Year Joined MKLM: 2008
Country: Tanzania
City: Mwanza
Focus: Education, Healthcare
Project(s): Uzima Center Teacher, Assistant for administrative tasks
People Served: 300 HIV+ adults; 30 HIV+ children; 144 orphans
Project Goal(s): To educate and emotionally support AIDS-affected children so that they have the opportunity to become self-sustaining adults. |  |
Personal Data
Michele Otte and her husband George are members of MKLM’s Class of 2008. An active parishioner of St. Raymond of the San Francisco Archdiocese, Michele was also employed as a Catechetical Leader and Teacher by the Menlo Park, California parish. A devoted volunteer of Christian and human-based service, Michele has served for more than 25 years with the Worldwide Marriage Encounter, as a catechist and choir member with her parish, and as leader of her scripture study group. In 1991, Michele augmented her bachelor’s degree from University of California, Berkeley with a California Teaching Credential from the University of Notre Dame de Namur at Belmont. Michele feels that the experience and skills she has gained as a parent and a teacher (particularly in Scripture and catechetical studies), as well as her knowledge of computer-based record keeping and word processing, will lend themselves well to her overseas mission. Current Ministry
Upon her arrival in Tanzania, Michele joined fellow MKLM missioner Joanne Miya in her work at the Uzima Center. Located on the grounds of Sacred Heart Parish in the Ilemela district of the Archdiocese of Mwanza, Uzima (Kiswahili for “Wellness”) Center provides emotional, nutritional, educational, and some financial support to adults and children diagnosed with the HIV/AIDS virus. It also provides educational and emotional support to children orphaned by the AIDS epidemic. The orphans and at-risk children of the Uzima Center live with the surviving parent, an extended family member, or other guardian. Uzima attempts to delay the progress of the disease through nutrition, medicine, and education so that families remain intact longer. The center also strives to provide affected children with the same access to education and health care as other children. Michele serves as a teacher for Uzima. Currently, 88 of the Uzima children receive primary schooling and assistance, 50 are in secondary school, and 6 receive vocational training. Michele tutors students in math, geography, writing, reading, and grammar (English and Kiswahili). On Saturday mornings, the students receive life-skills training delivered through group activities. Workshops provide adults with information on living with HIV/AIDS, the need to take ARV medications and their effects, and living responsibly. A monthly gathering of the children’s guardians provides an arena to communicate similar hardships, seek advice and assistance, and provide emotional support to one another. A designated staff member makes regular visits to the homes of children enrolled in Uzima Center in an effort to ensure that the home environment is positive and that the emotional and physical needs of the children are being met. Michele hopes to begin home visits as soon as her Kiswahili improves. In addition to teaching and providing assistance for Uzima programs, Michele assists other staff members with record keeping and newsletter writing. |
