I, Mary Notman, am a committed mother, development worker and world changer. My motto, "child by child, we build a nation" (author unknown to me) indicates how I feel about children...that each one, black or white, rich or poor, is important to the development of a nation. Without investment in our future, our children, our nations are going nowhere... Together we must invest in the future of our world! I believe that we must change this world one heart at a time, one child at time.

I have been accused of being too passionate, too altruistic, "too" many things... but commitment to all our future remains my goal.

Below please find a summary of the areas that I have worked in, in countries such as India, Poland, Ukraine, Turkey, Cyprus. My education in the "University of Life" has been vast, and my experience in many countries have convinced  me that "man's heart is the same the world over, and his longing for love and understanding, for the right to bring up his children in a world of peace and safety, for the right to have freedom from want and fear, for the right to feed his family and take care of their health; that these deep feelings of the heart are universal"  I have also learned that lfe is not about what is in your pocket book, but rather what is in your heart, and I will never measure a man(or woman) by  his status, his wealth or his power...only by how (if he has any of these) he uses them for the good of the world around us.

Both my husband and I have committed our lives as volunteers and mission workers, and though we own little we believe that we own a lot, such intangible things as happiness, commitment, seeing the lives of others change, feeling of purpose and the rewards of a smile on a little child's face, the look of pride in a mother's face when her child receives the care or the chance that they need. As David Livingstone said, when asked if it had not been a terrible sacrifice to leave his land and home for the depths of Africa   "I never made a sacrifice!' (nothing that has not been repaid by inner joy)

Rob (my husband and partner in development) and I founded "Friends" a hands-on charity that is committed to bettering the lives of children and families in Tanzania, and is registered since 2000 with the Government of Tanzania.

My life experiences in different countries, including India, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Poland and Ukraine, have all prepared me for the big undertaking of working in Africa and trying to make a difference to the children's whose lives are being devastated daily by poverty, disease and malnutrition. I am committed to this cause and country.

WORK EXPERIENCE - POSITIONS

74 - 77      INDIA: Christian Youth Volunteer: Youth counseling with drug addicts, Drug rehabilitation program, First Aid center work.

77 - 82      TURKEY:  Private Teacher. English Tutor for youth. Conducted courses for young parents in home schooling and child care, part-time Youth Volunteer

83 - 84      INDIA:  Staff Coordinator at International Missions

85 - 87      Regional Supervisor of International Missions (S. India)

88 - 89      Staff Supervisor at Deaf Center  (Delhi)

92 - 93      POLAND:  School Overseer at Mission School

95 - 99       UKRAINE: Crimea:  Aid programs for children in institutions. Branch Manageress of Love in Action (Holland),  Co-ordination of Humanitarian Aid,  Supervisor of Distribution of Aid, Programs for the underprivileged in Hospitals, Orphanages, Government institutions and Street children shelters, Programs for elderly, including feeding and medical, Aiding the establishment of Local Charities, liaison between charities of different ethnic Target groups. English clubs and youth counseling. Conducted English Camps.

00 - 06       TANZANIA:  Chairperson for "Friends of Tanzania", Coordination with local charity for Programs for needy children, Medical Camps for children and elderly, distribution of food and clothing to needy families. Food and Medical assistance to Boy's shelter, Sourcing financing for Secondary school children, Project Coordinator and fund raiser for Watoto Wetu Children's Centers,  Training and overseeing local volunteers. Coordinating Medical Camps,  Setting up homes for Orphans and coordinating educational programs.  Assisting Community Development in Kyela district. Designing development plan, Including building of Nursery school and training of Pre-school teachers,  AIDS Awareness Programs.