You asked, we've answered here in our faqs, but if we've not addressed your query below, please feel free to ask a question directly.

• Why would I donate to fws over other charities that support orphans?
• How much of my donation will actually reach each children's village?
• What will my money actually do and go towards?
• How will I know that my money gets to there?
• You all live in Australia. Who is managing the work overseas?
• Why are you helping developing nations and not indigenous communities in Australia?
• I am travelling to East Africa. Can I visit the children's village or volunteer in some way?
• Why do you need members?
• Realistically, what does the future hold for a Tanzanian orphan?
• What's the long-term vision of fws?

Why would I donate to fws over other charities that support orphans?

Whoever heard of too much of a good thing? Too many people caring and reaching out to others? We believe that fws provides another important avenue of giving to the developing world fws has also added some specific elements to the regular orphan-care perspective; we are eco-friendly and we offer early interactive learning, health and social welfare programs. This wholistic approach gives children and communities a considerable leg up for the future.

Another thing food water shelter inc believes brings specific benefits is our size. Being small means we can:

• Identify problems where they lie more quickly We are in constant communication with our recipient country contacts. For the first two years of our projects one of our management team will be on the ground, working along side the local management team.
• Get more of your donation to the actual cause (we are currently all volunteers so we don't pay any salaries). Currently 80 per cent of your donation goes directly to the cause, while 20 per cent goes to our admin costs.
• Get funds to the recipients more quickly being a small team we can decide on ideas and action them directly.

We've gone to great lengths on this site, to detail how, where and when we plan to spend your donation under the current projects page and to ensure you feel free to contact us.

How much of my donation will actually reach each children's village?

Currently 80 per cent of your donation goes directly to the cause, while 20 per cent goes to our admin costs. The Fundraising Institute of Australia (FIA) advises that most charities direct about 20-22 per cent of donated funds into admin costs.

How do we keep our costs down and intend to keep them down? Currently, nobody working for fws gets a cut of your money. When the management team of fws worked in Tanzania, we all worked for extended periods as volunteers and we are still volunteering. Our auditor, business advisor, financial strategist, fundraisers, state managers, builders, engineer, graphic designers, and web-teams are all volunteering their time and expertise. We've committed to not spending any money raised publicly (by people fundraising for us or during the events we put on) on salaries for the fws management team. When there comes a time that we will need a full-time management team to run fws in Australia, we will look to fund those positions with Corporate sponsorships, not public donations.

That said, we do currently intend to spend publicly-raised money on stipends for our long-term (volunteering for 12 months or more) in-country volunteers. We have three positions - manager, nurse, teacher and bursar that will receive a stipend equivalent to a local wage in 2008.

• fws does not and will not spend money on TV or magazine advertising, or telemarketing campaigns.
• fws forgoes Australian banking fees by utilising special community accounts.
• fws reduces printing and paper costs by running a paperless office wherever possible.

What will my money actually do and go towards?

Right now we are collecting funds for the building of our first children's village, Kesho Leo, in Tanzania. We guestimate that we will need about $250,000 all up of which we have already raised 60 per cent. This amount covers the cost of the building of the children's village (tools, ground supplies, building materials, payment for the local workers, etc) plus the cost of the eco-friendly systems we're implementing (which are outlined in more detail on the enviro page), and some of the initial set-up and fit-out costs.

Throughout 2008, we reckon we might need to raise another $50,000 to cover the remainder of set-up and fit-out costs of Kesho Leo children's village (bedding, kitchenware, dining room and education and health clinic fit-out) as well as the building of African-style mud huts to form the remainder of the Kesho Volunteer Village.

Thereafter, we have estimated that the annual operating costs for Kesho Leo children's village will be extremely reasonable at about $30,000. The costs for operating the Kesho Volunteer Village (maintenance, wages for a guard and cook, stipend wages for long-term volunteers) should come in at less than $3,000 per year.

How will I know that my money gets to there?

Money will remain in fws's National Australia Bank Account (audited each year) until it is required in the recipient country; in our first case, Tanzania. Your donation will then be forwarded to our recipient country account (also audited each year) and accessed by our local manager (who submits monthly financial statements to the Australia-based fws treasurer to monitor). You'll be able to read and see what difference your money is making as you will receive monthly newsletters and you can read regular news updates with photos and video footage on our website.

You all live in Australia. Who is managing the work overseas?

fws has been sourcing an enthusiastic, Australian and Tanzanian team on the ground for the building and running of Kesho Leo children's village. This team will stay in Tanzania while infrastructure is being sorted. A member or members of the fws committee will remain on the ground in Tanzania for the first two years of the project. Australian volunteers will also work alongside local staff in skill-specific roles, including teacher bursar and nurse.

A core principle of fws is to ensure that all of our children's villages are managed and staffed by local people. The Aussie fws management team will facilitate the building of the children's village (with local builders) and will train the local management staff to run the children's village efficiently. In doing so, we aim to sustain our local management teams and help them to reach self-sufficiency over time.

Why are you helping developing nations and not indigenous communities in Australia?

fws know, first hand, what international donations can help to achieve in Tanzania. We know that we can give orphaned children every chance of staying alive! We don't have romantic ideals but are simply reacting to our experiences of loss while living in East Africa. With some of the fws team working in Australia in education and social welfare, we are well aware of the plight of indigenous health and education in Australia. Something we do know is that in Australia, money is not the answer. We believe a shift in our whole society's attitude is required. But we digress - in short, we know what we can achieve in Tanzania and unfortunately we are less certain of achieving so much in our own nation at this point. That's certainly not to say that we aren't open to looking at an indigenous Australia project in the future, when we have a few runs on the scoreboard.

I am travelling to East Africa. Can I visit the children's village or volunteer in some way?

Yes! fws, although not technically a volunteer recruitment agency, would be more that happy to have you visit, give advice on places to stay and depending on your timing and expertise, will endeavour to find some jobs for you! If you are really interested in volunteering for a fair while, we have a number of specific and skilled volunteer positions that we are looking for people to fill in Tanzania.

Being volunteers ourselves, we hope you will find a volunteer role within fws to suit you, but if not, we'd recommend you contact Australian Volunteers International - they offer a terrific service.

Why do you need members?

We need members for two reasons. Firstly, so that we are recognised as an organisation of considerable size if we ever apply for assistance via AusAID. To meet those goals, we need 100 members. Last count put us at 67 members, so we are nearly there! Secondly, we'd like you to become members because we can't tell you how many 'breakthroughs' have come to us via the word of mouth of our members – people offering ideas, skills, funding, advice...you name it, we'd be half the organisation we are without your input. So yes, please, become a member, and tell everyone about us. This is a collective effort, so please join us!

Realistically, what does the future hold for a Tanzanian orphan?

Orphaned or not, Tanzanians are a very resilient people with a sense of community that we in Australia could only dream of. An orphaned child is usually taken in by an extended or neighbouring family. This is an emotional and financial burden they all readily accept. Though given the basics, the provision of education and adequate health care are often unrealistic expectations. Those not so lucky are found simply existing on the streets. Often, orphans as young as 13 will labour all day to sustain their younger siblings, taking on the role of a parent at a very young age. Any dreams of education are left behind and the future is purely about survival.
If an orphan can access education as well as the basics, they consider themselves to be blessed. "Education is the key to life" is a line we all heard kids say while we were in Africa. A child leaving Form 4 (which, in Australia, is the equivalent of the last year of high school) will receive a certificate, which deems them as employable. If employed, a future outside of basic survival exists for that child - a future where they can help finance their parents' and siblings' lives, and then their own children in time as well. For these reasons, fws children's villages have been designed to give kids the best chance possible of future employment by incorporating bi-lingual, early learning education programs.

What's the long-term vision of fws?

For fws kids and the community
An important part of the fws children's village is the vocational training centre that we will establish down the track. It will provide e-learning opportunities for Kesho kids, local school leavers interested in attaining vocational qualifications and also community members interested in up-skilling their current level of education.

These online resources can also be used for the interactive, early learning of the teenage Kesho kids. Then when these children have finished a level of schooling that reflects their desires and abilities, they can complete their own vocational education in the training centre to ensure that they are employable.

For developing countries
fws's eco-friendly, early learning children's villages are a blueprint. fws aim to see these villages operating in many developing countries. We are currently consulting with a Southern Sudanese NGO about our next project. We have also been approached by NGOs in South Africa, Afghanistan and Cambodia. As we move forward, fws will establish sustainable children's villages in places where we have links with local community and NGOs. We will ensure that we are building the capacity of the community as well as giving another group of children food, water, shelter, health, welfare and big bright futures.

Thanks for your interest in fws. If we've not answered your query here, please feel free to ask a question directly.