Fox family lodge at the Maganga Farm in Igoda Village
The Fox family, who have lived in Mufindi for over forty years, now have a farm on a 2000-acre estate in Igoda village where they grow coffee, raise sheep and cows, and have a lodge to accommodate visitors and tourists. Recent pleas for help from several employees alerted the Foxes to the developing HIV/AIDS/Orphans problem in Igoda.
Fox family lodge at the Maganga Farm in Igoda Village
The Fox family head, Geoff Fox, decided to find out whether the problem extended beyond the dilemma faced by their employees themselves. He asked the Igoda village chairman to find out how many orphans were in his village. The chairman counted 143 orphans among the estimated 650 village people.
Geoff, who is deeply committed to the region and the extremely poor and disadvantaged people who live there, then did some research into building an orphanage in Igoda. He hoped to be able to house and care for all the children now without places to stay. At the same time, Geoff was concerned about doing something for the families that did take in orphans but couldn’t afford the extra burden the newcomers brought them. He consulted with local village leaders and drew up plans for a modest orphanage project which would provide housing, food and clothing, as well as education and vocational training for the needy children.
Geoff Fox and Orphanage staff at Maganga Farm in Igoda - February 2004
In 2002, the Foxes started soliciting funds for the orphanage from expatriates long resident in Tanzania. The effort expanded to family and friends in Britain. The response was excellent from the small group contacted. The funds raised will be enough to get started, but not nearly sufficient to complete the construction activity and maintain the facility and programs through a three year start-up period.
In early 2004, a small group of Americans visited Geoff Fox in Igoda. During the visit, the group became familiar with the HIV/AIDS problems in the village and reviewed the plans for building the orphanage. It was evident that fund-raising help would be appreciated and the group vowed to do all they could to raise funds in the United States.
Ground breaking for the orphanage
In September 2005, with the promise of outside help to buoy their spirits, the Foxes and villagers started breaking ground and making bricks for the orphanage buildings. And, at the same time, a fund-raising effort began in the USA by a new nonprofit corporation called Mufindi Orphans.