Tara Centre Closure

Kate set up and ran the Tara Centre, a community centre in Gondar's city centre, for five years. A range of projects at the Centre helped people and animals, and enhanced the environment. At its peak, more than forty people were employed at the Centre, 64 pupils attended the school, and the monkey enclosure held five different species of rescued monkey and baboon.



"In early 2009 my family and I made a decision to move north to farm and to continue developing Empress Mentewab School and our animal projects in a rural setting," explains Kate.

In November, the team that ran the largest, longest-running project at the Tara Cente, the Sponsorship in the Community Project, moved to other premises in Gondar.

"The sponsorship team will continue to run the Sponsorship in the Community Project, which helps almost four hundred families across the northern Ethiopian Highlands," says Kate.

The Sponsorship in the Community Project is now completely funded by The Kindu Trust.

"I'm moving on," says Kate, "confident that the project is in safe hands and will continue to help needy children in Ethiopia for many years to come."

As Honorary President, Kate, who founded The Kindu Trust in England in 1998, will still have some involvement.

To sponsor a needy child or young adult in Ethiopia, please contact The Kindu Trust in London. The Trust's website is listed in the LINKS section.

There is also information about sponsorship under the CHILDREN section on this website.

"For half a decade the Tara Centre provided the Sponsorship in the Community Project, Empress Mentewab School and the animal projects with ideal conditions in which to grow," says Kate. "Now we've split them up and transplanted them to new locations where they can flourish and become more effective in alleviating poverty and suffering. These exciting changes will also create opportunities for fresh innovation."



What visitors wrote about the Tara Centre:

"Inspiring... truly an island of excellence that should become a lighthouse." David, UK

"The minute you enter this beautiful place you feel the good energy and vibes." Lee and Eitan, Israel

"The projects here are fantastic and a real credit to the obvious dedication of the staff and organisers." Nichole, UK

"Tara Centre is a colourful centre. I did not expect it would be like this. I found it very impressive. You can do more and more things. You have a vision." Mulugeta, Ethiopia

"An inspirational place... marvellous to see the good organisation and happy children. I loved to see the playgroup area with their own shop and the bright classroom with lively pictures." Suzanne, UK

"What can I say and what can I suggest? The [sponsorship] project is awe-inspiring and it was a huge privilege to spend the day with you." Jan, UK

"A very impressive organisation - far more interesting than tourist destinations." Jasmine and Bridget

"What a beautiful surprise this day! We saw people walking with monkeys [Tara Centre staff exercising the rescued monkeys]... and our guide brought us to this place. A place full of hope!" Cocky and Marit, The Netherlands

"...a terrific project. Wonderful what you are doing... so good to see a cheery and bright schoolroom and yard that obviously take children's needs for creativity into account." Cynthia, USA

The Tara Centre finally closed in December 2009.