Stouffville Igoma Partnership

2nd Annual Food for Thought

Stouffville Igoma Partnership — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 02:49:43 +0000

After a marvelous evening at an event called ‘Food For Thought’ last April, it only made sense to make this another one of SIP’s annual events. This year’s event will take place at Sleepy Hollow on Monday, April 2nd. Stay tuned for more details on how to get your tickets…

1st Annual Craft Sale a Success

Stouffville Igoma Partnership — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 02:44:39 +0000

The 1st Annual Craft Sale to benefit the Stouffville Igoma Partnership was held on Saturday December 19th, 2011. 16 vendors were selling a variety of jewellery, crafts, baked goods, cards and much more. A tea room provided people with the opportunity to take a break and relax with friends over a bowl of soup. Thanks to all who contributed $2.00 toward SIP’s objective of providing Igoma with a source of clean water. Over $2,700.00 was raised at the event!

7th Annual Fundraising Dinner and Auction

Stouffville Igoma Partnership — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 16:54:54 +0000

Our 7th Annual Dinner and Auction, “Faces of Igoma” , was a resounding success. People who attended were “introduced” to a number of adults and children who live and work in Igoma through pictures and short biographies. Our special speakers, Dale Jackson and Marcus Gordon, both of whom were part of the February 2011 team who travelled to Igoma, shared their experiences and gave updates on the work that has happened there with the help of SIP. Special thanks to our;

Gold Sponsors: Simpson Produce, the Mayor’s Golf Tournament, Lynn Corp & Aveco Pools;

Silver Sponsors: Farmer Jacks;

Bronze Sponsors: Safebridge, Nutri-Lawn, Scotia Bank and Kim & Jennifer Reesor of Gallo Real Estate as well as Stouffville Hyundai for their support.

Food for Thought, a hardy success; Thank you to our Sponsors

Stouffville Igoma Partnership — Tue, 17 May 2011 14:14:44 +0000

The Directors of the Stouffville-Igoma Partnership would like to thank The Stouffville-Sun Tribune (media sponsor), Visual Perspective (ticket sponsor) as well as our promoters; Brian Roman-Entertainer, Signature Party Services, Sleepy Hollow Golf and Country Club, Stouffville Arena Staff-Bob Heickert, Stouffville Spirit Staff-Mike Humpheys, St. John Mechanical, and Whistle Radio 102.7FM. They would also like to thank those who contributed auction items, desserts and draws such as Centerpiece Flowers, Country Style-Stouffville, Hanson’s Restaurant, M & M Meat Shop-Stouffville, Pastaggio’s, The Tin Mill, Reesor Farm Kitchen and Applewood Farm Winery.

Next year “FOOD FOR THOUGHT” will return to Sleepy Hollow Golf Course and Country Club on Monday, April 1st, 2012 so mark your calendars. Participants next year will include Annie’s Kitchen, Baked at Frankie’s, Boston Pizza, Candlelight and Memories, Catering by Mario, The Cornerhouse on Main, Charlinda Belgian Chocolates, Frankie’s, SGT. Peppers Pub & Grill, Stakeout Dinning Room & Lounge, Stouffville Creek Retirement Residence, The Earl of Whitchurch, Velvet Sunrise, Willow Springs Winery and Water Depot. Thank you for supporting our work in Igoma, Tanzania!

Euchre party raises funds for SIP!

Stouffville Igoma Partnership — Mon, 16 May 2011 23:15:30 +0000

On May 6th, 36 people went to Lemonville Community Center to enjoy a friendly yet competitive Euchre tournament organized by Susan Kerswill, who recently returned from her second work trip to Igoma. The night began at 7pm and the fun continued until about 10:30pm. Good times were had by all participants and many people generously donated door prizes and others donated their time and helped out with the event. Approximately $600 was raised and the money will likely be directed to the new branch of the Stouffville-Igoma Partnership (SIP) being Igoma’s Children’s Aid and Relief Enterprise (I-CARE). Who knew having a great time could make such a difference, what a great idea!

Food for Thought

Stouffville Igoma Partnership — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 16:39:28 +0000

The Stouffville Igoma Partnership Board is excited to present our newest fundraising effort called “Food For Thought” being held on Monday April 4, 2011 at the Sleepy Hollow Golf & Country Club from 5:30 – 8:30pm.

This is a fabulous opportunity to raise funds and awareness and also to showcase many of the fantastic restaurants in the Stouffville area. Restaurants will be providing “tasting” stations and guests will be treated to a buffet style meal sampling the many wondering tastes that Stouffville has to offer. You will be treated to samplings from places like; The SteakOut Dining Room, Sgt. Peppers, Earl of Whitchurch, Frankies, Willow Springs Winery and a host of others from the area.

Tickets are being sold by SIP Board members and are available by calling Helene Johnson at 416-346-5133. Tickets are $50 each and include unlimited tasting buffet, door prizes and entertainment. Funds raised will directly support SIPs efforts to improve access to medical care and education in Igoma, Tanzania.

Watch the local newspaper over the next few weeks for additional details. We hope to see you and your friends there. It’s a great way to show your continued support for the Stouffville Igoma Partnership!

Stouffville Igoma Partnership a work in progress

Stouffville Igoma Partnership — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 20:40:05 +0000

On Valentine’s Day, a team of 10 people representing the Stouffville Igoma Partnership (SIP) returned from a two-and-a-half week working visit to Igoma, Tanzania. It was the first trip to the community for eight members of the group, including Dale Jackson, who was impressed and amazed at what a difference SIP volunteers and donors have made in the impoverished community.

“I support the program here, but I didn’t realize the impact that our support has, and what a worthwhile cause it is,” she said. “I had no idea how much difference your $30 a month makes.” She cited the case of a young child with a club foot who went to the clinic and was referred to the big hospital for assessment.

“They found that he didn’t need surgery but (his treatment) was going to require 10 trips with casts and splits. We wanted to pay for that, so we pooled our money to cover the cost. It was a wonderful feeling, yet it cost next to nothing in our terms.”

Susan Kerswill, a nurse from Stouffville who first went to Igoma in 2007, told Dale she had noticed some big improvements since her last visit. “People were working more, there were a lot of retail stores on the main street,” said Dale. “It was more advanced than I thought it would be and I was very impressed with the health clinic that SIP sponsors.”

While Susan worked at the clinic, Dale helped to distribute more than 300 mosquito nets to area homes. She was also part of a group that painted, cleaned and repaired a residence near the clinic, which houses a nurse and a lab technician.

“We visited some of the schools where the students are supported by the people back here through SIP. The people we met were so welcoming to Canadians and very appreciative of everything we do from here and what we did there,” she said.

When asked if she would like to return, Dale didn’t hesitate. “I would go back in a heartbeat.”

Meanwhile, SIP recently adopted a child sponsorship program called I-Care. “This program, which began with a couple who visited Igoma several years ago, supports children through the purchase of uniforms and supplies which allows them to attend school,” said Justin Kerswill, who is on the SIP board of directors. Sponsorships are $30 a month and cover the cost of a mosquito net for protection against malaria, as well as a mattress and food.

The partnership is currently participating in an initiative called One SIP At A Time in collaboration with Stouffville’s Velvet Sunrise Coffee Roasters. Two dollars per lb of the company’s SIP-labelled coffee purchased by residents will be donated to the charity, while five per cent of gross purchases through commercial workplaces will go to SIP.

On April 4, SIP is hosting Food for Thought at Sleepy Hollow Golf and Country Club on Tenth Line. Food and drinks will be provided by area restaurants, wineries and breweries and the evening will also feature a silent auction, live entertainment and free draws.

Tickets are $50 and are available by calling 905-640-6134 or 416-346-5133. Net proceeds will be used for educational and medical projects in Igoma.

By Kate Gilderdale,
Stouffville Free Press

New programs brewing to aid African families

Stouffville Igoma Partnership — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 16:55:14 +0000

Buying coffee from a local roaster will provide basic medical and educational needs to people in Tanzania.
Velvet Sunrise Coffee Roasters, on Ringwood Drive, and the Stouffville Igoma Partnership have come together for the One SIP At A Time initiative.
For every pound of freshly roasted SIP-labelled coffee for home, $2 will be donated to SIP. Commercial establishments serviced through this initiative will have 5-per-cent of their gross purchases donated to SIP.
SIP is a humanitarian effort that provides health care needs and educational training to the residents of Igoma, Tanzania.
“We love the fact that the donation from each purchase for home or business directly helps with Igoma’s medical and educational growth since the SIP is 100-per-cent volunteer driven,” said Fraser Sullivan, Velvet Sunrise Coffee Roasters’ vice-president of marketing and client services.
SIP was initiated in 1998 by a group of people from a number of Whitchurch-Stouffville churches who travelled to Igoma to build a medical clinic.
“This will enable us to continue providing basic medical, educational and we hope with the help of this type of initiative, the provision of clean drinking water for the people of Igoma,” said Arlene Raymer, local resident and SIP board member.
SIP has also recently taken over a child sponsorship program – I-Care.
The program supports children through the purchase of uniforms and supplies, which allows them to attend school.
The $30-a-month program also provides them with a mattress, food and a mosquito net, which protects against malaria.
A team of 10 volunteers left for Igoma Jan. 28 to visit schools and children in the I-Care program. They will also distribute mosquito nets, clean and organize the medical clinic and assess Igoma’s greatest current needs. They return Feb. 14.
“We are excited for the possibilities of this new program and looking forward to hearing from our team, their experiences, the information they collect and the possibilities that the new year will bring,” said Justin Kerswill, a member of the SIP board of directors.

By Sandra Bolan
the Stouffville-Sun Tribune

Making a Difference

Stouffville Igoma Partnership — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 02:24:36 +0000

Recent expansion of the Urafiki Health Centre has allowed SIP to open a much needed Mother Child Infant Care unit as well as basic hygiene and health care education. Public health nurses are being hired for the new services.

View Our Projects

Our Friends in Igoma

Stouffville Igoma Partnership — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 01:46:28 +0000

NEW Secondary Tuition Program – Less than 8% of children attend high school due to lack of funds. This SIP project provides tuition aid to qualified students. At its onset in 2008, the goal was to send 5 students but due to incredible support we now have over 70 students in the program in the first year.

View Our Friends in Igoma