Succeeding Beyond Expectations
Opposite forces collided in 2020. The year that marked Edpowerment's decade of service to Tanzania's youth became the year marked by COVID's overwhelming health and economic challenges. Although we did not celebrate our 10 years as planned, our students achieved in unprecedented ways this year, and the Kilimahewa Center (KIWOCE) never stopped educating its secondary school students, ending the year with record attendance in its pre-secondary school (Pre-Form 1) program.
2020 demonstrated the full impact of our 10 years on the trajectory of young lives otherwise lost to poverty and neglect.
|
|
|
Kelvin and Mary A. graduated with husbandry and agricultural diplomas this October. Both over-achieved. Mary received the award as the top student in her field. Kelvin's strong results qualify him to seek a veterinary degree next year. Mary already has secured a position in the workplace and started work ...
|
|
|
Kelvin, a humble and hard-working young man already is sought after in his community to tend to a host of livestock and other animal health matters. "I am respected" - his words reflect the true value of EdPowerment's sponsorship and mentoring. Here he treats a village goat, while at Kilimahewa, he is giving critical care to the rabbit project.
|
|
|
DR. ELIZABETH MASSAWE
We met Elizabeth in 2011 when she came to the Kilimahewa Center for extra academic support. Elizabeth lost both parents during childhood and was being cared for by a dynamic, determined grandmother. Because of her potential, EdPowerment admitted Eliza into our Sponsorship Program, placing her in private secondary and high schools. This December, she officially received her Doctor of Medicine and is now a resident at Selian Hospital in Arusha. She, in turn, will impact thousands in the years ahead.
|
|
|
|
This October, many of our university students returned home for an extended break during Tanzania's election year. This past year's results were the best ever as they pursue a full range of degrees from education to procurement to law and medicine. Some immediately went to work at the Kilimahewa Center during break.
|
|
Here, Mary K, soon to be a first year Electrical Engineering student at the University of Dar, and Nemes, a second-year business major at St. Augustine University, assist in KIWOCE's Pre-Form 1 program, attended by nearly 150 primary school graduates, waiting to begin secondary school in January.
|
|
AT THE KILIMAHEWA CENTER (KIWOCE)
This year, a record number of students took the National Form 4 Exam that concludes Secondary School. All who pass will be able to proceed to jobs, vocational college programs and even Advanced Level High School, the next step to University studies.
In September, following the Primary School Leaving Exam, nearly 150 students joined KIWOCE's Pre-Form 1 program in preparation for whichever Secondary Schools they attend. Below are photos of the students, their first exposure to real computers and internet learning, and finally, Parents Day (an exceptional event for this population), when students demonstrated science and other learning to their parents and guardians. This year's program was the most successful to date.
|
|
|
OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY
In November, KIWOCE's teachers hosted a training seminar for more than 80 Form 4 students from nearby Karanga and Manushi Secondary Schools on strategies for taking their upcoming national examinations.
|
|
|
WE DID CELEBRATE OUR TEN YEARS -
NOT IN THE U.S., BUT IN TANZANIA WITH SOME OF OUR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, OUR SPONSORED STUDENT ALUMNI AND OUR DEDICATED TEACHERS AT KIWOCE. THE BEST CELEBRATION EVER!
|
|
|
|
PERSONAL THANKS
In 2010, I embarked with fellow educators and colleagues on a mission to create educational paths for a poor agrarian community in which we had volunteered. Some professionals in the development/non-profit world warned me against such an undertaking without more capital and research. Neither was possible, but knowing the dire need and thirst of these youth for SOME WAY to move forward, we plowed ahead with EdPowerment.
As we conclude maybe our most challenging year yet, I thank every one of you who has made our mission a reality. You have educated several thousand youth in different ways at the Kilimahewa Center, while enabling a select group of talented students to achieve academically, becoming professionals and skilled workers: two doctors, four teachers, two husbandry specialists, a nurse, nursing assistants, masons, mechanics and more - with 25 young adults still advancing in Universities.
Our students tell us that they have nothing to offer but their thanks and prayers. We too have nothing to offer you but our thanks - and our promise always to deploy your donations as best we can for all whom we serve.
With gratitude,
Moira Madonia
|
|
|
AND ONE MORE HAPPY NOTE...
On December 6, Vainess, a recent graduate from Hurumu Nursing School, married one of her fellow graduates. Both earned exceptional grades and now hold internships, ready to take full-time positions in Tanzania's healthcare system. This is our mission: to guide and support motivated teenagers, whose educational doors closed after primary school, so they can build lives of dignity and purpose that uplift the community.
|
|
|
|
|
|
