{"id":7429,"date":"2019-11-28T11:33:40","date_gmt":"2019-11-28T10:33:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.patrizia.foundation\/project\/patrizia-child-care-songea-tanzania\/"},"modified":"2026-05-11T13:06:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T11:06:08","slug":"patrizia-child-care-songea-tanzania","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/www.patrizia.foundation\/en\/project\/patrizia-child-care-songea-tanzania\/","title":{"rendered":"PATRIZIA Child Care Songea, Tanzania"},"content":{"rendered":"
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PATRIZIA Child Care Songea<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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For the 15th anniversary of the foundation in 2014, the PATRIZIA Foundation has opened its second facility in East African Tanzania, the children\u2019s home PATRIZIA Child Care Songea. The first is the children\u2019s hospital\u00a0\u00a0PATRIZIA Children's Hospital in Peramiho<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The new children\u2019s home is located in Songea, just a few kilometres east of the PATRIZIA Children\u2019s Hospital. At this facility the\u00a0Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing<\/a>, who have been active in Tanzania for over 100 years, are the local partners.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\"Reisebericht<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\u201cIt touched me incredibly, how lovingly the \u2018House Mums\u2019 take care of the abandoned children.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n

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Steward of the PATRIZIA Child Care Songea<\/strong>
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A sheltered home for orphans\u2026<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Spread over three buildings, the children\u2019s home offers orphaned Tanzanian children a roof above their heads and provides them with a loving \u201cHouse Mum\u201d. The housemothers take care of the children.<\/p>\n

\u2026with kindergarten and preschool<\/h3>\n

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Giving the children a protective home is not the only goal of the institution. At the same time, they also gain access to education: The children\u2019s home borders directly on a Montessori kindergarten and a preschool, which the children can attend.<\/p>\n

This gives them a regular everyday life and lays the foundation for a better future.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Our Project-Partner:<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Donate now<\/a><\/div>\n\n
\"PATRIZIA<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>
\"PATRIZIA<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>
\"PATRIZIA<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>
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Tales of happiness from Tanzania<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Blessing\u2019s tale of happiness<\/h3>\n

Blessing\u2019s past is a story of sadness, hope and joy.\u00a0\u00a0Today the child\u00b4s heartfelt laugh is infectious, but it has not always been that way.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Blessing did not always have the strength that she radiates today. As an infant the girl was found in the woods \u2013 abandoned, alone and crying. Two women found her by a happy coincidence, reported her to the authorities and brought her to the Missionary Benedictine Sisters in Uwemba. There she was lovingly received and raised.<\/p>\n

A few years ago, Blessing moved to a children\u2019s home in Morogoro, where many children have found shelter for decades. But the buildings were in need of renovation and were hardly habitable. Blessing and all the other children were all the more delighted when the new PATRIZIA Child Care in Songea was completed and they were able to move into their new rooms.<\/p>\n

The sisters of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters and the children in the orphanage are now Blessing\u2019s family. \u201cI don\u2019t know my parents, but I found a family here,\u201d Blessing happily reports.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Travel report from Monique Felicetti<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

One journey, two missions<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

Summer 2019: Monique Felicetti, director of the PATRIZIA Foundation, recently travelled to Africa with two missions on her agenda. The first was to prepare for a virtual reality video shoot at the three foundation projects in Tanzania. When complete, the video will highlight the successful work undertaken by the foundation to both current and possible sponsors. While there, Felicetti also explored with local partners the potential to develop the projects further. Here she tells the story of her first trip to Africa.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I arrived in Tanzania late in the evening, so the capital Dodoma was shrouded in darkness and I saw only little of it. My first impressions of Africa were gathered the next day some 600 kilometres away in Peramiho at the impressive abbey of the Benedictine Missionaries.<\/p>\n

Around the abbey you can readily see the strong German influence: An impressive church, small, but well-kept houses and blooming front gardens. The residents are employees of the hospital, doctors and support staff, as well as employees from companies run by the abbey.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Benefiting from the well-paid and secure incomes their positions provide, these families can afford school fees for their children and the upkeep of the beautiful, well-equipped houses. Some even employ their own staff or have relatives help them in exchange for food and lodging to assist them with daily household chores.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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PATRIZIA Child Care Songea, in \u201creal\u201d Africa<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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My accommodation was clean, simple but nicely furnished, with a European standard bathroom, albeit with cold water. The cupboard was laden with coffee cups, promising a pleasant stay. But of course, I knew these premises were not representative for Africa.<\/p>\n

The next day I drove to nearby Songea, where a PATRIZIA Child Care Center is located. This is a typical Tanzanian community: hardly any infrastructure, little personal property and rudimentary conditions under which people work and live.<\/p>\n

This is a stark contrast to our Central European lifestyle. If I had not been aware of the importance of our foundation\u2019s work before arriving \u2013- this journey would have certainly changed that.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Mission 1: Presenting our work<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Tanzania was the first location where the PATRIZIA Foundation became active and we have been involved there for more than 20 years. For this reason, we chose the three projects in Peramiho and Songea to be the focus of a virtual reality film to celebrate the foundation\u2019s anniversary: the PATRIZIA Children's Hospital Peramiho (2002), the PATRIZIA Child Care Songea (2014) and the PATRIZIA School Peramiho, which opened in 2017. These are lighthouse projects for our work worldwide.<\/p>\n

However, most of our donors and potential donors do not have the opportunity to visit our facilities themselves.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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They cannot talk to the children whose lives are so positively changed by medical treatment, by receiving a sound school education and by having a roof over their heads. This is why we bring the facilities virtually to those who have made this possible \u2013 and so that we can make it possible for other children in the future. It will be used for fundraising and at events of the foundation. Also, it will allow employees of the PATRIZIA AG a better insight into its work.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Extraordinary projects need extraordinary people<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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In preparation for the video shoot, I met with partners, employees and children from all three institutions. Not a day went by without an invitation to tea or dinner. These included inspiring encounters that will continue to accompany me for a long time, such as those with Dr. Venance Mushi, the dedicated chief physician at St. Joseph\u2019s Hospital, which also includes the PATRIZIA Children's Hospital Peramiho.<\/p>\n

The hospital provides some 140,000 outpatient and 16,000 inpatient treatments per year, a critical service in this extremely poor region. Thanks to its highly qualified doctors and nurses, the hospital has an extremely high standard by African comparisons. And an outstanding reputation, which also brings challenges.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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A hospital like no other: The PATRIZIA Children's Hospital Peramiho<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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The reputation of the hospital ensures it a regional drawcard. Destitute patients often take long journeys to get there, mostly accompanied by relatives. Many of them camp for several days on the hospital grounds and prepare meals for their sick family members in the cooking house facility.<\/p>\n

There are often long queues in front of the treatment rooms, which is not unusual for Africa. Inside, several doctors and nurses are to be found treating many different patients at the same time. Here everyone conducts themselves with a level of composure and patience what would be unthinkable in Europe.<\/p>\n

The waiting time is also used in a meaningful way: A young nurse Makala Mtawa, for example, tirelessly trains patients in preventive measures in health care and hygiene. After all, infectious diseases are still the most common illnesses in Africa.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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An old friend<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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In Peramiho, I also met Sister Elisabeth of the\u00a0Tutzinger Missons-Benediktinerinnen<\/a>. Sister Elisabeth has a special relationship with our founder Wolfgang Egger and gave him the impetus to create the foundation. I also met Sister Ruth, the prioress who has been responsible for all the institutions of the Peramiho Priory since 2015 and leads them with an admirable mixture of peace, foresight and humour.<\/p>\n

From Sister Ruth, I learned that Tanzanian parents attach great importance to a good school education for their children, as well as in ensuring that the children make themselves useful from an early age in the home or in the fields. For children, there is little time to play. When they do play, they entertain themselves with everyday objects such a cardboard box or a few wooden sticks.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Mission 2: Project development<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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For each of our projects we seek strong, professional local partners who can guarantee the long-term operation of the facility and the safety of the children. We always plan for an operation of at least 25 years.<\/p>\n

In Tanzania, our partners are the Tutzing Missionary Benedictine Sisters and the Missionary Benedictines of St. Ottilien, who have been active together in Peramiho since 1888. My aim was to discuss with our partners how we can extend the local chain of impact and what additional needs our facilities have.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The growing community of Songea shows much potential. A primary school, open to children of all denominations, would close the gap between a children\u2019s home and a secondary school. However, the existing nursing school could also use much help. Here young women and men learn the highly respected profession of nursing, which offers the best prospects for a better future. We are now examining the needs and will present an outlook on possible new projects as soon as possible.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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My planet, your planet<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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My conversations and encounters in Africa were always informative and often surprising. Only a 14-hour flight away from my home, I found people living in a completely different reality, but who have exactly the same right to a good and prosperous life as myself. My trip enforced my determination to ensure that we at the PATRIZIA Foundation live up to our motto \u201cBuilding better futures\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

Donate now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Stories of Change in Songea<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Maria's Story of Change<\/h3>\n

As a young orphan, Maria found a loving home at the PATRIZIA Child Care Centre in Songea, Tanzania, and received the opportunity for a solid education. She completed her secondary schooling at the PATRIZIA School Peramiho\u2014one of the most prestigious girls\u2019 secondary schools in the region. Thanks to the full coverage of her school fees, she was able to focus entirely on her studies and develop her talents.<\/p>\n

Today, Maria gives back a part of the support she herself received, with a generous heart. At the orphanage, she helps younger children, offering them security and care. Her big dream is to become a teacher and a special education professional for children with disabilities.<\/p>\n

With excellent final grades, she has already applied to a university in Dar es Salaam, and her admission is expected later this year. The Child Care Centre and the school continue to support her along the way.<\/p>\n

Maria is deeply grateful for the support she has received on her journey. Her wish is not only to benefit from this opportunity herself but to pass it on to others. She is a living example of how care, education, and solidarity can transform a life\u2014and how this transformation gives the strength to empower others.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"project_category":[],"project_tag":[],"class_list":["post-7429","project","type-project","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nPATRIZIA Child Care Songea, Tanzania - Patrizia Foundation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patrizia.foundation\/en\/project\/patrizia-child-care-songea-tanzania\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"PATRIZIA Child Care Songea, Tanzania - 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