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Telefood dishes out 430m/- in nine years
2006-02-20 07:17:03
By Pacifique Nkeshimana
Telefood, the anti-hunger campaign of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations that raises funds to pay for small-scale projects, has financed 53 projects to the tune of 430,301,000/- in the country since its inception in 1997.
Speaking at the Telefood Gala Night sponsored by Vodacom Tanzania in Dar es Salaam on Sunday evening, Telefood matron Mama Anna Mkapa said the projects included farming, horticultural and livestock-keeping schemes.
She said Telefood Tanzania, in collaboration with regional institutions and NGOs like the Tanzania Home Economics Association (Tahea) and Equal Opportunities Trust Fund (EOTF), had facilitated the implementation of the projects by raising funds through annual events.
’’Annual campaigns of broadcasts, concerts and gala nights have been very instrumental in fundraising,’’ she said.
She added: ’’Telefood offers each of us, without exception, a chance to show that we are aware that some around us are hungry and that we care about malnourished children.’’
She said Telefood gave the people the opportunity to assist peasants gain access to the tools and inputs they needed to grow food for their families’ survival.
’’The broad mobilisation of the public and private sectors coupled with the involvement of the civil society in pooling collective and individual resources would help to realise the goal of helping the hungry to help themselves later.
’’This will be realised through this evening’s pledges and donations as has been the case of over the years,’’ the former first lady said, adding that EOTF trustees and staff would donate 1m/-.
Telefood Chairman Franco Tramontano commended former president Benjamin William Mkapa, who is the Telefood patron, for continuously participating in the raising of funds to support the needy for eight years.
He also thanked all those who had been showing their enthusiasm in assisting the poor through donations given at annual Telefood events for ten years.
Donations totalling millions of shillings were pledged during the colourful function.
The donors included Mobitel with a 6m/- pledge,
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