"Never thought saying goodbye to these kids would be so tough.   I always knew I would have to say it but the reality is so much harder than you ever think or imagine"

        From a past volunteer's web blog 

The Hisani Orphanage is the principal activity of an NGO, The Hisani Centre for Women's and Children's Rights.   The land and buildings are owned by Hisani and have been steadily developed with the help of funds supplied by volunteers and grants from companies and charitable organisations.    Kids Aid Tanzania paid for the building of the water tower and the toilet and shower block as well as for the setting up of the volunteer acommdation.       

The Director of the orphanage is Fredrick Frednand, generally known simply as Fred.    He is the person you will be corresponding with if you make a volunteering application.  He is assisted by Grace, a qualified primary school teacher who is the house mother, and Patrice, who runs a small microfinance project and support group for women affected by HIV/AIDS.  

Between 2005 and today the number of children has grown from 38 to 85.   They have lost their parents as a result of the HIV/AIDS pandemic which has affected much of sub-Saharan Africa.   Most of the children went to live with relations when they were first orphaned but the arrangements broke down as a result of illness of the carers, their poverty and sometimes because the children were abused.   Originally many of the children came from Karagwe on the other side of Lake Victoria but the numbers have grown as the Mwanza Welfare Department has brought in street children.   There is no state funding for orphanages and Hisani has to rely on charitable donations and what it earns from volunteers to look after the kids.