Orphan Train Project - Historic Whistle Stops

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Orphan Train Report for 2006-2007 Rotary Year

This was a good year for the Orphan Train. One of the highlights, as is usually the case, was the visit of orphanage personnel. This year the two participants came from Tanzania. They were from the Mgolole Orphanage, in Tanzania, for whom St. Thomas Aquinas Parish of Madison serves as Orphan Train conductor. Sisters Felista Mchilo Mwinuka and Mamertha Zongomela Didie made up the Tanzanian team. The team spent two weeks at Mooseheart, the famed ‘child city,’ at Mooseheart, Illinois. There they took two weeks of classes, which consisted of many courses about the positive model of care shared by Mooseheart and Boys Town/Girls Town. It is the same course of study taken by new family teacher hires. Mooseheart provides training, room and board each year for no cost. In the evenings, the Sisters ate their meals with various family groupings on the Mooseheart campus. Mooseheart reports that it is always a great experience for their children to be exposed to other cultures. After spending two weeks at Mooseheart, the team came to Wisconsin for another week of activities.

The team was hosted by members of the Rotary Club of Madison West Towne-Middleton and St. Thomas Aquinas Parish. In all, more than 30 people participated in hosting, transporting, and otherwise caring for this unique cultural and educational experience. This year four themes were developed that organizers felt would be beneficial. They were child care models, educational models, health care and agriculture. Some of the places visited included Considine farm, St. Ambrose Academy, Edgewood Campus School, Boys and Girls Club, Goodwill Industries, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Hospice, UW Children’s Hospital, Schoenstatt Sisters Convent and Motherhouse, Olbrich Gardens, the Capitol, Farmers Market and more. In addition, several Rotarians and parishioners hosted the visitors for meals, with others providing housing.

The biggest challenge for all of those involved was learning that the Sisters spoke very little English. Rotarians, who had visited Mgolole last fall, were confident we had an English speaker in Sister Mamertha. What no one expected was the arrival of a different Sister Mamertha than the one known to our team. With a bit of scrambling, Mooseheart was able to find a Swahili speaker on their campus. We found six Swahili speakers in Madison, thanks to the African Studies Department at the University of Wisconsin, Edgewood College and a St. Thomas parishioner that knew someone. As a result, the experience was a good one for all concerned, and we found new friends in the very delightful people that served as our translators. When it was learned that Mooseheart’s training budget was being depleted by the need to get a substitute family teacher for the Swahili speaker, St. Thomas Aquinas graciously offered to pay the $1000 in additional expenses incurred by Mooseheart, while also spending another $450 in stipends for translators and other expenses.

Gregorio Arratea Castro, director of the Santa Teresita Orphanage in Tingo Maria, Peru, arrived at Mooseheart as a guest of Mooseheart and the Madison West Towne- Middleton Rotary Foundation’s Orphan Train Project on July 23, 2006. His experience was similar to the nuns’ this year. We mention his visit in this report because it was in the same Rotary year.

Last fall Rotarians Jeannine Desautels (Madison West Towne-Middleton) and Cora Holloway (Middleton Area Sunrise and St. Thomas Aquinas Parishioner) along with Jeannine’s husband Ed traveled to Tanzania, where the team spent one month working at the Moglole Orphanage, while staying at the Tanzanian Institute (a college-seminary), where our intermediary Father Bernard Witek is the rector. This was not easy work. The women, in particular, spent many hours changing diapers and feeding children. They came back with many ideas and suggestions on improving conditions, all of which are being worked on by St. Thomas Aquinas. Since the Rotary-St. Thomas team has been there, the parish has provided mosquito netting for all the babies (saving them from Malaria), paid for AIDS testing (finding two children with the problem), purchased many books, paid for a regular supply of milk and other food items, hired two seminarians to work at the orphanage, etc., etc. One of the difficulties, our team observed, is that the Sisters who operate the orphanage, in many cases, don’t have the educational background that orphanage leaders in other countries have shown.

The Rotary Club of Pittsburgh East (PA), with the help of Fox Chapel Presbyterian forwarded $22,400 to the The Love of Christ (TLC) Orphanage in South Africa during the past Rotary year, $6000 of which came from Fox Chapel. This same club donated $750 to their other orphanage in Elhovo, Bulgaria.

St. Maria Goretti School of Madison, Wisconsin sent $4,042 to the Santa Maria de Jesus Orphanage in Mazatenango, Guatemala. Since St. Maria Goretti started as an Orphan Train Conductor, close to ten years ago, they have raised approximately $25,000 through various fundraising activities.

St. Thomas Aquinas Parish spent $6599.51 on various items in the months of March, April and May of this year at Mgolole. They spent an additional $1450 to pay for translators and other special needs of the nuns who visited this summer. They currently have $5050 on deposit with the Salvatorian intermediaries in Milwaukee, and an additional $5279.79 with the Salvatorians in Tanzania. Recently, the parish announced they would be allocating another $6000 toward the work at the Mogole Orphanage for calendar year 2007. Still further, another team is expected to go in the fall, led by Rotarians and parishioners Cora and Ray Holloway.

Virgie Schulte of the Rotary Club of Madison West Towne-Middleton donated $5000 to various Orphan Train orphanages just before Christmas.

Santa Teresita, Pillco Mozo and Don Bosco Orphanages, three Peruvian orphanages, each received $1000. Sister Mary Ann Leininger, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, and an Orphan Train Intermediary in Peru, will administer the funds.

$1500 was given through the Light the Way Foundation, Inc. to benefit a new orphanage in Guatemala known as Hogar Para Senoritas Luis Amigo. Already, Orphan Train intermediary Dana Mannen has purchased bunk beds with some of the money.

Receiving Orphan Train donations for the first time was the Niranjana Orphanage in India, where we are assisted by Tim Grubbs of the Divine Life Renewal Center. Our hope was that the director would be able to bring another child in off the street with this donation, keeping a promise he made to street children to help more of them as funds became available. Virgie’s dollars were matched by the Divine Life Renewal Center, and two children were brought into the orphanage as a result, forever changing their lives.

Virgie Schulte has helped the Orphan Train Project over the years by making donations, hosting events for visiting Orphan Train guests and allowing the use of her home as a temporary residence for orphanage directors and intermediaries. Virgie has set an example of care for all of us!

The Rotary Club of Middleton Area Sunrise Foundation, Inc. (Wisconsin) accepted a $500 donation from Arizona resident Mary Beth Barnett and used it to assist “their” orphanage at Yakoruda, Bulgaria, at Christmas time 2006. Ms. Barnett has been generous to several orphanages over the years of the Orphan Train existence.

The Rotary Club of Oregon recently donated $500 to build a mini recreation center at the dormitory of the Ovcha Mogila Orphanage in Bulgaria.

Rotarians Susan and Robert Titus of Lodi, Wisconsin, donated $500 to construct a chicken coop for the Santa Teresita Orphanage in Peru

The Rotary Club of Marshfield Sunrise has given many donations over the years to the Ivan Kiulev Orphanage in Gotse Delchev, Bulgaria. Included this year was one for $250 to meet an emergency need for food. One of their unique gifts to the children is personal involvement with the children by having club members send gift boxes and cards from individual Rotarians to specific children at the orphanage.

Rotary Club of Viroqua reported in June, 2006, the Viroqua Area Rotary Club sent $1,000 to Sister Mary Ann Leininger to help repair the leaking roof at the Pillco Mozo orphanage (in Peru

Later that month the VARC approved an additional $1,000 for the Pillco Mozo orphanage. The money will be used for three items.

1. A sewing machine to replace a non-operating and much needed sewing machine for sewing the children’s clothes. At present the woman who does the wash takes the clothes to her house and sews on her own machine.--- $300.

2. An oven for the kitchen to assist with meals and bake some desserts for the children. $300.

3. Low chairs and low tables for the little children to use in the dinning room. -- $400.”

Hannah Pickett was among the first donors from Madison, Wisconsin, who contributed $100 to a new orphanage being established in Guatemala. Ms. Pickett has donated to Orphan Train related orphanages in Guatemala over several years.

A gift of $500 was sent by Wisconsinite Tracey Anton to the intermediary for Hogar Para Senoritas Luis Amigo, a new Guatemalan orphanage in Salcaja. This new home, served by Orphan Train Intermediary, Dana Mannen is just getting started and will use the money to buy necessary equipment and furnishings for its residents.

The Barbara and Pat Glaeser Family of Albany (WI) for the past four years have made donations to assist the Mgolole Orphanage in Tanzania. This year’s donation, made through the Salvatorians in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was for $350.00. The following is an excerpt from a letter written to Fr. Scott Wallenfelsz of the Salvatorians by Ms. Glaeser:

“…….My family is a “conductor” on the Orphan Train Project and has been donating to the Mgoloe for four years now. We do not purchase Christmas gifts for family members; instead we let them know we are supporting the orphanage on their behalf. Thanks to this project we can get back to the true meaning of Christmas. I do not know what the orphanage needs currently are, so I will trust that this money will be used in the best way possible and to benefit as many as possible.

Michael Simons, an attorney from Austin, Texas, was influenced to help Romanian orphans because of a special interest of his parents. He learned about Heart of a Child, the Romanian non-government organization and their Forget Me Not House from the Orphan Train web site. In January, Mr. Simons sent a check for $3000 to the Rotary Club of Viroqua, Wisconsin, the Orphan Train conductor for the Romanian orphanage, with the suggestion the money be used to help the children at Forget Me Not House. The Club and the Orphan Train are most grateful to Mr. Simons.

Madison West Kiwanis is sending $500 to Pillco Mozo Orphanage in Peru through our intermediaries Sister Mary Ann Leininger of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.

St. Jerome School of Columbus, Wisconsin is known to have raised several hundred dollars for their orphanage at Kosovo, Bulgaria. However, they haven’t sent in their final report. St. Jerome and the Rotary Club of Columbus have been long time conductors for the Kosovo Orphanage.

Rachelle Richardson and the Rotaract Club of the University of Wisconsin are believed to have raised as much as $2000 through a wine sale to benefit the Mashambanzou Trust in Zimbabwe. We don’t have confirmation as to the amount and are relying on memory, an unreliable source at best.

There may have been other donations made which were not reported to us. The Rotary Club of Madison East-Monona talked about donating to their orphanage in Peru, as did the Rotary Club of Fitchburg-Verona with their Bulgarian orphanage. We have not received word as to what they accomplished this year, if anything.

Concerns: The need to get our message out and find conductors is our biggest need. This year Jeannine Desautels, Mary Van Hout and Ed Fink all gave presentations to various organizations. We also need to do a better job of continually motivating organizations whose leadership changes each year. In addition, our web site is in need of a fresh face. This is being undertaken by volunteer Michael Vellucci. We also should create some new brochures.

Accolades: Mary Van Hout should be thanked profusely for her organizational skills, once again being the chief scheduler for our visitors from abroad. Mary also has done a wonderful job of representing the Committee to the Board of Directors. Jeannine Desautels, Cora Holloway and Ed Desautels are to be admired for their work at the Mgolole Orphanage. This was hard work, which was both backbreaking and heartbreaking. Lastly, I would like to thank the members of the Committee and the many Rotarians who contributed to the success of the Orphan Train.

Respectfully submitted,

Edward J. Fink

Orphan Train Project-Chairman

June 22, 2007

TRACEY ANTON AND GUATEMALAN ORPHANAGE

A gift of $500 was sent by Wisconsinite Tracey Anton to the intermediary for Hogar Para Senoritas Luis Amigo, a new Guatemalan orphanage in Salcaja. This new home, served by Orphan Train Intermediary, Dana Mannen is just getting started and will use the money to buy necessary equipment and furnishings for its residents. 2/15/07

TEXAS ATTORNEY HELPS ROMANIAN CHILDREN

Michael Simons, an attorney from Austin, Texas, was influenced to help Romanian orphans because of a special interest of his parents. He learned about Heart of a Child, the Romanian non-government organization and their Forget Me Not House from the Orphan Train web site. In January, Mr. Simons sent a check for $3000 to the Rotary Club of Viroqua, Wisconsin, the Orphan Train conductor for the Romanian orphanage, with the suggestion the money be used to help the children at Forget Me Not House. The Club and the Orphan Train are most grateful to Mr. Simons. The Rotary Club of Viroqua is currently arranging for the proper expenditure of this generous gift. 1/4/07

ROTARAINS OF PITTSBURGH EAST

The Rotary Club of Pittsburgh East has lots to report this month. They recently sent $387.00 to Bulgaria for their orphanage at Elhovo. Every first Saturday of November, the Pittsburgh East Rotarians hold a pancake breakfast (the club's annual fundraiser). The money raised is then distributed to groups they support, including the orphanage at Elhovo. Bulgarian Attorney Nina Minkova, the Orphan Train intermediary, and her NGO Happy Child, received the funds and will send back a status report and pictures, showing how the money was used.

According to Pittsburgh East spokesperson Cecilia Wandiga, Pittsburgh East’s sponsored Interact Club is planning to hold a fundraising dinner in support of TLC Orphanage in South Africa, the club’s other sponsored home. According to Ms. Wandiga, club members were very surprised at the decision of the high school students who make up the Interact Club. “We shared various club activities with them, and they decided this is what they want to help with.”

At a recent meeting of the Rotary Club, a couple members expressed an eagerness to put together a club trip to one of the orphanages they support.

The Orphan Train Project appreciates the enthusiastic support of Elhovo and TLC by the Rotarians and Interact Club members. We look forward to future updates! 12/29/06

MGOLOLE ORHANAGE IN TANZANIA

For the past four years the Barbara and Patrick Glaeser Family of Albany, Wisconsin made donations to assist the Mgolole Orphanage in Tanzania. This year’s donation, made through the Salvatorians in Milwaukee, Wisconsin was for $350.00. The following is an excerpt from a letter written to Fr. Scott Wallenfelsz of the Salvatorians by Ms. Glaeser:

“…….My family is a “conductor” on the Orphan Train Project and has been donating to the Mgoloe for four years now. We do not purchase Christmas gifts for family members, instead we let them know we are supporting the orphanage on their behalf. Thanks to this project we can get back to the true meaning of Christmas. I do not know what the orphanage needs currently are, so I will trust that this money will be used in the best way possible and to benefit as many as possible. ……” 12/28/06

VIRGIE SCHULTE HAS CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

Virgie Schulte of the Rotary Club of Madison West Towne-Middleton donated $5000 to various Orphan Train orphanages just before Christmas.

Santa Teresita, Pillco Mozo and Don Bosco Orphanages, three Peruvian orphanages, each received $1000. Sister Mary Ann Leininger, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, and an Orphan Train Intermediary in Peru, will administer the funds.

$1500 was given through the Light the Way Foundation, Inc. to benefit a new orphanage in Guatemala known as Hogar Para Senoritas Luis Amigo. Already, Orphan Train intermediary Dana Mannen has purchased bunk beds with some of the money.

Receiving Orphan Train donations for the first time was the Niranjana Orphanage in India, where we are assisted by Tim Grubbs of the Divine Life Renewal Center. It is our hope that the director will be able to bring another child in off the street with this donation, keeping a promise he made to street children to help more of them as funds became available.

YAKORUDA ORPHANAGE IN BULGARIA

The Rotary Club of Middleton Area Sunrise Foundation, Inc. (Wisconsin) accepted a $500 donation from Arizona resident Mary Beth Barnett and used it to assist “their” orphanage at Yakoruda, Bulgaria. Ms. Barnett has been generous to several orphanages over the years of the Orphan Train existence. 12/18/06

HOGAR PARA SANTA TERESITA IN GUATEMALA

Hogar Para Santa Teresita, a new orphanage has been established in Guatemala. Many of the children formerly living at La Divina Providencia have moved to the new facility. Orphan Train Intermediary Dana Mannen is one of a group of people raising money for this new home through her 501 ( c ) (3) foundation known as Light the Way Foundation, Inc. Among the first donors was Hannah Pickett of Madison, Wisconsin, who contributed $100. Ms. Pickett has donated to Orphan Train related orphanages in Guatemala over several years. 12/17/06

SANTA TERESITA ORPHANAGE IN PERU

Rotarians Susan and Robert Titus of Lodi, Wisconsin, donated $500 to construct a chicken coop for the Santa Teresita Orphanage in Peru. This past summer Dr. and Mrs. Titus had the opportunity to host a party for Gregorio Castro, the orphanage director for that facility, where they learned about his desire to build a chicken coop. As has happened many times in the past, Dr. and Mrs. Titus readily offered to help. 12/15/06

ROTARY CLUB OF OREGON DONATES TO OVCHA MOGILA HOME

The Rotary Club of Oregon recently donated $500 to build a mini recreation center at the dormitory of the Ovcha Mogila Orphanage in Bulgaria. The following letter was received by the club from orphanage director Sonya Encheva and translated by Orphan Train intermediary Mitko Nenkov:

To the President of Rotary Club Oregon

Wisconsin, USA

Dear Mr. President,

Let me describe the latest picture of the orphanage as it appears nowadays:

Vocational School “St. Kliment Ohridski” Ovcha Mogila village is home to live in and school to acquire professional qualification for 87 children and youths between 14 and 20 years – orphans, half orphans and light mental deficiency.

The term of training is 3 years.

The young people are getting acquainted with various sectors of economy, agricultural and food processing industry. The training is conducted within following specialties:

Stocksmith’s trade, women’s clothing, cooking, cattle breeding and hospital attendants. The organization of training and living is conducted by the following structure entities: Two floor school with central heating, a department for business activity – subsidiary farm with laboratories of cattle breeding; a department of social and public services – a dormitory of three floors which has 60 beds. It is equipped with local heating system.

Our purpose is to support orphans in the process of socializing within the community, to support them in the process of reintegration, while improving their social and utilities conditions, as giving care for their life and health

We want to say our hearty thank you for the systematic support and care to our children.

The money you kindly donated will be used to create a mini recreational social and public services – a dormitory of three floors which has 60 beds. It is equipped with local heating system.

We want to say our hearty thank you for the systematic support and care to our children.

The money you kindly donated will be used to create a mini recreational center to be used by the students during the summer.

The mini recreation centre will be created at the dormitory and will resemble an environment of home exterior and interior purposed to give the orphans a family style coziness. Thank you for the support of this project.

We wish you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2007.

With best regards,

Sonya Encheva.