Mission Forward
This month, we three (Dave, John, and Paul) traveled to Tanzania for two very special occasions: The first-ever Faraja Alumni Reunion and the launch of our Mobile Outreach Health Clinic—a project of Faraja Forward.
Although we have been to Tanzania many times, this was the first opportunity for us to be all together at once.
On Saturday, October 14, we attended the Alumni Reunion. Of the nearly 200 students who have graduated from Faraja Primary School (since the first graduation in 2008), more than 100 alumni were able to attend. This is remarkable because Faraja is in a remote area outside the small village of Sanya Juu, and transportation can be challenging and expensive.
100 alumni gather at Faraja
It was clear the alumni were very happy to be back and to be with their friends. The smiles, hugs and laughter filled the air all day.
The alumni stepped forward to tell stories of life after graduation—their trials and tribulations. Many have successfully completed advanced education and started careers—such as nurses, teachers, and government officials, along with small business operators in carpentry, welding, and other trades. Our recent alumni survey reported that 42% of alumni are now self-employed, some with families of their own.
Alumna Highness Terry (class of 2008) is one of many alumni to stay in close touch.
“I am indebted to Faraja and our sponsors, and to all who are in need just like I was.
“I came from the poorest family and because of my disability, my late father left my mother who could not afford to support me or my relatives in education, let alone other needs.
“Faraja has been the savior to me, and gave me and my family hope.
“Because of Faraja, I am the only child to go to university.
“My dream of becoming a lawyer is reality. Faraja made it possible. It is always in my prayers to succeed so that I can be supporting Faraja and my fellow Africans.”
Highness Terry speaks at the Alumni Reunion
Faraja Class of 2016 takes a group photo at Faraja School Alumni Reunion
On Sunday, we attended church services in the Faraja chapel. Church at Faraja is unique—everyone participates with all their being. The deacons dance, the Faraja Choir sings, the preachers preach, and there is no shortage of joy and fellowship.
Alumnus John Mollel led the celebration in top form.
Clink on the arrow below, which directs you to our Vimeo site, and experience a moment of church.
Monday, October 14, was the much anticipated kick off event for the new Faraja Mobile Healthcare Program, an outreach project of Faraja Forward. We were joined by some of Tanzania’s most respected NGOs and government leaders, who pledged to help us move the needle on what has been a seemingly intractable and heartbreaking problem.
Faraja Forward’s new Executive Director in Tanzania, Jane Lyayuka, has led an extensive effort to develop this unique program. Jane spoke about the program’s outreach initiatives to reach disabled children in the most remote and poorest villages where they have received little or no healthcare services—ever.
The Faraja Mobile Healthcare Program is designed to provide services to these children, and literally thousands like them in the future.
The program also provides emotional support—especially to mothers—and education to the community about the value of these children, despite long-held biases against people with disabilities.
We spent a day visiting five families in the Mabogino Ward, in a rural district of Moshi. All but one of the households were headed by women caring for disabled children. These children had no prior medical assessment, nor treatment. We rushed one severely malnourished child to our partner hospital, KCMC, for immediate lifesaving care.
Another child, now four, had fallen when she was two and never regained mobility. We know from years of experience at Faraja School that a fall left untreated can determine the course of a child’s life forever.
She and the others we visited are now being referred to Faraja Forward partnering organizations, where they will receive diagnosis and health care for the first time.
Our visits reinforced the urgent need for community health intervention, training, and advocacy around disability. This is the impetus for Faraja Forward, a unique collaboration that is changing the status quo, child by child.
As always, thank you for your support of Faraja School, Faraja Forward, and The Faraja Fund Foundation.
We cannot do this work without YOU!
Dave, John, and Paul Tolmie
Disability is NOT Inability!