Capital International Team to Volunteer at Tanzanian Orphanage

In the cool, air-conditioned room at Capital International’s offices, I sat opposite Alicia, Dulcie, Harry, and Megan and prepared myself for the inner guilt that was going to arise just from speaking to them. They’ve all been doing wonders for charity, which I was there to interview them about, volunteering their free time for an incredibly good cause. My conscience was doing backflips, quietly reminding me that the last thing I volunteered for was to pick up my Nan’s washing from the dry cleaners. She refused to go herself because of her ‘bad hip’. Pathetic.

The group sat before me are and have been raising money for the Huruma Project, an initiative created by Capital Chairman Anthony Long to help the Huruma Orphanage. It was set up in Tanzania in 2012 and looks after children between the ages of 4 and 17, giving them a safe place to live, while also providing a basic education and vocational skills. Long came across the orphanage after casually climbing Kilimanjaro and discovered it was at risk of being shut down. The people running Huruma didn’t own the land or buildings and the landlord was looking to sell. Wanting to do something to help, Anthony, along with the help of Capital employees, raised £22 thousand to buy the land and save the orphanage.

Last year, a team of 12 from the company went out to help with construction and maintenance work on the buildings and came back describing it as a humbling and life changing experience.

Harry, Alicia, Dulcie, and Megan are making up part of the team going out this year, where they’ll focus more on spending time with the children living there.

‘I’m feeling really excited’, says Harry, a tall, broad-shouldered chap. He believes it’s important for established companies to give something back to the community. ‘It sounds like it helps put the important things in life into perspective. We take a lot for granted over here and the standard / quality of life is completely different over there. And because we have strong roots in Africa generally, (Capital International has a branch in South Africa) I think it’s incredibly important for us as a business to be contributing positively in that area.’

I nodded in agreement, ‘absolutely’, while thinking about all the zero charity work I’ve done. Unless charity shop shopping counts. In which case, I’m a saint.

This year’s Huruma Project team will spend 5 days at the orphanage, helping with facility maintenance, farming, and doing activities with the children.

‘Some of the kids will be only a few years younger than me’, 20-year-old Dulcie tells me, eyes sparkling with youthful enthusiasm, after I asked what compelled her to take part. ‘I think it will be eye opening to see the difference in how we live our lives and it’s so important to have this opportunity to help and give back.’

Alicia – a woman with an inspiring air about her – has recently returned from South Africa after climbing Table Mountain. She shared that she’d suffered some personal challenges that inspired a new perspective on life for her. ‘Life really is short, so when opportunities come up, jump at them, say yes, do it, give back. It’s about leaving a lasting legacy. And if you can leave the world a little bit better than how you found it, that’s a really good thing.’

Nodding in agreement with her co-worker, Megan – an immediately friendly person, wearing a cool t-shirt – told me about something that happened when she was a child that’s stuck with her ever since and acts as a regular reminder to give back.

‘I was 9 years old and was in Kenya with my family on a safari trip for mum’s birthday. During the safari, my dad went and got me a Kit-Kat from the shop but by the time he’d got back to the Jeep it had melted. I told him I didn’t want it anymore because it was too messy. And the driver turned and asked if he could take it for his daughter because she’d never tasted chocolate before. That moment really stuck with me and that’s what lead me to jump at opportunities to volunteer.’

We all shared a moment of appreciation for the story. I silently reminded myself to buy a Kit Kat after the interview. Ahead of their trip to Tanzania, the team has been doing lots of events locally to raise money for the orphanage.

Megan recently hosted a Bingo night, which loads of local businesses got behind with Bright Life, Mad Jacks, Java, and Morgan Thompson (no 52), all donating prizes. Those good souls. ‘I don’t suppose Megan has a raffle coming up where I could win a Mini Moto signed by TT riders? I’d love to win that.’ Wow. What an insane coincidence. She has that EXACT raffle coming up. Lucky you. It’s happening at Bushy’s on 7^th June, where Megan and Alicia will have a stand. Alicia will be auctioning off rider’s merch too.

Dulcie is going to be putting the 10,000 steps a day rule to shame in the name of charity. She’s set to do the Parish Walk AND hike Kilimanjaro to raise money for the orphanage. And on 3^rd August, Harry is putting on a charity gig at Mad Jacks made up of 3 or 4 local bands, with all money going to Huruma.

Keep an eye out for some shaking hips on the horizon too. Not my Nan. Elvis fans Les Coates (Managing Director) and Anthony Long (Co-Founder and Group Chairman) will be dressing up as the King of Rock n Roll and cycling around the TT course on a tandem bike in July. They’ll start at the Grandstand and have a few stopping points along the way that will be renamed after famous Elvis songs. They also plan on hiring a karaoke minibus for people wanting to support, all to raise funds for the orphanage.

On the drive back to the office, I thought about all the incredible things the people I’d just had the pleasure of meeting were doing for the benefit of others. Putting on awesome community events for locals while making money for the upkeep and welfare of the orphanage and its residents. I felt a pang of guilt as I remembered unchecking the ‘donate 46p to round your shop up to £9 and help someone in need’ button on the self-service machine in Tesco. Inspired by Megan, Alicia, Dulcie, and Harry, I vowed, from now on, to make a change. I’d raise money to buy Nan a scooter. So I won’t have to pick her dry cleaning up for her ever again.