Summerland woman seeking help with humanitarian mission
The Okanagan non-profit The One Person Project is hosting its 10th annual fundraiser on Saturday at the Shatford Centre in Penticton.
The Summerland-based organization provides aid to the Kahama region of rural Tanzania.
“We chose an area that other volunteers don’t go to, there is extreme poverty and very few resources in Kahama,” said Brenda Lowe, the organization’s co-founder.
Lowe first visited the township and surrounding villages in 2006 and on her return set up The One Person Project with a small group of friends and family. Since then, TOPP has rallied the local community to donate resources and funds to ship four sea containers to Kahama, each crammed with medical, educational and entrepreneurial resources as well as supplies for the children’s HIV/AIDS clinic and the Muvuma Orphanage.
“We built the 7,000-square-foot orphanage to house around 30 children and are involved at every level, every day. We put in a wall to create a safe compound for the kids and recently added an outside kitchen and eating area, a vegetable garden and chicken coop,” said Lowe.
“And as with all our projects, our goal is self-sustainability for the orphanage.”
The organization also put in a temporary well and is now raising funds to create a deeper, permanent well. Lowe will be taking her 12th self-funded trip to Kahama in January 2019.
“We have an agent on the ground and are in contact on a daily basis but we go every year to monitor progress and to spend time with the kids. That’s my favorite part, hanging out with the kids.”
To donate to the silent auction or purchase tickets for the Nov. 17 dinner, dance and silent auction, call Lowe at 250-809-9639 or email info@theonepersonproject.org.
Find out more at www.theonepersonproject.org or on Facebook.