The Unite Blessing Campaign: The transformative power of small acts of kindness

“The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.”

—Mother Teresa

Ezekiel Abiasan Mgelele and his wife and five children stand (center) with Unite Scholar Bartazaro Elias who has been “blessing” this family through the Unite Blessing Campaign with regular gifts of cassava, maize, and ground nuts. To the left is the family home and to the right is the storage place where they keep all of their belongings.

Ezekiel Abiasan Mgelele and his wife live together in the remote Uvinza district of the Kigoma region, Western Tanzania, with their five children (ages 3 months to 12 years old) in a shack that is hand constructed using grasses, tree limbs, tarps, and kitenge fabrics. They sleep on straw laid over the dirt ground and use a nearby lean-to for the storage of their belongings. They have no electricity and walk miles to the nearest stream to collect water. None of the children attend school as Ezekiel cannot afford to purchase even school uniforms. Ezekiel’s wife says that she is “ashamed” of their living conditions; however, they spent all the money they had years ago when one of their children fell ill.  

Ezekiel and his family are seven of 2,312 people who have been reached and served to date by our Unite Blessing Campaign, an outreach program designed to:

  • Provide crucial lifesaving support to Tanzania’s most vulnerable,

  • Support entrepreneurship and small business development, and

  • Nurture the minds and hearts of our Unite Scholars and their communities.

One of the first things we do when we enroll students into our Unite Scholars Program is to provide them with grants to launch and grow their own small businesses. Our goal is to help them learn and hone hands-on entrepreneurial skills as well as to find creative ways in which to earn much needed funds for themselves and their families. [Note: Family members run the small businesses while our scholars are away at school.] Over the years our scholars have had great success with these grants, from avocado, rice, banana, and maize farming to poultry and rabbit keeping, dressmaking and tailoring, shop keeping, soap and charcoal making, establishing small restaurants and catering businesses, and more.

We first launched the Unite Blessing Campaign during the devastating COVID-19 pandemic to provide further support to our scholars by purchasing goods from their businesses (thus providing them additional income). We then asked them to identify people in their communities living in greatest need and to then give those people their goods as “blessings.” This was — and continues to be — often a challenging task as approaching strangers can be nerve wracking, especially when people question — at least at first — our scholars’ motives and intentions (such random acts of kindness are not common). Thankfully, once people understand that nothing “witchy” is going on and that there are no ulterior motives (indeed our Unite family is just being kind and generous), they warmly welcome our scholars and give abundant thanks for their blessings.

To date 75 Unite Scholars have been involved in this blessing campaign, using modest financial investments from Unite (often just $10 - $20 at a time — each scholar may receive dozens of blessing installments from Unite over months and/or years) to extend basic needs to neighboring widows, street children, elderly, people living with disabilities, outcasts, and others who are suffering.

“The Unite Blessing Campaign exemplifies how targeted, compassionate interventions can transform lives. By providing crucial support to those in need, Unite is creating a world in which everyone has the opportunity to live with dignity and hope.”

– Reporter for this blog post, Unite Scholar Elisha John George

Thanks to the support of generous Unite donors from all around the world, the Unite Blessing Campaign has evolved into a Tanzanian nation-wide, well recognized beacon of hope, ensuring that our Unite Scholars and the needy receive much-needed assistance.

When our Unite Scholars are home over their long school breaks and not working their businesses or traveling throughout their districts “blessing” others, many — like Bartazaro — further serve their communities by teaching in local schools, providing one-on-one tutoring to students in need, and speaking in local churches about the critical importance of education for children and the society at large. (In Bartazaro’s former primary school where he now volunteers there are four full-time teachers for 700 pupils. In this district, about half of students will drop from school due to poverty and/or a lack of commitment.) Bartazaro’s goal? “I want to raise the literacy in my society to foster development and to encourage new perspectives so that we can uplift the living standard of our people.”

I am so proud of each and every one of our Unite Scholars for their commitment to serving and caring for those in need. Everyone everywhere — regardless of income, background, or circumstance — has something to give, some hope to offer, which can positively impact the lives of others in ways known and unknown. May God bless our Unite family and world of friends and supporters for making such blessings possible. Asante Sana. Thank you so very much. —Anne Wells

Meet Our New Class of Scholars: The Girls (Part 2)

We are thrilled to welcome a new class of extraordinarily talented young women from all across Tanzania into our Unite Scholars Program this year. Here, let me introduce them and allow you to meet many of their families, see their homes, and learn more about their stories, hopes, and dreams (in their own voices if you click the video links).

All of these girls (and the boys in this new class as well — who you will meet in my next post) will receive their A-Level (Form 5 & Form 6) school assignments by the Tanzanian government in May/June and school will begin again for them in early July. In the meantime, Unite is providing extensive family support (beds & mattresses, mosquito nets, solar panels, bicycles, food relief, and more) as well as grants for them each to start small businesses to earn funds for themselves and their families. We also provide these scholars with tutoring support in Chemistry, Physics, Biology, and Mathematics in preparation for their A-Level studies. And, most recently, we have launched a Unite Big Sister/Big Brother program, connecting these “youngs” with our “bigs” (Unite’s university-level scholars) via their smart phones (video calls and What’s App chats) for further mentoring, friendship, and support. 

Stamili Hihe, 17, is from the Katavi region of Western Tanzania near Sumbawanga. She lives with her mother and two brothers from another father. Her parents were separated when she was young, and her father married another woman. Stamili lives with her mother and siblings in a single rented room as they cannot afford a house of their own. They survive as subsistence farmers. Throughout her primary school and lower-secondary school education, Stamili went without her most basic needs (books, stationaries, shoes, sanitary pads, food to eat at school, etc). She had only one school uniform that she wore every day for four years, and she had to walk long distances to and from school facing many dangers along the way. Back at home in the family’s rented room there is no electricity, which meant that Stamili could never study after day. Stamili graduated from lower-secondary school earning As all of her subjects, and she was the only girl in her entire district to earn Division 1 on her Form 4 leaving examinations.

Video links: Stamili speaks at the Unite Scholars event in March 2024. * Our Unite team visits Stamili at her home.

Pendo Andrew Nelbert (pictured above left with Unite Scholars Mentor Joan Mnzava and fellow Unite Scholar Sylvester Mbata), 18, was born in the Urambo district of the Tabora region of Western Tanzania. She is the oldest of nine children born to her father. When she was very young, Pendo’s mother left Pendo’s father. Pendo’s father then remarried another wife and together they had one child. That wife also left. Pendo’s father married a third time and had six more children, the youngest of whom was born in 2022. Pendo lives with her stepmother and father and hasn’t seen her mother for years. Pendo’s father works in a small store selling spare motorcycle parts, and he struggles to provide food and the other most basic needs for his large family. Pendo completed her lower-secondary education with As in all of her subjects and earned Division 1 on her Form 4 leaving examinations. 

Video links: Pendo speaks at our Unite Scholars March event in Morogoro. * Pendo says thank you to Unite. * Unite team visits Pendo at her family home.

Asia Daudi, 17, lives in the Dodoma region of Central Tanzania with her mother (pictured above) and three siblings from different fathers. Her father abandoned Asia’s mother when Asia was a baby. Asia’s mother then became ill, so Asia was sent to live with an Auntie in the Mara district who took care of her through primary school. Asia then returned to Dodoma to be with her mother who was found to be suffering from cancer. Her mother’s ongoing health battles have rendered her unable to work, so Asia has had to rely on assistance from extended family to get by. Asia and her family live in one rented room. Asia graduated lower-secondary #1 in her class, and she was ranked the top girl in the entire region.

Video links: Asia speaks at our Unite Scholars March event in Morogoro. * Asia gives a tour of her home. * The Unite team visits Asia at her home, March 2024.

Monica Stanley Nzengo, 20, is from the Chamwino village in Dodoma, Central Tanzania. She is the oldest of four children (now 11, 14, and 17 — pictured above) born to peasant farmers. In 2014, her father left her mother and took another wife. At this time, Monica’s mother ran away and abandoned her children. She hasn’t been heard from since. Monica’s father took his new wife into the family home. Monica’s step-mother was extremely cruel and abusive. After Monica told her father about the abuse, he left with his wife to live in a new location, and Monica and her siblings were left alone in the house. Since then, Monica has been taking care of her three younger siblings. Monica reports that her father is a “drunkard” who doesn’t believe in the importance of education. As a result, Monica started primary school late (at 10 years old) and often had to drop to work in the fields of other people as a day laborer to earn money for the family. Monica struggled and kept pushing to return to the classroom. She completed primary school scoring best in class. Due to her top performance, Monica was chosen by the Tanzanian government to attend a top school for lower secondary. During her four years of lower secondary, Monica never had funds for books or personal needs. Thankfully her teachers recognized her great potential and pooled their resources to help her. With their support, Monica excelled in her studies and demonstrated strong leadership skills. She was voted to serve as Academic Prefect and Head Girl, and she scored Division 1 on her Form 4 national examinations.

Video links: Monica speaks at the Unite Scholars kick off event in March 2024. * Monica gives a tour of where she lives alone with her siblings. * The Unite team visits Monica and her siblings at their home. * Monica shows the family support provided by her Unite sponsor.

Rose Vasco Kipara, 18, was born and raised in Mwanza in the Buhosa district of Northwestern Tanzania. Rose is one of eight children born to her parents. Her father died in 2014 from lung disease, and her mother has since raised her children alone. Rose attended a local government primary school and earned As in all of her subjects. She worked hard and finished in the top five graduating students. As a result of her excellent performance, Rose was selected to attend the prestigious government Tabora Girls Secondary School for lower secondary. Throughout her four years of lower-secondary, life was extremely challenging; however, Rose still scored Division 1 on her national examinations.

Video links: Rose speaks at the Unite Scholars event in March 2024. * Rose gives a tour of her family home.

Floriana Joseph Sebunga, 19, is from the Dodoma district of Central Tanzania. She is the oldest of two girls born to her mother. Floriana’s father, a peasant farmer, abandoned Floriana and her mother when Floriana was very young, and he hasn’t been heard from since. Her mother fled to Dar es Salaam in search of work and had another daughter with another man. That man left as well. Floriana’s mother then sent Floriana and Floriana’s baby sister to live in Dodoma with their grandparents, while she struggled to earn money to support the entire family by working as an office cleaner in Dar es Salaam. Floriana completed her lower-secondary education at a government school and earned the prestigious Division 1 on her Form 4 leaving exams.

Video links: Floriana speaks at the Unite Scholars event in March 2024. * The Unite team visits Floriana and her mother at her mother’s rented room in Dar es Salaam.

Faith Deonis Nemens, 18, is from the Gallapo village of the Manyara region of Northern Tanzania. She is the second of six children in her family. Her mother dropped from school at 16 as her parents (Faith’s grandparents) had no money to pay for her continued education. Faith’s mother then married Faith’s father who painted pictures to sell in central marketplaces. In 2012, Faith’s father died of a lung disease. Faith’s mother then married another man, a peasant farmer who cultivates less than an acre of rented land. They had three more children. Faith’s mother does her best to earn money by cooking snacks and selling them in the streets; however, together Faith’s mother and stepfather earn only 40,000 TSH/month (~$16), which is not nearly enough to feed their children or provide for their most basic needs. The family lives in a tiny one-bedroom house built by hand. The parents sleep in one room and all the children sleep on the floor in the entry room. Faith completed her lower-secondary education earning As in all of her subjects and earning the highest marks possible on her Form 4 leaving examination. 

Video links: Faith speaks at the Unite scholars kick off event in March 2024. * Faith shows her living conditions. * Faith introduces her family.

Zakia Salum, 17, (pictured above right) is from the Ulanga district of Morogoro, Central Tanzania. She lives with her two brothers, one sister, and her parents, both of whom are peasant farmers. The family works hard to cultivate maize, rice, and cassava on their small plot of land using only hand hoes. Zakia attended a local government primary and lower-secondary school. While the schools were both resource-poor with too few teachers, books, and desks for the students, Zakia managed to excel and during her first year of lower-secondary, Zakia ranked #1. During her second year, she ranked 3rd, and during her third year she ranked #2—and she was consistently the best student in English, Geography and Civics. Zakia had long distances to walk from home to school and often spent many hours alone in the forest collecting firewood for cooking. One day in 2022 when Zakia was in the forest, she was attacked by a stranger. The rape left Zakia pregnant, and she now has a baby daughter, Maria, whom her family is helping to care for. In the past, girls in Tanzania have been expelled from school for falling pregnant; however, because it was widely known that Zakia was raped, she was allowed to return to school to finish Form 4 (the final year of lower secondary school). Unite is sponsoring Zakia to attend the Cambridge Institute of Tourism Management where she is now studying hotel management.

Video links: Zakia speaks at our Unite Scholars event in March 2024. * Zakia introduces her infant child Maria.

Emmanuela Cassian, 17, lives in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. She is the oldest of four children. Emmanuela’s father is a driver working on the other side of the country (returning home once or twice a year), and her mother is unable to work due to a rare skin disease on her hands. For many years the family has lived without electricity, water, or a proper roof. In lower secondary school, Emmanuela earned As in all of her classes and was elected the highest honor of service as Academic Prefect. Emmanuela scored Division 1 on her Form 4 leaving examinations.

Video links: Emmanuela speaks at the Unite Scholar event in March 2024. * The Unite team visits Emmanuela’s home.

Elizabeth Bida, 18, lives in the Katavi region of Western Tanzania. She is the fifth of eight children born to small-scale peasant farmers (five girls and three boys). Elizabeth’s older sister Pili was accepted into the Unite Scholars Program in 2020 and is now sponsored by Unite to attend nursing school in Tanzania. Elizabeth’s family works with Unite to execute the social impact work of the Unite Food Program by providing small-scale farming families in Katavi with a stable, fair market for all of their crops as well as will hermetic grain storage bags that enable peasant farmers to safely hold back food – without the spoilage or pest infestation or the need for pesticides or fungicides – for up to a year at a time. Unite also purchases maize from Elizabeth’s family and provides them with special hermetic grain bags (which Elizabeth’s parents would not otherwise be able to afford) so that they have a secure food source as well as a product that they can sell in times of drought when food prices skyrocket.

Video links: The Unite team visits Elizabeth at her home in Katavi.

Seeking sponsors for our new class of Unite A-Level Scholars

Our team is now fielding and closely reviewing applications from many dozens of highly talented youth across Tanzania. Our goal is to enroll up to 25 new scholars in our new class, which will begin A Levels in June/July 2024. In order to do so, we need your help.

The mission of the Unite Scholars Program is to break the vicious cycle of poverty, oppression, and wasted human potential by empowering uniquely talented, marginalized youth with access to quality education through higher secondary (A-Levels) and beyond; and to nurture creative and independent thinking and the development of the personal and professional life and “soft” skills necessary to achieve success as active, engaged, and productive global citizens.

Unite Scholars come from some of the most remote and impoverished areas of Tanzania. Many are orphaned or living with one parent or grandparent; all are exceptionally bright, demonstrate great aptitude and leadership potential, and are worthy of our time, investment, and respect.

Here below please find a few of the candidates for whom we are still seeking sponsorship.

Bartazaro Elias

Bartazaro, 20, is from the Kigoma district of western Tanzania. He is the second of six children born to small-scale farmers. His father is 80 years old and too unwell to work. His mother, 51, is a peasant farmer and plants beans, maize, and cassava to support the family. The family struggles to meet their most basic needs of food and shelter, and they live with no electricity or access to running water. Bartazaro attended a local village primary school and lower-secondary school, both more than an hour walk each way from his remote homeplace. Over the years, Bartazaro frequently had to drop from school to help his mother work their small farm to earn money to survive. This is why he is much older than most Form 4 graduates. During his free time, Bartazaro volunteers in the local primary school where there are not enough teachers to meet the needs of the students. He is committed to helping other impoverished students succeed in every way possible. In November 2023, Bartazaro completed his lower-secondary education at the remote Lagosa Secondary School. He was one of two students in his entire school to earn Division 1 on his Form 4 leaving exams — his score being the very best in the entire school. Bartazaro dreams of continuing his education to become a positive change maker in his community. As a Unite Scholar, Bartazaro will be the only one in his extended family to ever attend higher secondary school.

Click HERE to see Bartazaro give a tour of his home.

Monica Stanley Nzengo

Monica, 20, is from Dodoma, Tanzania. She is the oldest of four children (now 11, 14, and 17) born to peasant farmers. In 2014, her father decided to leave her mother and take another wife. At this time, Monica’s mother ran away and abandoned her children. She knew that alone she would have no way to care for them, so she moved someplace far away (still unknown) to start over without responsibilities. Monica’s father took his new wife into the family home. Monica’s step-mother was extremely cruel and abusive. After Monica told her father about the abuse, he left with his wife to live in a new location, and Monica and her siblings were left alone in the house. Since then, Monica has been taking care of her three younger siblings. Monica writes, “Life then became harder than ever before as we have since had no one to guide and support us.” Growing up, Monica’s parents never had enough money to pay for her school fees or uniforms. Additionally, Monica reports that her father was a “drunkard” and didn’t believe in the importance of education, so he made it extremely difficult for her to attend school. As a result, Monica started primary school late (at 10 years old) and often had to drop to work the fields as a day laborer to earn money for the family. However, she struggled and kept pushing to return to the classroom. Amazingly, once Monica finally completed primary school, she scored best in class.

Due to her top performance in primary school, Monica was chosen by the Tanzanian government to attend Msalato School for lower secondary. During her four years at Msalato, Monica never had funds for books or personal needs. She couldn’t even afford basic hygiene products (e.g. soap and sanitary pads). Thankfully her teachers recognized her great potential and pooled their resources to help her. With their support, Monica excelled in her studies and demonstrated strong leadership skills. She was elected Academic Prefect and Head Girl and finished with As in all of her subjects and Division 1.7 on her national Form 4 leaving exam. (The best score possible!) Now that she is back home, Monica is plaiting hair to earn money “for survival.”. She also receives a bit of support from neighbors and the church. Monica dreams of continuing her education to study science and one day medicine. Note: Monica is now fully sponsored.

Click HERE to see Monica tell her story.

Erikon Thomas Mashauri

Erikon, 18, was born and raised with two older sisters in the Kongwa district of Tanzania. His mother abandoned the family when Erikon was 10 years old after his father was diagnosed with a mental illness. This undefined illness makes Erikon’s father, at times, act violently and dangerously towards himself and those around him. Due to his condition, Erikson’s father is unable to work. To survive, the family moved in with Erikon’s father’s mother and siblings. People living around Erikson and his family do not understand mental illness so they attribute his odd behavoir to witchcraft and curses. As a result, Erikon and his family are ostracized. Erikon’s aunt sells clothing in the streets and uses her meager income to care for Erikon. Throughout primary school, Erikon earned top marks and scored top of his class. As a result of his excellent performance, Erikon was chosen to attend the prestigious Tabora Boys School for lower-secondary school. While at lower-secondary school, Erikson had no funds for uniforms, books, stationaries, or personal needs. Since he could not afford bus fare home, he never left school for four years. Erikson graduated Form 4 in November 2023. He earned As in all of his classes and scored Division 1.7 on his National Form 4 Leaving Examination. Erikon is now home helping his grandmother cultivate a small plot of land. Unfortunately, because Erikson’s father can often be violent and dangerous, Erikson and his grandmother have to sleep at a neighbor’s house (and pay rent) so they can be separated from his father at night. Erikon dreams of continuing his education to one day become an architect.

Click HERE to see Erikon’s home life.

Sylvester Methody Mbata

Sylvester, 18, is from the Tabora region of western Tanzania. He lives with his parents and two sisters, ages 23 and 16. Sylvester’s parents are small-scale farmers. The family’s entire income depends on the success of their harvest off their small plot of land, and they often go without their most basic needs and face long spells of hunger. Sylvester attended a local village primary school and performed extremely well. His parents often could not afford to pay the small fees required for uniforms and books, which meant Sylvester would periodically have to drop from school to work the family farm and walk long distances to sell vegetables to villagers to try and get money. However, due to his exemplary performance in primary school, Sylvester was assigned to attend the Tabora Boys secondary school for his lower-secondary education. While at Tabora, Sylvester was supported by the school’s Unite Club – and his fellow club members and club faculty leader. In November 2023, Sylvester completed his lower-secondary education. He earned As in all of his subjects and scored Division 1.7 on his National Form 4 Leaving Examination. Sylvester dreams of continuing his education to one day work in the field of medicine.

Click HERE to see Sylvester’s home.

Asia Daudi Sasa

Asia, 17, lives in the Dodoma region of central Tanzania with her mother and three siblings (all from different fathers). Her father abandoned Asia and Asia’s mother when Asia was a baby. Asia’s mother then became ill when Asia was young, so Asia was sent to live with an Auntie in the Mara district who took care of her through primary school. Asia then returned to Dodoma to be with her mother who was found to be suffering from cancer. Asia received top marks in primary school and was assigned to attend the prestigious government Tabora Girls School for lower-secondary. Her mother’s ongoing health battles has rendered her unable to work, so Asia has had to rely on assistance from extended family to get by. Asia graduated from lower-secondary in late 2023. She earned A’s in all of her subjects and scored Division 1.7 on her National Form 4 Leaving Examination (the highest score possible). Asia dreams of continuing her studies to one day go into the field of medicine to help people who suffer from cancer like her mother.

Click HERE to see Asia tell her story.

***

An comprehensive annual sponsorship is $3,000

We invite and welcome any size contributions towards this amount.

WHAT DOES AN ANNUAL SPONSORSHIP INCLUDE?

Academic Support & Enrichment

  • A dedicated Unite Mentor.

  • School fees and mandatory school contributions through two years of A-Levels and beyond into university (as needed).

  • Uniforms, school books and school supplies, testing fees, field trips, etc.

  • All housing/boarding fees, food, and living necessities.

  • Support to identify and participate in international academic enrichment opportunities.'

Technology, Transport, & Training

  • A smartphone and laptop.

  • Transport to and from school and home for all school holidays.

  • Transport to and supplies for Unite Mentorship meetings over holidays.

  • Unite trainings over school holidays with fellow scholars and professional facilitators.

  • Individualized support through Unite’s Soft & Life Skills & Professional Curricula

Family Support

  • At least one home visit by a member of Unite’s leadership team.

  • Health insurance.

  • Family support (e.g. food relief, bicycles, solar panels, water filters, interest-free loans).

  • For scholars' families who are engaged in small-scale farming, Unite Food Program will purchase
    harvests and provide safe grain storage.

Paid Internships

  • To learn real-life, hands-on skills that will support their future professional success, Unite Scholars are invited to engage in paid internships at our Unite Food Program (UFP)'s headquarters in Dar es Salaam and with UFP teammates across the country.

Post-Graduate Aid, Network & Support

  • Grants to start small businesses and access to Unite's Warrior for Change interest-free loans.

  • Opportunity to attend Unite events, workshops, trainings, internships, celebrations, and field trips.

  • A global network of engaged and supportive Unite Scholars, alumni, partners, and friends.

  • Invitation to attend a Unite-sponsored East African Unite Fellows Conference (beginning 2025)

NOTE: Anne Wells will travel to Tanzania March 1st to join Unite Program Director Anty Marche, Unite Scholars Program Manager Joan Mnzava, and the rest of the Unite team to host a “kick off” event for this our entire new class of Unite A-level Scholars.
For more information, contact Anne at 314.239.3997.

Unite Food Program now provides fortified maize flour to fight malnutrition

The Unite Food Program (UFP) now supplies fortified maize flour to the Tanzanian public as part of an Africa maize flour fortification strategy that envisions “a micronutrient malnutrition-free Africa.” UFP is working with the international organization Sanku Project for Health Children (Sanku) to add the critical micronutrients of Folic acid, Vitamin B12, Iron, and Zinc Oxide to maize flour. Aross East Africa maize constitutes 50% of dietary intake which makes the fortification of maize flour one of the most direct, powerful, and efficient avenues through which to combat devastating micronutrient deficiencies that compromise immune systems, hinder child growth and development, and negatively affect human potentials and outcomes.

UFP maize, cleaned and ready to be milled into flour.

The UFP mill is now outfitted with a dosifier — fully automated and monitored remotely by Sanku — that adds a precise amount of micronutrients to the flour as it runs through the weight sensitive grain hopper. The added nutrients meet the government’s standards for fortification.

Women with small children are primary customers at UFP HQ in Dar es Salaam.

Did you know…?

  • 30% of the world’s population experiences micronutrient malnutrition (a.k.a. “hidden hunger”).

  • Micronutrient deficiencies are the leading cause of intellectual disability in children, preventable blindness among adults, and maternal death during childbirth.

  • 1 in 2 children worldwide are iron, zinc or vitamin A deficient, while 2/3 of women of reproductive age suffer from at least one form of micronutrient deficiency.

  • 200,000,000 children suffer from mental impairment in the first 5 years.

  • 8,000 children die everyday from malnutrition.

UFP Program Manager Clara Wilson Ngowi in one of the UFP storage rooms demonstrates to guests how the hermetic Agro-Z grain storage bags work. UFP uses the Agro-Z bags to ensure the safe, mold- and pest-free storage of UFP grains without the need for any post-harvest application of pesticides or chemicals.

“Fortification of maize flour at UFP will help unlock the potentials of children and Tanzanians by correcting nutrient intake shortfalls.”

— Clara Wilson Ngowi, UFP Manager

Home to 66+ million people, Tanzania is the largest country in East Africa. The population is predominantly rural, and agriculture is the mainstay of the economy employing ~66% of the population. Maize, rice and beans are the staple food crops largely produced by small-scale peasant farmers and grown under low input, rain-fed conditions. The Unite Food Program (UFP) is a social enterprise whose mission is to empower these small-scale farmers with a secure market for their crops at fair market prices as well as to provide healthy, tasty, and affordable staple food options to all Tanzanian people. Click HERE to see a video about UFP.

Unite the World With Africa Foundation Founder & Executive Director Anne Wells with the team at Unite Food Program, October 2023.

Anne Wells with Unite Program Director Anty Marche visiting a UFP retailer in Dar es Salaam.

UFP’s Salvius Nchimbi always hard at work securing and fulfilling retail and wholesale orders.

Sources: Sanku Project for Health Children;  The Lancet, November 2.2.2022; https://projecthealthychildren.org; The Micronutrient Forum, GAIN and USAID; Africa Maize Fortification Strategy 2017-2026, by Dr. Wilson Enzama, Development Economist; Data Report

Unite launches new partnership with The Nature Conservancy Africa

This week marks the finale of our inaugural internship program partnership launched this summer with The Nature Conservancy Africa to empower Unite university-level scholars with practical, hands-on work opportunities with TNC-Africa’s programs in Western Tanzania.

“This internship bridges the gap between theory and practice equipping us interns with practical skills and insights that cannot be learned in a classroom.”

– Unite Scholar Lucia Kunambi

Debbie Wiley, a board member of Unite The World With Africa Foundation and The Nature Conservancy Rhode Island, discusses the impact of this partnership.

As part of this internship program, our Unite Scholars have:

  • Taught biology, math, and English at the Lagosa Secondary and Buhingu Secondary schools to improve academic outcomes. They have also shared the soft & life skill lessons from the Unite Club curriculum.

  • Conducted community health outreach going home to home teaching personal hygiene, family planning, water management, how to avoid infectious diseases, the importance of including women in decision-making and educating their children, and more.

  • Worked with village banks to create stronger relationships among group members and design plans for viable small-scale businesses.

  • Worked with a Beach Management Unit, helping to keep beaches along the shores of Lake Tanganyika clean, assisting with lake patrols, and training staff on the use of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for the creation of reports.

  • And (our medical student) worked at the Buhingu Health Clinic weighing and measuring newborns and young children, administering vaccinations, teaching parents how to keep their children healthy, assisting with surgical procedures, and more.

Through these hands-on experiences, our Unite scholars have exponentially advanced their professional and interpersonal skills, which will help launch them in their successful careers post-graduation. TNC’s Program Director in the Kigoma Region Mr. Lukindo Hiza said it best…

“the world changes rapidly but the syllabus takes longer to change.”

Unite Scholars (in red T-shirts) visit homes in the villages along the shores of Lake Tanganyika as part of a project called “Model Household,” which stresses the importance of having usable and clean toilets, proper dumping areas, female inclusion in education and family decision making, separate living structures for family members and livestock, family planning, and more.

Unite Scholars John John Mashimba, Lucia Kunambi, and Zainabu Seiph engage with village children. Click HERE to see them dance together.

Unite Scholar Andia Rubia teaches mathematics at the Buhingu Secondary School.

“We talked to the students about all kinds of important things they will need for success, including hard work, self-confidence, cooperation, teamwork, and public speaking.”

~Unite Scholar Ephraim Thomas

“The gain we obtained from this partnership is beyond our expectations. The Unite interns learned about holistic integrated conservation, and they delivered a lot back to the community. Our Lagosa secondary school and Buhingu secondary school benefited the most. Students were inspired and learned more about different subjects. We expect academic performance to improve. As a result of the Unite Scholars’ participation, our Beach Management Units, microfinance groups, bee-keeping groups, and farmers groups had constant staff to connect with. Village households were visited frequently. And, most importantly, our remote health unit in Buhingu had support in delivering service and care. By connecting with Unite Scholars, all of whom come from the same background (poor rural families), the children in these villages were encouraged to believe they too can do something with their lives. Youth to youth outreach is most powerful. I look forward to a more advanced partnership between our organizations to enhance holistic integrated conservation and youth inclusion.”

— TNC’s Program Director in the Kigoma Region Mr. Lukindo Hiza (pictured above left, second from back)