Airlie Beach ‘Bi Bi’ Making Change in Tanzania 

Airlie Beach ‘Bi Bi’ Making Change in Tanzania 
BYLINE Suzanna Mcloughlin

Local legend Vari Galletly, known as ‘Bi Bi’, the Swahili word for Grandma, to the kids she cares for, has dedicated her life to making life better for less-fortunate children in Tanzania. 

Over ten years ago after volunteering for several charities in Africa, Vari founded her own orphanage, House of Happiness.

Based in Arusha, near Mt Kilamanjaro, and operating in association with Umoja, an education centre Vari previously taught for, House of Happiness has given a home and access to education to many underprivileged kids.

Vari launched the home after witnessing mistreatment of children in an alternate orphanage, vowing to offer them a better option. She soon had fourteen children under her wing.

Travelling to Tanzania at least once a year, the home has been a lifeline to vulnerable young people, helping them learn, grow, and establish careers.

Vari is now witnessing the children she took on when she launched the orphanage flourish into adulthood. The youngest now 16, the cohort includes a trainee tour guide, aspiring civil engineer and pharmacist-to be. Vari is currently fundraising to help one of the home’s inhabitants, Simon, become a pilot- a costly training course, but Vari insists she can do it.

By partnering with Umoja, and hiring a long-term ‘mama’ to look after the children, House of Happiness has ensured the children retain strong cultural identities whilst boosting their education and building them a home, from funds raised here in the Whitsundays.

It hasn’t always been easy, coming up against corruption and tight spots over the years, but Vari says it’s all worth it. The kids are so grateful and brilliant, Vari explains, and whatever you give goes far.

“If you can just spare a few dollars a month, 50 bucks a month, 100 bucks a month, you don't even miss it. But the feeling that you get from doing it is amazing.”

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Bi Bi Vari with Tajewo and Christoph. Photo supplied

Simon’s First Flight. Photo supplied

Scan here to make a tax-deductable contribution to House of Happiness.