When Tiffany Fontaine first went to Mozambique to volunteer in 2002, she’d been to Africa before. But nothing she had seen could have prepared her for what she was about to experience.
“When I first got there, it was extreme culture shock,” said Fontaine, an ATB Financial researcher based in Calgary. “I remember just crying and crying, thinking ‘What did I get myself into?’”
Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world, riddled with deadly diseases such as AIDS and malaria. Fontaine spent two months with Moises Arao and his family, who run a support program for street children in the town of Nampula in northern Mozambique. The program provides education, counseling, food, medicine, recreation and life skills for boys aged six to 18.
By the end of her stay, Fontaine had made a real connection to Moises, his family, the street kids and Mozambique. So much so that when she discovered the program had lost its funding from various South African and American charities, she decided to help. Fontaine set up her own foundation, the Fontaine Children’s Charity Foundation, which provides $2,230 US every month to keep Moises’ program running.
“99.9% of the money we raise, other than the fee to have the URL for our website, goes directly to the program,” said Fontaine. “I have huge support from the people around me so it was easy to decide to set up the foundation when I had that many people supporting me.”
Fontaine and her dedicated board of directors raise money through golf and poker tournaments, public fundraisers, pancake breakfasts and private donations via their website (www.nampulastreetkids.com).
In the summer of 2009, Moises travelled to Canada to meet with the board and with donors. His August visit generated donations of $40,000 – the same amount the foundation usually raises in an entire year. “He’s very engaging when he speaks,” said Fontaine. “It was really great for everyone to meet him and it made it that much more real for them.”
In addition to providing money so Moises can operate his program, Fontaine’s foundation is funding a new dormitory building that will house up to 50 of Nampula’s street kids. The main goal is to give the kids a place to eat, sleep and learn so that they can eventually be reunited with their families and become contributing members of society. “One boy might take three months, go back home and be successful. Another boy might take three years before he can go home. You never know,” Fontaine said. “Each individual is so different and their back story is so different. I think as some of the boys get older, they will take over the program from Moises.”
Fontaine travels to Nampula every year to check in on the program and make sure Moises has everything he needs. She also sends groups of Calgary high school students to Mozambique every summer to help out. And once the dorm building is finished, she’s hoping to start on a solar panel project to help provide electricity and running water. It’s a lot of work. “I can’t lie. I get behind a lot,” admitted Fontaine. “It is hard, especially when you work full time. It’s definitely a lot of evenings and weekends but I have a huge support team around me. Sometimes you neglect your family because it’s so busy but in the end it’s all worth it.”
Fontaine’s efforts recently earned her a peace medal from the Calgary YMCA, recognizing her international charity work. “It feels amazing,” said Fontaine. “I don’t really see it as me making the change. It’s a whole group of people. I’m definitely proud to be a part of it. I’m proud of the work we’ve done and how far it’s come.”
