Jambo, friends!  Many of you know me as your student/sponsor liaison. I’m Debi Swanson, Faraja Board Member, a Tolmie cousin, retired nurse, and letter courier.

I typically visit Faraja twice a year to deliver sponsor letters and goodies and, this year, a whole lot of pen pal letters from elementary school students at St Mary’s in Lake Forest, IL, and the special education class of 5th graders at Glen Grove Elementary in Glenview, IL.

I brought with me a record number of letters.  As always, the students were thrilled to open them, their curiosity and excitement impossible to miss. It’s hard to overstate how much these messages mean. They offer more than connection; they open a window to a world beyond the students’ daily lives and spark endless questions and wonder.


I timed my visit to coincide with Career Camp, where students participate in woodworking, beading, textiles, baking and other activities that fine-tune their motor skills, teach planning and precision, provide an avenue for creative expression, build confidence and identity, and pave the way for social and economic inclusion. At Faraja, we always focus on possibility.


I also noticed a meaningful shift among the students: They greeted me in English and confidently shared their names, ages, and hometowns in English. While Faraja remains a Swahili-medium school and continues to promote bilingualism, director Tumsifu Munuo has begun a thoughtful transition toward immersive English instruction as we await formal government recognition as an English-medium school.

This step is critical. In Tanzania, English is the language of instruction in secondary education, and building a strong foundation now helps ensure our students are prepared to succeed long after they leave Faraja.

I treasure these visits to Faraja, and wish every one of you could see what I see when access and opportunity are available to children who otherwise get left behind.

Meet a Few of our New Kindergartners

Most of our new students, like so many at Faraja, come from remote rural villages where daily life is defined by scarcity. Their homes often lack basic necessities like running water and electricity. Something as simple as using a toilet may require navigating a rough path to a distant pit latrine, often on the back of their caregiver.

For children with disabilities, isolation runs even deeper. Without wheelchairs or mobility aids, many are confined to their homes, cut off from school, friendship, and the outside world. And even when a wheelchair is available, the terrain—rocky, uneven, and unforgiving—can make movement nearly impossible.

That’s why our work begins long before a child ever arrives at Faraja. Our staff travel to each student’s home, building relationships with families, documenting medical and personal histories, and identifying practical ways to improve daily life. Sometimes that means helping a family construct a simple wheelchair ramp or a private latrine—small changes that restore dignity and independence.

And then, something remarkable happens.

Once at Faraja, these children begin to transform. Surrounded by care, community, and opportunity, they gain confidence, skills, and a renewed sense of what their future can hold. They don’t just adjust—they thrive.

Theresia is 10 years old and never had the opportunity to attend school due to her disability, which is caused by spina bifida, impacting bladder and bowel control. She lives in the Karatu district of the Arusha Region in northern Tanzania, which is  known as a “safari junction,” situated between Lake Manyara National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Her parents work in agriculture and live in a small mud house, without a toilet or a wheelchair ramp. Theresia is basically confined to her home. Faraja staff are working with family to construct a toilet and wheelchair ramps so that Theresia’s quality of life during school breaks can be improved. At Faraja, Theresia is learning self-care and as you can see by her wide smile, enjoying a whole new community of friends.

Theresia’s family home in Karatu

Zulfat is six years old and comes from Tanga, near the Kenyan border. She was born with cerebral palsy. At home—a small, rented room shared with several others—she has no wheelchair and depends entirely on her mother to carry her, even to a shared public toilet.

When Zulfat arrived at Faraja, she received her very first wheelchair—an immediate step toward independence. Here, she is also receiving consistent medical care and learning how to manage her condition with confidence. During home visits, our team is working closely with her mother, offering practical guidance on building a simple ramp at the entrance and securing a proper toilet seat so Zulfat can begin to use the bathroom on her own.

At school, Zulfat has already found her place. She has settled in beautifully, and her teachers describe her as joyful, outgoing, and eager to connect with others.

Godlisten turns six this month. He comes from Arusha region, where he lives with his parents and two siblings in a two-room mud house. His parents are seasonal agricultural workers.

Godlisten was born with a limb deformity, but he is able to help with domestic tasks at home. School staff says he is outgoing and very friendly. At Faraja, he is receiving physical and occupational therapy and, like all our students, an excellent primary school education.

Godlisten’s family home in Arusha.

On The Road with Faraja Forward

The first quarter of 2026 has been a busy and purposeful time for Faraja Forward. Alongside our twice-weekly mobile clinic visits to remote villages where we can evaluate children, our team has been implementing and strengthening the networks to lift up families. That means when we are not physically present, families have a support system they can turn to.

We’ve brought together mothers of children with disabilities so they can connect, share experiences, and support one another. We’ve expanded training for community health workers, equipping them to better recognize and refer children in need of care. We’ve engaged local government leaders to advocate for families who still lack access to essential services. And we’ve partnered with religious leaders to provide spiritual support in communities where discouragement and isolation are all too common.

Each of these efforts helps build a stronger, more compassionate system of care—one that reaches children and families who have too often been left behind.

Mothers and caregivers gather to meet, share their experiences, and gather strength from one another.

Our Faraja Forward staff demonstrate simple therapies that will strengthen a child’s limbs.

Thank you friends in Naples, Florida!

On April 13, more than 100 guests gathered—invited by Faraja’s dedicated sponsors and supporters—to learn more about our work and the children we serve. They heard from Foundation Chair Dave Tolmie and Vice-Chair David Vermylen, along with supporters Stacy Vermylen and LeAnn Pope, who shared the story of Faraja and the unique role we play in supporting children with disabilities in Tanzania.

The evening was filled with connection, compassion, and a shared sense of purpose. We’re grateful to everyone who made it so meaningful.

Here is the story we shared—we hope you’ll take a moment to watch and pass it along.

As always, thank you for your support! We cannot do this work without YOU. 

Support Faraja

Disability is NOT Inability!