We're sisters, Debra Eller and Deanna Furlong, and we need your help!

WHAT’S OUR GOAL?

We want to send our friend (Elius) William to graduate school at the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, so he can get his master’s in clinical psychology.

WHO IS WILLIAM?

Have you ever met a person and thought to yourself, “Wow, they’re such a genuinely good human being. I feel better about the world just knowing they’re in it.” William is one of these people.

Whether it’s helping his family or his community, William sees a need and simply does what is necessary. Applying his knowledge and education, and his special blend of compassion, creativity, and enthusiasm, William has spent the past several years trying to tackle some of the most challenging issues facing his village and larger community. Not because anyone asked him to, simply because his calling in life is to improve the lives of those around him. A few of his accomplishments include:

1. Developing and raising funds to provide a ‘stay-in-school’ program for youth in his village.

2. Developing and delivering workshops in his community to address topics such as gender-based violence and alcoholism.

3. Volunteering countless hours of counseling and developing programs for the residents at Sober House, an alcoholic rehabilitation center.

Did I mention that William did all these things while working a job to help support his family, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and serving as president of the University of Iringa's students' organization. To say that his, passion, drive and focus are impressive, would be a gross understatement. That’s why we were not surprised when William shared with us that his next goal was to pursue a master’s degree.

WHAT’S WILLIAM BEEN DOING IN PURSUIT OF HIS GOAL?

Over the past year, William worked incredibly hard to ensure he was accepted to the competitive graduate program he’s chosen. He worked with a tutor to further develop his English language skills, continued his education by attending conferences and workshops, and gained employment with an organization that would satisfy the professional experience requirement for admission to his graduate program.

In August 2023, William was hired by a prestigious non-profit dedicated to serving the needs of children with autism spectrum disorders. In just six months working with this organization, William attained certification as an Analytical Behavioral Therapist, and was selected by the center’s director to speak at the 2023 International Conference for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders in December. He crushed it at the conference with this presentation to over 1200 professionals and parents. He continues to be a valued employee and through serving the children at this facility, is now certain that he wants his focus in graduate school to be children's mental health.

As if trying to get into grad school, figuring out how to pay for it, AND continuing to work full-time weren’t enough to have on his plate, William has also been concerned that he wouldn’t be able to continue to provide the same level of financial support to his family once he begins attending grad school full-time. But it’s William… so of course he came up with a plan. Early last year, he and his older brother Erick took over their ailing uncle's farm with several chicken coops, and they've been operating a successful chicken farming business for about a year now.

An amazing young man on an incredible journey!

But now it’s your chance to do something incredible… something that will change not just one life, but have an extraordinary positive ripple across a family, a village, a country, a continent… and maybe even the world!

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE HELP THIS INCREDIBLE PERSON ACHIEVE HIS GOAL OF ATTENDING GRADUATE SCHOOL!

HOW MUCH DO WE NEED?

To ensure that William can focus on school and works only weekends/as needed at the chicken farm, WITHOUT reducing the financial support he currently sends his family we need to raise the following to cover two-years of school and living expenses:

1. Tuition, fees, books 40,010,000 TZS/ $15,943 USD/ 14,555€ Euro

2. Housing 12,400,000 TZS/ $ 9,577 USD/ 8,743€ Euro

3. Food, data**, other living expense 7,300,000 TZS/ $ 2,909 USD/ 2,656€ Euro

* TZS = Tanzanian Schilling

** Most Tanzanians access the Internet using data on their mobile phones. William uses Wi-Fi when it’s available, but that will likely only be available on campus.