requirements) can become naturalized
US citizens through a grandparent who meets a 5-year (cumulative) physical presence requirement of living in the US. The grandchild must regularly reside outside of the US in the legal custody of a US citizen parent and must be under 18. The whole process must be completed
by the child’s 18th birthday. See www.fawco.org for more details.

Swedes Visiting the US in 2009 - Important Information!

Entry into the US just got a little more complicated for citizens of countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), including Sweden. Under a new regulation, all citizens of VWP countries traveling to the US will need to have an electronic travel authorization prior to boarding the US bound airplane or ship. This requirement will go into effect next year. Overseas US citizens are not affected. Applications for authorization should be submitted as soon as travel to the US is planned, but not less than 72 hours before departure. Applications may be made online through the ESTA website at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/. Authorizations will be valid for multiple
entries up to 2 years or until the applicant’s passport expires.

Calling all Scholars and Philanthropists!

FAWCO Foundation Development Grants and Educational Awards for 2009 are now open for submissions. The grant level has just been raised to $4,500. Our AWC may nominate a max of 2
projects annually for Development Grants. The club must have supported the project for at least one year. (Support means creating project awareness, donating goods or money, or hands on participation.) Educational Awards include:
$5,000: For study of arts, sciences or humanities
$5,000: For continuing or resuming undergrad or graduate level university program
$3,000: Dual Cultural Award to be used to attend a US high school for a semester or academic summer program. Participant must be between 13-18, lived outside US for a minimum of 6 years, and have at least 1 US citizen parent.
$3,000: For acquiring new or enhancing existing skills.
$3,000: The Special Challenges Fund is for specialized training/tutoring, therapy or special equipment or devices needed to facilitate a student’s educational progress.
For more information about applying for any of the grant or award money, check out
www.fawcofoundation.org or
contact AWC FAWCO representative Susan W.