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in memory of darren stratti

foodwatershelter are extremely saddened by the death of Darren Stratti, our building foreman and friend, who was shot during a burglary in Arusha, Tanzania on Monday 30th June.  Darren gave his life bravely to protect those around him.  Nobody else was injured in the incident.



Darren has been integral in the work of foodwatershelter from its inception and has been in Arusha leading the building of the children’s village, Kesho Leo, for 18 months.  During his volunteering time he has mentored up to 30 subsistence farmers, teaching them building skills, and working with them to construct the Kesho Leo children’s village.  He will be missed greatly by all who are part of foodwatershelter in Tanzania and here in Australia.

foodwatershelter are working with local authorities in Arusha to investigate the incident and to ensure the security and safety of our volunteers and local staff. It is anticipated that foodwatershelter will continue operations on a smaller scale in the coming weeks.  The Kesho Leo project will be completed in honour of Darren.

Our hearts and best wishes are with Darren’s family and friends.

If you would like to post a message for Beck and Darren, you can do so on Beck's Blog ›

beck's blog

She rants, she raves, but she also gives a no-punches-pulled rundown of the highs and lows of building Kesho Leo children's village in Tanzania. Read about how it is (well, "how it is in Beck's head" anyway!) at Beck's blog.


If you want fws news, you've clicked on the right button! Select from our snappy news headlines, upcoming events, Beck's blog, our free monthly newsletter Gimme Shelter...and excitement plus, you can now watch us build Kesho Leo children's village via our video footage below!

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back we go

Tuesday, 5 August 2008: [see full article]
This week, fws environmental engineer, Robert Cork, fws vice president, Kelsey Wilson and fws IT manager, Ben Schwabe jumped aboard jumbos in different states and began the journey back to Kesho Leo children's village...

statement from Jason & Neroli Stratti

Thursday, 10 July 2008: [see full article]
On behalf of Darren, his sons Robbie and Daniel and partner Rebecka we would like to thank everyone for their understanding, compassion and support at this time.

Darren was a great bloke, a beautiful brother, a remarkable father and an incredible partner – we will all miss him IMMENSELY.

Read the full statement ›

celebrating Darren's life

Thursday, 10 July 2008: [see full article]
Darren's spirit and positive outlook on life was celebrated last Thursday (10 July 2008) in a ceremony attended by more than 600 family, friends and supporters.

His parents, and sons gave touching insights into Darren's family life, while his brothers Daniel and Jason played guitar and sang to honor him. Darren's  father, Sam Stratti, reflected on Darren's time in Arusha, saying "he found peace in Africa".

More ›

what's with twiga's tally?

Thursday, 3 July 2008: [see full article]
So, we've reached our first goal of the funds needed for building infrastructure (AU$250,000), now it's time to tackle our next goal for Kesho Leo completion - this will cover fit out and initial operating costs, completing the work that Darren has begun for the community of Sinon.

in memory of darren stratti

Wednesday, 2 July 2008: [see full article]
foodwatershelter are extremely saddened by the death of Darren Stratti, our building foreman and friend, who was shot during a burglary in Arusha, Tanzania on Monday 30th June.  Darren gave his life bravely to protect those around him.

just the basics...

Tuesday, 24 June 2008: [see full article]
The Irish Fairies volunteering with fws finished their base-line testing this week. Visiting 77 houses (sheltering around 530 people) in Kesho Leo’s vicinity, the fairies found just a few surprising answers to their consensus-style questionnaire around health, education, and environment…

clad, she’s clad, you know it!

Tuesday, 17 June 2008: [see full article]

This week, the fws building team began to erect the wall cladding for the Kesho Leo early learning & community education centre. And then they finished cladding! Using a mix of mruka, eucalyptus and grevillea timber, the Kesho’s wall-floor combination is breathtakingly beautiful.

how many sleepers to go?

Tuesday, 10 June 2008: [see full article]

With the Kesho Leo timber floors down, fws directed its energy to laying the last of the concrete sleepers – in the Kesho communal kitchen. Surrounding a huge plinth (which will house biogas element cookers), the kitchen sleepers offer a heat-resistant, fire-proof flooring. What’s more, each sleeper is separated from the next by a few centimetres to allow food scraps to fall through … and feed the Kesho chickens who wander under the building.

into the groove

Tuesday, 3 June 2008: [see full article]

Eucalyptus timber planks bearing a tongue-and-groove finish now constitute the Kesho Leo flooring. With fws’ foiled plans to lay plywood floors (the product was found to be too inconsistent in Tanzania ), the onus was on fws building foreman, Darren Stratti, to come up with an economical, structurally sound alternative. Days or research saw him settle on eucalyptus planks as a suitable solution. What he quite didn’t realise was that, once

trees a crowd?

Thursday, 22 May 2008: [see full article]
With Kesho eco-farm manager, Njau, on board, there was nothing for it but to begin introducing “environmentally friendly living” lessons to the Kesho house mamas and kids. Day one? Composting. Day two? Tree planting...

Fairies flutter into fws base camp

Tuesday, 13 May 2008: [see full article]
Two Irish fairies have fluttered their way into the fws volunteer village. Laura (aka F1) and Zoe (aka F2) arrived in a cloud of fairy dust and gifts, much to the Kesho Crew’s delight.

Hello manger!

Tuesday, 6 May 2008: [see full article]
Under the direction of fws environmental engineer, Corky, Kesho Leo Farm Manager, Njau, and Kesho environmental volunteer, Liz, the Kesho Leo permaculture project is coming alive...

Hero we are!

Tuesday, 29 April 2008: [see full article]
When fws environmental engineer, Corky, emailed the Australian firm Eco-flex to advise that fws had begun digging the hole for the artificial aquifer that would, by Eco-flex’s design, be filled with recycled car tyres in order to capture ground water, Eco-flex responded with a one-liner: “You’re our hero!” What did they mean?...

From the Kringside

Tuesday, 22 April 2008: [see full article]
German-born, Melbourne-based volunteer, Rebecca Krings, has hit the Tanzanian tarmac - and has been thrown a hefty role...

Teenie Weenie Who-ey?

Tuesday, 15 April 2008: [see full article]
An urgent email from Australia threw the Kesho Crew into a spin this week...

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