September 2024 Newsletter

Graduation 2024
This week, I had the delight, no, the privilege, of visiting Faraja to see my sponsored student, Evodia, graduate from primary school. This was my third visit to Faraja since taking on the joyful responsibility of seeing this bright, beautiful little girl begin her path to productive womanhood. Evodia was born without hands and only one leg. Faraja literally saved her life by bringing her in from rural Tanzania. Over the years, she has proven that disability is not the same as inability.

I stayed at the Faraja Guest House for two nights – rustic but comfortable. My thanks to dedicated cook, Joyce, who kept me fed in traditional Swahili manner. On Saturday, the campus was full of graduating students, friends and families. The Lutheran Church Bishop attended amongst much pomp and circumstance.

The children clearly love and respect him.

The ceremonies started at 9am and didn’t end until 3pm (not your usual middle school graduation). With a sort of Afri-beat dixie-land style marching band, the Bishop led the entire gathering to some of the new buildings on campus for formal dedication. (Incredible improvements over the past five years!) We then celebrated a full Lutheran mass (in Swahili of course). The Faraja children’s chorus sang and danced. The local Deacon choir performed. It was all quite amazing.

The graduation ceremony itself was spectacular. The class’s 25 students were called forward and presented with their diplomas and other assorted gifts and awards.

The whole roast goat was the literal centerpiece of our meal, much to the joy of the locals and chagrin of some of the westerners. Quite amusing.

My heart was touched seeing Evodia take her turn at receiving her awards. Without hands but with a steady prosthetic leg, she was able to gather everything with a big smile. Then later, I noticed that she was helping another graduate by pushing his wheelchair for him to the exit.

There is no feel sorry for me thinking around here! I was further overwhelmed when I strolled around campus by myself only to find at every turn, another young child would run to me and want to walk with me and hold my hand!

In closing, I’d encourage any of you who are sponsoring students graduating in the next year or two, to book your trip now. It is an experience you and your family will not forget.

Faraja is at the foot of Kilimanjaro and in the heart of Tanzania safari country. The school can set you up with a fantastic guide at a reasonable cost. Imagine, your own private safari, topped off with a beach respite in Zanzibar, or lesser known Mafia Island on the south coast.

If Faraja is on your bucket list, just go! It is lifechanging. I promise.

Asante. Steve Sawle, Denver, CO

The Graduating Class of 2024

Sponsor Steve Sawle Reports From Faraja

Another Graduation Gift: Suzan Meets Her Hands

Many of you may already know Suzan who—like Evodia and other Faraja students—was born without hands. With Faraja (and all of YOU who support us at her side), Suzan defies the odds and has never let her disability define her.

Faraja has been working with our partner medical team at KCMC to fit Suzan for hand prosthesis. The day after graduation, Suzan’s hands were ready to work for her. She leaves Faraja prepared to take on many new challenges and, if you know Suzan, she can overcome anything.

Dear Faraja supporters, THIS IS WHAT YOU MAKE POSSIBLE!

This video of Suzan trying out her new hands will surely make your heart sing.

Honored Guests

As Steve noted at the top of this newsletter, Faraja graduation was an EVENT! Graduations were happening throughout Kilimanjaro in September. We were so honored that Dr. Fredrick Shoo, Bishop of the Northern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, chose to spend the entire day at Faraja, presiding over the many festivities. Bishop Shoo was inspirational. Emphatic in his message to the students, he told them “you can do anything and everything.” Addressing the guests in Swahili and English, he relayed his gratitude to Bibi and Babu’s legacy work and to the Faraja Fund Foundation and all its supporters in America. “If not for Faraja,” he said, “these children would never see the door of a school.”

The Bishop’s procession stretched across campus, dedicating the new construction that you—our supporters here in the USA—have made possible. Below the Bishop presides over the ribbon-cutting of new classrooms and the ceremonial planting of a new tree in honor of our donor community.

Head of School Tumsifu Munuo (left), Faraja Board Member Debi Swanson, and Bishop Fredrick Shoo. Bishop Shoo has a reputation throughout Tanzania as an environmentalist and tree-planter.

Opening Sponsor Letters

Sponsors: We delivered your letters graduation week. For Faraja students, receiving your letters is always a special occasion. They literally tear them open, and those students new to English beg us to read them out loud. They follow every word and study every picture. They get to know you and your family, your children and grandchildren…and your pets! There are a lot of questions about America.

Debi brought stickers for everyone. You can see that they were a big hit!

Career Camp Baking – Thank you, Sweetmore!

Career Camp

Career Camp happens twice a year. It has become so popular with the students that each year the school has extended it from one week to two weeks. This year’s camp concluded the day before graduation. Although students are introduced to vocational training throughout the school year, the weeks dedicated to learning the trades are fully immersive. Tanzania overall has a very high unemployment (and poverty) rate. Vocational training is a lifeline to independence and economic stability. Many of Faraja’s former students are now self-employed after learning a trade. Faraja opens many doors to students and, above all, they learn that disability does not define them.

Here they are in carpentry, welding, beading, sewing, textiles, and baking.

More From Graduation Week and Around Faraja

Many thanks to our alumnae, Grace and Emmanuel (above), who joined us for the day. Grace assisted the students, and Emmanuel documented the day’s festivities. Many of the photos in this newsletter were taken by Emmanuel.