November 2020 Update – Written by CEO & Founder Letty McMaster JULY 2020 – FRED Fred who we rescued from the streets in February 2019 has gone from strength to strength since having a home. He adores football and is very talented. In July this year, I took Fred to football academy… Read more
November 20, 2020
November 2020 Update – Written by CEO & Founder Letty McMaster
JULY 2020 – FRED
Fred who we rescued from the streets in February 2019 has gone from strength to strength since having a home. He adores football and is very talented. In July this year, I took Fred to football academy trials and he was chosen as one of 30 (out of 150 children) for an academy of one of the best football teams in Tanzania. This was an incredible achievement and we are so proud of him, don’t forget to look out for MSOVELA on your screens in years to come.
AUGUST 2020 – PASCAL
Pascal is 17 and never had the chance to go to school. Until the age of 14 he was forced to herd animals in his village. He ran to the streets a few years ago in search of a better life. We came across Pascal on one of our street visits in August 2019. Since October 2019, we have been supporting Pascal in a life away from the streets. He is now part of our family and living in the house.
Pascal has always wanted to gain an education, and in August of this year, he began one on one literacy tuition. He is so grateful, as of November 2020 he is now able to read and write in Swahili. Over the next few months, he will have further tuition, which will help him achieve the level that is needed in order for him to be accepted into a local college. Here, he wants to study mechanism and driving. These skills will give him a better chance at future employment.
EVA
Eva has finished her first year at university studying Business Administration. Since starting university she has been given so many opportunities. She was elected as chair of her year within the first month, where she was in charge of organizing lectures and liaising between students and teachers. In June, after many interviews she was chosen as the volunteer chairperson for her university the (International NGO) Restless Development. This was an enormous achievement. After two months of organizing events for over 100 youths giving back to their community, she was elected as Assistant Program Coordinator for Restless Development. In this role, she has the responsibility of organizing all three universities in the region, receiving her own office at University.
RE-HOMING MOODY
We came across Moody on one of our visits to the streets last year. Since then, he has been visiting and receiving support via the Safe house. In August we managed to re-home Moody with his Grandma and support him back into education. He is now happily settled with his Grandma after being separated from her for years. We are so happy he is now safely re-homed and we are continuing to support Moody in his education.
After re-opening the ‘Safe House’ in June, it became a vital safe space for over 24 current street children and young adults.
At the ‘Safe House’ street children and young adults are able to come for food, support and guidance in a life away from the streets. Since October 2019, we have supported 10 more street children have off the streets.
For the whole of August, this house acted as a safe haven for 6 children who were involved & witnessed a rape case. After the children alerted me of what was occurring in town, we spent several days at the police station giving witness statements. During this time the ‘Safe House’ acted as a witness protection area for the children involved in this case.
MOHAMED & BARAKA
Mohamed is 12 years old and we met him via the Safe House in June. In August, he was brought to the home at night by a number of boys on the streets, as he had attempted to end his own life. We managed to get him to the hospital in time, and after an over night stay, he survived. The nurses believed that if we arrived at the hospital later than we did, he would no longer be with us.
Baraka is 14 and was involved in a car accident at an early age. In this accident he lost his mother. This has had a significant effect on his mental health.
The social welfare office and police classed Mohamed & Baraka as two of the ‘naughtiest’ children on the streets and claimed that they couldn’t be helped. In July, they were welcomed into the home where they have gradually evolved through distancing themselves from previous behaviours. The changes in Mohamed have been huge. Going from the boy that was filled with anger in June, to a much happier, loving and thoughtful person in the family. We have now managed to re-home Baraka with a relative who is able to support him.
EVA – DAY OF THE GIRL
We are so proud of our Eva who decided to share her story for the ‘Day of the Girl’ in order to inspire other younger girls living a life similar to the one she ran away from. Her story was featured on an account ‘Girl Effect’ alongside many other inspirational stories. Hers was chosen as one of the favourites.
After this success she was asked to enter a competition for East Africa and record a video of herself telling her story, she was the only person from Tanzania to be chosen. After this the head of Restless Development Tanzania (International NGO) asked her to go around primary schools talking about the importance of education for young girls.
SUPPOSED TO: “Be married to an older Masaai man at the age of 12 and
be a housewife with lots of children.”
CHOSE TO: “Run away and get an education.”
“I was born in Pawaga Village where when a girl is born,
it is decided that she will be married off to an older man at the age of 12, in exchange for cows.
At the age of 12 I ran away from my village to Iringa town as my relatives were trying to marry me off to an older Masaai man.
When I got to Iringa town, I was taken to an orphanage where I started to gain and education. I stayed here for four years whilst being supported in primary school by my sister. When I finished primary education, I started to live with my sister who supported me in secondary and university education.
I have just finished my certificate in business administration and I am starting my diploma in November. I am also Assistance Programme Coordinator for RUCU network.
If I had not run away, none of this would have happened and I would have been a house wife with lots of children”.
Both Eva and her twin Lidia, have been supported by us for the past 7 years, through primary, secondary and university education. We are so proud of their success.
Eva’s full story and video can be seen here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxUlBGCv9qs
GOSBERTH
Gosberth is in his final few months of his last year of secondary school. He is still first place in his year and he recently did a interschool mock GCSE examination where he received the top marks in the region, out of 30,000 students. With his current results they are predicting Gosberth will get a part-scholarship to the best A level school in Tanzania. He has come so incredibly far and we are beyond proud of him.
SIMONI
Simoni is currently in his first year of secondary school. Simoni is trying his best but he is not the most academically inclined. He would love to instead study an electrical course at the local college.
PISHON
Pishon is currently doing his national exams for his second year of secondary school. He is achieving good results at school but also focuses on his passion for music, spending time in the studio with his friends where he records new songs that are played on the local radio. This year he did his first stage performance at a local show.
ELIAH
Eliah’s personality seems ever-evolving, from being so shy to now being a big joker in the house. He is still doing well at school and in January 2021, along with Fred, will be going into his final year of primary school.
SAMSON
Samson, who was found on the streets in 2018 and re-homed with his mother and younger brother, is now studying at an English-speaking secondary boarding school.
Here, he is loving his education and is in the top ten of his year, gaining straight As. We envision a big future ahead for Samson.
BARAKA
After finishing his secondary education Baraka has been helping with the cooking for the children at the Safe House. He also helps by taking children and young adults, who come via the safe house, for check-ups at the local hospital. In December he is starting a driving course. This will provide him with another skill.
MAGGIE
Maggie is finishing her first year of secondary school. She is forever grateful to be safe, receiving an education and escaping childhood marriage.
LIDIA
Lidia is currently re taking two subjects for her GCSEs in order to be able to enrol in a childhood education or social welfare university course next year. This will enable her to pursue her dreams of working with children. Throughout this year Lidia has also been helping out with the Safe House and street visits.
RAZARLO
Since January 2020 Razarlo has been studying a tourism/guide course at a national park in Tanzania. He is doing so well here and has learnt a great deal. He will be staying here until he is chosen by a tourism company to work, which will hopefully happen within the next year. He is now on the road to becoming fully independent.
FLYGOD
Flygod is the first of the young adults to move out of the house. We will be supporting him at the local college, in order for him to learn a skill of his choice. This will enable him to support himself into adult life.
IDDY
Iddy will be starting a music production course in 2021. This will give him the skills and connections to work on his dreams of making his own music and having a studio. Iddy is a big part of the street visits we carry out and also helps with the current street children at the Safe House.
For the last 6 months we have also been supporting him in boxing training, as he is a very talented boxer.
KEPHA
We have been supporting Kepha for the past year in his private secondary education. He was referred to us via the social welfare as his family could not afford a good secondary education for him.
I can’t believe how much has happened in four years. I opened the home in September 2016, which then led to me registering Street Children Iringa as a UK registered charity. The charity is now supporting the home, which in turn currently homes 12 children and young adults. It also supports the Safe House, which allows between 24 and 30 current street children and youths to feel safe in a life away from the streets. The charity also provides support for girls at risk of child marriage to gain access to an education, carries out regular street visits to find new children at risk, and where possible, re-homes children and supports their relatives with a sustainable source of income. The activities of the charity have expanded so much, and, in the next five years we aim to support the children and young adults who come through the Safe House, in a life away from the streets. We also hope to be able to support and empower many more relatives of children where it is possible to re-home them.
SUPPORTING PHILLIPO & HIS GRANDMA
Last year we managed to re-home Phillipo with his Grandma via the Safe House.
We have been supporting Phillipo and his Grandma over the past year by providing them with monthly food packages and school needs.
We have now supported Phillipo’s Grandma in opening up a small sustainable coal business, which will allow her to provide for Phillipo and her other two other grandchildren.
We have also helped them with a year’s rent, so that they can move out of the previous, unsafe location in which they were living.
THE SAFE HOUSE UPDATE Since opening this house in October last year, we have already been able to help six more children in a life away from the streets and will continue to do so for all the children coming through this house. Pascal & Raymond aged 15, who cannot read or write,… Read more
April 6, 2020
Since opening this house in October last year, we have already been able to help six more children in a life away from the streets and will continue to do so for all the children coming through this house.
Pascal & Raymond aged 15, who cannot read or write, ran from the village as their lives were only to herd animals. Street Children Iringa have been able to provide these children with shelter, food, medical support and basic essentials in order to live. After they have been taught to read and write we will support them in studying a skill in order to be able to gain an income.
Noeli (pictured right) aged 9, lives with his mum but was regularly on the streets day and night in order to find food. Just £30 donation money was needed in order to purchase Noels school needs and equipment for him to be allowed back to school. He now comes to visit the safe house when his day at school is finished.
Phillipo (pictured left) aged 11, lives with his Grandma in a mud hut in the next village along from Iringa. He was always on the streets in search for food for his Grandmother when he was found on one of our street visits. Street Children Iringa paid for him to do his exams at his previous school so that he could then move to a school in the village where his Grandma is. After purchasing all of his uniform and school needs he was able to go to school.
The long term plan, dependant on the local council, is for 6 – 12 street children and youths to live here as a temporary home whilst adjusting in a life away from the streets. Then assess the situation for each of these children and youths in what is the best way going forward to support them so each of them has a safe home to live in.
The Safe House provides a place where around 20 – 30 street children and youths can come three times a week to gain support and guidance in how to move away from a life on the streets. They will get three meals a day and engage in activities such as football, basketball and music.
A middle ground is so important in getting children away from street and gang life, finding out the core reasons why they are on the streets and working in ways for them to gain an education and live in a safe home. This house was opened at the end of October 2019 and is already hugely helping more street children and other vulnerable children in need in a life away from the streets. After the first year, council wiling, I am hoping to make this house a temporary home for 6 – 12 street children and youths to live in at a time, whilst adjusting to a life away from the streets and supporting them in their new life.
SAMSON STARTS SECONDARY BOARDING SCHOOL In October 2018 some of you will remember that I came across a young boy called Samson, searching for scraps in a dump, in order to get money for food as his mum was too ill to work. After reuniting Samson with his mother and younger brother, Street Children… Read more
April 6, 2020
In October 2018 some of you will remember that I came across a young boy called Samson, searching for scraps in a dump, in order to get money for food as his mum was too ill to work. After reuniting Samson with his mother and younger brother, Street Children Iringa started supporting them with food and educational needs, so that Samson could focus on his education. In November 2019 Samson’s primary school results were released and he came first in his class, gaining straight As. He was accepted into a boarding school where he has started studying his secondary education. Without the help of Street Children Iringa supporting Samson and his family with food, it was very likely that he would not have finished his primary education. Samson is so grateful for the chance to get him and his family out of poverty through education.
CHRISTMAS 2019 This year was Fred & Eliah’s first Christmas with us they were so excited and constantly squealing at every item in their stockings, made up from generous donations. Don’t waste your time and try australian open schedule. Over the last 3 years I have always done stockings and presents for all the… Read more
April 6, 2020
This year was Fred & Eliah’s first Christmas with us they were so excited and constantly squealing at every item in their stockings, made up from generous donations. Don’t waste your time and try australian open schedule. Over the last 3 years I have always done stockings and presents for all the children to have at Christmas, this year it was so lovely for Fred & Eliah, currently the youngest family members, to experience this. They are both very settled in the house and school. Fred struggles with school but is very talented at football, especially as goal keeper and is regularly asked to be in goal for the 18+ matches. I would love to get him in to a secondary school that also focuses on football, who knows where the opportunity could take him! Eliah is very academic and is doing very well in school, currently he would love to become a doctor.
BARAKA & FLYGOD’S SECONDARY SCHOOL GRADUATION Flygod and Baraka have now graduated secondary school. Next year Baraka is interested in becoming a solider or studying a tourism course that will allow him to work in the national park among the tourism industry. Flygod is keen on opening a business that can allow… Read more
April 6, 2020
Flygod and Baraka have now graduated secondary school. Next year Baraka is interested in becoming a solider or studying a tourism course that will allow him to work in the national park among the tourism industry. Flygod is keen on opening a business that can allow him to become independent and start his life away from the house.
EVA STARTING UNIVERSITY Eva is the first one of the house to start University. She has been accepted into the best university in Iringa to study a one year course in Business administration, which she is very keen on studying. Eva ran away from her village with her twin, Lidia, when they were… Read more
April 6, 2020
Eva is the first one of the house to start University. She has been
accepted into the best university in Iringa to study a one year course in
Business administration, which she is very keen on studying. Eva ran
away from her village with her twin, Lidia, when they were 11 years old
to escape forced child marriage and FGM. Street Children Iringa has
supported her since primary school throughout her education and
through living at the house. It is such a milestone for Eva to have
reached this point in her life, as if she had not run away from her village
her life would have been so very different.
A CALL FROM SOCIAL WELFARE Letty received a call from the social welfare office asking for help with a case of a little girl who was very ill in hospital with her mum. They were in hospital due to their awful living conditions. The mum had been living with an illness for a long… Read more
April 6, 2020
Letty received a call from the social welfare office asking for help with a case of a little girl who was very ill in hospital with her mum. They were in hospital due to their awful living conditions. The mum had been living with an illness for a long time and as she did not have money for food she could not take her tablets, which led to her becoming increasingly sick. The next day I received a call saying her mum had passed away and the little girl aged 9, was left with nobody.
This little girl is Doreen. She has now been given a scholarship at a local boarding school, and thanks to £120 donation money, Street Children Iringa were able to provide her with everything she needs at her new school, making her feel special and equal to all the other students. We will continue to support her and she will come to visit us in school holidays.
SIMONI’S GRADUATION At the end of September, Simoni graduated primary school! This is a huge achievement for him and we were so proud. The whole family, including the workers, turned up to support Simoni on his big day. He is starting tuition for secondary school this week and will start at an English speaking… Read more
April 6, 2020
At the end of September, Simoni graduated primary school! This is a huge achievement for him and we were so proud. The whole family, including the workers, turned up to support Simoni on his big day. He is starting tuition for secondary school this week and will start at an English speaking secondary school in January.
GOSBERTH’S RESULTS Gosberth came home for a two week holiday in September. He loves school so much, but also really enjoys relaxing at home in the holidays. When we took him back to school their yearly results had been released, Gosberth had the top results in the whole year of 158 students. This is… Read more
April 6, 2020
Gosberth came home for a two week holiday in September. He loves school so much, but also really enjoys relaxing at home in the holidays. When we took him back to school their yearly results had been released, Gosberth had the top results in the whole year of 158 students. This is beyond amazing as all the students in his year are from very rich families and have studied at private, English speaking schools since nursery. Gosberth, who came from a government primary school, speaking no English, has created history at this school with them regularly saying no one from a government primary school has received results that have come close to the top twenty.
The school now want Gosberth to make history again, and are hoping that in his final year next year, he will be able to get the school into the top ten schools in Tanzania due to his results. This is something we are sure Gosberth will be able to achieve. After finishing secondary school next year he will continue with A levels and after that I will search for a scholarship for him to study university abroad.
He really has made the most of this incredible opportunity he has been given. Below are pictures of Gosberth in 2013 and now. He is our genius!!
THREE YEARS OF HAVING A HOME On the 28th September 2019, we marked three years since me and the children moved into the house. Three years since they escaped the abusive orphanage. Three years of having a place to call home and feel safe and loved. The kids have grown up so much… Read more
April 6, 2020
On the 28th September 2019, we marked three years since me and the children moved into the house. Three years since they escaped the abusive orphanage. Three years of having a place to call home and feel safe and loved. The kids have grown up so much over these years, its been so amazing to see what an impact having a safe, stable place to call home has had on each of them. Starting in 2016 with 9 children and now having a family of 11. Below is the picture taken in 2016, and the picture taken now with everyone in the same place – with the added extras of Pishon (far right) and Fred and Eliah in front of Letty.
SAVING MAGGIE In July we received information of a girl who was being followed by older men trying to kidnap her every day on her walk to and from school. These men wanted to kidnap her and sell her to an older man for marriage, in exchange for cows. This girl is called… Read more
April 6, 2020
In July we received information of a girl who was being followed by older men trying to kidnap her every day on her walk to and from school. These men wanted to kidnap her and sell her to an older man for marriage, in exchange for cows.
This girl is called Maggie, she is 14 years old and was living in fear every day at the idea of being kidnapped and sold into a life of marrying an older man, having lots of children and being a housewife.
Myself and the two girls living at the house (who previously ran from this life when they were 11) went to the village where Maggie was living to save her. Thanks to donation money, we were able to enrol Maggie in a boarding school hours away from her village. She is now safe and very happy, studying in her first year of secondary school.
WELCOMING ELIAH We found Eliah during one of our night visits to the streets, where Letty and the older boys go around the gutters/dumps in Iringa town, to find current children living on the streets. More info is here on australian open schedule to change your life. After finding them we take… Read more
April 6, 2020
We found Eliah during one of our night visits to the streets, where Letty and the older boys go around the gutters/dumps in Iringa town, to find current children living on the streets. More info is here on australian open schedule to change your life. After finding them we take them for a meal, build up trust with them and are able to understand their situation more. On one of our night visits in June we came across Eliah. He was the smallest of all the boys on the streets and was just dressed in a big t-shirt when it was the equivalent of winter in Tanzania. Eliah’s mum had died two years earlier and his dad was mentally unstable. After speaking with the social welfare office and carrying out visits to his other relatives, it was agreed the safest place for him to be was in the home.
He is now the 11th and youngest member. Below he is pictured on his first day in the house, being welcomed by Fred through making pancakes. He is now very settled in the house, has great behaviour and after getting him enrolled in a local school he is in the top 20 of his year. This is an amazing achievement given all the time he has spent out of school and on the streets. We see a big future ahead for Eliah!
FRED We came across Fred when Letty and the girls were visiting some of the older street children who used to live at the orphanage. We found Fred in a dump area and he hadn’t eaten for days. After speaking with the social welfare office it was agreed that he could move into… Read more
April 5, 2020
We came across Fred when Letty and the girls were visiting some of the older street children who used to live at the orphanage. We found Fred in a dump area and he hadn’t eaten for days.
After speaking with the social welfare office it was agreed that he could move into the home with us. Soon after Fred started studying at one the local primary schools and loves life living in the house.
FINISHING SECONDARY SCHOOL Eva, Lidia and Razarlo have finished secondary school!! This is such a huge achievement, especially as at the time of their studies Street Children Iringa did not have the funds to support them in private education. Government education is particularly hard so we are so proud of the three of them.… Read more
March 27, 2020
Eva, Lidia and Razarlo have finished secondary school!! This is such a huge achievement, especially as at the time of their studies Street Children Iringa did not have the funds to support them in private education. Government education is particularly hard so we are so proud of the three of them.
Since finishing secondary school Eva has studied two courses at a local NGO teaching courses in computer studies and business studies. Both which she passed with flying colours and was chosen to meet the regional office to talk about her business ideas. She has also studied an english course. In October Eva will be starting her Community Health course at the local medical university.
Lidia has already dreamt of becoming a teacher and since finishing school she has been volunteering at a private pre – school. After volunteering for a few months they decided they want to keep her on a paid contract and teach her Montessori learning skills for young children. She is helping with every day teaching activities with the children and the admin of school until she is able to study a course in early childhood education next year. Then she will be qualified to become a teacher at this school or another private pre – school. Her english has hugely improved since doing this.
Razarlo has been focusing on his football and has been accepted into the regional team where he goes to training every day and plays in every match, he is one of their top strikers. Razarlo has completed an english course and he will be doing a driving course next year in order to give himself a skill.
A GRANT FROM MEETING NEEDS UK £5,000 TO INVEST IN TWO TUK TUK BUSINESS’S Street Children Iringa are so happy to have received a grant of £5,000 in order to invest in a sustainable project to create income for the house and helping get more children off the streets of Iringa. Due to… Read more
March 27, 2020
Street Children Iringa are so happy to have received a grant of £5,000 in order to invest in a sustainable project to create income for the house and helping get more children off the streets of Iringa. Due to this grant, Street Children Iringa have purchased two Tuk Tuk’s that will be running a taxi service each returning £6.50 per day. This really is fantastic and we are so grateful for Meeting Needs UK support to make this happen.
