In a few days I am returning to Tanzania to — among other things — meet and onboard our new class of A-level Unite Scholars. Our team has spent many months reviewing candidates from regions across Tanzania to find highly talented youth who would not be able to continue on with their educations without Unite’s support. The mission of our Unite Scholars & Mentorship Program is two-fold:
To break the vicious cycle of poverty, oppression, and wasted human potential by empowering uniquely talented yet impoverished youth with access to quality education through A-Levels and beyond.
To nurture creative and independent thinking and the development of personal and professional life skills necessary for success as active, engaged, and productive global citizens.
Click HERE to see a short video about Unite’s lead mentor and program manager Joan Mnzava, and click HERE to learn more about the program and the specific support Unite provides.
In Tanzania,~3% of youth are enrolled in higher secondary for their A-levels.
(Sources: UNESCO, 2020; Unicef)
The new unite scholars
ANGELA NICOLAUS MAKYAO
Angela, 17, lives in the Kilolo District of Iringa, Tanzania, with her mother and three younger half-siblings. Angela’s mother was only able to complete primary school (~grade 7), and she struggles to support her children by working as a peasant farmer. Angela has never known her father, and the father of her siblings abandoned Angela’s mother and his children long ago. Angela and her family live in a small hand-made house that is covered with grasses that serve as a roof. To help her family survive, Angela has been working as a day laborer since she was 10 years old before and after school and over all school holidays. In November 2022, Angela graduated from the Msalato Girls Lower Secondary School and scored Division 1 on her Form 4 National Leaving Examination. Click HERE to see Angela tell her story and HERE for her home tour.
GLORY DAMAS GIMARI
Glory, 17, lives in the Kibondo district of Kigoma Tanzania with her grandparents and her younger 14-year-old half-brother. Glory’s grandparents survive as subsistence farmers, planting maize and beans in their small shamba (farm). Glory’s mother lives in another village with her new husband and their two young daughters, ages two and six. Glory does not know her birth father as he abandoned her mother when Glory was born. Throughout primary school, Glory was mocked by her peers for not having a mother or father to go home to. They also called Glory’s mother a prostitute since she had children with three different fathers. Despite Glory’s many challenges, she earned all As throughout primary school. As Glory was one of the highest achieving students in her primary school, the Tanzanian government assigned her to the prestigious Tabora Girls School for lower secondary. In November 2022 Glory graduated from Tabora Girls and scored Division 1 on her Form Four leaving examination. Click HERE to see Glory tell her story and HERE for her home tour.
JACKLINE MANGA VICENT
Jackline, 16, lives in the Singida region of Northern Tanzania with her mother and three siblings. Jackline’s father was killed in a car accident in 2019. He had walked Jackline to school that morning and was hit by a motor vehicle when he was walking back home. Jackline’s father worked as a civil engineer and was responsible for providing for his entire extended family. Following his death, there was no source of family income so Jackline’s mother started selling fruits in the streets. Her mother struggles greatly to provide even the most basic needs for herself and her children. Jackline’s oldest sibling has now left home. Throughout primary school, Jackline earned As in all of her subjects. She performed so well, the Tanzanian government chose for her to attend the prestigious Tabora Girls School for lower secondary. While at Tabora, Jackline served as an academic leader. In November 2022 Jackline graduated from Tabora Girls and scored Division 1 on her Form Four leaving examinations. Click HERE to see Jackline tell her story and HERE to see Jackline show us her home.
LENI JAEMIA MLAJILE
Leni, 17, lives in Mbarali district of Southern Tanzania with her mother, a peasant farmer, and five brothers and sisters in a small rented space. After Leni’s father’s untimely death in 2009, his relatives took all the family assets, leaving Leni’s mother with nothing. Leni’s mother suffers from chronic illness and has never been able to earn enough money to help her children through school. Leni’s uncle has helped to provide as best he can; however, all of Leni’s older siblings are out of school and surviving as day laborers. Oftentimes throughout her education, Leni has been banned from her classrooms due to her inability to pay. Throughout her secondary school years, Leni went without soap and personal hygiene items as well as necessary clothes and exercise books. Yet somehow, Leni managed to perform extremely well, earning A in all of her subjects. In November 2022 she graduated from Msalato Girls lower secondary and scored Division 1 on her Form Four leaving examinations. Click HERE to see Leni tell her story and HERE for her home tour.
MERCY GEOFFREY CHACHA
Mercy, 18, lives in the Tabata district of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with her single mother, her two older sisters, her older brother, and her two younger sisters. Her mother has no steady work and survives by doing odd jobs for people in the community. Mercy’s father died when she was seven years old. Following her father’s death, the family has suffered greatly. Against all odds, Mercy finished primary school with As in her subjects and served as assistant chairperson of the school’s environmental club. She was assigned by the Tanzanian government to attend the Harrison Uwata Lower Secondary School for her O Levels. She spent two years at Harrison Uwata and then transferred to the stronger Kamene Secondary school where she continued to excel in her academics and joined the Physics Club and the HIV/AIDS Club and served as the social and welfare prefect. While at Kamene, Mercy lacked the most basic supplies and often had to drop for weeks and months at a time due to her inability to pay tuition fees. Mercy often resorted to begging in the streets to raise money to allow her to return to the classroom. In November 2022, Mercy graduated from Kamene and scored Division 1 on her Form Four leaving examination. Click HERE to see Mercy tell her story.
NEEMA JOHN CHAMBOGA
Neema, 18, lives in the Njombe region of Southern Tanzania in a small unfinished house with her mother. Neema’s mother had eight children from two different fathers. Only five of Neema’s siblings have survived. Neema is the youngest and only child to continue education beyond the primary level. Her older sister Rebeka (now 38) dropped from school at age 12. Rebeka is now married with four children of her own and survives as a peasant farmer. Her brothers Noely (now 34) and Isaka (25) both dropped from school at age 12 and now work as day laborers. Her sister Fariji (22) also dropped from school after primary level and works as a housegirl. Neema’s father had two wives and spent most of his time with his other family before dying unexplainably in 2020. Throughout primary school, Neema earned As in all of her subjects despite lacking the most basic supplies. Neema was chosen by the Tanzanian government to attend the prestigious Kilakala Girls School for lower secondary. Over the school holidays, Neema worked as a day laborer in the fields to earn money to eat and stay in school. She also received occasional assistance from her church for such things as bus fare and soap. In November 2022 Neema graduated from Kilakala and scored Division 1 on her Form Four leaving examinations. Click HERE to see Neema tell her story and HERE to see Neema’s home tour.
SIMPOLIANA XAVERY LUOGA
Simpoliana, 17, lives in the Njombe region of Southern Tanzania. She is one of seven children born to her father through his two wives. Both of her parents are peasant farmers who cultivate maize and beans using hand hoes. Simpoliana attended a local government primary school and earned As in all of her subjects. Her parents worked hard to pay the fees and even went without meals, tea, sugar, and salt so that Simpoliana could stay in school and continue her studies. Due to her excellent performance in primary school, Simpoliana was chosen by the Tanzanian government to attend the prestigious Kilakala School for Girls for lower secondary. During her four years at Kilakala, Simpoliana never had pocket money or the necessary uniforms, books, or school supplies. She also suffers from a vision impairment that requires her to always sit at the very front of the class in order to see. Despite her challenges, Simpoliana performed in excellence. In November 2022, Simpoliana graduated from Kilakala and scored Division 1 on her Form Four leaving examinations. Click HERE to see Simpoliana tell her story and HERE for her home tour.
SWAUMU NURUDINI ISSA
Swaumu, 17, is from the Mtwara region of Southern Tanzania. She lives with her mother, a peasant farmer; her stepfather; and her younger half-brother. Her parents separated when she was young. Her father is a peasant farmer as well, and he is married to another woman. Neither of Swaumu’s parents went to school beyond the primary level (~age 14). Swaumu’s entire extended family lives as small-scale subsistence farmers. Swaumu attended a local government primary school and, due to her excellent performance, was one of three girls in her entire district to be chosen by the Tanzanian government to attend the prestigious Kilakala School for Girls for lower secondary. During her four years at Kilakala, Swaumu never had pocket money or the necessary uniforms, books, or school supplies and often stayed at school over the holidays due to a lack of funds for bus fare. Despite her challenges, Swaumu performed in excellence. In November 2022, Swaumu graduated from Kilakala and scored Division 1 on her Form Four leaving examinations. Click HERE to see Swaumu tell her story and HERE to see her home tour.
RHODA MERIKI STANLEY
Rhoda, 16, lives with her mother and two younger siblings in Tabora, Tanzania. Rhoda’s father abandoned the family in 2018 and hasn’t been heard from since. Her mother works as a tailor and struggles to earn enough money not only to pay rent on the family’s small rented room but also to feed Rhoda and her siblings one to two meals a day. Through the charity of extended family and Good Samaritans, Rhoda was able to attend Tabora Girls school for lower secondary. She never had pocket money or the necessary uniforms, books, or school supplies; however, Rhoda still managed to perform in excellence. In November 2022, Rhoda graduated from the Tabora Girls School and scored Division 1 on her Form Four leaving examinations. Click HERE to see Rhoda tell her story and HERE for her home tour.
VERONICA ERNEST SANGULA
Veronica, 17, lives in the Dodoma region of central Tanzania with her mother and three younger siblings. Her older sister has already left the family home. Veronica’s mother is a peasant farmer during the rainy season, and during the dry season, she sells homemade grain alcohol. Veronica’s father, also a peasant farmer, divorced her mother when Veronica was 13 years old. He left them with nothing. To help her mother, Veronica works as a housemaid in Dar es Salaam over school holidays. Against all odds, Veronica finished primary school with As in all of her subjects. She was assigned by the Tanzanian government to attend the Kilakala Girls Lower Secondary School for her O Levels. At Kilakala, Veronica’s teachers helped her get through. Veronica excelled in her academics and joined the school’s business club. In November 2022, Veronica graduated from Kilakala and scored Division 1 on her Form Four leaving examination. Click HERE to see Veronica tell her story.
OLIVA ANDREA SULLE
Oliva, 18, lives in the Babati district of Manyara, Tanzania, with her parents, both of whom are subsistence farmers. Oliva is the fourth born of six children. Her two younger siblings, ages 7 and 14, live with Oliva’s grandmother. Oliva suffered from severe sickness as a young child; however, the source of her suffering was never discovered as her parents lacked the funds to send her to a doctor. Oliva and her siblings have also faced relentless hunger, which is why her younger siblings now live with their grandmother -- so they may have more access to food. Despite lacking nearly all necessary school supplies (including pencils and paper), Oliva performed well through primary school while at the same time, she sold baobab fruits on the streets to try to earn money. Oliva was chosen by the Tanzanian government to attend the Komoto Secondary School for lower secondary. While at school she participated in the Tanzanian Students’ Christian Fellowship and scored well in her classes. In November 2022, Oliva graduated from Komoto. Click HERE to see Oliva tell her story and HERE for her home tour.
ELIZABETH EMON NONDI
Elizabeth, 19, lives in the Manyara district of Northern Tanzania. Elizabeth is the ninth of 11 children born to peasant farmers who cultivate just one hectare of land. Six of Elizabeth’s older siblings have married and left home. Elizabeth is one of five who still depends on her parents who survive by growing bananas and selling them in the streets. Elizabeth finished primary school in 2018 and was one of the top-performing students. She was chosen by the Tanzanian government to attend the Gallapo School for lower secondary. During her four years at Gallapo, Elizabeth struggled with a lack of books and school supplies, long walks to and from school each day, the aggressive demands of house chores which made studying after school difficult, and often no food to eat for entire days. Her teachers report that she is extremely respectful, cooperative, and hard-working. Click HERE to see Elizabeth tell her story and HERE for her home tour.
BARNABA ZAKARIA MADIRISHA
Barnaba, 19, lives in the Tanga region of Tanzania with his parents and his four brothers and sisters. Barnaba’s parents survive as subsistence farmers planting maize and beans on their small shamba (farm). Barnaba earned the top position at his primary school, which is why he was the only student from his school to be chosen by the government to attend the prestigious Mzumbe Secondary School for boys. Due to his parents’ poor economic situation, while at Mzumbe Barnaba never had proper uniforms, books, or school supplies. After his second year at Mzumbe, Barnaba fell ill with stomach ulcers. His parents couldn’t afford to send him to a doctor, so he dropped from school. After a year, Barnaba re-enrolled at Mzumbe where he participated in our Unite Club program and continued to earn the highest marks in his classes. In November 2022, Barnaba successfully graduated from Mzumbe Secondary School and scored Division 1 on his Form 4 National Leaving Examination. Click HERE to hear Barnaba tell his story and HERE for his home tour.
CRISPIN MULOKOZI
Crispin, 17, lives in the Muleba district of Kagera, Tanzania, with his mother Edda, 47, and one of his two older siblings. Crispin’s father died in 2020 from a head injury sustained in a car accident. Crispin earned all As throughout primary school and was selected by the Tanzanian government to attend the prestigious Mzumbe Secondary School for Boys for his lower-secondary education. However, following his father’s untimely death, Crispin no longer had any funds for his most basic needs. Edda, who operates a small store, suffers from diabetes and cannot afford to get the medication she needs to survive, never mind feed, house, and clothe her family. In November 2022, Crispin successfully graduated from Mzumbe Secondary School, and he scored Division 1 on his Form 4 National Leaving Examination. Click HERE to see Crispin tell his story and HERE for his daily routine while at home.
EMMANUEL MKULATI LENGI’DU
Emmanuel, 17, lives in the Morogoro district of Central Tanzania. Emmanuel is from a polygamous Maasai family. He is one of 26 children born to his father by his four wives. He is the youngest of nine born to his mother who is his father’s second wife. Emmanuel’s father died in 2015 at 85 years old. He believes his mother is about 65 years old but since she has no birth certificate, no one knows her age for sure. Emmanuel lives with his mother and his brothers and their nine wives and 32 children. His sister was forced to marry at age 14 and now lives with her husband’s family. Emmanuel’s mother and father never went to school; Emmanuel is the only one in his family to have the opportunity to enroll in higher secondary school. Most of his siblings never went to school at all. Throughout primary school, Emmanuel would walk two hours to and from school each way, and he would eat only one small meal at night when he returned home as his parents had nothing to give him. He often dropped from school for months at a time due to an inability to pay school fees. Eventually, Emmanual made it through as his brothers would pay the fees whenever they could. Emmanuel performed well in primary school and was assigned by the Tanzania government to attend the Mzumbe Secondary School for Boys. In November 2022, Emmanuel graduated from Mzumbe and scored a Division 1 on his Form Four leaving examination. Click HERE to see Emmanual tell his story and HERE for his home tour.
JENSEN HUMPREY NGOWI
Jensen, 17, lives in the Arusha region of northern Tanzania with his grandmother. Jensen used to live with his mother and father and his younger sister; however, in 2014 he was sent to live with his grandmother because his father abandoned the family and his mother -- who survives by selling bites in the streets -- could not afford to feed him. Jensen’s grandmother runs a small shop in Arusha where she sells detergents and candy, so she took Jensen in, and Jensen’s younger sister was sent to live with an uncle. Against all odds, Jensen finished primary school with As in all of his subjects and ranked as the best student in the entire district. As a result of his excellent performance, Jensen was chosen to attend the prestigious Tabora Boys School for lower secondary. During his four years at Tabora, Jensen lacked the most basic supplies and never had money to go home for school holidays. He was assisted by teachers who took pity on him. Despite his challenges, Jensen performed extremely well in his subjects, consistently scoring in the top 5 of his class. In November 2022, Jensen graduated from Tabora Boys school and scored Division 1 on his Form Four leaving examination. Click HERE to see Jensen tell his story and HERE for his home tour.
KATUNZI BARAKA
Katunzi, 17, lives in the Geita district of Northern Tanzania with his mother, four brothers, and one sister. Katunzi’s father abandoned the family in 2013. His mother struggles to provide for her children by selling charcoal in the street and cleaning people’s laundry. Katunzi was eight years old when his father left. He was going to have to drop out of school due to his inability to pay for mandatory supplies; however, the school owner noticed Katunzi’s aptitude and stepped in to cover all his expenses. Katunzi finished primary school with As in all of his subjects. As a result of his excellent performance, Katunzi was chosen by the Tanzanian government to attend the prestigious Tabora Boys School for lower secondary. During his four years at Tabora, Katunzi lacked the most basic supplies such as paper, soap, and even a toothbrush. He never had the money for bus fare home so he spent all school holidays at school working as a day laborer. While at Tabora, Katunzi was an active member of the Unite Club, and he used the Unite Club computer to edit photos and create videos of the club in action. In November 2022, Katunzi graduated from Tabora Boys lower secondary school and scored Division 1 on his Form Four leaving examinations. Click HERE to see Katunzi tell his story.
NAPHTALI JEROME
Naphtali, 19, is the fifth born of eight children. His father has four wives and no work; he begs to try and provide for his family. Naphtali’s mother used to worked as a tailor to earn a bit of money to feed Naphatli; however, she sold her sewing machine (her only possession of value, which was gifted to her by a Good Samaritan) in order to pay for Naphtali’s school fees. Against all odds, Naphtali finished primary school with As in all of his subjects. As a result of his excellent performance, Naphtali was chosen by the Tanzanian government to attend the prestigious Tabora Boys School for lower secondary. During his four years at Tabora, Naphtali lacked the most basic supplies and never had money to go home for school holidays. Still, he managed to perform in excellence. He participated in the Young Tanzanian Scientists club; he served as the chairman of the biomedical department; and he was an original member of the Unite Club at Tabora Boys. In November 2022, Naphtali graduated from Tabora and scored Division 1 on his Form Four leaving examinations. Click HERE to see Naphtali tell his story and HERE to see his home tour.
MASOUD SALEHE
Masoud, 19, is from the Kaliua district of Western Tanzania. He lives with his mother and most of his six half-siblings from different fathers (ages 8 to 29) in a small thatched hut. His mother farms a small plot using a hand hoe and, when possible, works as a food vendor in the streets. She receives no support from her children’s fathers. Masoud has never met his biological father as he abandoned his mother before Masoud was born. Against all odds, Masoud finished primary school with As in all of his subjects and ranked as one of the top 10 students in all of Tanzania (the only student from a government school; the rest came from private schools). As a result of his excellent performance, Masoud was chosen to attend the prestigious Tabora Boys School for lower secondary. During his four years at Tabora, Masoud lacked the most basic supplies and never had money to go home for school holidays. Still, he ranked #1 in his class. In November 2022, Masoud graduated from Tabora and scored Division 1 on his Form Four leaving examinations. Click HERE to see Masoud tell his story and HERE for his home tour.
REVOCATUS MUGANYIRA
Revocatus, 17, lives in the Kagera region of Tanzania with his father, stepmother, and six step-siblings. His father is also married to three other wives and has children with all of them. The father is extremely poor, working as a day laborer on other people’s farms and as a porter at the local bus station. Revocatus’ father’s only possession of value is four goats. Revocatus’ mother died in 2009 and his father remarried. The stepmother was extremely abusive to Revocatus, and when he was eight years old family members from his mother’s side took him away to live with an aunt. Against all odds, Revocatus finished primary school with As in all of his subjects. He was the best student in his school and the 7th highest ranked student in the entire Kagera region. As a result of his excellent performance, Revocatus was chosen by the Tanzanian government to attend the prestigious Tabora Boys School for lower secondary. During his four years at Tabora, Revocatus lacked the most basic supplies; however, he managed to perform in excellence in all of his subjects. In November 2022, Katunzi graduated from Tabora and scored Division 1 on his Form Four leaving examinations. Click HERE to see Revocatus tell his story and HERE for his home tour.
OMARI HAMAD MBWANA
Omari, 18, lives in the Mvomeru district of Morogoro, Tanzania, with his mother and younger brother Tariq, age 15. His mother, who has never been to school, struggles to care for her boys by working as a peasant farmer. Tariq also is not enrolled in school due to the family’s inability to pay for such required items as uniforms, notebooks, and school shoes. To help feed his family, Omari has often taken to begging in the streets and doing hard manual labor, such as carrying heavy loads at bus stands and on farms. Despite his extraordinary challenges, throughout primary school, Omari earned As in all of his subjects and graduated number one in his class. As a result, he was chosen by the Tanzanian government to attend the prestigious Tabora Boys School for lower secondary. During his four years at Tabora, Omari was supported by teachers who recognized his hardships. While at Tabora, Omari was an active member of the Unite Club. In November 2022, Omari graduated from Tabora Boys and scored Division 1 on his Form Four leaving examinations. Click HERE to see Omari tell his story and HERE for his home tour.
