1999: Containers
When Paul Stewart was volunteering in Tabora, Tanzania he visited a local hospital and saw the need for extra medical equipment and supplies. On his return home for Christmas the Rev. Ronnie McCracken and some friends helped him source and send a 40 ft container full of medical equipment for Ketite Hospital in Tabora
1999: Containers
When Paul Stewart graduated in 1999 with a first class degree in Agriculture, Economics and Management he went out as a volunteer to Tanzania in East Africa to help a small charity to set up a dairy to pasteurise milk. On an errand to the local hospital in Tabora he saw the need for extra medical equipment and supplies. On his return home for Christmas the Rev. Ronnie McCracken and some friends helped him source and send a 40 ft container to Ketite Hospital
2001: The Beginning
In 2001 Amara Aid was founded to support medical, educational and agricultural projects in East Africa.
2001: The Beginning
In 2001 Amara Aid was founded as we realised here in Northern Ireland that we could help eliminate some of the need in Tabora, Tanzania. Amara Aid became a registered charity in November 2001.
2002: Bible School
Amara Aid supported the Tabora Anglican church to enable young people from distant villages to attend 3-month and 6-month theological courses.
2002: Bible School
A local Canon in the Anglican church was trying to set up a Bible School to enable young people from distant villages to be taught the scriptures and be resident for either a 3 month or 6 month course. Amara Aid sponsored many of these young people who would return to their local villages and teach others God's word.
2004: St. Philip's Girls Hostel
Teenage girls moved to Tabora from outlying villages for education and were unable to find safe accommodation. The Anglican church agreed to renovate an unused buildings to create a safe girls hostel. Giles Roberts oversaw the construction with Amara Aid providing the financial support. The accommodation for 20 girls was filled immediately.
2004: St. Philip's Girls Hostel
Many christian girls were coming into Tabora town from outlying villages either for education or to work and it was realised that some of the accommodation was not suitable for them. The Anglican church agreed to renovate old unused buildings for a girls hostel. Giles Roberts was the architect assigned to this project, he and his wife were living in Tabora at the time. The accommodation was for 20 young girls and was filled immediately. Amara supported this project financially.
2006: Water Tanks
In 2006 Amara Aid was asked to support a water tank project in Tharaka, Kenya. It was being developed by Norman and Pauline Kennedy from Northern Ireland. This project consisted of supporting poor families to install a plastic tank next to homes where rain water could be gathered from the roof of the house during the brief rains in November and March.
2006: Water Tanks
In 2006 Amara was asked to support a water tank project in Tharaka, Kenya. It was being developed by Norman and Pauline Kennedy who were missionaries from Northern Ireland. This project consisted of building a cement base close to the brick houses, which has recently been built. A plastic tank was then erected on it and the rain water gathered in November and March from the corrugated iron roofs filled the tanks and would stay safe for drinking for 6 months.
2007: Street Children Project
Amara Aid's founder, Paul Stewart, learned of a Tanzanian friend's support of vulnerable children and offered to buy lunch for the children one day. Expecting to meet two or three children, Paul was surprised to find 14 children waiting for him in the restaurant. After the meal, several of the children began to tell their tragic stories of losing their parents. The children where surprised to hear that other children shared the same painful experiences and agreed to meet together to support each other. Paul invited the children to his house to share a meal on his birthday and 23 children showed up! From this small beginning Amara Aid began to support the education and living expenses for the children, which grew to over 90 children.
2007: Street Children Project
On Paul's arrival in Arusha, Tanzania a few years later he was asked to buy bread for some street children. Cautious about giving money he asked for the children to be brought to a café in the town where he would buy them a meal. When Paul arrived 14 children were waiting for him. After the meal they began to tell their individual stories some of which were disturbing. They agreed to stay together as a little group for safety and on Paul's birthday he arranged for a meal at his own house for the children, 23 turned up and so this project increased until there were over 90. Eventually a small hostel was built to accommodate 20 of them and Amara Aid directors agreed to sponsor some of the others to go to boarding school.
2008: Familia Moja Home Made Bricks
Familia Moja, based in Tabora Tanzania, supported needy families to build houses.
2008: Familia Moja Water Project
Storing water is vital to keeping up supplies for small villages and families. Familia Moja has been working on installing water tanks to shore rainwater in areas that receive little rain.
2011: Heifer & Goat Project
Amara Aid helped over 50 families by providing heifers and goats to families in the Machame village on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro.
2011 Heifer & Goat Project
In a small rural village called Machame on the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro a farming community requested some animals to help them make a living and be able to send their children to school. Amara Aid was able to help over 50 families by financing heifers and goats. The project consisted of each farmer passing on the first offspring to others in the community.
2012: Rwandan Cows Project
In 2012 Amara Aid sponsored the purchase of 2 heifers and provided suitable shelter for them at the Hope for the Future children's home in Rwanda. It was set up by a Rwandan national who was born in exile during the genocide there. He set up a home there to house young boys who lived on the street.
2014: Arusha Medical Centre
The Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at ALMC is dedicated to providing care for critically ill premature and term babies. Free and subsidised care is provided to babies in the NICU. At present, the ALMC NICU provides the highest level of care available for critically-ill babies in Tanzania and is among the most advanced NICUs in all of East Africa.
2016: St. Phillip's Farm
Amara Aid provided the finance to St. Phillip's Clinic to start a farm that has provided food and work for Aids victim families who have been left without a provider.
2016: St. Philip's Clinic
Life at the Medical Clinic in Tabora is hectic on a day to day basis. Not only do they have patients from the district but many are contacted through the Travelling Clinic which covers four villages many miles from Tabora.
2012: Rwandan Cows Project
In 2012 we were able to sponsor the purchase of 2 heifers and provide suitable shelter for them at the Hope for the Future home in Rwanda. It was set up by a Rwandan national who was born in exile during the genocide there. He set up a home there to house young boys who lived on the street. Paul was able to visit them and see the need for some heifers as they try to support themselves and extend their small farm.