September has been a busy, unforgettable month for sharing the love and compassion that defines Faraja: We welcomed our newest friends from Church of St. Mary in Lake Forest, in addition to Faraja Trustees Mitch Engel, Debi Swanson, Dave Tolmie, Jean Ellis, and Executive Director, Jeryl Levin. We spent days with the children and staff at Faraja School; accompanied the Faraja Forward Mobile Clinic as it visited families in rural Kilimanjaro, and staff trained community health workers in disability awareness and management; participated in a first-ever conference on coalition-building and advocacy to amplify the voices of people with special needs so they receive the care they deserve; and visits to our partner hospitals and meetings with partners to strengthen the ways in which we work together to benefit the lives of children with special needs and their families.
Church of St. Mary Trip Report
My name is Marietta Thomas and I live in Lake Forest, IL, just outside of Chicago. I am a member of the Church of St. Mary in Lake Forest. I was one of the organizers of a group that had planned for a year to visit both Tanzania and Kenya.
On September 16, 2025, our lives and hearts changed forever. We met the children of Faraja.
Our group consisted of 21 passionate and curious travelers from both Lake Forest and Erie, PA, and was led by Father Filbert Ngwila (originally from Morogoro, TZ and ordained in Chicago) and our tour guide Ulomi —who happened to be from Moshi—not far from where Faraja School is located.
I learned about Faraja from a wonderful woman, fellow parishioner Margaret Hartman, whose daughter-in-law, Kate, is the daughter of Faraja’s Vice-Chairman David Vermylen.
When she heard we planned to visit Tanzania, she said you must visit Faraja …. And a dream came true.
The head of Faraja School, Tumsifu Munuo, met us upon arrival and shared Faraja’s history and mission of being the only residential primary school in Kilimanjaro to serve children with special needs. When you see their eyes and smiles, all the disabilities disappear. These are beautiful, happy, loving, caring children…and the same with the staff who care for them.
We also learned about Faraja Forward and the Foundation’s efforts to reach more children outside the walls of the Primary School.
I wish we had more days to stay longer with the kids. Yet, in our short time we experienced so many profound moments with the children, the staff and their caregivers. We had time to chat and dance with them individually, holding their hands and walking with them as we toured the school, listening to the hymns they sang so powerfully as a group and solo, sharing the gifts of books, toys, and baked goods we brought for them. We even introduced them to American Football!
We visited their career camp, where we could see and purchase their beautiful handiwork,
enjoyed a delicious lunch prepared by the staff, culminating with a beautiful mass with Fr. Fil, and my husband, Deacon Bob, while the kids sang hymns in Swahili.
May God bless the children, staff, and those who are behind the scenes supporting the school and the children. Below are a few pictures from our trip.
Special Delivery of Sponsor Letters and Goodies are Always a Highlight!
Board member Debi Swanson arrived at Faraja safe and sound for the always anticipated reveal of sponsor letters. Thank you to our sponsors for taking the children into your hearts, supporting and brightening their lives, and ensuring that education is a reality because, without you, it likely wouldn’t be.
Debi is on her way home to San Diego now, and eager to share with you news of your student upon her return!
Debi pictured above with 2016 Faraja alumnus, Emmanuel Makala, who has developed a real talent for photography and video, and is responsible for many of our pictures and movies.
On The Road with Faraja Forward
Faraja Forward is always on the move, with a mission to bring services, health and hope to children with special needs and their families in remote areas of Kilimanjaro where few or no services currently exist. The Kilimanjaro region has the highest incidences of disability in the country.
Parents are in desperate need of support, so they can learn how to take care of their children and access the services available to them to improve the often dismal quality of their lives. Disability continues to be the forgotten health care need, yet in just under a year of our programming we are seeing real change—from the top-down and bottom-up.
Faraja Forward is now in more than 80 villages and counting. One of the keys to its success focuses on the training of Community Health Workers, who are the frontline providers in rural areas and the bridge to the health care system for millions in Tanzania. Although health workers receive basic training, they receive little or no training in disability awareness, disability management or caregiver mental health. With every village we visit, Faraja Forward is changing the narrative, ensuring that Community Health Workers have the information they need to support the disabled in their communities and the family members who care for them. Their work is critical to advance human rights for people with disabilities.
One of many community health worker trainings in the rural villages of Kilimanjaro.
Board members Mitch Engel and Debi Swanson assist the Faraja Forward team in pitching the tent for evaluations.
Villagers begin to gather for Faraja Forward services.
Mothers and caregivers receive evaluation, counseling, and referrals inside the mobile clinic.
We know we cannot do this work alone. That’s why Faraja has formed strategic partnerships throughout Tanzania. Below, Board Chair David Tolmie and Faraja Forward ED, Jane Lyayuka, formalize our partnership with KCMC, the largest medical center in Northern Tanzania, led by Professor Gilead Masenga, CEO.
Board member Mitch Engel (front left) raises a fist to the power of our movement, pictured here with Jane Lyayuka; the chief medical officer for the region of Tanzania (center); and members of SHIVYAWATA, the Tanzania Federation of Disabled People’s Organisations.
You can view more photos of Faraja Forward On the Road here.
As always, YOU, our community of friends in the United States and across borders, make this work possible. We have come a long way together and, together, we can go farther than we think.
Thank you for all you do. The children of Faraja and the families served by Faraja Forward never forget your kindness and compassion.
