Leeds Diocese has a link with three dioceses in north-west Tanzania - the Dioceses of Mara, Rorya and Tarime. The link is about:
- Friendship - through visits, letters and emails
- Prayer - we pray for each other often by name.
- Practical Support - in whatever way we can
Around 80 churches in West Yorkshire are linked to churches in Tanzania as well as school to school links. There have been many visits in both directions. Many parishes pray for their link church every Sunday. Schools exchange letters and photos and learn about each other. Clergy training is supported and agricultural projects funded. Click here to download a leaflet.
Act Mara Safe House: The Story So Far …Keeping girls safe from FGM
The practice of FGM is still carried out in Tanzania, despite being illegal in that country since 2009. In a few tribal cultures, this act is seen as ‘purification’ before marriage, and may lead to a larger wedding dowry.
In 2009, the Anglican vicar of Mugumu took a young girl into his care in order to protect her from FGM. From this one act, the idea of a ‘Safe House’ was born. With funding from the Anglican Diocese of Mara and the UK based Tanzanian Development Trust, a building was constructed that can house 80 girls. It is especially busy in the ‘cutting season’ of November and December in alternate years.
The Safe House provides the following for the girls in its care:
- Food, shelter and a home
- Access to education
- Family reconciliation work
- Raised awareness of FGM in the communities which it serves
- Currently, all funding for the Safe House comes from the Anglican Church of Mara, with support from the Leeds Diocese Tanzanian link, and some other church funding in the UK. There are plans for income generating projects to help it become more self-sufficient
The Tanzanian Link Committee – in the Leeds Diocese – has a sub-committee focused on the Safe House. We have a small number of members who look to support the project by:
- Giving talks on the Safe House and FGM practices in Tanzania to groups- in order to raise awareness and generate donations/ regular giving.
- Fundraising activities – the Safe House is currently very short of funds, for even necessities such as food and staff salaries, and that’s why we need your help.
How can you be part of the story:
- Pray for the work of the Safe House and the Anglican Church in Tanzania
- Donate – funding is desperately needed for staff salaries, medicines, clothes, school supplies, bedding, food, transport costs. We have a standard letter and leaflets that can be posted out to you, if you want to do your own fundraising initiative. Contact Rebecca on the email below.
- Invite us to give a talk – to raise awareness of FGM practices in Tanzania – and to encourage people to make regular donations/ one off donations to the Safe House.
A standing order commitment of £5 or £10 a month could make a real difference.
BACS payment to Leeds DBF, reference - Safe House. Sort code 09-02-22 Acct No. 10466302.
Send cheques to Leeds DBF, 17/19 York Place, Leeds LS1 2EX payable to ‘Leeds Diocesan Board of finance’; write ‘Safe House’ on the back.
Contact details:
Rebecca Cain (rebeccaacain@outlook.com)
Tanzanian Link Committee Officer for the Safe House
Latest News
- 26/11/24 - Diocese of Leeds welcomes Bishop Moses from Tanzania . Read more here.
- 1/10/24 - Bishop of Mara visits to recommit our link with Tanzania. Read more here.
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Ven Cat Thatcher Archdeacon of Pontefract |
