Do you have a best friend?

"We live here like a Family, I visit my girlfriends, we talk, we share thoughts, give each other advice.

I can go to them, they can come to me."

So any time you can meet?

"Yes, even like if I did not get flour for cooking ugali I ask them for help, the day they miss, they come to tell me and I try my best to share what I have got. I do share my vegetable and they give me some of their flour. We help each other."

You help each other as friends.

"I see it as we are almost relatives, you can sit with each other and talk, if one of you did not get the money for food that day you eat together, you do not let each other’s children sleep hungry."

I saw women helping each other as well with raising the children. For example when you shower, your neighbour cares for your child. And so do you.

"Eeeh, that’s how we do."

Do you think your girlfriends help you more than your husband?

(laughs) "You saw him the way he was today and the lies he told. If I’d depend on him, that would mean I would have died already. Sometimes I do not understand him at all."

Was he like this since the beginning?

"Him?"

Yes, why did you fell in love with him, why did you marry him?

"He has different times. Was not like this, and is not always same. He used to drink but not being often drunk like now. He used to work, and drink. But he always went to work and brought money home. He was a good man. He cared."

He drunk even back then?

"Yes, but only beer, now he drinks this strong alcohol like Kvant, don’t even know what their names are.

If he is lucky at his part time job, getting 20’000tzs, he can leave 2’000 to our family, the rest he does not bring home. He says that’s what he has got, but he arrives home being so drunk, he does not even understand himself until the next day. So where did he get the money from to be that drunk?

The day he does not earn anything he goes to lend money. And then he can’t pay back. Means I have to help him.

Here I can catch him, I remind him all the time to pay back the loans. Because if he does not pay them back who is going to help us when we are hungry?"

You have a maise business now, won’t you get a problem with him that he wants the money for buying alcohol?

"If he sees the money, he would want it. But he does not take it. No he does not do that. But he will come to ask me to give him some of it."

If you say no, because you don’t want him to drink. Does he argue with you?

"No. He will just leave. He knows that I got this money only because I did work. Not like him. So he just comes to eat and sleep."

Do you think he will ever get away from the alcohol?

"When you overview the past, I would say I can’t count on that. I need to rely on myself if I want to succeed in our family. I do not have evidence that his condition will end, but also not that it will stay."

Hi, how are you?

Today i am very happy because we meet, i was missing you, its always nice when women meet.

Is there something you do not like?

I dont like to be in a situation where i feel sad. 

What are doing when you feel sad?

I keep myself busy to destract from how i feel, but i as well talk to my family, to get advice. 

Do you have a dream?

Yess, i do! I would love to have a daycare one day that helps children in difficult life situations.

Means you can imagine being a leader?

I would like to be one. A women leader.

Do you think women can be good leaders?

Yess, might even better. laughs :)

Why do you think that?

Because when i was in secondary school, i was a head girl guiding the others. As well in my family i am am the one leading my siblings.

What do you think is your role as a woman-socialworker?

I give those women a voice that believe that they are voiceless, especially in the village women think like that.

Women believe they are voiceless?

Yess, this is common in many tribes. And i see myself in a position where i need to empower them, standing up for themself.

Thats great, so you are a rolemodel.

I inspire other women to have a voice. Because i believe even if the whole community wants a women to be quiet, as soon as she stops being afraid and starts to talk, things start to change.

What do you like on being a women

That i can raise my own children one day, a man does not get that opportunity. laughs :)

Do you have anything to say to all women?

I know, life is so hard, but i advice you: Be responsible for yourself. Study hard, do the things you love. Care for yourself and your future. That will help you a lot in your life later.

What do you want to tell the men?

Allow your girls and women to get educated and work. Stop making them depending on you.

What is your dream ?

“I would like to play with Manchester United one day. My dream is to be a football player. I love to play and do play well. Because I can not only depend on a dream, I would like to learn how to drive tracks. I can go to study it for 3 up to 6 month so that I get a licence and with that be employed by someone. People suggest me to learn something that guarantees my future better than being a driver. Kipepeo for example told me to choose plumbing, carpentry, mechanic or so. I am going to think about this, because they are usually good to me and advise me well. I know them since a while ago. Have met them at the place they come to eat with us boys who live on the street and I like what they do. They motivate me to be responsible for myself so I can go back and help my family one day.”

Interview with Iddy Athmani Saidi (17j)

Lailani* 's words:

"It was not my plan to get pregnant due to the challenges i was facing. I noticed changes in my body and went for a check up to the hospital. As the doctor told me that i was pregnant i had to start crying. Various people adviced me to do make an abortion, which was difficult to me, because i was really scared."

Very luckily did Lailani call us from her neighbours phone, crying that she needs help with the abortion. That she reached out to us was very courageouse. We are endlessly  greatful that she did it and that she found the strenght to believe us when we told her at the phone that we will pass by. At the meeting in the afternoon the same day, we promised Lailani to make sure her fears of not being able to feed the child and many other circumstages we would help to carry them and figure a better way out then doing an illegal abortion. Kipepeo Family Foundation was able to help and she now, nine month later delivered healthy and safe.

Women basically decide to do an illegal abortion still- because they do not see another way out of their misery. The dangerouse and sad way in that moment still looks like being the only way to them.

My name is Eliambuya what means: "God is watching us".

I’m 50 years old and I have 3 children.

I’m from Tema Village Moshi Kilimanjaro Tanzania!

I’m a sunday school and montossori teacher.

Basically a Kindergarten teacher here at our church.

At the sunday school-lessions I teach different to what I teach at the kindergarten! On Sunday i teach about god. 

My husband is doing the same teaching as me, as well here at our church.

Since I was young attending  primary school my dreams was to work with small children. I used to pray everyday that this dream will become true. After graduating i got finally chosen to do the education for becoming a teacher.

In my free time i like to farm vegetables at my home. I like to sing in the choir, I love cooking, teaching and listening music.

I’m so proud of myself being a teacher.

I am very grateful that Kipepeo has financed us modern equipment for the classes. It has become easier for me to teach the little kids. Kipepeo has enabled my personal and the churchs dream we had, to own school supplies for our children.

After getting the chairs, tables and teaching materials we took them to the church in order to show all village members. They were very happy for what Kipepeo has supported to our village.

Natiro Communion Church

We are all  very happy. Thank you Kipepeo Family Foundation we really apprechiate your work.

Eliambuya

Thank you so much to Kipepeo Family Foundation you have fulfilled my long-held dreams.

You have lift me up, from one step to another!

"Lucky i was to get the change to move to a Boardingschool. It prevents me from getting pregnant, it gives me hope for a better future and i feel value as a girl and woman to have the right to study." 

-Fatuma, Student

• If a young woman gets pregnant she gets suspended from school. It is probhibited to continue with her education.

• Many are told to stay home, caring for younger siblings or have to work hard for the family's home after and before school.

• Young girls which grow up in poor society's often sleep with different man to get money to cover their needs of living.

• In case a family has not enough money for all children to go to school, the Boy gets choosen to attend and the Girl stays home.

• Some tribes believe, it is not necessary for a woman to get education due to early marriage and her responsibility to care for the family. It is the man's task to provide finances to the family.

"Sometimes the people we care for are really funny! Like this family here. We built them a house and we've been many times to help. But, they've never resided in the house together. I've never seen more than two family members at a time. Even though we made their life dream come true. Despite that, I know they are grateful and glad for everything we did."

- Zakayo, Employee 

"Tasiana and Veronica are both mothers that gained independence, through running their business. They give us a lot of motivation and are positive people. This gives me faith and strength to continue doing good work for other families. I am proud of them!"

- Nixon Simba, Local Leader