In the United States, July is Disability Pride Month, an opportunity to honor the history, achievements, experiences, and struggles of the disability community. Today, we beam that pride across the ocean to the children of Faraja School.

And we are indeed celebrating the achievements of Faraja School Class 4 for scoring #1 on the District exams out of 72 schools!

Congratulations and Hongera, Faraja! 

Musando Kalanga Laizer, Class 4

All of us at Faraja hope that you are enjoying summer. While many of us in the U.S. are struggling with the extreme heat, it is actually "cool season" in Tanzania. 

The Faraja students study year-round and they take a three-week break in June to visit their families. One of the time-honored traditions before break is Sports Day, where everyone gets to partake in the activities including Tug-of-War, chess, wheelchair marathons and more. We are so proud of the students and thankful to our donors for giving students with physical disabilities the opportunity for education, recreation, lifelong friendships, comfort and joy! 

Introducing Debi Swanson

Faraja Sponsors know Debi, the niece of founders Joann and Don Tolmie, and a member of the Faraja Fund Foundation Board of Directors. After Joann's death, Debi, a retired pediatric nurse, stepped forward to fill Joann's shoes as Faraja's Sponsor Liaison.

Debi just returned from Faraja School. Here's what she had to say:

"I was fortunate enough to travel to Faraja this past month. It was my first time to deliver cards, letters and videos to our students from our truly wonderful donors. I had no idea what excitement this would garner. All these little hopeful eyes were all on me. There was such joy on their faces when they received their correspondences. The students are very busy with their academic classes, vocational training and starting to learn more English. This made a bit easier for me, as my Swahili is limited. They still have plenty of time to just be kids and play soccer or enjoy time on our wonderful playground or just hang out with their friends." 

"It is such an honor to follow in my Dear Aunt Joann’s footsteps. These blessed children fill my heart with love."

Look who else dropped by...

A very special visitor stopped by to say hello to our staff in Tanzania. Veronica Kombe graduated from Faraja School in 2012. She has since graduated nursing school at the top of her class and is headed for work in Bukoba, on the western shore of Lake Victoria, not far from the borders of Uganda and Rwanda.

She wanted to say "thanks to Faraja for all the support." We are so proud of you, Veronica!

Did you know that Faraja students sing like angels? Here they are rehearsing for their upcoming album in Faraja School's own recording studio, assembled by the staff. The Faraja Student choir is the only choir comprising children with disabilities in the Kilimanjaro region that travels to other locations to perform. Stay tuned for more music! 

Faraja students can and want to be productive members of Tanzanian society. Early exposure to the trades introduce children to the skills and professions needed by the labor market. At Faraja, students learn welding, carpentry, tailoring, crafts and other valuable skills that enable them to be self-sufficient in the Tanzanian economy. 

Watch as Faraja alumnus, Shabani, tells his story about moving from isolation and shame to realizing his human potential.

THANK YOU so much to the Reichert Foundation for its generous funding of Faraja's onsite vocational training.

And thanks to all of YOU for your generous support. It lifts all of us up and we could not do this work without you!

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