Leadership change at The Village Angels of Tanazania
As the Bible says, there is a season for everything. All board members have long contributed to the growth of The Village Angel of Tanzania program. There has been a time of transition as most members of the current board (Marie Brown, Janet Cicariello-Cook, Eric Rolin, Sergio and Johanna Burani) left the Board upon completing their second full term. These former members will remain staunch and active supporters of the program.
Paul Boehler has assumed the leadership position as President of the Board of Trustees on July 1, 2022. Sister Dativa has remained Program Director as well as Member of the Board. We are all confident that the new board will be effective in strengthening the activities of The Village Angels of Tanzania.
Sister Dativa Daniel Mukebita wanted to help the severely impoverished people of rural northwestern Tanzania, who had suffered directly from the horrors of the neighboring Rwandan genocide of 1994. The indigenous elderly lost their family support when the younger generations left for safer, more prosperous areas. The young inherited a local society devoid of infrastructure or work opportunities. With financial support from Msgr. Martin Rauscher, then pastor of Assumption Church, Morristown, NJ, The Village Angels of Tanzania, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, was born in 2015.
Accomplishments over the ensuing seven years include:
construction of Rauscher complex which houses the program’s on-going daily activities
two new wells that provide an improved water supply to the elders, the vegetable garden, the newly formed chicken, bee, and pig farms
extensive banana plants and industrial lumber trees were planted as revenue sources
the program’s youths learned practical skills, such as sewing, farming, driving, animal husbandry and construction
all elders were screened four times for malnutrition, received medical and eye visits twice and dental exams once. Action was taken on all necessary care.
The Board of Trustees paid for all activities through fundraising, thoughtful financial planning, and transparent stewardship of our donors’ generosity. Perhaps most importantly, we attempted to bring the spirit of the elders and youths to meet the hearts of all donors. Herein lies, we believe, our greatest success. The program’s achievements are a result of strong teamwork and the many, many blessings from God.
On behalf of Sister Dativa and the outgoing board members, I thank you for your exceptional support over the past seven years. You have made an incomparable difference in the lives of God’s people in the tiny rural villages served by The Village Angels of Tanzania. May God bless you abundantly for your generosity.
Tupo pamoja. We are together, in Swahili.
Gratefully yours,
Johanna Burani
Former President of the Board of Trustees
The Village Angels of Tanzania, Inc.