To our supporters, donators and followers,
This is an unprecedented time for the world. Coronavirus has changed the tides in how many companies, charities and institutions are conducting their operations. Our Teams scheduled trip to Tanzania this April has been postponed until further notice as COVID-19 has now entered Tanzania. We are keeping in close contact with our in-country team and wish them good health, safety and success until we return.
We have been preparing a statement regarding donations and now seems even more appropriate to release it. Unfortunately we are announcing that Midwife Vision is no longer able to sustain the non-monetary donations, including medical equipment and also clothes, knitted or otherwise. Basically, the costs of freight of our last shipment cost over $10,000AUD in freight costs, tax and fees.
This means that the monetary donations we receive cannot keep up with the shipping for these items which is not fair on mothers and babies who require critical medical equipment like birth kits. In addition to this, the presence COVID-19 means the docks and harbours in Tanzania where our donations received are now closed and quarantined, meaning our equipment would not reach mothers and babies. This change will be in place for Midwife Vision for at least 18 months if not indefinitely.
It’s a very sad day for Midwife Vision which started with the Knitters program and which was the hallmark of the “special touches” we provide in the care we give to mothers and babies. BUT, there is good news! There is an organisation in New Zealand called Little Sprouts who would be happy to receive these knitted donations (http://littlesproutsnz.org/). In Australia the Knitting-and website lists charities in Australia that accept knitted donations (https://www.knitting-and.com/crafts-and-needlework/knitting/charities/). Kogo also focus on Knitted goods in Australia for needy people (http://www.kogo.org.au/).
Of course we can’t be more grateful to knitters like yourself who have put your love, sweat and tears into such beautiful gifts for mothers and babies half a world away.
If you need more information on how to do this please do not hesitate to contact us, otherwise, best wishes and thanks again for your generosity and thoughtfulness.
Much love and healthy wishes from all of us at Midwife Vision Global
