Do you feel special today, because you got an unordinary drink and some clothes from Kipepeo?

“I am special every day. Not only today. L ike myself! - and also my little sister thinks that I am special. She knows I am her big brother and that I would always love and care for her.”

Would you like to say anything about your Family or where you come from?

“No – what for example?

You would like to say something about your brother?

I want him to study. He should not stop as I did. I don’t like to go back. But he needs to continue. He should be able to work in an Office when he is grown up. I do not want him to stop!

Why did you stop?

..I don’t like school.

Would you like to tell how that came?

No, not for the public. I don’t want to talk about my Life and Family, the secret things. The Kipepeo Team knows that is enough.

Do you believe in something?

“Yes I do, I go to pray at the Mosque. I am a Muslim. But today for example I won’t go, because my clothes are full of dirt, I got in touch with alcohol at the bar I cleaned today.”

You cleaned a bar?

“This morning I did, sometimes I get a chance to do so and earn a bit. The bar is close to Mbuiuni Market where I am, every day waiting for the Watermelon’s to arrive.”

What do you do with the Watermelon?

“When the Track arrives, I carry the watermelon to the place where people sell them. I am not the only one doing this. Other boys whit the same background as I, are there with me doing the same.”

Legal abortion wihin Tanzania is not allowed, unless there are medical reasons to do so. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) are there 21.6 million women worldwide, between the age of 15 to 44 years who decide on doing it anyway- illegally. So do they in Tanzania.

The effect of an illegal abortion is massive and can be deadly.

Women can have an excessive blood loss or it could occur cervical cancer. Some of them are getting infertile and most of them suffer on an Psychological trauma after.

There are several reasons why it comes to an unexpected pregnancy. and within to the decition of an abortion.

Out of our research by working together with different communities around Mount Kilimanjaro we Kipepeo Family Foundation , came to the conclusion that most of abortions which are done can be attributed to following facts:

Why does an unwanted pregnancy happen?

-There is a lack of education about contraceptive skills.

-Men and women do not know enough about the menstrual cycle.

-Early Child marriage which is tradition in some tribes.

-Poverty leads women to sleep with man for financial help.

Why does a woman decide to abort?

-Fear of her own or/and her child's powerty.

-Believing that she would not be able to fulfill her child's needs.

-When she is a single mother, having no relatives to care for her baby.

-Cultural or family pressure due to feelings of shame or exclusion of a community.

-Girls who get pregnant while doing an education get suspended and will no longer be able to focus on their study.

All Mothers and every Child

should be protected.

"Hi, my name is a secret ! :) 

 I love my mama and gave my best to help her even though my childhood was not easy.  I am the thirdborn of 10 children and our Mama raised us basically alone. I'm so proud of her, giving always her best to show her love to us and give us the best life she could. Early already i was supposed to take over responsibilities which were my father's, who never helped. I ended up living at friends homes, having fun with other kids living in the slum area and started missing school. Often the schoolfees were not payed anyway. I got a girlfriend and do not know if the baby she got was from me. But i got despensed from school, because i was her boyfriend and had to carry the responsibility of making a girl pregnant, what is prohibited as long as both attend school. However, in an argument with the guy who i believe she betrayed me with, the baby felt and died. On top of everything i was so angry with one of my little sisters that i was told if i would show up at home, the village leader will bring me to the police. 

My behavior was formed from my difficult environment i grew up and it seemed to push me deeper and deeper.

Kipepeo Family Foundation is my last chance to take a turn and change my life. I want to be responsible for myselfe and my future! I agreed on their help and am attending now a boarding school to finallize my last years. I am glad that they fighted for me. They did not give up on me, when everyone else did! I want to believe in myselfe because they do. I am going to have a good future!"

-Secret Boy

"Laughing together amuses the soul. Between all the misery and pain, it feels really good! At the picture on the right you see a tiny egg. When I asked who laid it, the Mama answered: "My rooster!" And to my surprise she showed me the potatoes shown in the picture on the left, and told me that they had grown on a tree next to her house. A hen can not lay eggs if there is no rooster nearby. I just had to laugh and thought: Why not? As a European I certainly do not know everything better. I love these people."

- Joy, Leader 

"The Dala-Dala is at full capacity, but it seems that in Tanzania, a Dala-Dala is never truly full; helping hands, people squeeze together and we go on. Upon arriving at the Memorial Market, there are colourful crowds of people, wooden stands as far as the eyes can see, washed out clay soil and the movement of people moving to their own rhythm. There are various vendors selling clothes, towels and bed sheets, to customers engaging in bargaining and focused interactions. Joy moves safely trough the crowd. I follow behind, trying to absorb all the sights and sounds. I am fascinated. We are watched with curiosity. Some continue with their daily activities without taking notice, while others show their interest. While looking for towels and sheets, we are approached by helpful, warm humans, as well as those who see their chance to make a profit from us. Humans are Humans - everyone grows and fights in their own way. Navigating through all the happenings and impressions takes a lot of energy, and yet encounters and smiles make up for any feelings of being overwhelmed. Joy negotiates, tells and explains. I listen, understanding only a few words but learning so much. While eating a plate of fresh fruits and drinking Masala Chai we observe the hustle and bustle of the street and have a conversation about people and how we deal with each other: who gives, who takes, how much does our experience and past determine our attitude, and how far can a human being regulate their thinking and acting?

Tired, with a wide range of feelings and some valuable things in our bags and hearts, we reach home which for me, has now become an an oasis into a new world."

- Eliane, Traveller