APRIL 2020
Dear Fanikia Family and Friends,
Happy April!
I hope you are all safe and well. I would like to first thank each one of you for your tremendous support, and I would humbly like to take this opportunity to write to you about what Fanikia is doing.
UPDATES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Fanikia continues to make sure that disadvantaged young girls gain access to quality education in rural parts of Tanzania, East Africa. We support young girls with the cost of boarding at public schools by paying for supplies and meals, including uniforms, notebooks, shoes, mattresses, feminine products and food.
I am grateful and thrilled to write that Fanikia is supporting 36 students this year, 33 girls and 3 boys. Last year, Fanikia was able to support 23 girls, despite the global pandemic that hit us. When Fanikia first started, in 2015, we supported only two girls, Salma and Halima of Jaribu District in Kibiti Region. This year, we knew it would be a challenge to continue to support the girls and our targeted communities, amidst lockdowns and restrictions, but we did not let that stop us. Fanikia worked tirelessly to make sure no girl is left behind - and thanks to you, we did it! With your generous support and the hard work of our incredible community of staff and volunteers, Fanikia was able to reach this momentous milestone.
You might wonder why we include boys, since our programs mainly focus on educating girls. Fanikia decided to add a program for boys. While we face these communities in our daily work and get access into their homes or villages, we meet many people who are struggling to make ends meet. We have met elders, adults and children who are living in extreme poverty, and sometimes we just cannot turn our backs on them. Therefore, Fanikia will include boys occasionally, but will support more girls than boys.
Fanikia also was able to support families with rent and meals who were experiencing financial difficulties and living in poverty, while at the same time fighting this Covid 19 pandemic. The families we supported had children with disabilities and medical needs.
Fanikia is so proud to share with you the good news about our recipients who finished their O Level Secondary School last year. Fanikia girls were the ones who were leading with good grades on their final exams. This shows that when girls receive quality education, they can achieve a lot. Fanikia contributed to this success by:
In early February, I went to Tanzania for my brother’s funeral. I had not planned to go, but we all know things happen, the loss of my brother came unexpectedly. While I was in Tanzania, I could not visit the girls because at that time Covid 19 was at its peak, with many people hospitalized or dying. I personally lost more than five people who were family members, relatives and close friends. It was not advisable to move around, but the good thing is that the principal from the girls’ school came to see me, and we were able to discuss a lot. This January I had started a campaign called BARE4BRIGHT to help students who have no shoes to get shoes. I was running this campaign in Tanzania with my family members, relatives and close friends. Fanikia was able to get a few donations, but we had to stop the campaign. Covid 19 made it difficult to raise money because most families had lost someone close. Therefore, we had to suspend it. We are hoping to continue later this year.
PLANS FOR THIS YEAR
Fanikia is planning to continue with a BARE4BRIGHT campaign. As you know Fanikia has been blessed with more students to support this year. Most Fanikia recipients and other students came to school in January with no shoes. We are hoping to provide shoes to more than 100 students in the rural schools in Tanzania.
Fanikia is also planning to run a campaign called END PERIOD POVERTY later this year. Most of the obstacles that our girls experience occurs while they have their period. We have found that most girls miss school during their menstrual period. These girls and their families cannot afford to buy hygiene products, and so it is very hard for them to attend school. They worry about this lack of supplies, which leads to embarrassment and less concentration in class. I learned about this firsthand this month when I called the principal to check on our students. The principal told me that one of the girls went home sick because she had her period and no resources to deal with it, and so she had to go home for a few days. This is a global issue that needs to be tackled.
For more information or support you can visit our website at www.fanikiafoundation.org.
SUCCESS STORY
I would like to proudly share the story of one Fanikia recipient, Samson Balthazary. Fanikia started supporting Samson and his family in June 2020 with food and rent for one room. We learned about his family’s misfortunate in May of last year. Samson lives with his mother and his young siblings. His father left the family after his sister was born, who was born disabled. He was not ready and able to take care of his family due to lack of money, especially funds for the disabled child. Because of his disabled sister, Samson’s mother cannot work, as the girl needs 24-hour care. Last year, after their father left, their landlord gave them notice that they needed to move out of the one bedroom. We are glad Fanikia learned about this family before they were evicted. This family made our foundation proud, as we were able to pay for their rent for one year and provide food.
In December, Fanikia learned that Samson passed his final elementary exam with high grades. Consequently, Samson was selected to join a Public Secondary school, which is tuition free. Unfortunately, his mother could not afford to pay for the required school supplies, like a uniform, books, shoes, notebooks, school bag etc., and so she told him that he should forget about going to school. Moreover, as a boy, he is expected to start looking for day work to support himself and his family. When Fanikia learned about Samson’s situation, that he must give up his dream of going to school, we decided to step in and cover the cost of his school supplies, and we rented a room for him next to his mother’s, so he can concentrate on his schoolwork. We wish Samson the best in his studies and we believe that he will be a successful student.
Below are pictures of Samson and his family
Happy April!
I hope you are all safe and well. I would like to first thank each one of you for your tremendous support, and I would humbly like to take this opportunity to write to you about what Fanikia is doing.
UPDATES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Fanikia continues to make sure that disadvantaged young girls gain access to quality education in rural parts of Tanzania, East Africa. We support young girls with the cost of boarding at public schools by paying for supplies and meals, including uniforms, notebooks, shoes, mattresses, feminine products and food.
I am grateful and thrilled to write that Fanikia is supporting 36 students this year, 33 girls and 3 boys. Last year, Fanikia was able to support 23 girls, despite the global pandemic that hit us. When Fanikia first started, in 2015, we supported only two girls, Salma and Halima of Jaribu District in Kibiti Region. This year, we knew it would be a challenge to continue to support the girls and our targeted communities, amidst lockdowns and restrictions, but we did not let that stop us. Fanikia worked tirelessly to make sure no girl is left behind - and thanks to you, we did it! With your generous support and the hard work of our incredible community of staff and volunteers, Fanikia was able to reach this momentous milestone.
You might wonder why we include boys, since our programs mainly focus on educating girls. Fanikia decided to add a program for boys. While we face these communities in our daily work and get access into their homes or villages, we meet many people who are struggling to make ends meet. We have met elders, adults and children who are living in extreme poverty, and sometimes we just cannot turn our backs on them. Therefore, Fanikia will include boys occasionally, but will support more girls than boys.
Fanikia also was able to support families with rent and meals who were experiencing financial difficulties and living in poverty, while at the same time fighting this Covid 19 pandemic. The families we supported had children with disabilities and medical needs.
Fanikia is so proud to share with you the good news about our recipients who finished their O Level Secondary School last year. Fanikia girls were the ones who were leading with good grades on their final exams. This shows that when girls receive quality education, they can achieve a lot. Fanikia contributed to this success by:
- Providing them with a place to live so that they do not have to walk 1-2 hours to and back from school every day.
- Providing to them three meals a day that they would not get if they were at home, because most of their families can only afford one meal per day.
- Providing them with durable mattresses, where most of them used to sleep on the floor or on cardboard.
- Providing to them with shoes, where most of them were used to going to school barefoot or with old, torn flip flops.
- Providing them with uniforms, where most of them used to wear old and often torn uniforms.
In early February, I went to Tanzania for my brother’s funeral. I had not planned to go, but we all know things happen, the loss of my brother came unexpectedly. While I was in Tanzania, I could not visit the girls because at that time Covid 19 was at its peak, with many people hospitalized or dying. I personally lost more than five people who were family members, relatives and close friends. It was not advisable to move around, but the good thing is that the principal from the girls’ school came to see me, and we were able to discuss a lot. This January I had started a campaign called BARE4BRIGHT to help students who have no shoes to get shoes. I was running this campaign in Tanzania with my family members, relatives and close friends. Fanikia was able to get a few donations, but we had to stop the campaign. Covid 19 made it difficult to raise money because most families had lost someone close. Therefore, we had to suspend it. We are hoping to continue later this year.
PLANS FOR THIS YEAR
Fanikia is planning to continue with a BARE4BRIGHT campaign. As you know Fanikia has been blessed with more students to support this year. Most Fanikia recipients and other students came to school in January with no shoes. We are hoping to provide shoes to more than 100 students in the rural schools in Tanzania.
Fanikia is also planning to run a campaign called END PERIOD POVERTY later this year. Most of the obstacles that our girls experience occurs while they have their period. We have found that most girls miss school during their menstrual period. These girls and their families cannot afford to buy hygiene products, and so it is very hard for them to attend school. They worry about this lack of supplies, which leads to embarrassment and less concentration in class. I learned about this firsthand this month when I called the principal to check on our students. The principal told me that one of the girls went home sick because she had her period and no resources to deal with it, and so she had to go home for a few days. This is a global issue that needs to be tackled.
For more information or support you can visit our website at www.fanikiafoundation.org.
SUCCESS STORY
I would like to proudly share the story of one Fanikia recipient, Samson Balthazary. Fanikia started supporting Samson and his family in June 2020 with food and rent for one room. We learned about his family’s misfortunate in May of last year. Samson lives with his mother and his young siblings. His father left the family after his sister was born, who was born disabled. He was not ready and able to take care of his family due to lack of money, especially funds for the disabled child. Because of his disabled sister, Samson’s mother cannot work, as the girl needs 24-hour care. Last year, after their father left, their landlord gave them notice that they needed to move out of the one bedroom. We are glad Fanikia learned about this family before they were evicted. This family made our foundation proud, as we were able to pay for their rent for one year and provide food.
In December, Fanikia learned that Samson passed his final elementary exam with high grades. Consequently, Samson was selected to join a Public Secondary school, which is tuition free. Unfortunately, his mother could not afford to pay for the required school supplies, like a uniform, books, shoes, notebooks, school bag etc., and so she told him that he should forget about going to school. Moreover, as a boy, he is expected to start looking for day work to support himself and his family. When Fanikia learned about Samson’s situation, that he must give up his dream of going to school, we decided to step in and cover the cost of his school supplies, and we rented a room for him next to his mother’s, so he can concentrate on his schoolwork. We wish Samson the best in his studies and we believe that he will be a successful student.
Below are pictures of Samson and his family
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All my best,
Julliet Lwakatare
Executive Director.
Julliet Lwakatare
Executive Director.
NOVEMBER 2020
Dear Fanikia Family and Friends
Happy Holidays!
I hope you are safe and healthy.
I am writing to share with you good news regarding the girls that we have been supporting.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Out of 23 girls that we supported in 2020, 7 girls are graduating this December from O level Secondary Education, which requires 4 years of school. These girls have been able to complete all four years. I must admit that I have been shedding tears of happiness seeing my girls complete their education. I know it is not the end of their education, but helping them to make this huge step, we all deserve big applause. It is people like you that make our community a better place.
God bless you all!
Happy Holidays!
I hope you are safe and healthy.
I am writing to share with you good news regarding the girls that we have been supporting.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Out of 23 girls that we supported in 2020, 7 girls are graduating this December from O level Secondary Education, which requires 4 years of school. These girls have been able to complete all four years. I must admit that I have been shedding tears of happiness seeing my girls complete their education. I know it is not the end of their education, but helping them to make this huge step, we all deserve big applause. It is people like you that make our community a better place.
God bless you all!
SEPTEMBER 2020
Dear Fanikia Family and Friends
I hope you are all well and safe. I would like to first thank each and every one of you for your tremendous support, and I would humbly like to take this opportunity to write to you on what Fanikia is doing.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Fanikia continues to make sure that disadvantaged young girls gain access to quality education in rural parts of Tanzania, East Africa. This year of 2020 we have been able to support 23 young girls. Fanikia supports young girls with the cost of boarding at public schools by paying for supplies and meals, including uniforms, notebooks, shoes, mattresses, feminine products and food. Early this year I received 20 letters from the girls we support; the letters had great messages, thanking each of you for your support, and saying how you are able to change their lives. All the girls are thanking all of you for your generosity. Most of theletters include this message: “God bless you”.
Fanikia also was able to support families with rent and meals, who were experiencing financial difficulties and living in poverty while fighting this Covid19 pandemic. The families we supported had children with disabilities.
Fanikia was blessed to receive 48 Solar Lanterns from Remote Energy. We are currently working to ship them to Tanzania to our target communities in rural schools.
Just like in the rest of the world, the girls, who are recipients of the Fanikia Foundation, were also affected by school closures in all of Tanzania due to Covid19. Unfortunately, in most schools, the girls returned home from boarding school, but during closure, most students, especially in rural areas, could not get access to remote
schooling due to the lack of equipment for both teachers and students. Students in Tanzania missed school for almost fourteen (14) weeks and went back to school on 06/29/2020. Due to this unexpected closure, students will need to stay longer than they normally would in order to compensate for the time they missed. The students that Fanikia supports are now back at their boarding school and are continuing their education. They are trying to make up the time lost during the closure, and it has been decided that they will not have any holiday break until December. This change has started to affect a lot of students and their parents/guardians in the country, as they will need extra money to buy food and pay for additional expenses. We at Fanikia Foundation are affected too, because we need to have more funds to support the girls during this additional time that the girls are at school. Furthermore, this global pandemic has caused food to become scarce in parts of Tanzania, especially in rural areas, which in turn has led to an increase in food prices. We are hopingand praying that this situation will not negatively affect the girls’ studies.
I hope you are all well and safe. I would like to first thank each and every one of you for your tremendous support, and I would humbly like to take this opportunity to write to you on what Fanikia is doing.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Fanikia continues to make sure that disadvantaged young girls gain access to quality education in rural parts of Tanzania, East Africa. This year of 2020 we have been able to support 23 young girls. Fanikia supports young girls with the cost of boarding at public schools by paying for supplies and meals, including uniforms, notebooks, shoes, mattresses, feminine products and food. Early this year I received 20 letters from the girls we support; the letters had great messages, thanking each of you for your support, and saying how you are able to change their lives. All the girls are thanking all of you for your generosity. Most of theletters include this message: “God bless you”.
Fanikia also was able to support families with rent and meals, who were experiencing financial difficulties and living in poverty while fighting this Covid19 pandemic. The families we supported had children with disabilities.
Fanikia was blessed to receive 48 Solar Lanterns from Remote Energy. We are currently working to ship them to Tanzania to our target communities in rural schools.
Just like in the rest of the world, the girls, who are recipients of the Fanikia Foundation, were also affected by school closures in all of Tanzania due to Covid19. Unfortunately, in most schools, the girls returned home from boarding school, but during closure, most students, especially in rural areas, could not get access to remote
schooling due to the lack of equipment for both teachers and students. Students in Tanzania missed school for almost fourteen (14) weeks and went back to school on 06/29/2020. Due to this unexpected closure, students will need to stay longer than they normally would in order to compensate for the time they missed. The students that Fanikia supports are now back at their boarding school and are continuing their education. They are trying to make up the time lost during the closure, and it has been decided that they will not have any holiday break until December. This change has started to affect a lot of students and their parents/guardians in the country, as they will need extra money to buy food and pay for additional expenses. We at Fanikia Foundation are affected too, because we need to have more funds to support the girls during this additional time that the girls are at school. Furthermore, this global pandemic has caused food to become scarce in parts of Tanzania, especially in rural areas, which in turn has led to an increase in food prices. We are hopingand praying that this situation will not negatively affect the girls’ studies.
FEBRUARY 2020
Dear Fanikia Family and Friends
I would like to first thank each and every one of you for your tremendous support. I am humbled by your generosity and want you to know what a difference we have made in the lives of these girls. Every day is a step toward accomplishing our mission.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
In the beginning of this year 2020 we have been able to support twenty-two (22) girls with school fees and boarding fees. Also, we have been to provide school supplies to more than thirty girls that include notebooks, uniforms and shoes. Most of these girls are permanently sponsored by Fanikia until they finish their O’ level Secondary Education.
Another accomplishment is Fanikia recipient Salma and Halima finished their O’ level Secondary education at end of last year,2019. Fanikia mission is to support underprivileged girls to be able to have access to quality education while pursuing their secondary education. We are proud that we were able support Halima and Salma with tuition fees, boarding fees and school supplies for (4)four years. Fanikia wish them the best in their future endeavors.
FANIKIA’S PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR:
Our goal for this year is to continue to support more girls with the cost of boarding at public schools and school supplies such as uniforms, notebooks, shoes, mattresses, feminine products etc.. Boarding cost ranges from $200-300 a year per student. Most families cannot afford this, and, due to the long distance to school, many students drop out. Most public schools are day schools, so students have to walk to school every day, and most of them live very far away, a 2-3 hour walk each way. This is the same distance they have to walk to fetch water. There are no roads and no public transportation from the villages to the schools, and the girls have to walk these distances through the jungle, which is dangerous and exhausting. It is unsafe for anyone, but even more so for young girls. That is why Fanikia has decided to step in. We help pay for the cost of staying at student hostels, which are located in the school area. According to the schoolteachers, staying onsite has led to good grades. Students who live in school hostels are more successful in their studies than the students who live at home.
I have been getting a lot of request from girls for support with these hostel fees, so I am looking for individual sponsors to cover the cost for one girl for a year (or longer), which is between $17-25.00 a month. We will provide our sponsors with pictures and send updates of the progress of your sponsored girl. Our goal is to provide support to 30 girls next year. Please help us fulfill this goal by contacting us through email info@fanikiafoudnation.org, or give us a call @ (425) 247-5341.
Our next plan for this year is to be able to supply Hygiene/ Feminine products to the underprivileged girls in secondary schools in rural areas of Tanzania. Unfortunately, menstruation becomes a source of stress, shame, confusion or fear for young girls especially underprivileged/less fortune. This is due to lack of feminine products as they are expensive and most of them cannot afford. Per our research and conversation, we have had with these young girls, we found out most of them miss school because of fearing to embarrass themselves at school or in their classrooms. This has drastically affect their studies that has led to finish school with lower grades therefore not able to continue with higher education. Fanikia is trying to improve the lives of young women through better menstrual health and hygiene.
I would like to first thank each and every one of you for your tremendous support. I am humbled by your generosity and want you to know what a difference we have made in the lives of these girls. Every day is a step toward accomplishing our mission.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
In the beginning of this year 2020 we have been able to support twenty-two (22) girls with school fees and boarding fees. Also, we have been to provide school supplies to more than thirty girls that include notebooks, uniforms and shoes. Most of these girls are permanently sponsored by Fanikia until they finish their O’ level Secondary Education.
Another accomplishment is Fanikia recipient Salma and Halima finished their O’ level Secondary education at end of last year,2019. Fanikia mission is to support underprivileged girls to be able to have access to quality education while pursuing their secondary education. We are proud that we were able support Halima and Salma with tuition fees, boarding fees and school supplies for (4)four years. Fanikia wish them the best in their future endeavors.
FANIKIA’S PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR:
Our goal for this year is to continue to support more girls with the cost of boarding at public schools and school supplies such as uniforms, notebooks, shoes, mattresses, feminine products etc.. Boarding cost ranges from $200-300 a year per student. Most families cannot afford this, and, due to the long distance to school, many students drop out. Most public schools are day schools, so students have to walk to school every day, and most of them live very far away, a 2-3 hour walk each way. This is the same distance they have to walk to fetch water. There are no roads and no public transportation from the villages to the schools, and the girls have to walk these distances through the jungle, which is dangerous and exhausting. It is unsafe for anyone, but even more so for young girls. That is why Fanikia has decided to step in. We help pay for the cost of staying at student hostels, which are located in the school area. According to the schoolteachers, staying onsite has led to good grades. Students who live in school hostels are more successful in their studies than the students who live at home.
I have been getting a lot of request from girls for support with these hostel fees, so I am looking for individual sponsors to cover the cost for one girl for a year (or longer), which is between $17-25.00 a month. We will provide our sponsors with pictures and send updates of the progress of your sponsored girl. Our goal is to provide support to 30 girls next year. Please help us fulfill this goal by contacting us through email info@fanikiafoudnation.org, or give us a call @ (425) 247-5341.
Our next plan for this year is to be able to supply Hygiene/ Feminine products to the underprivileged girls in secondary schools in rural areas of Tanzania. Unfortunately, menstruation becomes a source of stress, shame, confusion or fear for young girls especially underprivileged/less fortune. This is due to lack of feminine products as they are expensive and most of them cannot afford. Per our research and conversation, we have had with these young girls, we found out most of them miss school because of fearing to embarrass themselves at school or in their classrooms. This has drastically affect their studies that has led to finish school with lower grades therefore not able to continue with higher education. Fanikia is trying to improve the lives of young women through better menstrual health and hygiene.
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SEPTEMBER 2019
Dear Fanikia Family and Friends
I would like to first thank each and every one of you for your tremendous support. Without you, we would not have made it this far. I can’t believe it has been more than 4 years since Fanikia was founded. I am humbled by your generosity and want you to know what a difference you have made in the lives of these girls. Every day is a step toward accomplishing our mission.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
This year we have been able to support 11 girls with school fees, boarding fees and school supplies. These girls are permanently sponsored by Fanikia until they finish their secondary education.
Our second accomplishment this year was our Mattress Drive project. Through your donations, we were able to provide 52 mattresses to underprivileged young girls at the Mahege Secondary Hostel. It was a total success, as we exceeded our goal of 49 mattresses. Many of the girls had been sleeping on cardboard or foam pieces, and thanks to your generosity, they now get a good night’s sleep. To learn more about the mattress journey (from purchasing them in the city to their 3-hour journey through the jungle to the school, please check out our website).
FANIKIA’S PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR:
Our goal for the coming year is to support more girls with the cost of boarding at public schools. Boarding cost ranges from $200-300 a year per student. Most families cannot afford this, and, due to the long distance to school, many students drop out. Most public schools are day schools, so students have to walk to school every day, and most of them live very far away, a 2-3 hour walk each way. This is the same distance they have to walk to fetch water. There are no roads and no public transportation from the villages to the schools, and the girls have to walk these distances through the jungle, which is dangerous and exhausting. It is unsafe for anyone, but even more sofor young girls. That is why Fanikia has decided to step in. We help pay for the cost of staying at student hostels, which are located in the school area. According to the schoolteachers, staying onsite has led to good grades. Students who live in school hostels are more successful in their studies than the students who live at home.
I have been getting a lot of request from girls for support with these hostel fees, so I am looking for individual sponsors to cover the cost for one girl for a year (or longer), which is between $17-25.00 a month. We will provide our sponsors with pictures and send updates of the progress of your sponsored girl. Our goal is to provide support to 30 girls next year.
I would like to first thank each and every one of you for your tremendous support. Without you, we would not have made it this far. I can’t believe it has been more than 4 years since Fanikia was founded. I am humbled by your generosity and want you to know what a difference you have made in the lives of these girls. Every day is a step toward accomplishing our mission.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
This year we have been able to support 11 girls with school fees, boarding fees and school supplies. These girls are permanently sponsored by Fanikia until they finish their secondary education.
Our second accomplishment this year was our Mattress Drive project. Through your donations, we were able to provide 52 mattresses to underprivileged young girls at the Mahege Secondary Hostel. It was a total success, as we exceeded our goal of 49 mattresses. Many of the girls had been sleeping on cardboard or foam pieces, and thanks to your generosity, they now get a good night’s sleep. To learn more about the mattress journey (from purchasing them in the city to their 3-hour journey through the jungle to the school, please check out our website).
FANIKIA’S PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR:
Our goal for the coming year is to support more girls with the cost of boarding at public schools. Boarding cost ranges from $200-300 a year per student. Most families cannot afford this, and, due to the long distance to school, many students drop out. Most public schools are day schools, so students have to walk to school every day, and most of them live very far away, a 2-3 hour walk each way. This is the same distance they have to walk to fetch water. There are no roads and no public transportation from the villages to the schools, and the girls have to walk these distances through the jungle, which is dangerous and exhausting. It is unsafe for anyone, but even more sofor young girls. That is why Fanikia has decided to step in. We help pay for the cost of staying at student hostels, which are located in the school area. According to the schoolteachers, staying onsite has led to good grades. Students who live in school hostels are more successful in their studies than the students who live at home.
I have been getting a lot of request from girls for support with these hostel fees, so I am looking for individual sponsors to cover the cost for one girl for a year (or longer), which is between $17-25.00 a month. We will provide our sponsors with pictures and send updates of the progress of your sponsored girl. Our goal is to provide support to 30 girls next year.
Success Story - Salma
I would like to take this time to proudly share the story of one of our Fanikia recipients, Salma. Fanikia started supporting Salma in January 2015 with her Secondary Education. At the end of last year, Salma finished her 4 years in a private boarding school that Fanikia had sponsored.I met Salma during my visit to Tanzania in the summer (July-August) of 2014. I had gone to their village to see the farm my mother owns. Itwas my first time to visit that village. While I was there, I met a few young girls, including Salma, who were between 14 and 18 years old. Salma had finished primary school (elementary school) with great scores, eager to go on to Secondary school. But most of their dreams had vanished due to economic hardship. I remember asking them if they would accept going back to school if they had the chance to do so, even if they had been away for a long time. Salma was among the first to answer, saying she would love to go to school to better herself so she could help her family. Salma was one of the people who sparked the fire in me to create Fanikia Foundation. Because I looked at the conditions they were in, living in poverty, with their families whose houses were made of mud. I remember telling myself that I must get these girls out of these conditions so that one day they will be able go back to their community and make positive changes. Fanikia was able to send Salma to Secondary Education, and she was able to complete her four years as a Fanikia recipient. This last July I got a call from a Fanikia staff member in Tanzania, who told me that she had received a callfrom Salma’s father. He was thanking us for changing his daughter’s life. She was going tostart college in July to pursue a diploma in Hotel Management. I remember crying tears of joy because this is the vision I have been carrying for a long time: to see the girls we support becoming self-sufficient. I imagined seeing them working, and being able to help their families. The Diploma that Salma is currently pursuing is not sponsored by Fanikia Foundation. We wish Salma all the best in her new endeavor.
I would like to take this time to proudly share the story of one of our Fanikia recipients, Salma. Fanikia started supporting Salma in January 2015 with her Secondary Education. At the end of last year, Salma finished her 4 years in a private boarding school that Fanikia had sponsored.I met Salma during my visit to Tanzania in the summer (July-August) of 2014. I had gone to their village to see the farm my mother owns. Itwas my first time to visit that village. While I was there, I met a few young girls, including Salma, who were between 14 and 18 years old. Salma had finished primary school (elementary school) with great scores, eager to go on to Secondary school. But most of their dreams had vanished due to economic hardship. I remember asking them if they would accept going back to school if they had the chance to do so, even if they had been away for a long time. Salma was among the first to answer, saying she would love to go to school to better herself so she could help her family. Salma was one of the people who sparked the fire in me to create Fanikia Foundation. Because I looked at the conditions they were in, living in poverty, with their families whose houses were made of mud. I remember telling myself that I must get these girls out of these conditions so that one day they will be able go back to their community and make positive changes. Fanikia was able to send Salma to Secondary Education, and she was able to complete her four years as a Fanikia recipient. This last July I got a call from a Fanikia staff member in Tanzania, who told me that she had received a callfrom Salma’s father. He was thanking us for changing his daughter’s life. She was going tostart college in July to pursue a diploma in Hotel Management. I remember crying tears of joy because this is the vision I have been carrying for a long time: to see the girls we support becoming self-sufficient. I imagined seeing them working, and being able to help their families. The Diploma that Salma is currently pursuing is not sponsored by Fanikia Foundation. We wish Salma all the best in her new endeavor.
Success Story - Angel Mhada
Today we want to share the story of Fanikia recipient Angel Mhada. We started supporting Angel in January 2016. She is currently in her 3rd year of secondary school. She attends private school.
Her Story: Angel lives with her mother in Dar-es-SalaamCity. Her mother is a single mother and is originally fromthe Kilimanjaro Region, which is located in the North Eastern part of Tanzania. Angela’s mother was married to Angel’s dad, and they were blessed with a little girl, Angel. To others, this would have been great news for the entire family, but unfortunately that is not what happened to Mama Angel and her baby. It was the beginning of pain and suffering, because the husband and his family did not want a baby girl, they wanted a baby boy. So, for Mama Angel to gave birth to a baby girl, she was considered acursed woman and Angel was considered a cursed baby. At the time, Mama Angel was living with her husband and her in-laws in the same house. She was constantly mistreated by being beaten or refused food. She had nowhere to go, because her hometown was very far awayand, due to their culture of women not having a say or a voice, she had nowhere to run for help; she had to endure all these mistreatments. One day, baby Angel got very sick and her mother had to ask her husband and in-lawsfor money, but they refused because they didn’t care about the child’s health. Angel had to borrow money from neighbors, and she rushed her baby to the hospital. The doctor told her she was lucky, because if she had delayed any longer, Angel would have died. This is when she could not take it anymore and decided to run away with her child. It was very difficult for her to get a job, because most people did not want to hire a woman with a baby, but she did find a job as a maid with a family who accept her and her child. Later, Angel opened a small business of selling flour from door to door. This is when she met us at Fanikia. Mama Angel says, “God does answer prayers,and miracles are real”.
Knowing how lucky she was to find Fanikia who pays for her schooling, Angel is studying extremely hard. She is one of the best students at her school and recently passed her 3rd year exams with a perfect score. Thanks to our sponsors, she is truly a Fanikia success story.
Photo of Angel above, which was taken January, 2019 by Julliet Lwakatare in Tanzania.
Today we want to share the story of Fanikia recipient Angel Mhada. We started supporting Angel in January 2016. She is currently in her 3rd year of secondary school. She attends private school.
Her Story: Angel lives with her mother in Dar-es-SalaamCity. Her mother is a single mother and is originally fromthe Kilimanjaro Region, which is located in the North Eastern part of Tanzania. Angela’s mother was married to Angel’s dad, and they were blessed with a little girl, Angel. To others, this would have been great news for the entire family, but unfortunately that is not what happened to Mama Angel and her baby. It was the beginning of pain and suffering, because the husband and his family did not want a baby girl, they wanted a baby boy. So, for Mama Angel to gave birth to a baby girl, she was considered acursed woman and Angel was considered a cursed baby. At the time, Mama Angel was living with her husband and her in-laws in the same house. She was constantly mistreated by being beaten or refused food. She had nowhere to go, because her hometown was very far awayand, due to their culture of women not having a say or a voice, she had nowhere to run for help; she had to endure all these mistreatments. One day, baby Angel got very sick and her mother had to ask her husband and in-lawsfor money, but they refused because they didn’t care about the child’s health. Angel had to borrow money from neighbors, and she rushed her baby to the hospital. The doctor told her she was lucky, because if she had delayed any longer, Angel would have died. This is when she could not take it anymore and decided to run away with her child. It was very difficult for her to get a job, because most people did not want to hire a woman with a baby, but she did find a job as a maid with a family who accept her and her child. Later, Angel opened a small business of selling flour from door to door. This is when she met us at Fanikia. Mama Angel says, “God does answer prayers,and miracles are real”.
Knowing how lucky she was to find Fanikia who pays for her schooling, Angel is studying extremely hard. She is one of the best students at her school and recently passed her 3rd year exams with a perfect score. Thanks to our sponsors, she is truly a Fanikia success story.
Photo of Angel above, which was taken January, 2019 by Julliet Lwakatare in Tanzania.
Success Story - Neema
We want to share the story of one of Fanikia recipient Neema. We supported Neema in 2017 to go to Sewing School in Dar-es-Salaam Tanzania, . She did finish her studies and now she is current sowing clothes as her way of generating income.
Her Story:
Neema is from Kiteto Village in Arusha, Tanzania. She was raised by her mother but later on she moved in with her auntie at very young age because her mother was not able take care of her due to financial difficulties. While living with her aunt life was not that easy as she had to do hard labor in the tea and apples plantations to gain in income so they can survive at the same time attending primary school (elementary school). After finishing her primary education, she was not able to continue to with Secondary School because her aunt could not afford to support her financially. She had no other choice than continue working at the plantations doing hard labor all day. Her dreams to join secondary school were dashed.However, due to hard labor and moreover not able to be able to continue with secondary school she decided to run to the big city to look for jobs so she can save money and go back to school. She met a lady who helped her to get a job as a house maid and this how Fanikia met Neemawhile working as house maid. She told us her dream was to sew clothes, so we decided to support her so she canimprove her career by paying for her tuition fees for sewing class. She was able to finish and received her certificate.
Thanks to our sponsors, she is truly a Fanikia success story.
We want to share the story of one of Fanikia recipient Neema. We supported Neema in 2017 to go to Sewing School in Dar-es-Salaam Tanzania, . She did finish her studies and now she is current sowing clothes as her way of generating income.
Her Story:
Neema is from Kiteto Village in Arusha, Tanzania. She was raised by her mother but later on she moved in with her auntie at very young age because her mother was not able take care of her due to financial difficulties. While living with her aunt life was not that easy as she had to do hard labor in the tea and apples plantations to gain in income so they can survive at the same time attending primary school (elementary school). After finishing her primary education, she was not able to continue to with Secondary School because her aunt could not afford to support her financially. She had no other choice than continue working at the plantations doing hard labor all day. Her dreams to join secondary school were dashed.However, due to hard labor and moreover not able to be able to continue with secondary school she decided to run to the big city to look for jobs so she can save money and go back to school. She met a lady who helped her to get a job as a house maid and this how Fanikia met Neemawhile working as house maid. She told us her dream was to sew clothes, so we decided to support her so she canimprove her career by paying for her tuition fees for sewing class. She was able to finish and received her certificate.
Thanks to our sponsors, she is truly a Fanikia success story.