Seeds of Hope: Building Futures
Extreme poverty is reality for too many families in Kigoma, Tanzania. This doesn’t just mean there is not enough money for families to buy clothes for their children when they need them, enough food to eat, or resources for their work. This can also have an impact on families’ health, their ability to earn an income, and it can widen so many inequalities.
We work with such communities to help improve the lives of many families through various projects, helping families become self-sufficient with food, income, and water-security. We provide knowledge, training, financial services and resources so that people can grow food, create businesses, and build livelihoods that benefit not just themselves but their families and wider communities.
One of our greatest joys is seeing and celebrating the impact. Since beginning our work in Kigoma, we have helped improve food access for more than 38,000 people through better farming practices, supported 3,200 youth and women to start small businesses through microfinance, provided clean and safe water to over 90,000 schoolchildren and community members through 196 boreholes, and planted more than 800,000 trees for environmental conservation. Families are now able to pay for healthcare, education, electricity, transport, and better housing – things that once felt out of reach.
Joyce’s Story – A Schoolgirl Finds Hope in Water
“My name is Joyce, I am 13 years old and a student at Kasyenene Primary School. I never believed our dry, rocky land could give us water. When Mboni ya Vijana announced they would build a borehole, I thought it was a scam. But within two weeks, I was the first pupil to carry water from our new well. Before this, I walked over two hours every day to fetch dirty water from a stream. Now, with clean water at school, I have time to study and dream. I’ve learned that the impossible can become possible, and I want to become an innovator who makes that happen.”
Christina’s Story – From Lost Dreams to Farming Success
“After failing my national exams, I thought my life was over. In our village, many girls are married off when they leave school, and I believed that was my only option. Then I joined Mboni ya Vijana’s free entrepreneurship and farming training. I learned how to start a small business, manage money, and make organic fertilizers. I grew maize and beans, earning nearly 1.9 million TZS from my first harvest while also feeding my family. Now, instead of being forced into marriage, I am respected at home. My dream is to expand my farm and eventually start a food marketing business. I’ve found hope in knowledge and skills, and I want to share that with my community.”
Selemani’s Story – Feeding a Family, Building a Future
Selemani, 36, is a father of four in Kasulu. “Before joining Mboni ya Vijana’s training, my land could barely feed my family for five months of the year. After learning improved farming methods and receiving a small loan, I harvested 24 bags of maize, four bags of beans, and eight bags of sunflower. I sold crops worth 1.3 million TZS and started a small fertilizer business for my wife, which pays for school uniforms, medicine, and food. With cassava now growing, I can feed my family year-round, and I’m preparing to build a better house. I thank Mboni ya Vijana and the donors who made this possible.”
These are just a few of the many voices that inspire us daily. Your support allows families to move out of extreme poverty and into lives of dignity and prosperity. Together, we are bringing lasting change to western Tanzania—and with your continued support, we will reach even more communities in need.