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 family, 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 installments.
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
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.
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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.)