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| 16 May 08 (20:17 EAT) |
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| The Upendo Home was founded in 1934 in a small village near Lushoto called Kifungilo in the Usambara Mountains. It was originally called 'Don Bosco Home'and its main purpose was to offer a real home for about 80 unwanted children aged from infancy to 17 years old. As time went by there was a desperate need for nurses and so a nurses' training school was started. The older girls were trained practically and theoretically to care for the younger children aged from birth to five years age. | |
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| In 1966 the Home was transferred to Moshi in order to have easier access to medical facilities, for both children and the training of nurses and became the responsibility of the Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood. In 1974 the official opening was performed by His Excellency Julius Nyerere and its official name became "Upendo Children's Home," Upendo meaning love. Since 1974 Upendo has fulfilled the needs of orphaned, unwanted and abandoned children aged from one day to six years old. Now there are about 50 children in Upendo of whom three go to school. There are some funds coming from the Government of Tanzania, but these are not enough to run the orphanage so they are always looking for assistance financially and practically. | ||
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| International School Moshi students go there once a week and interact with the children. Sometimes they bring the Upendo children to school for computer games and swimming, but most of the time is spent at Upendo. Over the years ISM has helped with painting murals in the dining room as well as in the playroom; the tiling of the playroom; painting playground equipment; providing and installing a merry-go-round, and most recently donating a cow for fresh milk. | |
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On 17th November 2005, Sue and Robert Garbett presented the children of Upendo with clothes, medicines and a television and video. The funds for this were raised by the Garbetts in England from  where Sue works and also from donations to the memory of Sue’s mother Marjorie who died recently. | |
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| ISM and, of course, Upendo thank them very much for these generous gifts which will enrich and help the children tremendously. | |