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GLK Student Fund - September 2020
GLK Student Fund April Newsletter
Highlighting the GLK Trustees

GLK Trustees
Gayle, Grace, Samson, Judith, Elizabeth, Joyce, LInda

The trustees of the scholarship fund – professionals in Tanzania – ensure that worthy, needy students are helped. They volunteer their time and experience in caring for the progress of our scholarship recipients.  The trustees are all dedicated to this work.  They bring years of expertise in a wide variety of fields:  education, social work, health services, and architecture, and are all respected leaders in their communities. We would like to re-introduce you to them and let them speak for themselves.
 
Joyce Phineas Lwakatare, now a retired educator, has vast experience in her field as a leader, administrator, and teacher.  Joyce spent over 13 years teaching at Kyaitoke and Rwoga Primary Schools before moving to Germany and being involved in the primary schools in Recklinghausen there.  She is the founding Headteacher of Kibeta English Medium Primary School in Bukoba, and led there for twenty years.   She is married to Pastor Phenias Lwakatare, has five children, and three grandchildren.

Joyce has been instrumental in monitoring the progress of the GLK Students and identifying their needs.  We continually rely on Joyce’s wisdom and judgement in ensuring available funding is best used to benefit the students.

Joyce noted that she feels “privileged to be among the trustees of GLK.”  Because of her standing in the Kagera community, she is often the first one approached when there is a student in need. She has gotten to know many families wanting their children to obtain the quality education that they cannot afford.  She said that “getting to know them and their stories is very touching.  Some children have big dreams, but it is not easy to realize them” given their situations.  She is so happy to help find ways to make their dreams come true through the assistance of the GLK Student Fund.
 
Joyce is so thankful to Gayle for setting up the GLK Student Fund, to everyone who is supporting the fund through donations and other means, and to God for providing these opportunities to help her fellow Tanzanians in need.
 
Judith Kamala Bukambu worked for many years as an educator and social worker.  She is currently “retired”.  Judith and her husband of 44 years, Solomon, are well-known as a source of good advice and assistance in their community.  Judith’s wisdom, energy, community connections, and passion are a tremendous asset for our work.

Judith provided the following comments about her role as trustee:
  • I feel privileged to be a GLK trustee and living in the area where GLK Student Fund activities are implemented.  
  • I feel that the position of being a trustee is being like an "eye" for our USA donors, sponsors, and supporters.  
  • As a trustee, I unwittingly become privy to poor people's dire needs, desperate situations and struggles.
 
She states that she feels “she is in a position surrounded by ’rain and sunshine’ all the time”.  Since funding is not unlimited, she says she is “faced with the challenge of having to act like a judge and deciding on the fates of the children, which gives her a feeling of inadequacy”.  She notes that she “has had to witness tears of frustration and despair in the eyes of parents / guardians”.
 
BUT, she noted that “there is always sunshine after the rain.  With the GLK Fund, the sunshine is when students perform well and succeed in life.  Witnesses and successful stories from several former GLK recipients act like a tranquilizer, making me feel like singing for grateful joy!”  However, she noted that “a slight cloud in this sunshine is those few supported students who never look back”.
 
Judith wants to express thanks to all of the donors, sponsors, supporters and well-wishers of the GLK Student Fund!!
 
Samson Mbelwa Lugaisa acts as chairperson of the trustees and lends his dignified presence and extensive experience in church and community leadership to the scholarship fund.  Samson studied architecture in Germany at the University of Hannover.  He worked for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, North-Western Diocese. Samson is currently a partner with Triple A Limited an architectural consulting firm, although he is partially retired. Samson is married and has four children.

Samson’s long-time relationship with GLK brings him to reflect, “From this experience I have learned to prepare a place of these in need…  Helping does not have age.  As much as I am aging out, helping others is still in me. This relationship has made me understand that helping others does not have a specific time, but it comes at any time one is seriously in need of it.”
 
Grace Zawadi Kashegwe, District Nursing Officer for Karagwe, is happy to be a trustee even when her professional duties are demanding.  With over 20 years of experience in nursing and public health, Grace has worked at Ntoma Orphanage, Ndolage School of Nursing, Kibeta English Medium Primary School, and at Bunazi Health Center before her current position. As health concerns are a major concern to all of our students, Grace brings the compassion and medical expertise that they need. 

"As a trustee, I attend meetings for selecting students, to ensure the students have their school fees paid, and make follow-up of students's health, studies, and performance.....We are proud of our students because they are always performing in bright colours.  Thank you for your support."
 
GLK Selfie

A GLK selfie taken by Arnold Philemon, Field Representative

Arnold Philemon is our "hands and feet" in Tanzania as he is the main person who travels to visit the students, their families, and their schools.  He is an extremely personable and caring young man with a passion for helping children.

Arnold stated that his experience with GLK has revealed many things to him:

  • I learned to care for and take responsibility for people, especially children....

  • I have learned that no situation is permanent. Many of the children GLK sponsors were once not in need, but due to the loss of their most important loved ones, they became impoverished. 

  • I have learned that helping someone comes from the heart, not the eyes. There are GLK sponsors and donors who help, without even knowing the students.... 

  • I have developed a sense of responsibility. This has come from keeping files, receipts, finding stories, managing checks and fund accountability, follow up, visiting students, encouraging students, advising, and working with the government.  

  • I have learned how to lead.

  • I have learnt to be nice..... Everybody is important.

 

 

Copyright © 2020 Gayle Lyn Kliever Student Fund, All rights reserved.


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