Send a child to school
Government schools in Tanzania are overcrowded and understaffed. It is not unusual to see up to 2,000 children sharing just four or five classrooms. Teachers are overburdened and underpaid, and are often not trained to care for children with special needs.
Children from rural communities struggle disproportionately with poverty and challenges at home. Fathers often abandon their families, leaving mothers without a source of income, and children may then be passed to elderly grandparents in ill health who struggle to provide for the basic needs of the child. Children are burdened with adult responsibilities such as caring for younger siblings and doing domestic chores. Many children suffer abuse and are vulnerable to sexual exploitation. All of these factors lead to repeated school absences and a high dropout rate.
The Tumaini Foundation gives hope to over 150 at-risk children, providing food and shelter seven days a week. In addition, it supports young people to re-engage with education by providing school supplies and uniforms and sending as many children as possible to private boarding schools where they can focus on their studies. The hope is that, in time, these children will grow up to contribute positively to their communities and break the cycle of poverty and dysfunction.
There are many children who need sponsorship
Cost
It costs approximately $800 annually to sponsor a child through private school. This can be paid in flexible monthly instalments.
What will your donation cover?
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Tuition
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Board
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Books
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School uniform
Updates
You will receive regular updates about your chosen child – with pictures – so that you can track their progress through school.
Severa's story
Maria ‘Severa’ is seven years old and has been at the Tumaini Foundation’s orphanage since she was a baby. Severa is the product of generational trauma. Her mother was a victim of sexual violence and struggled with mental health challenges and addiction. After it became clear that Severa’s mother was unable to look after her baby daughter, Severa was taken into the orphanage. Her mother has since passed away.
When Severa came to the Tumaini Foundation, she already had signs of abuse, with burns on her legs. She was nurtured back to health and slowly began to thrive physically and emotionally. At first a shy and clingy child, Severa, now aged seven, has grown into a strong, kind and loving child who exudes confidence. She was lucky enough to receive funding for her schooling from the age of four. The sponsorship has enabled her to attend Martin Luther School in Dodoma. Severa is making great strides academically and is also learning to swim. Her favorite subject is English, and she has many ideas about what career she would like to pursue when she grows up – teacher is top of her list.
Sponsor a child
8 years old
Emanuel
Emanuel lost both his parents to HIV Aids when he was very young. He lives with his grandmother, who struggles to meet his basic needs. The Tumaini Foundation provides all his meals. Emanuel attends the local government primary school where he is taught alongside 255 classmates. Because the student-to-teacher ratio is so high, individual attention to children is rare. Emanuel is struggling with his academics and is at risk of dropping out. His dream is to attend a private school where he can learn English and cultivate his love of soccer.
13 years old
Rebeka M.
Rebeka lost both her parents to HIV AIDS when she was just four years old. She lives with her uncle, who cannot provide for her adequately. Rebeka is very bright, but she is behind in her studies because domestic chores prevent her from attending school regularly. She would like to complete secondary school and attend university where she hopes to train as a doctor, but it will be difficult for her to realize her ambition if she remains in the overcrowded public-school system. Rebeka is a quiet, determined child with big dreams.
10 years old
Amani
Amani is the younger sibling of Rebeka M. He enjoys football and cycling and wants to join the military when he grows up. He is charming, outgoing and respectful to his elders, and is very popular at the Tumaini Foundation. Amani is a bright child and has attended a private boarding school in the past where he excelled, but unfortunately the foundation has been unable to continue funding his private education. Amani hopes to return as soon as possible.
10 years old
Rebeka K.
Rebeka’s parents passed away from HIV AIDS when she was only one year old. She lives with her grandparents, who are in poor health and struggle to feed and clothe her. Rebeka has health challenges of her own, and these would be best managed in a boarding-school environment where she would be under the care of a school nurse. Rebeka is a bright, outgoing child at high risk of homelessness and falling victim to sexual violence. She urgently needs your help.
13 years old
Wini
Wini is currently in lower primary school because she began her education late. Her father is deceased, and her mother suffers from mental health issues. As the only girl in a family of eight, Wini has taken on the responsibility of raising her siblings and other children in her extended family. Wini is a patient and gentle soul, and she loves to play. The younger children at the orphanage look up to her and seek her out if they are hurt or need a cuddle. She hopes to move to a private school so that she can improve her English and develop her netball and tennis skills.
19 years old
Faraja
Faraja has endured an exceptionally difficult childhood. Following the death of her parents, her eldest sister turned to prostitution to earn enough money for food and clothing. When Faraja’s sister became pregnant, she could no longer work, and in desperation, she took her own life. Because of Faraja’s life challenges, she is still attending lower secondary school and desperately requires a sponsor to help her complete her education. Faraja is a kind, self-aware and softly spoken young woman with a strong sense of justice. She is an avid football fan and enjoys cheering on the Tanzanian football team Simba. Faraja requires a good school that will provide the stability and extra support she needs. This bright young woman has big dreams and is determined to either become a heart surgeon or an accountant.
Exact age unknown
Grace
Grace is Severa’s elder sister. She lived with her mother as a young child but was largely neglected and was the victim of sexual violence. Because of the perceived disgrace this brought on the family, she was beaten by her mother, severely injuring her face and eyes. She was taken in by the orphanage shortly after this event. Grace is a hard worker and has a motherly heart. She is very protective of the younger children at the orphanage. She has a creative side and is a talented jewellery maker and cook. She likes to learn new recipes, and her ‘tasty hand’ is enjoyed by the orphanage children and staff alike. Despite the horrific violence Grace has suffered, she has a strong spirit and is quietly confident. She would like to be a soldier when she grows up. Due to her chaotic childhood, Grace is behind in her schooling and is still in primary school. She has had intermittent sponsorship in the past and was able to attend a boarding school in Arusha, where her favorite subject was science. The Tumaini Foundation needs consistent and reliable funding for Grace to help support her through the rest of her schooling.
14 years old
Victoria
Victoria lost both of her parents in accidents as a child. She came to the foundation five years ago after living with an abusive uncle. Victoria has attended a private school in the past and was at the top of her class. She would love to attend university after she finishes school and dreams of becoming a tour guide.
Victoria is independent and introverted. She enjoys netball and listening to music. Victoria is currently in lower secondary school and needs a sponsor to help her complete her education and fulfil her dreams.
Support Tumaini Foundation
Funding a child's education long-term is a big commitment. If you would rather make a one-time contribution to help us cover school costs for our many children or to assist the orphanage with daily expenses, any donation is welcome. The orphanage feeds breakfast, lunch and dinner to 150 children seven days a week and has up to 35 children living there. It also runs a daycare/nursery school for children from broken homes who are too young to enter the school system and otherwise would have nowhere to go during the day.
To give an example of a few of our costs:
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Schoolbooks and uniforms cost $3,600 per year
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Electricity costs $60 per month
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Water costs $120 per month
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Basic nutritious food costs $200 per week (The Tumaini Foundation aims to feed children a balanced diet which includes meat and vegetables, but this is expensive. Some months of the year, particularly during school holidays, food runs low, and the children are forced to subsist on rice and beans.)