UMJIWATA

On a recent trip to Tanzania, we had the privilege of visiting UMJIWATA, a foundation started this year by my friend's brother-in-law, Joseph, and fellow teacher, Barnaba.  Joseph and Barnaba were teachers at a school for children afflicted with blindness, albinism, and physical handicaps (Albinos are viewed as evil and often orphaned and shunned in Africa).  Joseph and Barnaba recognized that although they were educating these children, once they graduated from school, they were again on their own in a society where disability prevented them from becoming independent.  Joseph and Barnaba decided to start a vocational training program with the intent to eliminate barriers to people with special needs in order to liberate them economically and socially. 

UMJIWATA is an NGO which in Swahili is an accronym for Unga Mkono Jitihada za Watu Wenye Ulemavu Tanzania.  This translates in English to "support for the efforts of disabled people in Tanzania". 

UMJIWATA takes students after completing primary school, as well as those who are newly handicapped later in life(meet Angel below), and provides them with vocational training and job placement so that they can live an independent life.   Their motto is "DISABILITY IS NOT INABILITY".  Skills taught include carpentry, tailoring, welding, sewing, and other hand crafts. Students are also assisted in job placement after completing training. 

This is Angel. She was working as a nurse and became afflicted with blindness. No longer able to work as a nurse, she lost her job and became homeless. She is now living at the school and learning to weave in order to make an independent living. 

This is Joseph, Mutta's brother, and one of the founders of UMJIWATA.  He is a teacher and also blind himself. 

On our recent trip, we had the chance to visit UMJIWATA and meet the students. They touched our hearts with their enthusiasm for learning new skills and making a better life for themselves and others.  Right now the school is housed in a small three room building in Bukoba, Tanzania. Students sleep on mattresses on the floor and train together in a small common room. The hope is that eventually they will be able to build a larger facility to better accommodate the students and staff. Currently, they need help paying for more mattresses and bunk beds for the students, meals for the students, monthly rent, additional sewing equipment, computers, books, and workshop tools.  Below is an estimated cost of some items in US dollars:

Rent/month: $130
Bunk Bed: $120
Mattress: $55
Meals for 1 student for 1 week: $10
Computer: $750
Workshop tools: $300
Books for sewing, tailoring, and welding: $100


This is the building that houses IMJIWATA

This is the bedroom where students sleep

Thanks for taking the time to read this and for your consideration in helping our friends in Tanzania! Any amount that you can give is appreciated in helping to make these individuals independent contributors to society.