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Ways out of Poverty Partnerschaft für Afrika e.V.
Trying to find ways out of poverty - especially for children - that united the founding members when we joined forces in the non-profit association "Partnership for Africa". The realization that an overwhelming part of humanity lives on the edge or below the poverty line is always present for all of us during our project visits to Tanzania and thus formative for our future lives and actions. Key experiences that never disappear from memory were and still are the driving force behind the personal commitment of everyone involved. Anyone who has ever seen children sniffing glue, lying in the street like junkies, dozing away, will never forget this situation. Anyone who has seen people suffering from HIV/AIDS, rejected by their families, lying on the floor in wooden crates, sick to death, will never forget the image. Anyone who has visited a mother suffering from HIV/AIDS in her poor dwelling with a leaky roof and wet bed and learned that her small children had run away out of hunger and were now begging for food on the street cannot simply carry on as before. We knew it before, the media are full of it, but it took the direct contact on the ground to understand that the situation in refugee camps is only a reflection of the daily living situation of billions of people. At the same time, we came across so many committed and competent Tanzanians who, on their own initiative, are helping their fellow human beings find a way out of poverty. Supporting these people in their activities seems to us the best recipe for providing meaningful aid that will have a lasting impact. In the meantime, a full range of facilities and programs has been created that is making a real contribution to helping people in the Arusha region - between Serengeti and Kilimanjaro - on their way out of poverty.
Of each Euro... ... 100 Cent reach the projects! We use and need donations for these purposes: Tuition, school supplies, scholarships, housing, medical treatment and care, living expenses, funding to further expand facilities, job training, vocational preparation/mentoring, internships, business start-ups. Travel, administrative and advertising costs are borne privately. This picture book has not been paid from donations!
Background: The fund raising activities to support of development projects in Africa began in 2005 with the initiative of Friederike who worked as an advisor for three months in Tansania: "I was and still am impressed by the excellent work of our local Tansanian project partners." Since 2005, new projects have been initiated and existing programs have been developed further. In 2011, we established the non-profit organisation "Partnerschaft für Afrika” in accordance with German (tax) laws. The core problem: The HIV/AIDS epidemic has affected almost an entire generation of parents in Tanzania, leaving behind many orphans for whom the government cannot provide. The impending neglect of such children and young people is also a serious factor in destabilising the society. Such children are particularly vulnerable to crime and prostitution, radicalisation or flight. Our core objective: We help - through education and help to self-help - to build the next generation as a pillar of a new, strengthened society. We fight the causes of flight and radicalization - two of the most pressing problems of our time. Why Tanzania? Tanzania is a relatively stable country in East Africa. Tanzania’s stability (to- gether with Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda) contri- butes to peace in a region that is affected by various destabilizing influences in neighbou- ring countries: civil war/unrest in Congo and Burundi, terrorist militias in Somalia, refugees from Burundi and Congo in border camps. Why education? Children and young people are the country's future. At the same time, they face the hardest time when society is not able to provide them with a good education. In many African countries, children in particular can rarely escape the vicious circle of poverty, disease and lack of prospects. What does the government do? Even though Tanzania is a relatively well functioning state and a stable democracy the country is not yet able to create the necessary social network and preconditions for the needs of the population. International organizations (World Bank, EU, African Development Bank….) are currently helping close the gaps in various areas of the country's development, including the implementation of large infrastructure projects, administrative reforms or anti- corruption programs. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), especially smaller ones, are focused to make a contribution at the grassroot level. A drop in the ocean? "Partnership for Africa" is one of the smaller NGO´s, engaged in Tanzania. However, we can work effectively due to short decision paths and the fact that all costs are covered privately. One thing is clear: "Partnership for Africa" cannot save the world. But together we can contribute to the stabilisation of the country, and we can provide humanitarian aid and poverty alleviation for a good number of people. There are others who provide assistance in addition to us – every partner with different priorities - and in the end a significant difference is made for the people of Tanzania.In so far we rather contribute some puzzle pieces to the big picture instead only beeing a drop in the ocean. This idea is also beeing reflected by our logo.
What do we do differently? What distinguishes us from other - usually larger - organisations that also do good work: 1) We (the Board and another sponsor) cover our costs privately: no donation from third parties is used to finance travel expenses, flights, hotels, flyers, homepage, postage etc. We stand for the fact that every cent goes directly to the projects - without deductions. 2) We stay "on" for many years and accompany our protégés until they can be truly independent. Often projects expire after three or five years or focus "only" on one aspect, e.g. the school education of the children. But what comes after that? To address this particular issue is our special concern... 3) We can work very efficiently, without lengthy decision-making processes and hierarchies. Today a good idea or strategy is born, tomorrow it will be implemented. As a consequence, we can react quickly and are always on top of developments….. 4) We are on site comparatively often - at least twice a year for several weeks. This is hardly affordable for many larger organisations, as a large number of projects in different countries usually require the support of one development agent. We on the other hand concentrate on one region and follow the approach "Education from A to Z". Getting started needs presence, time and patience…
Starting point: HIV-Orphans with no house and food. HIV/AIDS- infected parents with children, who might be alone very soon. No governmen- tal support for orphans, the (rest-) families are ower- whelmed.
Starting point: street children under drugs and on the waste dump
Starting point: Vulnerable youth without family, school, with no chance and perspective. Risk: flight, crime, radicalism, drugs, prostitution.
Starting point: Vulnerable girls in the Maasai culture. Risk of: genital mutila- tion, forced marriage, trade, rape, no education, drought, hunger.
Z wie „Zero poverty and being independent “ Education from A to Z Education for children and youth from to help to self-help we create the next generation as a support for a stronger society. . . Through education and „Away from hardship“ - A - like Step 1 We identify cases of hardship or emergency and we seek solutions for children in need. Step 2 Sick persons or disabled children will be treated as a matter of priority, also to ensure school attendance. Traumatized children will receive psychological support. Step 3 We help orphans and youth to live with their rest-families - provided this is does not constitute an imminent danger. We finance education, housing, life support and medical assistance for them. Step 4 We build orphanages to create a home for children in acute need and danger. Step 5 We build Primary Schools, Secondary and High Schools to ensure good edu- cation for orphans and youth in need.
Step 6 We provide scholarships from an „Education Fund“ for especially gifted students (orphans) to help them build a future in Tanzania. Step 7 We stabilize the remaining relatives, typically HIV-infected mothers in poverty and without job, through help to self-help. Step 8 We provide guidance to orphans and youth through „Life-Skills training“ that they could not receive from their parents. Step 9 We offer training to enable young adults (orphans) to find their way into the job market or into independence. Step 10 We encourage our alumni who have already made steps into independence or into the labour market to make contributions for children in need.
Step 1 We identify cases of hardship or emergency and we seek solutions for children in need. Outreach: Co-workers of our project partners seek and find orphans or children who live in poverty, starve or cannot attend school; or are exposed to violence and abuse. Disabled children frequently are not treated but are discriminated or neglected. Emergency Assistance: We facilitate and finance a place in our orphanages for smaller children without parents and relatives. Older children can attend other boarding schools or begin a vocational training. Disabled children are treated in the first place so that they can attend school. Church communities help with the identification of such children and teenagers; additional cases are reported by neighbours. Often, children approach our project-partners directly as our services are meanwhile well known in Tanzania. We consider children “endangered" in particular when they lack a caring parental home. Parents dying of HIV / AIDS is one of the quite big causes of potential neglect. But we also deal with situations where parents serve a sentence in prison. Furthermore, alcohol and frustration frequently lead to violence in the families; and children are often the victims. Early pregnancies of teenagers add to the misery. We started the program in 2005 and further develop it continously systematically.
Aloyce, Winfrieda, Benson, Stella and Emmanuel have been rescued from poverty. After the death of thier parents, their old aunt was overwhelmed as she lived herself in poverty.
Saving children from poverty, violence, abuse or neglect is the first step of a long process - until one day they can live independently. Often women carry the main burden - impoverished and helpless with their children when the father dies of HIV/Aids or disappears. Many of are sick themselves or too weak.
The children of Mary Kessy (previous page), Esther Pallangyo (this page) and Santiel Michael (following page) and hundreds of other children we have already been able to help. And we also take care of the mothers (below from right: Gerald Ngaiza with Esther Pallangyo, Samwel and David).
Step 2 Sick persons or disabled children will be treated as a matter of priority, also to ensure school attendance. Traumatized children will receive psychological support. Poor HIV-positive orphans are frequently weak and underweight. These children will receive good medical support to reduce the virus load. They will then be admitted to our Canaan Children Centre for HIV-positive children. Based on a stable and secure home, healthy nutrition and good medication they can soon live quite normally, can attend school and have a good life expectancy. Traumatized children who were subjected to violence or abuse are treated by a psycholo- gist first. Also, the realization about a HIV- infection can be a traumatic experience that will require technically adequate and affectionate care. Disabled children will receive good care as a first priority. Often, they will receive the first affectionate feedback in their lives. If neces- sary, these children will be treated in hospitals by relevant medical teams (at times volunteers from the foreign countries). The children will receive professional physiotherapy after surgeries including wheelchairs or prostheses. The children can attend school on the premi- ses of the Monduli Rehabilitation Centre which helps them to get reintegrated into their families. Since 2005 we systematically support the treatment of traumatized, malnourished, HIV- positive or disabled children in our programs and institutions.
Children with sicknesses or disabilities are frequently beeing neglected by their parents out of shame. Awareness building and infor- mation about treatment options can help to overcome the stigma.
Children with health or psychological problems are first admitted to facilities like the St. Elisabeth Hospital and the rehabilitation center in Monduli (next page).
For many years, the rehabilitation center in Monduli has been a cornerstone for the for the treatment of disabled children. Center: Founding member Karsten Lutte informs himself with Center Manager Mireille Capilima about the methods to support disabled children. Founding member Dr. Simon Flümann volunteers at the children's ward at the St. Elisabeth Hospital (below).
Step 3 We help orphans and youth to live with their rest-families - provided this is does not constitute an imminent danger. We finance education, housing, life support and medical assistance for them. The social workers and volunteers of our program for "vulnerable children and youth" (MVC-Program at TRMEGA) take care of children and siblings who live alone or still live with their HIV-positive and impoverished mothers. Our social workers look after the supported children/youth/families on a regular basis – they have an open ear for worries and needs, they organize housing, schooling, clothing, food and medical supply. With such dedicated support we prevent the youth from slipping into crime and prostitution which is often the case for those who are left on their own. Our project partners organize school attendance in suita- ble institutions, in particular boarding schools; they take care of all relevant issues including registration, transportation and payment. The students and families receive advice and counselling about educational possibilities and about the necessary prerequisites. We started the program in 2005 and further develop it continously systematically.
Partnership for Africa Mother-Safehouses Neglected mud houses or tin huts are not uncommon (above). We establish for the children and mothers a safe and dignified living environment (below).
Before: Theresia Wajugas provisional House is about to collapse, the roof is broken, the few belongings are wet and almost not anymore usable.
After: By creating a safe home, the children of Winfrieda Valerian (previous double page), Theresia Wajuga (this page) and Jessica Julius (next double page) were able to grow up in their own environment. Where this is not possible, we arrange for accommoda- tion in one of our orphanages.
vorher Before, Jessica Julius and her children didn´t have running water and electricity, the roof was leaking, and instead of a toilet they had to use a mud-hole behind the hut. Mothers and widows like Jessica Julius are often infected with HIV them- selves, have no education and no income to feed the children and pay their school fees. To make sure that the mothers can take care of the children as long as possible, we believe that a holistic approach to family care is critically important. Placement in foster care or in an orphanage is always only the second-best option.
At the beginning of our engagement, Jessica Julius and her children had neither running water nor electricity electricity. The roof was leaking, there was no toilet – only a hole in the ground behind the wooden hut. Today they have a good home where the children can grow up safely and learn. Jessica has been living with HIV/Aids for years and is doing well (from left: daughter Elizabeth, Dr. Günter Heidenhof, Jessica Julius, Friederike Heidenhof). nachher
The safe houses for Rose Temu with Goodluck and Godlisten (right), for Paulina Mushi and Mama Omega (center) and Stella Anthony (bottom) have ensured the survival of the women and of their children. Paulina, for example, was threatened with death by her husband, also her children, because they did not want to join the radical Islam.
Maria Dahaye died of cancer, and the family of six children was in danger of abandonment. But with Anna as the new foster mother and the completion of the house the family could stay together (Above: the sons Joseph and Elihuruma with their mother and sister Josephine; bottom: all six children with foster mother Anna; middle: the completed house).
Schritt 4 We build orphanages to create a home for children in accute need or danger. Preferably, we take care of orphans in their existing neighbourhoods. Frequently, however, children live alone without relatives, or with their HIV-suffering mothers or old grand- mothers who cannot take care of them any- more. Also, if threatened by violence and abuse accommodation in one of our orpha- nages is often the only option. Canaan Orphanage Our Canaan Center orphanage is a home for 50 HIV-positive and not infected Children in need. They live in mixed groups to avoid stig- ma. Especially children who have been infec- ted by their parents have difficulties to find homes and foster families. With an adequate care and medication and a good health care those children have a good chance for a quite normal life - despite their infection. We established the center in 2013. Living Water Orphanage Our "Living Water Orphanage is THE place of refuge for children in need of all kind. Our project partners regularly seek and find chil- dren who require our support. Additional chil- dren are sent to the orphanage through the Catholic church. the church, we send out some children into this orphanage. The Living Water orphanage was established by the Tanzanian family Kimaro in 2002 and has been supported by us since 2005. In 2019 we had to buildt a new center due to govern- mental space restrictions.
Partnership for Africa Orphanage „Canaan-Center“ for HIV-positive Children
Most of our Canaan children would not have been able to survive without our care and without the availability of our orphanage (above: Manager Caritas Lengeju, center: Dr. Günter Heidenhof, bottom: Manager Dr. Alex Lengeju, Friederike Heidenhof).
Manager Caritas Lengeju (top) and the caretakers care for the children help those with trauma experiences to find again their smiles....
The HIV-positive children have a rather normal life expectancy with good medical care and nutrition. They can grow up without being marginalized (above: Friederike Heidenhof, center: Dr. Günter Heidenhof; left: Caritas Lengeju, caregivers of the children). The center has four dormi- tories, a dining room and a kitchen, toilets and washrooms and living quarters for the staff. A large playground with a soccer field is located at the center.
For the distinguished visitor the children prepared all the cupboards and rooms – Archbishop Isaac Amani was highly impressed by our center, which we had established together with his predecessor, Archbishop Lebulu from the Catholic Archdiocese of Arusha (from left: Dr. Günter Heidenhof, Archbishop Isaac Amani, Friederike Heidenhof).
In 2015 we added to our Canaan Orphanage a play and learning center, which offers a (quiet) retreat for the children to do their homework and to play, especially during the rainy season (center: Friederike Heidenhof).
The Play- and Lern- center is well equipped with indoor and outdoor games. The children like the payground most! (Middle: Friederike Heidenhof)
Our orphanage farm with school garden, chicken, pig and rabbit house as well as a mushroom farm provides healthy food and a sustainable income contribution. The children learn to take care of plants and animals at an early age.
Nearly all of the children love to be involved with the plants and animals. Francisco (below left) would like to become a veterinarian when he grows up.
Partnership for Africa Orphanage „Living Water Children Center“
Our "Living Water" orphanage is a refuge for children from all kinds of emergency situations. The original small orphanage in Ngulelo was founded in 2002 by the Tanzanian Kimaro family as a registered non-profit organization and was supported by us. Finally, due to lack of space, the orphanage was rebuilt by us in 2018 in Kisongo in double size. (top from left: David Kimaro, founding member Dr. Ursula Leuchtenberg, Friederike and Dr. Günter Heidenhof; center: center manager David Kimaro with children, bottom: Dora Kimaro, founder of the orphanage).
Our Living-Water-Orphanage is located close to the two schools; the former deserted plot of 3 acres is now a green place!
Top: dormitory complex for 50 girls, playground, middle: dormitory complex for 50 boys, bottom: Dining Hall and kitchen.
The boys' dormitory complex consists of two dormitories, a living room and washrooms. The courtyard is landscaped with grass for play.
Also children with albinism who are still endangered in Tanzania find a safe home in our Living Water Children Center.
The girls' dormitory complex consists analogously of two dormitories, the living room and washrooms. Here, too, there is a courtyard for playing.
Our children should not feel like living in a classic orphanage, but like living in a good home.
The area of our Living-Water-Orphanage is spaceous enough for five building complexes. The dining hall is one of the most central one.
The canteen (left side) with kitchen is designed for 100 children and also serves as an event hall.
The play and learning center serves the children to prepare for school - important especially for trauma- tized children - as well as for games and home- work - especially during the rainy season.
The topic of healthy nutrition is also on the agenda. David Kimaro explains to the students that Spaghetti as their favorite meal is not adequate for every day.
Partnership-for-Africa - Orphanage Farm
The orphanage farm has been established by us since 2019 and produces high-quality food as well as an income contribution for our Living Water orphanage. Anza Kimaro (left side), founder of our Living Water orphanage as well as the schools, is actually a contractor and has been passionate about building the farm.
Step 5 We build Primary Schools, Secondary and High Schools to ensure good edu- cation for orphans and youth in need. Background: Government run schools are usually crowded and qualitatively not suffi- cient. In these schools the persistent lack of (adequate) teachers and material contributes to low performance. In particular traumatized children cannot be adequately taken care of in such an environment. As a consequence, their performance is particularly poor. Teenagers are endangered to get attracted to "wrong friends" and slip their behaviour and school performance. Therefore, the LWCC decided early in the process to build a privately-run primary school for the orphans from the Living Water orphanage which we support from the beginning. Yakini-Primary-School: The Yakini Primary School was created in 2009 based on an initiative by the LWCC, substantially supported by PFA. The goal is to ensure good education for the children of the Living Water and the Canaan orphanages as well as thoase of our eductional programns. Moreover, the school for 1000 students is a continuing source of in- come for the support of our orphans, in parti- cular their future education. Meanwhile the Yakini-Primary-School was re- peatedly ranked as one of the best schools in the country, among a total of 23.000 schools. In the Arusha region the Yakini Primary School reached several times even place 1 in the na- tional ranking! .
Partnership-for-Africa - Project support „Yakini-Primary School“
The Yakini Primary School is a large complex of classrooms, dormitories, playground and administration building. It provides a quality school place for 1000 children. At the top left of the picture is the preschool, next to it the two-story classroom buildings, teachers' rooms, and administration. Under construction (time2help): canteen and kitchen.
The two U-shaped dormitories (above: boys' dormitory) serve as sleeping quarters for the boarding students. During the vacation all children go home, the orphans spend the vacations and weekends in our adjacent Living Water Orphanage and in the Canaan Orphanage.
The children from our orphanages and programs go to the Yakini Primary School together.
As a boarding school, the school also provides a safe home for the children. School founder Anza Kimaro (center) and school manager Christian Kimaro thank Henning Lehrmann, our first hour sponsor (below with Christian Kimaro).
Partnerschaft-for-Africa „Yakini Secondary & High School“ Yakini-Secondary-School: To ensure optimal continuing education we built the Yakini Se- condary School in 2017. Our first orphans from the Living Water Orphanage and Canaan Orphanage attend this school now. The school was built on a compound bought with donations made available by "Partnership for Africa". The compound is situation directly next to the Yakini Primary School. The size of the compound has allowed it to build (in 2019) the new Living Water orphanage directly behind the school. The school consists of two buildings with 12 class rooms, a chemistry, physics and biology laboratory block, a computer laboratory, a library, a large dining hall, an administration- building, toilet-installations, equipment for the class rooms and offices, water tanks, solar- installation and electrification.
Welcome to our Yakini Secondary & High School! The administration building is at the same time reception, teachers' room and manager's or director's office (below from left: Walter Kimaro, school manager, Anza Kimaro, school founder, David Kimaro).
Aerial view of Yakini Secondary & High School: Administration, Main Building, Laboratories, Library, PC Lab, Dining Hall with Kitchen, School Bus.
The main building (left side) and the annex building (right side) house 12 classrooms - from "Form 1" to high school level. For orphans like Omega (center right) and Joseph and Goodluck (center left), attending such a good school would have been unthinkable.
In three laboratories, students learn all about physics, chemistry and biology. (Center: Chemist and founding member Dr. Iris Rommerskirchen in class).
Full concentration at the experimental pendulum in physics class.
The large library is one of the core buildings of our Yakini-Secondary & Highschool. We have equipped it not only with reference books, but also with high-quality novels, art books and educational videos.
Since the students read more intensively, their reading and writing skills have improved tremen- dously. One of the female students even won the second place in a national writing competition.
The dining hall and the kitchen provide two to three meals a day for 320 students.
Ceremonies for graduating seniors are held in the large Dining Hall, which also serves as an auditorium. Middle: Twins Goodluck and Godlisten have made it - now vocational training can begin!
State-of-the-art equipment in the PC lab enables early contact with digital media, the internet and learning programs.
Godlisten (below) is so enthusiastic about the technology that he wants to become an IT specialist.
Step 6 We provide scholarships from an „Education Fund“ for especially gifted students (orphans) to help them build a future in Tanzania. From our ‘education fund’ we can provide targeted support to more than 30 talented teenagers to attain a college or university education. Everything is possible if the potential is recognized and promoted, and corresponding donors can be found. It is rare to find sponsors who are willing and capable to finance a master studies. But is is possible: Einoth Francis is our first student who got this exceptional chance for her life. She holds now a masters degree in education and works a lecturer at the University od Dar Es Salam. Even though many of the students initially wanted to become pilots or doctors they usually find other interesting courses of study later on, depending on the grades they have achieved. Not every "protégé" can become a doctor, but quite a few graduates are now working in medical or pharmaceutical professions: Doctors, nurses, pharmacists - but also a good number of teachers, IT specialists, accountants or agricultural engineers have emerged from our program, which we have continuously developed and expanded since 2005. Our female and male students come from life circumstances that would have made studying impossible. But girls in particular still find it more difficult to receive appropriate support from their families. Talents lie dormant everywhere and it is very gratifying to see that these talents later on make a contribution to their society!
Grace Ladislaus is studying pharmacy at St. John's University in Dodoma. Tasimora Kitumari is studying Business and Human Resources at the College in Moshi. Nanginvy Lomuniyaki is studying to be a teacher at Teachers College in Moshi. Partnership-for-Africa „Students“-Program
Moses Mhina studied tourism and now works for a large safari company. Humphrey Anthony is studying agricultural harvesting technology at Sokoine University in Arusha. Peter Kimaro is pursuing an IT technology degree in Arusha.
Kenneth Natai, Witness Joram, Wilbard Mushi and Mepokuri Likimboipoy Lukumay are studying business administration for bachelor's or master's degrees or have just graduated.
Step 7 We stabilize the remaining relatives, typically HIV-infected mothers in poverty and without job, through help to self-help. At times, the children and the teenagers supported by us still have relatives. Often, these relatives are not able to provide guidance and support to the children because of poverty and illnesses. Nevertheless, we consider it important that children maintain their relationship with close relatives, mothers or fathers as long as possible. And we help in cases where the mother or the any other relative is not able to provide for a proper home or food. Based on experience this support to the remaining relatives is criti- cal. Without such assistance, children would continue to mobilize support for their sick mothers and relatives through crimes and prostitution. Our social workers take care of such cases, usually mothers in poverty or sick. We try to improve as much as possible the living conditions (e.g. housing) and provide for food, medication, clean and dry beds. The mothers form a self-help group "MVC- Mothers" that receives guidance and training for future independence, including a small start-up capital to create a small business. As soon as their health has stabilized, the mothers will learn to set up a small business and to support themselves independently of our help. They learn basic accounting and money management skills, how to market products and grow their own food. They are also taught sewing skills and, for example, how to produce briquettes and other products for sale. The program has been continuously developed and expanded by us since 2011.
In self-help groups, the mothers, most of whom are HIV-positive and impoverished, learn to provide for themselves and earn a small income. Their health stabilizes and they are better able to care for their children.
Partnership-for-Africa Self-help training garden
Helen Nguya (left) and her assistant Jane (right) teach the women about growing food and marketing it in our teaching garden with attached seminar building. "Kitchen gardening" is a method of growing vegetables even in the smallest of spaces. Below: Onions, moringa, cabbage; Left: Hibiscus tea
The women can apply their acquired knowledge at home and market the harvested products. The healthy diet usually leads to a lasting improvement of the HIV/Aids disease.
With a small start-up capital, the women manage to build up their own small business. Some are so successful that they can open a store - like Winfrieda Valerian and Stella Anthony (right page).
Step 8 We provide guidance to orphans and youth through „Life-Skills training“ that they could not receive from their parents. Children and teenagers, who grow up as orphans, often lack some basic knowledge – “transmitted" to them by parents or other close relatives. This basic knowledge includes many “real life” issues that are important for development of their personality. We have asked our project-partner (TRMEGA, MVC- Program) to prepare teenagers from early ages for an autonomous and responsible life based on so-called "Life-Skills Trainings". This group training covers issues such as behaviour in groups, management of aggression, self-picture, building trust, communication with others, contact with money. It also includes family planning and counselling. The fact that our support will need to end one day is also one of the key messages. We take up this aspect additionally in "Early Preparation Trainings", because the children are often surprised by the necessity to make a career choice and to think about their own future after finishing school. We have been continuously developing and expanding the program since 2011.
The adolescents and older school children are prepared by us in trainings at an early stage for their later independent future - as a substitute for the missing parental home. Partnership-for-Africa - Seminar program Education, family planning, anger management, planning for the future and other "life skills" are part of the training plan from an early age.
Step 9 We offer training to enable young adults (orphans) to find their way into the job market or into independence. We take care of such teenagers who have dif- ficulties after the completion of their education to find a job. We organize trainings to apply for job or to establish an independent business. The young adults learn entrepreneur skills and receive a small start-up capital to run their own business. The trainings are also used to identify especially gifted entrepreneurs and provide them with credits (to be partially paid back after some time) for larger investments. With the Job Training Centre, we create an interface between school, education and occupation. We make sure that the young adults can make an independent living – without our support. The Centre does not provide for comprehensive vocational training and the like – such opportunities are sufficient- ly available in the greater Arusha area. Over the years it has become increasingly clear that our support cannot end with the completion of school, college or university studies. It is important to also provide assis- tance for the phasing into the labour market – be it dependent labour or independent small businesses. Our Job Training Centre serves as a platform for all efforts geared towards making our children independent and successful on the labour market. We started the program in 2011 and further develop it continously systematically. It is our most important goal to take care of our chil- dren from the beginning to then end – until they are able to live independently and stand on their own feet. Not every child can become a doctor but everyone can find an activity that corresponds to his/her abilities and ensures survival.
Young people on the threshold between education and employment need safe, supervised accommo- dation for a time. Our safe house is designed just for that. Partnership-for-Africa - Youth-Safehouse
Partnership-for-Africa Jobtraining-Center
In the job training center (built in 2019) youth learn how to apply for jobs and to find employment. In business training sessions, we prepare them for small-scale self-employment as an alternative - often the more promising opportunity. (Middle: Rose Mkari, who opened a store; bottom: Ally Nkopano, employed electrician who runs his own business on the side).
Partnership-for-Africa - Educational Farm The teaching farm offers the opportunity to work and learn something meaningful. School interns, graduates in the waiting period or future self-employed learn very practically how to grow food - accompanied by theory lessons.
Partnership-for-Africa Mentoring & Volonteering Young people without families need role models, especially in the period after graduation. Former students from the program and other mentors accompany them in word and deed into their careers or until the next step in their education. Internships help with later career choices.
Partnership-for-Africa Start-up support Josef has established a well-frequented shoe business, Emmanuel earns his living by delivering drinking water with his own pickup truck; Mepokuri was able to open a store near his Maasai village thanks to our start-up support. He now provides his community with the most basic necessities.
Elizabeth Senya graduated from college with a degree in business administration and now works in the hospital's accounting department. In order to place graduates, we cover a basic salary - if necessary - for the induction period. Partnership-for-Africa - Job enhencement Florence Chuwa has a degree in teaching and is now a teacher at Star High School in Arusha. Maria Magdalena Bahati is now an Assistant Medical Officer and works at the hospital in Rombo.
Step 10 We encourage our alumni who have already made steps into independence or into the labour market to make contributions for children in need. Since beginning of our activities approximately 100 children and teenagers managed to finalize their education. Through close, personal and individual care and support 98 percent of them have also succeeded in leading an autonomous life. Many of our former proteges (alumni) contri- bute to our activities. They tell their stories in our trainings and seminars and serve as role models for our young adults. Based on their own experiences they can demonstrate to the younger participants how to succeed and to stand on own feet. As soon as our alumni earn money, we ask them for a contribution to our programs. Proteges who received a start-up capital are committed contractually to pay back half of the capital within 10 years. We also take care that our support has a multiplying impact for other members of the families or the society.
Einoth Francis owes it to her brother Joel that she was able to escape forced marriage and circumcision as a child. Today, she is a lecturer at the University of Dar Es Salam with a master's degree and is planning her doctoral thesis. A talent that would otherwise have been put to work herding goats. Reconciled to her culture, she is now caring for the family of her home village, helping improve living conditions and advo- cating for school attendance - especially for girls - for the next generation (following page). Partnership-for-Africa - Alumini
Meanwhile Einoth is a role model for the other women in her community. The children see: Einoth succeeded in escaping from dependency through education!
Partnership for Africa e.V. We thank our donors, friends and supporters for their trust and commitment. Only they make our work possible and help to achieve sustainable success! We would also like to express our special thanks to the following institutions for their supportive project funding: Sternstunden e.V., Klaus und Lore Rating Stiftung, Handaufstiftung, Stiftung Spatzenhof, Eulenhof Stiftung, IWEST, and various Lions-, Rotary- and Zontaclubs. Chairman of the Board: Dr. Günter Heidenhof, Krefeld, Managing Director and Executive Secretary: Friederike Heidenhof M.Sc, Krefeld, Other founding members: Dr. Simon Flümann, Krefeld, Dr. Ursula Leuchtenberg, Köln, Karsten Lutte, Osnabrück, Dr. Iris Rommerskirchen, Krefeld. Account: Partnerschaft für Afrika e.V. (Verein) Bank: Postbank IBAN: DE12 3601 0043 0998 2554 38 BIC: PBNKDEFF In addition, the Partnership for Africa Foundation offers the opportunity to make a long-term contribution through endowments or inheritances, etc. Further Information Partnerschaft für Afrika (Association and Foundation) Hubert-Houben-Weg 15 47803 Krefeld www.partnerschaft-fuer-afrika.de info@partnerschaft-fuer-afrika.de Copyright for text and pictures: Partnership for Africa e.V./Friederike Heidenhof