In every country across the world, child care is both a necessity and a barrier to employment for most families. In the Oldeani region of Tanzania, where the average annual income falls below $300, the need for both parents to have the freedom to pursue economic opportunity is even greater. Cognizant of the strain that […]
On Saturday, April 1st, the community center at the Rift Valley Children’s Village (RVCV) was packed as Education Director, Tim Kerr, and ESL Instructor, Jenna Thompsen, rushed to put up extra tables and chairs when more than double the expected applicants showed up for interview day. With the hopes of being selected as one of […]
Have you heard the parable of the man and the starfish? One day a man was walking on the beach and came across hundreds of starfish that had been stranded on shore. They were drying out and slowly perishing, so one by one, the man began picking them up and throwing them back into the sea. A young boy saw him doing […]
Investing in teacher training is one of the many ways we are working to improve the quality of education at our schools. In order to build our teachers’ computer literacy, Jenna Thompsen, RVCV’s English as a Second Language teacher, has designed and launched computer classes for a group of teachers at Gyetighi Primary School. Teachers are learning basic computer vocabulary, […]
When we held our first parent-teacher conference at Gyetighi Primary School ten years ago, I was shocked to see only a handful of people show up. It was hard for me to imagine parents not being interested in the opportunity to support their children and see firsthand what kind of education they were receiving. Clearly, I was new […]
TCF’s Malengo Mamas and Babas are unsung heroes and are perfect examples of how “the ripple effect” is taking place in our community. The men and women in this group volunteer their time to ensure the safety and well-being of the children in their villages. Malengo means “we have a plan” in Swahili and is used as […]
When a mother walks into the Rural Community Health Clinic seeking medical care for her child, Nurse Gretchen doesn’t just see an opportunity to treat the child, she also sees the opportunity to improve the health of his caretaker.In addition to being treated for any current health issues, every mother or father accompanying a child […]
Vincent Thlemu is a perfect example of TCF’s work coming full circle. During his first year of secondary school, Vincent’s legal guardian passed away, leaving him unable to afford to go to school. Not knowing what else to do, he went to see a woman who he had heard was helping hard-working students continue their education. After telling “Mama […]
“When my son Kyle first told me that he had submitted an application to volunteer in Tanzania for five months, I honestly was not thrilled. But when he started sharing stories about the children and what his days were like, the joy and excitement in his voice made me understand what attracted him to volunteering at RVCV. By the time […]
Meet Mery, one of our most enterprising microfinance clients. Mery joined our program in 2012 and used her first loan of $120 to build a small shop in Oldeani town. Before opening her business, Mery lived in a small hut with her three children and struggled to get by. Because she didn’t have her own […]
Faraja Dawite was just 4 years old when her mother died during the delivery of her youngest sister Neema. Faraja was left in the care of her disabled father, who disappeared just a year later. Faraja, who was the oldest girl in her family, now held many of the responsibilities of a caretaker. In January 2008, Faraja and her […]
For most of Sinora’s life, all she heard was people telling her “no.” Like many other young girls living in the developing world, she grew up in a system that always seemed to be working against her. At just 13 years of age, Sinora is the main provider for her three siblings and often has […]
