Support the Upshall children in Tanzania

I set up this fundraising campaign several years ago, at the time I thought we were just mere months away from starting a new life in the UK. However, in the years that have passed since, we have continued to hit one frustrating road block after another, and so we remain in Tanzania. It is such a difficult place to be in, stuck here with no income but also unable to relocate my family. I am continuously looking for employment here, but it is extremely hard to come by, as I am not a Tanzanian citizen.

Since I initially put the fundraiser up my family has also grown. Madeline came back to us in 2018, she is a true miracle. When she was a baby at the orphanage, I was told it was unlikely that she would live to see her first birthday. Now she is 8. I have also welcomed two more beautiful daughters, Betty & Elsie. I am so incredibly blessed and grateful to be chosen to be the mother of my amazing children, and although life is incredibly stressful I would choose over and over to fight for them.

I have, and always will do, what I can to make ends meet, for example, amongst other things, I sell goods on eBay which brings in a little here and there but it is not enough. My aim remains the same unless a job opportunity becomes available to me here then I am still working to finalise everything and make the move, but when that will be is a very big question.

So many times over the years I have been given hope that we are close only for that hope to be dashed again. The reasons I am still looking to move to the UK are first and foremost that I will have employment opportunities, but also I will have support from our extended family and as a single Mum that support will likely prove invaluable. 

In the meantime, I struggle from month to month to get by not only for our day-to-day expenses but also for the children’s school fees. It is incredibly hard, but I try to remain hopeful that each month we will get by.

I have fought for years to keep my family together and I will never stop fighting.

I am, and always have been, so incredibly grateful to everyone who has and continues to support us over the years. Those who donate to help us financially, those who share our story with others and those who keep us in their thoughts and prayers regularly and those of you who support us in any other way. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

If you would like to donate please do, if you are interested in sponsoring the children’s schooling then please contact me.

Thank you again <3 xxx

How much does living in Tanzania cost?

Here are some examples on my expenses:

Electricity per month: 25 £

Cooking gas (per month): 22 £

Housing (per month): 144 £

Full tank of petrol: 50 £

Eggs (per week): 9 £

Milk (per week): 9 £

Bread (per week): 7 £

Fruits and vegetables (per week): 44 £

Child in Preschool or year one: 750 $ per term, 2 250 $ per year

Child in year 4 and up: 1750 $ per term, 5250 $ per year

Original: I have lived and volunteered in Tanzania for 7 years now and in that time I have cared for over 200 children through the orphanage I was managing, the orphanages I set up and through community work and fostering. Four of those children have become mine, Alfie came into my care in October 2011, followed by Layla in December of that year, Bella joined March 2012 and then came Jack in November of that year. When I first started building my family in Tanzania I envisioned either living here forever or having their adoptions finalised before my savings ran out, however, things haven't quite turned out the way I expected them too. 

My savings have now run out and I am unable to find employment here as employment opportunities to non citizens is getting harder and harder to come by. 

Due to advise from my Lawyer in the UK I am left with only one choice, to fundraise the money we need between now and when we step off that plane together in the UK, these costs include all legal costs both in Tanzania and UK, visa expenses, passports, flights, monthly expenses etc. If we don't fundraise this then our future together may be in jeopardy.