Education is at the heart of our mission. We firmly believe that every child deserves the opportunity to learn and grow, yet countless children have never set foot inside a school. That’s why we are dedicated to making a difference by investing over $26,000 annually to provide access to education. Currently, we have the privilege of supporting over 100 children, with more than 40 residing at our orphanage. Additionally, we extend our financial support to children living with extended families or relatives, similar to a foster placement. Many children also reside at the orphanage seasonally, as they pursue their education in boarding schools or college. Our commitment knows no bounds as we strive to transform lives and ensure that education becomes a reality for all children in need.
We firmly believe that education is the key to success and a pathway to a better future. We are dedicated to providing quality educational opportunities to children in Tanzania, ensuring that they have the tools and resources they need to thrive. Through our various programs, we are making a difference in the lives of these children and fostering a love for learning.
Sponsorship Program: Empowering Youth Through Education
Through our sponsorship program, we have been able to help over 170 children receive an education in Tanzania. We take immense pride in the success stories of more than 47 youths who have emerged as professionals in various fields. Among them, we have 13 youth working in the health sector as doctors and nurses, 25 in the business sector (including employed business administrators and self-employed individuals in tourism, mechanics, welding, carpentry, information technology, and entrepreneurship), 6 in the education sector as teachers, and 2 in social work. Currently, we have over 100 children enrolled in different schools across Tanzania, pursuing their dreams and aspirations.
Public Schools Renovation Program: Transforming Learning Environments
Recognizing the dire conditions of Chombo Primary School, which is situated just minutes away from our orphanage, we embarked on a renovation project two years ago. With over 60 years of history, the school was in a state of disrepair and lacked adequate support from the government. Determined to make a difference, we took up the task of renovating the school, providing much-needed infrastructure, books, and school supplies. Our vision is to transform Chombo Primary School into a nurturing and conducive learning environment, capable of offering a better education to more than 200 children in the village.
Top Threes Program: Academic Support for Success
In order to support the academic progress of children from the orphanage and nearby public schools, we have introduced the Top Threes Program. This initiative focuses on providing additional classes and weekend tests to enhance their understanding and performance. With public school classes often accommodating more than 40 students, individual attention can be challenging for teachers. Through this program, we aim to bridge that gap and help children grasp concepts more effectively, fostering academic excellence. The top three performers in these tests are rewarded, encouraging healthy competition and motivating students to strive for success.
Free Childhood Education: Preparing Young Minds for the Future
Through our Tuleeni Academy and Akili Daycare programs, we are committed to providing free pre-primary education to young children, aged 2 to 6 years, from the neighboring community. Many of these children face financial constraints that prevent them from attending school. Our dedicated team ensures that these young minds receive a strong educational foundation, preparing them for future academic endeavors. As our project progresses, we aspire to expand and upgrade to a primary school, offering even more children the opportunity for quality education.
We believe in empowering individuals and providing them with the tools they need to overcome challenges and create a better future. Our programs focus on enhancing self-esteem, particularly among youth and widows in the local community, by equipping them with basic skills to fight poverty and achieve self-sustainability.
Youth Self-Esteem: Vocational Training at Ufundi Center
One of our key projects aims to support young adults who have experienced a high rate of school dropouts in the local community. We recognize the importance of providing these youths with alternative pathways and opportunities in their lives. Working in collaboration with local community members and dedicated volunteers, we have developed and implemented vocational training programs.
Our vocational training programs focus on providing practical and job-specific instruction, preparing students for specific careers and trades. We prioritize hands-on learning experiences and offer courses that equip participants with the skills necessary for a particular job function. By offering relevant and targeted education, we help bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, ultimately leading to certification and improved employment prospects.
Women’s Groups of Widows: Self-Sustainability Program
In our commitment to supporting widows in the community, we have implemented a self-sustainability program that aims to enhance their independence and economic well-being. The program begins by providing each woman in the group with a piglet and seeds. The women then take responsibility for nurturing the piglet, feeding it from their own excess food, and tending to their crops grown from the seeds.
Over a span of nine months, the piglet matures and can produce offspring. The women can then sell some of the piglets to generate income and reinvest in their self-sustainability journey. They also have the opportunity to purchase chickens, expanding their income-generating options. As part of the program, each woman is encouraged to pass on a piglet to another woman in need, fostering a sense of community and mutual support.
The success of this program has been remarkable, with these empowered women achieving self-sustainability and even utilizing the revenue generated from their pig projects to build houses for themselves and their families. By providing them with the resources and knowledge needed to generate income, we not only improve their financial circumstances but also enhance their self-esteem and overall well-being.
We are deeply committed to the well-being of children and the surrounding communities we serve. Recognizing the critical importance of accessible healthcare, we embarked on a project in 2018 to provide comprehensive healthcare and medical insurance coverage to all children in our care and other vulnerable children in the area.
Partnering with the Lions Club from Belgium, we were able to establish a small dispensary in the village, ensuring that essential healthcare services are within reach of those in need. The primary objective of this project is to address the healthcare needs of impoverished individuals who are unable to afford medical services in the village. Previously, these villagers had no nearby means of accessing healthcare, leaving them vulnerable and unable to attend to their medical needs.
Our healthcare project offers a range of vital services to promote both treatment and prevention. These include health care seminars, doctor consultations, preliminary measurements such as blood pressure and weight monitoring, laboratory tests, pharmacy services, medical injections, wound cleaning, and minor surgeries. By focusing on both treatment and prevention, we strive to improve the overall health and well-being of the community we serve.
The need for this project became evident through extensive assessments and consultations with local community members. Many individuals in the area were unable to seek medical attention due to financial constraints and the lack of accessible healthcare facilities. Even individuals with serious medical conditions were not receiving the necessary care they required, often due to the challenges of distance and the high costs associated with medical treatment. This situation was particularly burdensome for those with ongoing medical conditions that necessitated frequent visits, making regular healthcare inaccessible.
While the main premises building for the healthcare project has been completed, ongoing financial support is crucial to ensure its continued success. We require funds for medicines, medical equipment, and the day-to-day operations of the dispensary. By providing essential medical supplies and equipment, we can offer quality healthcare services to those who otherwise would not have access to them.
We believe in the power of community development to create lasting change. Two significant projects, the expansion of our facilities and the provision of clean water, have become integral parts of our mission to improve lives and uplift the communities we serve.
Building Hope: Expanding Facilities for a Brighter Future As our family at Tuleeni continued to grow, we realized the need for a larger space that could accommodate the increasing number of children in our care. With unwavering determination, we purchased a one-acre plot of land and constructed a two-story building designed to house over 80 children. This facility encompasses all the essential components, including an administration block, dormitories, a library, classrooms, a dining hall, a kitchen, and recreational areas. Beyond serving as an orphanage, this building has become a community center, providing essential services and support to the surrounding rural area, where basic needs are often limited. While the project is complete, ongoing funds are crucial to maintaining and repairing the facility, ensuring it remains a beacon of hope for years to come.
Clean Water for 7000 Villagers: Transforming Lives One Drop at a Time When we established the new orphanage, access to clean water became an urgent necessity. Recognizing the broader needs of the community, we embarked on a project to provide clean water to approximately 7000 villagers in Uru-Kitandu and Shinga villages. These families had endured over a decade and a half without a reliable water supply. Tuleeni Orphans Home took a proactive approach, recognizing that the orphanage’s success depended on finding a permanent solution to this critical problem. Through collaborations with the Pangani Water Basin Authority, the US Embassy grant, and The Faraji Foundation, we were granted permission to access water from Ngomberi. To store and distribute this precious resource, we constructed two tanks—one with a capacity of 100,000 liters and another with 40,000 liters. Additionally, we collect clean water from a nearby stream fed by Mount Kilimanjaro. The completion of this clean water project has been a transformative achievement, bringing hope, health, and stability to thousands of lives. However, ongoing funding is essential to maintaining and repairing the infrastructure, ensuring a continuous supply of clean water to the community.
Your Support Matters: Join the Tuleeni Community Development Efforts We are immensely grateful for the support we have received thus far, enabling us to complete these remarkable community development projects. However, ongoing maintenance and repairs require continued financial support. By contributing to the maintenance fund, you can play a vital role in sustaining the facilities that provide shelter, education, and hope to orphaned children and serve as community resources.
Together, let’s continue to build a better future for vulnerable children and the communities they belong to. Your donation, whether big or small, will make a tangible difference in the lives of those we serve. Join us in our community development initiatives at Tuleeni Orphans Home and help us create a brighter, more sustainable tomorrow.
Donate today and be a part of the transformative journey toward lasting change.
Tuleeni Orphans Home is proud to introduce our extension projects, Junior Project and Akili Foundation, which have been established to provide additional support and opportunities to a select group of children. These projects are the result of the dedication and compassion of our generous donors, Julian and Soraya.
Akili Foundation, led by Julian, focuses on providing support and care for 18 children. Through his self-funded initiative, Julian ensures that these children have access to the resources they need to thrive. As part of this project, the children have been relocated to a different place, creating a nurturing environment that fosters their growth and development.
Soraya, on the other hand, spearheads the Junior Project, which is dedicated to empowering 15 children. Through this initiative, Soraya provides personalized assistance and guidance to each child, helping them overcome challenges and pursue their dreams. The Junior Project operates within the Tuleeni Orphans Home, ensuring that the children receive the necessary support while still being part of the larger Tuleeni community.
Both the Akili Foundation and the Junior Project are driven by a shared commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable children. By providing them with individualized attention, these extension projects aim to maximize each child’s potential and create a brighter future for them.
We are incredibly grateful to Julian and Soraya for their unwavering support and dedication to these projects. Their efforts have made a profound impact on the lives of 33 children, providing them with opportunities they may not have otherwise had.
At Tuleeni Orphans Home, we believe in the power of collaboration and the importance of extending our reach to make a difference in the lives of more children. These extension projects embody our commitment to ensuring that every child receives the care, support, and education they deserve.
With your continued support, we can expand our reach and create even more opportunities for children in need. Consider joining us in our mission to provide a brighter future for these young souls. Your contribution, whether big or small, will make a significant impact on their lives.