The Scourge of Snakebite

On the evening of April 25, 2022, in a rural Maasai village in Northern Tanzania, six-year-old Ndutai laid down to sleep on a mat placed over the earthen floor of her family home. During the night, a three-foot-long, red-spitting cobra (naja pallida) slithered in through a hole in the wall, which had – like most traditional Maasai homes – been hand-constructed by Ndutai’s mother using sticks, mud, and cow dung. The cold-blooded reptile was likely seeking escape from the long rains that recently arrived in the area and found its warmth next to the child. Around 4:00 am, as Ndutai slept, she moved or rolled over in such a way that made the cobra feel threatened. In less than a split second, the legless creature coiled itself tight, reared up, and delved its razor-sharp fangs into the child’s right arm injecting a cytotoxic, flesh-eating venom that would quickly destroy her skin, muscles, and surrounding tissues.

A red-spitting cobra, like the one that bit Ndutai.

Ndutai’s mother woke to her firstborn’s blood-curdling screams and rushed the child to a local traditional healer. He applied herbal remedies of acacia leaves, and tried to “suck out” the venom by cutting the bite and covering it with “blackstone.” Blackstone (charcoal) is believed by many to cure snakebite. It did not, and Ndutai’s condition worsened as the venom necrotized the flesh up and down her thin arm. Finally, at 11:00 pm that night, Ndutai was rushed by motorbike 60-kilometers over rough terrain to the nearest paved road. There, a passing vehicle transported her to the Meserani Clinic, the only facility in all of Tanzania dedicated to treating snakebite.

Ndutai is one of the 2.7 million recorded cases of snakebite envenoming that occur each year around the world (according to the World Health Organization). Like most snakebite victims, Ndutai is part of a family who lives off the land (the Maasai are a semi-nomadic pastoralist people who rely on herding their cattle to survive), and her small, rural village is situated within the world’s equatorial zone: the ideal climate for ectothermic snakes.

Immediately upon Ndutai’s arrival at Meserani, the nurse who runs the clinic (there are no doctors on staff) gave the tiny child two vials of antivenom through an IV, paracetamol for pain, and amoxicillin to prevent infection. Ndutai will spend the next few months there as she heals. The dead flesh on her arm will be debrided, and she will need skin grafts to cover the deep gaping wounds. The extensive necrosis will leave her painfully disfigured, which likely (due to cultural biases) will bring a lifetime of social stigma. Tragically, Ndutai is not alone. Each year, WHO reports, more than 400,000 people are maimed, disfigured, and disabled by snakebite, and 81,000 to 138,000 lose their lives.

Ndutai.

Snakebite was one of the world’s most neglected health crises until May 2018 when snakebite envenoming was declared a neglected tropical disease (NDT) at the 71st World Health Assembly held in Geneva, Switzerland. Under its new classification, snakebite joined other NDTs such as leprosy, rabies, and dengue fever. Following the declaration, WHO published a strategy to outline the goal of reducing deaths and disabilities from snakebite by 50% by 2030.

The reality of actualizing this lofty and ambitious goal requires a highly coordinated, multidisciplinary, and widescale global response. Local people living in at-risk areas (which are often some of the hardest places to reach on Earth) must be taught how to prevent snakebite and what do to when it occurs. Clinicians and healthcare professionals (who are already overburdened and under-resourced) must be trained to care for victims; and safe, effective, and affordable antivenoms must be developed (requiring a massive investment of scientific knowledge and financial capital) and made readily available (through the build-out of complicated “last-mile” supply chains) to all those who need them. Currently, it is estimated that in Africa only 1% to 2% percent of all snakebites are treated by antivenom. What happens to the others? They are permanently disfigured or left to die.

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What saved Ndutai’s life, as well as her arm from amputation, was the Saimr polyvalent snake antivenom manufactured in South Africa. Antivenoms are medicines made to neutralize the toxic proteins found within snake venoms. The basic recipe was invented in 1894 and hasn’t changed much in 138 years. Venomous snakes are “milked” in labs, forced to bite into containers that collect expelled venom. The proteins within the venoms are then isolated and diluted before being injected into horses. For 12 to 18 months, each horse receives “booster” injections, and when its antibodies are strong enough, its blood is extracted and sent to labs to make antivenoms. The process is time-consuming, labor-intensive, expensive (thus not attractive to commercial enterprise), and rife with challenge.

Snake venom is an extremely complex substance. Each snake’s venom can have 50 to 100 different toxic proteins, all of which can cause everything from extensive local tissue necrosis and damage to the central nervous system to paralysis, spontaneous bleeding, and death – depending on the snake species, location, and the nature of the bite. No single antivenom on the market today can neutralize every snakebite.

“Many would consider snake venom to be the most complex drug target known to man,” said Andreas Hougaard Laustsen, a professor in the Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine at the Technical University of Denmark, who is working with his team on developing new antivenoms. “We now have the opportunity to develop antivenoms that are more efficacious and less costly. Working to solve this problem is like putting a man on the moon... It is a worthy societal and scientific challenge.”

Another challenge is the horse antibodies that constitute the antivenoms. Snakebite victims who receive such antivenoms are susceptible to hyperallergic reactions to the foreign animal antibodies. In rare cases, patients experience anaphylaxis and can die. The determining factor is the quality the antivenom itself. Yet in many regions of the world, there are no minimum specifications for potency, efficacy, dosage, or safe handling of these medications. Controls and regulations are needed. To address this challenge, WHO has launched a pilot program to audit antivenom labs. Their idea is to develop a WHO “stamp of approval” to indicate which antivenoms are safe and effective against specific snake species in specific locations.

It will be years before current antivenoms are improved and many more before new safer, broadly effective, and perhaps “fully human” (made with human antibodies) antivenoms may be made available, affordable, widely distributed (and able to to reach villages like Ndutai’s). Yet because snakebite is now classified as an NDT, this important work is underway.

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From her bed at the Meserani Snake Clinic, Ndutai can see Meserani’s outdoor “snake park,” an education center built in 1993 by South African couple Lynn and Barry Bale, their young-adult son Wade, and their family friend Deon Naude. The Bales’ mission was to teach local people about such deadly snakes. Today 44 of the continent’s most dangerous snakes are kept in rows of cages where they are viewed by visitors through large panes of thick glass. Over the years, the Bales adding a Maasai Cultural Center (to teach visitors about the traditional customs of the Maasai tribespeople); camel rides (for schoolchildren and tourists); and even a garage where overland vehicles can be serviced by trained mechanics. The income from these commercial enterprises, combined with any donations made by international visitors, covers the running costs of the snake clinic (which officially opened in 2011) and supplies the funds needed to purchase antivenom from South Africa. Each vial costs ~$300 and most bite victims require two to four vials. This is, of course, cost-prohibitive for poor families who earn just dollars a day. Each year the clinic sees an average of 70 patients and many stay for weeks or months at a time. There are two patient rooms, one for females and one for males, and each has three beds. Patients pay nothing, and Meserani receives no financial support from the Tanzanian government.

“It all started 29 years ago. We had antivenom on hand for our guys who were working with the snakes. Then when local people got bitten, they would come to us, and we could not say, ‘We are not going to help because you can’t pay!’ So, we just did it for free. We were, and still are, very happy to save lives and limbs,” wrote Lynn Bale over a text sent via WhatsApp.

***
According to WHO, the risk of snakebite envenoming can be largely reduced through community education. In 2021, to broaden the work of Meserani’s snake park, former park snake handler and education guide 47-year-old Tito Jonathan Lanoy founded the “Tanzania Herpetological Society” as well as the YouTube channel “Tanzania Snakes and Other Reptiles,” and the Instagram account @Blackm_tz (in honor of the Black Mamba, one of the world’s deadliest snakes whose neurotoxic venom causes rapid paralysis and death).

“I’ve witnessed the devastating impact that the human-snake conflict is having on rural communities and have felt frustrated that there is no snakebite policy to tackle the problem,” said Lanoy, who also teaches herpetology and conservation at the College of African Wildlife Management Mweka in Tanzania.

Lanoy has set out on his own to teach as many local people as possible about snakes. His lessons -- taught both in-person and through his social media platforms -- are three-fold:

  1. Snakes are defensive creatures and will attack when cornered or threatened. Hands and feet must stay out of holes and crevices where snakes reside. Compounds must be kept clean and tidy. Vegetation should be cut back away from houses and livestock kept at a distance; snakes are attracted to the smell of chickens. If possible, wear closed-toe shoes and use a torch to illuminate pathways after dark. Inside, secure all food and water in tight containers. Block any holes or openings in outer walls with sandbags. Sleep on raised beds and tuck in mosquito netting tightly. (Not everyone can afford such snakebite-prevention luxuries; however, Lanoy continues to reinforce these “simple” and potentially life-saving choices and behaviors.)

  2. Learn to identify which snakes are venomous and which are safe. Of the 3,000 different species of snakes found in nature, approximately 400 pose a threat to humans. And while most people are deathly afraid of these scaly carnivores -- which are naturally found on every continent except New Zealand, Ireland, Iceland, and Antarctica – Lanoy says to leave them be. “Many people try to kill snakes throwing rocks or hitting at them with clubs and machetes. They believe that the only good snake is a dead snake,” says Lanoy, who teaches how snakes play an essential role in preserving ecosystems by eating rodents that kill crops, infest food, and spread disease.

  3. When someone is bitten, the victim must be kept still and calm. Movement causes venom to circulate through the body faster. Victims must be transported, as fast as possible, either to Meserani where there is always a vial of antivenom or to nearest large government hospital where, if the patient is lucky, there may be a single vial of antivenom. Precious time must never be wasted taking a snakebite victim to a traditional healer.

Titus Lanoy teaching local communities about snakes and snakebite.

***

Nearly every minute a life is lost or a body disfigured by the scrouge of snakebite. Ndutai was a happy, healthy child with boundless potential who, simply by being in the wrong place at the wrong time, experienced a life-altering nightmare that could likely have been prevented had her family had been educated about snakes and snakebites. Thankfully, Ndutai made it in time to Meserani, an oasis in the African desert of effective and knowledgeable snakebite treatment, and she received lifesaving antivenom. Unlike countless others (the incidence of snakebite is still not known or formally recorded in Tanzania), Ndutai was lucky; Ndutai will live.

Me, the author, at Meserani Snake Park during its construction in 1994.

Note: To help combat the ravages of snakebite in Tanzania, Unite is now working with Titus on developing a “snakes & snakebite prevention” lesson plan to add to our curriculums that are currently being taught in both primary and secondary schools across Tanzania.

Unite expands program impact through new partnerships

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed. It is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

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Unite Program Director Anty Marche, Unite Executive Director Anne Wells, Beyond St. Jude’s Manager Vivian Deus, Unite Environmental Scientist Clara Wilson Ngowi & Unite Board Member Dr. Nikki Gorman at The School of St. Jude in Arusha, Tanzania, in December 2021.

Collaboration, partnership, and the sharing of best practices and information to advance impactful work in service to those in greatest need… These are core principles of Unite. Here below, I am excited to share news of a number of new recent partnerships:

THE SCHOOL OF ST. JUDE (St. Jude’s)

The School of St Jude’s mission is to bring free, quality education to children living in poverty in Tanzania. Currently, St. Jude’s provides free education to 1,800 primary and secondary students and supports 100s of graduates with access to higher education. Unite is now working with “Beyond St Jude’s” to further serve their A-Level Form 6 graduates —all of whom are either seeking scholarships for university-level education and/or employment or enhanced employment opportunities across East Africa. To this end, Unite has granted St. Jude’s total access and use of Unite’s Soft Skills of Professionalism Curriculum, which features training modules covering such topics as self-awareness; communication, presentation, and listening skills; personal branding and the healthy and appropriate use of social media; networking; time management; applying for university-level scholarships as well as internships and career opportunities post-graduation; and preparing for interviews. Additionally, as part of this partnership, the students and graduates of St. Jude’s will now have open access to the Unite Passion Project video library, which features speakers from all around the world sharing about their work and how they achieved their dreams. Through these lessons and this broadscale exposure, we hope to help prepare these talented youth for a successful professional life after high school and/or university-level graduation. We will host the first Unite-led training workshops (alongside Unite travelers, partners, colleagues, and teammates) at St. Jude’s in June 2022.

“Over the years, St Jude students have excelled brilliantly in the fields of academics, sports, innovation, and many other extracurricular activities. An opportunity to further equip them with the 21st Century skills through the Unite Program will undoubtedly transform them into global citizens. We believe it's an opportunity to help our students and graduates become moral and intellectual leaders in community service, leadership, employment, and entrepreneurship.”

Simon Lucas, “Beyond St. Jude’s”

St. Jude’s Form 6 graduating class of 2021. Many of these students will participate in our Unite Pre-Professional Trainings in June.

THE GIRLS FOUNDATION OF TANZANIA (TGFT)

Unite is now working with the non-profit TGFT to expand the reach of our Unite Soft Skills of Professionalism Curriculum and Unite Passion Project. TGFT’s mission is to “educate Tanzanian girls to become informed and empowered leaders in their communities.” While TGFT will be using Unite’s curriculums on their own for the next few months, we will host our first Unite-led training workshop in July 2022, at the Henry Gogarty Secondary School in Arusha.

“Thank you so much for this opportunity. We want our students to become well-rounded leaders, which means we need to provide them with as many educational opportunities as we can. Girls need as many mentors and teachers to guide them, inform them, and inspire them… A good curriculum is worth its weight in gold. We need your curriculum. This is exciting.”

Nano Chatfield, Co-Founder and Chair, The Girls Foundation of Tanzania

Nano Chatfield (left back row) with some of the girls and staff of TGFT in Arusha.

Powerful statistics from TGFT

  • 95% of Tanzanian girls do not graduate from high school

  • Only 17% of girls enroll in secondary school

  • Fewer than 4% of high school-aged girls complete secondary school

In 2021, Unite was introduced to Phil Fusco, Director of the USA-based charity Phillips Love Bears, by our long-time friends and supporters at Saint Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southport, North Carolina. Phil and his wife Angela make and send teddy bears to orphanages and children in need all around the world — from Belize and Mexico to India and the Ukraine. The project was started for their son Phillip who was born in 1991 with a rare genetic disorder called Prader-Willi syndrome and sadly passed away in 2020.

To help support Unite’s artisans, Phil and Angela have engaged our Brave Widows (at fair market prices) to make the special shells that line their weighted and unweighted Teddy Bears and “Friends” as well as to make “teddy bear backpacks” for children to use to carry their special bears. We are grateful to Phillip’s Love Bears to providing a dignified source of steady work and income for the mamas enrolled Unite’s Brave Widow program. Additionally, Phillips Love Bears are now also supporting Unite’s young, wildly talented oil painter Maliondo Amini through the commissioning and publicizing of his art on their new online global marketplace. See www.phillipslovebears.com.

Click HERE to read a recent article in The Philanthropy Journal that discusses our partnership.

With six of Unite’s Brave Widows in December 2021.

Introducing our new class of Unite A-level Scholars

This Valentines Day, why not give the gift of education?

Our Unite team has been searching far and wide across all of Tanzania to find the top-performing Form 4 (lower secondary school) graduates from extremely impoverished and marginalized backgrounds who achieved the extremely difficult Division 1.7 - Division 1.10 on their Form 4 National Leaving Exams. Each candidate must submit essays, transcripts, videos, photos, and recommendations. Those who qualify are then interviewed extensively by our Unite selection committee.

Below please find 10 of our top candidates. We are seeking sponsors for each of these students. Our Unite sponsorship includes academic, social, health, and professional support (e.g. school fees; all school-related supplies; all personal items; access to a cell phone and laptop; transportation; health insurance; one-to-one mentor support; extensive trainings in critical life skills, the soft skills of professionalism, entrepreneurship, organic gardening, and environmental conservation); paid internships with Unite Food Program; career guidance; networking support; and more).

The comprehensive cost to sponsor a Unite Scholar for one year: $2,000

1/2 and 1/4 sponsorships are invited as well.

Sponsors receive regular updates about their scholars and are invited to send and receive letters — if desired. Please click here to sponsor or to make a general contribution to Unite’s education fund. The more money we raise, the more young people in need will be educated.

As a reminder, Unite the World With Africa Foundation’s board of directors covers our modest operating budget, so 100% of your donation will go directly to the program in Tanzania. Please call me at 314-239-3997 with any questions or to discuss any of these candidates.

GAUDENCIA DAUDI SIMON

Gaudencia, 20, is from Nyamwilolelwa village in Mwanza district, Tanzania. She is the fifth of nine children born to a father who works as motorcycle driver and a mother, who Gaudencia tells us is an alcoholic housewife.

When Gaudencia was eight years old a man in her village saw her and her mother singing and dancing at an event and decided to sponsor Gaudencia through primary school. The man sent Gaudencia to live with his sister in Morogoro; this woman later became Gaudencia’s guardian. Gaudencia completed primary school earning all As and was selected by the Tanzanian government to attend the prestigious government secondary school Tabora Girls for her O-levels (lower secondary school). Gaudencia’s parents were unable to help pay for any of her basic needs while at Tabora. Gaudencia was never able to travel home for any school holiday for the entire four years due to her parents inability to pay bus fare.

At Tabora Girls, Gaudencia served as cleanliness prefect and assistant to the school nurse. She graduated Form 4 in December 2021 and scored Division 1.7 on her national exam — making her one of the top 10 performing girls in all of Tanzania. Gaudencia’s teachers report that she has excellent leadership and communication skills and that she is humble, takes excellent care of others, and is very talented across many disciplines. Gaudencia also received a certificate of excellence for being the top student in English.

Gaudencia dreams of becoming a pediatrician.

ONESMO AMOS SHEDRACK

Onesmo, 19, is from the Kasangezi village in the Kisulu district of Kigoma Tanzania. Onesmo lives with his mother, a small-scale farmer; his father, who lost his sight and one of his legs to Type 2 Diabetes; and his eight siblings. The entire family is dependent upon Onesmo’s mother who grows maize, fruits, and ground nuts on their small family plot and raises piglets to sell.

Onesmo completed his primary education at Kakungure school and performed so well that he was was assigned in 2018 by the Tanzanian government to attend Mzumbe secondary school for boys in Morogoro for his O-levels (lower secondary school). Throughout his four years at Mzumbe, Onesmo never went home once as his family couldn’t afford bus fare. He also regularly went without necessary school supplies. Against all odds, Onesmo scored Divion 1.7 on his Form 4 national exams—making him one of the top 10 performing boys in all of Tanzania. Onesmo’s teachers report that he is a very hard worker, participates fully in all academic and extracurricular activities, and that he is a team player with excellent communication skills. Outside the classroom Onesmo loves to play football.

Onesmo dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon. “My dream is to become a neurosurgeon so as to change my family’s history and life in general. I wish one day to wipe away my father and my mother’s tears.”

VERONICA MOSES MNONJE

Veronica, 18, grew up in the Temeke District of Dar es Salaam with her father (a mechanic earning 2,000 TSH/day or ~$.80), her mother (a housewife), and her two siblings. When Veronica was 10 years old her family was evicted from their rented room due to failure to pay. Her father then abandoned the family and Veronica hasn’t seen him since. Still, Veronica managed to earn all As in primary school and was assigned to Tabora Girls secondary school for her O-levels (lower secondary school).

Throughout her four years at Tabora, Veronica’s mother begged extended family members for help to pay for Veronica’s school needs; however, Veronica often went without and stayed at school over the holidays due to lack of funds for transport home. Against all odds, Veronica scored Division 1.7 on her national exam — making her one of the top 10 performing girls in all of Tanzania. At Tabora, Veronica was selected to be Academic Prefect and she also worked on the school magazine. Additionally, Veronica received certificates of excellence in Chemistry, Biology, Kiswahili, and Civics.

In 2020, Veronica’s older brother passed away leaving his three young children in the care of Veronica’s mother, who survives by selling vegetables in the streets. The children’s mother abandoned the children after their father died and hasn’t been heard from since, so Veronica is now helping to raise her nieces and nephew when she is home.

Veronica dreams of becoming a nephrologist.

NICHOLAUS FAIDA MAKENZA

Nicholaus, 19, is from the Nyantolotolo village of Geita, Tanzania. Nicholaus’ father abandoned his mother and younger brother and sister in 2008 and took Nicholaus to live with him. His father soon remarried and the stepmother abused Nicholaus, eventually kicking him out of the house. At nine years old, Nicholaus found himself homeless, wandering the streets to survive. Eventually, he was taken in by the village chairman who, while poor himself and responsible for a large family, did what he could to help Nicholaus finish primary school.

Nicholaus was assigned in 2018 by the Tanzanian government to attend the prestigious government secondary school Tabora Boys for his O-levels (lower secondary school). Throughout his four years at Tabora, Nicholaus searched for jobs in town (masonry, digging wells and toilets, etc.) to earn money to meet his most basic needs. He received no support at all from his father or mother (his sister and brother never went to school at all due to his mother’s inability to pay), and he stayed at school over all school holidays. Against all odds, Nicholaus scored Divion 1.7 on his Form 4 national exams. Nicholaus’ teachers report that he has excellent leadership and communication skills and that he is very respectful and cooperative. Nicholaus also received special recognition for Outstanding Performance in Academics, Kiswahili, Biology, and Geography as well as for serving as Health Prefect.

Nicholaus dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon.

FAIDHA KHALID CHARLES

Faidha, 18, is from the Mvomero District in the Morogoro region of Tanzania. Faidha has one half sister, 21, who never finished school and has no job so she stays at home, one younger sister, 15, and a three year old younger brother. In 2020, Faidha’s father was diagnosed with a mental illness. Believing he was cursed as a result of witchcraft, his relatives took him away. Since then Faidha’s mother has been left alone to care and provide for the family. Unable to pay rent or meet the children’s most basic needs, Faidha’s mother took the children to live with an uncle in a small rented room without water or electricity.

Faidha completed her primary education at Kichangani “B” Primary school earning As in all of her classes. She was then chosen to attend one of the strongest government schools in the country, Kilakala Secondary School for Girls, for her lower secondary school (O levels). Throughout her four years at Kilakala, Faidha’s family was never able to provide sufficient funds for such things as stationary, personal hygeine items, or transport money to return home over school holidays. She graduated in December 2021 and scored Division 1.7 on her national exam — making her one of the top 10 performing girls in all of Tanzania. At Kilakala, Faidha was an active member of the Maadili (“Values”) Club. Outside of class, she loves to cook and read. 

Faidha dreams of becoming a food scientist. 

ELISHA GEORGE JOHN

Elisha, 19, is from the Nyalugusu village of Kigoma, Tanzania. Elisha is one of nine children born to his father, a village pastor and peasant farmer, and mother, also a peasant. Elisha is blind. When he was just seven years old, Elisha was diagnosed with retinoblastoma (eye cancer) and underwent surgery to have both eyes removed. His parents didn’t have the money to pay for the surgery so they collected donations from fellow church members and the doctors at Muhimbili Hospital in Dar es Salaam paid the balance of fees due.

Everyone told Elisha’s parents that blind children are not meant to go to school, but his parents perservered and sent him to Kigoma to a primary school for children living with disabilities. It was the first time Elisha had ever been away from his parents, and he relied on the kindness of his peers to get around, assist with his studies, and wash his clothes. Elisha finished primary school in 2017 and was chosen to attend the prestigious government secondary school Tabora Boys for his O-levels (lower secondary school). Classmates held his hand to guide him around the school for the first three months, after which time he could move on his own as he had memorized the campus. Elisha was awarded a certificate of recognition for his “high performance in academics despite his disability.”

Elisha dreams of becoming a journalist for such news outlets as BBC, CNN and Voice of America, and execute a mass education campaign about the “rights and talents of disabled people in Africa.”

VAILETH KOMBA

Vaileth, 17, is from the Pwani region of coastal Tanzania. Her father is a watchman at a petroleum company by night and a manual laborer by day. Vaileth’s her mother sells vegetables in the streets. Vaileth has two sisters, one who is 27 years old and one who is six. 

Despite never having the basic school supplies necessary due to her family’s poverty, Vaileth excelled all throughout primary school . Due to her extraordinary results, Vaileth was assigned by the Tanzanian government to attend the prestigious Kilakala secondary school for girls. At Kilakala, Vaileth consistently earned the highest marks possible in her classes. She graduated Form 4 in December 2021 and scored Division 1.7 on her national exam — making her one of the top 10 performing girls in all of Tanzania. Vaileth’s teachers report that she has excellent leadership and communication skills and that she is extremely hard working and a great team player.

Vaileth dreams of becoming a chemical engineer. 

SAJO MATHIAS NASIBU

Sajo, 18, lives in the Kinzudi village in Dar es Salaam with his mother and older sister. Sajo’s father was murdered in 2006, shot twice in chest. Sajo and his family still do not know why he was killed and no one was ever arrested for the crime. Sajo’s life has since been extremely challenging. His mother never finished school and survives by frying chicken legs and selling them in the streets. Sajo and his sister often go hungry.

Throughout primary school, Sajo was often bullied by classmates for being poor. Sajo received his primary school uniform as a donation from Save the Children and worked to earn money for himself and his family by acting in plays organized to educate people about human rights. Despite never having his basic needs met or proper school supplies, Sajo graduated with As in all his subjects and was assigned by the Tanzanian government in 2018 to attend Mzumbe Boys Secondary School in Morogoro, Tanzania, for his O-levels (lower secondary school). Sajo graduated Form 4 in December 2021 and scored Division 1.9 on the national exam. Sajo’s teachers report that he is cooperative, respectful, and a great team player with excellent leadership and communication skills. While at Tabora, Sajo was also an active member of our Unite Club Program at Mzumbe. While he is home, Sajo works to earn money for his family by tutoring local kids in his neighborhood.

Sajo dreams of becoming an engineer.

HAWA HAMIMU AMRI

Hawa, 18, is the oldest of two children living with her mother (who was abandoned by their father and earns money by making food to sell in the streets), grandparents, and aunt and uncle in a single tiny rented room of the extremely crowded Kariakoo marketplace district of Dar es Salaam. Kariakoo attracts people from all over the continent looking to do small-scale business and trading. Women and girls are especially at risk in this environment, and Hawa has faced relentless abuse and taunting from male strangers.

Despite her harrowing home life, Hawa completed her primary school at the government Uhuru school in Dar. She was bullied by her peers for never having her basic school necessities or uniforms. Against all odds, Hawa finished each year as one of the top 10 students in her classes.

As a result of her at-risk home life and outstanding academic performance, Hawa was chosen to attend the Sega Girls School in Morogoro, Tanzania, for her four years of O-levels (lower secondary school). She graduated Sega in December 2021 and scored Division 1.9 on her Form 4 national exam. Her teachers report that she is extremely respectful and a great team player. She also received certificates of excellence for outstanding performance in Civics and Chemistry.

Haya dreams of becoming a cardiologist.

LUCAS PETER HENRY

Lucas, 20, is from the Majango ward of Tanzania’s Rukwa region. He is the second of three children born to his mother. Each of his siblings has a different father. When Lucas was seven years old his mother died. At that time his step-father left with Lucas’ older brother and hasn’t been heard from since. His sister was taken by her paternal grandparents, and Lucas went to live alone with his elderly grandmother. When Lucas was 15, his grandmother also passed away. From there Lucas went to work as a houseboy for a family with nine children, working and doing chores in exchange for room and board and the ability to complete primary school.

Lucas completed primary school performing exceptionally well despite never having his basic needs met. He was assigned by the Tanzanian government in 2018 to attend Mzumbe Boys Secondary School in Morogoro, Tanzania, for his O-levels (lower secondary school). Lucas graduated Form 4 in December 2021 and scored Division 1.9 on the national exam. Lucas’ teachers report that Lucas is cooperative, respectful, and a great team player with excellent leadership and communication skills. While at Mzumbe, Lucas was also an active member of our Unite Club Program, rising as a leader in all activities, particularly enjoying our Unite Hummingbird Environmental Program.

Lucas dreams of becoming an engineer.

2021 By the Numbers, Finale: Unite Hummingbirds & ANNOUNCING A NEW "GREEN" CAMPAIGN!

“There is a magic machine that sucks carbon out of the air, costs very little and builds itself. It’s called a tree. It is a tool we can use to repair our broken planet.” ~Greta Thunberg

The Unite Hummingbird program plants trees to combat deforestation and environmental degradation; builds and plants nutritious, edible school gardens to help combat malnutrition; installs water sources when and where necessary; and teaches students and communities about the importance of environmental conservation, reforestation campaigns, and organic farming practices. The program is led by Unite Program Manager and Environmental Scientist Clara Wilson Ngowi. Some 2021 highlights include:

Click HERE to see the Unite student club at Masasi Girls Secondary plant their trees and gardens.

Click HERE to see a video of the forest.

The “Greening” of Unite Food Program Headquarters in kunduchi, Dar es Salaam

Click HERE to listen to the birds and natural sounds at UFP HQ. Click HERE to see a video of the Unite Gardens.

Click HERE to see a video of the team planting fodder grasses.

ANNOUNCING A NEW HUMMINGBIRD CAMPAIGN FOR 2022

Unite is determined to put more and more energy and resources into tree planting to combat deforestation and environmental degradation and into the building out nutritious, edible school gardens to help combat malnutrition. We will continue to expand our work with our seven partner schools involved in our Unite Club program, and we are now seeking new partner schools for these campaigns. Our first “new” partner school with whom we will focus soley on reforestation and nutritious gardens is the Matim Government Primary School for the Maasai in the Arusha district of northern Tanzania. For this project, we are partnering with ECHO (for the indigenous trees and plant species and critical trainings) and A is for Africa (for ongoing oversight and project management). See the campaign below:

2021 By the Numbers, Part 5: Unite Club Program

Unite has established Unite Clubs in government secondary schools across Tanzania to prepare students to become effective leaders and positive change agents in their communities. Specific objectives of the Club program include: teaching students to think independently and develop their own solutions to life’s problems and equipping students with the essential “soft skills” of professionalism necessary for success in the international marketplace.

Highlights from 2021:

Click HERE to see Unite Scholar David Bitaho introduce the Unite Club Program to Tabora Boys School.

ELEMENTS OF THE CLUB PROGRAM

Click HERE to review the entire Unite Club “Soft skills” Curriculum.

Click HERE to learn more about the Unite Passion Project.

Click HERE to see a video of the Hummingbird tree planting campaign at Kibaha Boys School.

Click HERE to see the Matron of the Rafiki Children’s Centre in Tanzania thanking the Same Boys Unite Club for their support.

A very special thanks to the Unite Club Coordinators who help make all of this work, and impact, possible.

2021 By The Numbers, Part 4: The Unite Food Program Outpost

Unite built the Unite Food Program (UFP) Outpost in partnership with business owner and project manager Baraka Sadaam Saul. A rice and maize milling center (along with living quarters for the work team) was constructed and equipped to serve thousands of people living across five villages in the Sumbawanga region of Tanzania (not far from the Zambian border). Prior to the UFP Outpost, there were no services in the area and villagers had to walk extremely long distances to mill their maize and thresh their rice. In addition to the mills, Unite has purchased land on which we have built gardens that are providing essential fruits and vegetables to the community as well as providing fertile lands for Unite Scholars to rent, plant, and harvest their own organic crops (to then be resold back to UFP). Below please find a few additional Outpost highlights from 2021:

Click HERE to see the team at work.

Click HERE to see a video of the team at the Outpost.

Click HERE to see a video of the Outpost.

Click HERE to see a video of customers coming to the Outpost.

Click HERE to see the team in uniform at UFP Outpost.

Click HERE to see a video of the UFP farm, early days.

Click HERE to see a video of the team finishing construction of the farmhouse.

Click HERE to listen to Unite Scholar Isaac Mwimanzi speak about working the land at Nankanga.

Click HERE to see Day 1 of the Unite internship program at UFP Outpost.

Click HERE to see our Unite Scholars visiting Nankanga schools.

Click HERE to see the unpacking of the home good supplies.

Happy New Year: 2021 by the numbers, Part 1

From our Unite family to yours, happy new year. 2021 was a hugely successful year for Unite, and we are deeply grateful to each and every person who helped support our work, in ways both big and small. Together all things are possible. Here please find the first in a series that will capture a few “measurable” highlights from 2021, program by program. We begin with:

The Unite Scholars Program

In 2021 our Unite Scholars achieved all kinds of successes — from graduations, celebrations, and internships to earning scholarships, university admissions, new learning opportunities, securing opportunities for paid work (part time for those still in school and full time for a few who have graduated) and much more. Here, a few highlights:

Thank you to all all our Unite Scholar Sponsors & Unite Donors for your support of these extraordinary young people. Their futures are bright, thanks to all of you… and to our awesome mentor Joan Mnzava who is tireless in her efforts to support, care for, nurture, discipline, guide & love each and every one of our scholars.

Unite Mentor Joan Mnzava with Unite Scholar Neema Paul at the graduation ceremony for the scholars’ internship at Unite Food Program headquarters in Dar es Salaam, June 2021.

We did it! Thank you to everyone who made Unite's $25,000 matching grant possible!

Dear friends and supporters of Unite,

Thank you so very much for enabling us to reach our goal of raising $25,000 to receive a $25,000 matching grant! With these funds we will expand and grow the Unite Food Program by empowering more:

  • Small-scale farmers with a fair market value for their organic grains and multi-layered, hermetically-sealed, pest-resistant grain bags that allow for the safe storage of freshly harvested crops without spoilage for over a year;

  • Children and families with healthy, organic, tasty, and affordable staple food items; and

  • Talented young men and women — as well as elderly widow women — with gainful work opportunities.

To watch our Unite Food Program documentary, click HERE.

Please click on the links below to watch a few 1-minute videos to see a bit about how Unite Food Program (UFP) is impacting lives in Tanzania and to meet UFP teammates who make this work possible. Please know that I am leaving next month to join our Unite team in Tanzania and will be accompanied by Program Director Anty Marche and Board Members Tanya Murphy, Lisa Lawrence, and Dr. Nikki Gorman. If you have any questions about our upcoming trip or are in Africa and would like to meet with us in person, please email me at anne@uniteafricafoundation.org.

Asante sana. Thank you so much.

Click HERE to see how people around the world are feeding and “blessing” those in greatest need with the gift of Unite Food Program organic staple food products.

Stanley with Unite Program Director Anty Marche. Click HERE to hear Stanley talk about the importance of providing a secure market for the small-scale farmers.

Lazaro and Anty, Summer 2021. Click HERE to listen to Lazaro talk about why he loves working at UFP to “buy from the poor to feed the poor.”

Azamela working the land at Unite Food Program headquarters in Dar. Click HERE to hear Azamela, a food scientist, talk about how UFP is impacting society.

Richard “Richie” pictured with a certificate of excellence for completing the Unite Food Program intensive internship in June-July 2021. Click HERE to hear Richie talk about how UFP empowers him to work with all kinds of technology and freely express his creativity.

Hosiana teaches daily lessons to women in the community about health, hygiene, sanitation, and proper nutrition for themselves and their families. Click HERE to hear Hosiana discuss how she is educating the local community around UFP headquarters in important health matters.

Click HERE to learn about how UFP has built a secondary business selling the maize bi-product: grits.

A Matching Grant Enables Expansion and Sustainability for The Unite Food Program

Dear friends and supporters of Unite,

I hope and pray this finds you healthy and well. If you haven’t had a chance to watch our new Unite Food Program documentary, click HERE now. The short film was created by our team in Tanzania and America and explains the “why and how” of Unite’s rapid and exciting evolution. For those of you have followed since our inception — which is now more than 13 years ago — this film is a “must see.” And now,

with a $25,000 matching grant, we have the opportunity to expand the Unite Food program and make it self-sustaining.

While I tend to shy away from making bold and direct asks for financial support, I humbly invite your participation in raising these critical funds.

Since launching the Tanzanian-women-owned Unite Food Program (UFP) in early 2021, we have invested more than $100,000 to build-out of a fully-operational and compliant food processing plant (along with investments in working capital, offices, toilets, protective walls and security systems, water, power, and more) at the UFP headquarters in Dar es Salaam. We have purchased ~100,000 kgs of organic maize and rice from more than 50 small-scale farmers across Tanzania and engaged a full-time professional staff of 13 along with dozens of part-time workers (most of whom are widow women) who help procure, transport, clean, pack, sort, and sell food items. Currently the UFP organic food products are being sold at dozens of retail and wholesale outlets around and beyond Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.

***

The funds from this campaign will be used for the following directed investments:

40,000 additional Kgs of organic rice & maize. (Cost: $10,000)

Maize being delivered in Dar es Salaam.

Maize being delivered in Dar es Salaam.

3,000 reusable Agro-Z® grain storage bags to keep the harvest safe and secure. (Cost: $5,000)

AgroZ® Bags are multi-layered, hermetically-sealed, storage bags that protect grains against insects and pests without the use of pesticide dusts.

AgroZ® Bags are multi-layered, hermetically-sealed, storage bags that protect grains against insects and pests without the use of pesticide dusts.

A Bajaji “tuk tuk” to transport UFP staffers & UFP customers through the highly trafficked streets of Dar es Salaam. (Cost: $5,000)

A Bajaji can transport up to four people at a time.

A Bajaji can transport up to four people at a time.

A three-wheeler motorcycle-truck to transport products to retail and wholesale customers. (Cost: $5,000)

A three-wheeler motorcycle truck covered to protect cargo.

A three-wheeler motorcycle truck covered to protect cargo.

A generator to ensure that UFP can operate uninterrupted. (Cost: $15,000)

UFP generator.jpg

A 40-foot shipping container to provide secure inventory storage. (Cost: $10,000)

UFP container.jpg

You are most welcome to Unite Food Program Headquarters in Dar es Salaam.

To arrange a visit or to inquire about an upcoming Unite tour, please email anne@uniteafricafoundation.org or call me direct at +1.314.239.3997 (USA).

Our Unite Food Program documentary is finally here!

Unite’s long awaited documentary introducing our new Unite Food Program is finally here! Please click HERE to watch our 10-minute film that explains the “why and how” of Unite’s evolution. A very special thanks to our Unite team around the world as well as to all of our supporters who help make this work possible. Together, all things are possible.

What's it like to volunteer with Unite?

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to volunteer with Unite, this is a story for you.

“This experience was a 10/10!
I literally could not have asked for a better trip!”

~Drew’s text to his family on his last day in Tanzania.

MEET DREW WARREN

Drew Warren, 22, traveled to Tanzania this summer for a three-week-long volunteer posting at Unite Food Program (UFP) headquarters in Dar es Salaam. His focus with UFP was working with Ibra Kawa, Unite’s photographer and videographer, and Richard Munisi, Unite’s animator, to create a short film about Unite Food Program to help Unite grow our USA-based donor base and secure a larger market across East Africa. Drew brings to Unite a unique perspective having worked an intern with the renowned STX Entertainment Film Studio in Los Angeles where he worked on trailers and films.

Drew (above left) with his fellow Unite filmmakers Richie Munisi and Ibra Kawa at Unite Food Program Headquarters in Dar es Salaam in July 2021.

Drew (above left) with his fellow Unite filmmakers Richie Munisi and Ibra Kawa at Unite Food Program Headquarters in Dar es Salaam in July 2021.

“The Unite team is composed of some of the most incredible people I have ever come across. Unite has inspired me in so many ways, and I hold this experience close to my heart. My time with Unite is far from over, and I hope to remain closely involved with the Unite Food Program and the organization as a whole. Unite is creating meaningful change in Tanzania, and I am proud of the work that the team has completed. Thank you all for the unconditional support. Thank you specifically to my parents for opening my eyes to how other people live their lives.”

~Drew Warren


”Drew is highly adaptable, encouraging, and supportive. He is knowledgeable, articulate, leads by example, and has great insights about videography. I trusted him and looked forward to his guidance and advice.”

~Unite Photographer and Videographer Ibra Kawa

Click HERE to see a clip of UFP Environmental Scientist Clara Wilson Ngowi welcoming Drew and introducing him to the team.

Click HERE to see a clip of UFP Environmental Scientist Clara Wilson Ngowi welcoming Drew and introducing him to the team.

Drew at work

During his three weeks with Unite in Tanzania, in addition to his movie-making escapades with Ibra and Richie, Drew helped with the production and processing of our UFP organic maize flour. He learned to work the mill machine, carried and arranged 100-kilo bags, transported the products to retail and wholesale locations, participated in direct sales of UFP products, and much more.

Click HERE to see a video clip of Drew and UFP teammates overseeing
the delivery and unloading of a shipment of organic maize from the Lake Rukwa district.

Click HERE to see a clip of Drew hauling maize.

Click HERE to see a video clip of Drew operating the UFP maize mill.

(Left) Drew with Unite Food Program teammate Stanley Arthur arranging bags of organic maize flour. (Right) Drew with UFP teammates Lazaro Mahulo and Salvius Nchimbi driving our three-wheeler to deliver UFP organic food products to buyers across Dar es Salaam.

(Left) Drew with Unite Food Program teammate Stanley Arthur arranging bags of organic maize flour. (Right) Drew with UFP teammates Lazaro Mahulo and Salvius Nchimbi driving our three-wheeler to deliver UFP organic food products to buyers across Dar es Salaam.

Drew’s Blessings

In keeping with Unite’s mission to serve and care for those in need, Drew was able to “bless” a woman the team encountered while she was struggling to walk alongside the road with UFP organic grains. Drew also blessed Unite teammate Richie, who was next in line for our Unite garden banana harvest. Giving is SO good!

Click HERE to see a video clip of Drew blessing a handicapped woman with organize maize and beans from Unite Food Program.

Click HERE to see a video clip of Drew blessing a handicapped woman with organize maize and beans from Unite Food Program.

Drew at play

At Unite we work hard — very hard — and then we take time to relax, connect, enjoy, and celebrate our achievements.

(Left) Drew with Unite teammates Lazaro, Azamela, Rhoda, Richie, Stanley, and Ibra (out of frame) visiting Budya Island for fun and adventures. (Right) Drew showing the team his moves during one of his many Unite dance parties.

(Left) Drew with Unite teammates Lazaro, Azamela, Rhoda, Richie, Stanley, and Ibra (out of frame) visiting Budya Island for fun and adventures. (Right) Drew showing the team his moves during one of his many Unite dance parties.

Some thoughts about Drew

Drew and Anty.jpg

“I was just blown away by Drew’s character and how he got along with everyone. His personality, respect, work ethic, empathy, generous heart, and love for others made everyone just adore him. He is a fine young man, and the entire Unite team in Tanzania is looking forward to seeing him back again hopefully one day soon.”

~Anty Marche, Unite Program Director

Drew and team.jpg

“Drew Warren is a hard working, fast learner who is flexible and able to cope with a challenging environment. He works well in a team and has excellent communication skills. He is a good and caring person.”

~UFP teammate, Lazaro Mahulo (above left)

“Having Drew in the team makes a huge difference. He always finds a way to get it done and brings to the team lots of encouragement and fantastic ideas.”

~UFP teammate, Stanley Arthur (above right)

Reflections from Drew’s parents: Andy & Tracy Warren

“Drew is a lucky human being. He’s had so many blessings in his life, and we think his experience in Africa is among the most wonderful. We have been so proud to view pictures of Drew with a true and effervescent smile on his face. The glean he gets from helping others is unmistakable. Drew’s Unite experience will forever broaden his view on humanity and our vastly diverse world. He truly adores the Tanzanian people and the joy they find in everyday life. The mission of Unite will be in his heart always.

Drew has experienced first-hand the tremendous difference that Unite is making in the lives of Tanzanian people. Unite’s mission is held in the highest regard for all those involved. Along with their hard work, there is a genuine joy and pride in what is being accomplished.”

To learn more about volunteering with Unite,
email anne@uniteafricafoundation.org.

Note:

  1. All volunteer candidates must go through a careful review and evaluation process to determine eligibility for placement with our Unite team in Tanzania.

  2. We match talent to need.

  3. An awesome work ethic, an open heart, and a mind eager to learn are the most important qualities we seek in Unite volunteers.

THANK YOU DREW! WE LOVE AND APPRECIATE YOU!