Our team is now fielding and closely reviewing applications from many dozens of highly talented youth across Tanzania. Our goal is to enroll up to 25 new scholars in our new class, which will begin A Levels in June/July 2024. In order to do so, we need your help.
The mission of the Unite Scholars Program is to break the vicious cycle of poverty, oppression, and wasted human potential by empowering uniquely talented, marginalized youth with access to quality education through higher secondary (A-Levels) and beyond; and to nurture creative and independent thinking and the development of the personal and professional life and “soft” skills necessary to achieve success as active, engaged, and productive global citizens.
Unite Scholars come from some of the most remote and impoverished areas of Tanzania. Many are orphaned or living with one parent or grandparent; all are exceptionally bright, demonstrate great aptitude and leadership potential, and are worthy of our time, investment, and respect.
Here below please find a few of the candidates for whom we are still seeking sponsorship.
Bartazaro Elias
Bartazaro, 20, is from the Kigoma district of western Tanzania. He is the second of six children born to small-scale farmers. His father is 80 years old and too unwell to work. His mother, 51, is a peasant farmer and plants beans, maize, and cassava to support the family. The family struggles to meet their most basic needs of food and shelter, and they live with no electricity or access to running water. Bartazaro attended a local village primary school and lower-secondary school, both more than an hour walk each way from his remote homeplace. Over the years, Bartazaro frequently had to drop from school to help his mother work their small farm to earn money to survive. This is why he is much older than most Form 4 graduates. During his free time, Bartazaro volunteers in the local primary school where there are not enough teachers to meet the needs of the students. He is committed to helping other impoverished students succeed in every way possible. In November 2023, Bartazaro completed his lower-secondary education at the remote Lagosa Secondary School. He was one of two students in his entire school to earn Division 1 on his Form 4 leaving exams — his score being the very best in the entire school. Bartazaro dreams of continuing his education to become a positive change maker in his community. As a Unite Scholar, Bartazaro will be the only one in his extended family to ever attend higher secondary school.
Click HERE to see Bartazaro give a tour of his home.
Monica Stanley Nzengo
Monica, 20, is from Dodoma, Tanzania. She is the oldest of four children (now 11, 14, and 17) born to peasant farmers. In 2014, her father decided to leave her mother and take another wife. At this time, Monica’s mother ran away and abandoned her children. She knew that alone she would have no way to care for them, so she moved someplace far away (still unknown) to start over without responsibilities. Monica’s father took his new wife into the family home. Monica’s step-mother was extremely cruel and abusive. After Monica told her father about the abuse, he left with his wife to live in a new location, and Monica and her siblings were left alone in the house. Since then, Monica has been taking care of her three younger siblings. Monica writes, “Life then became harder than ever before as we have since had no one to guide and support us.” Growing up, Monica’s parents never had enough money to pay for her school fees or uniforms. Additionally, Monica reports that her father was a “drunkard” and didn’t believe in the importance of education, so he made it extremely difficult for her to attend school. As a result, Monica started primary school late (at 10 years old) and often had to drop to work the fields as a day laborer to earn money for the family. However, she struggled and kept pushing to return to the classroom. Amazingly, once Monica finally completed primary school, she scored best in class.
Due to her top performance in primary school, Monica was chosen by the Tanzanian government to attend Msalato School for lower secondary. During her four years at Msalato, Monica never had funds for books or personal needs. She couldn’t even afford basic hygiene products (e.g. soap and sanitary pads). Thankfully her teachers recognized her great potential and pooled their resources to help her. With their support, Monica excelled in her studies and demonstrated strong leadership skills. She was elected Academic Prefect and Head Girl and finished with As in all of her subjects and Division 1.7 on her national Form 4 leaving exam. (The best score possible!) Now that she is back home, Monica is plaiting hair to earn money “for survival.”. She also receives a bit of support from neighbors and the church. Monica dreams of continuing her education to study science and one day medicine. Note: Monica is now fully sponsored.
Click HERE to see Monica tell her story.
Erikon Thomas Mashauri
Erikon, 18, was born and raised with two older sisters in the Kongwa district of Tanzania. His mother abandoned the family when Erikon was 10 years old after his father was diagnosed with a mental illness. This undefined illness makes Erikon’s father, at times, act violently and dangerously towards himself and those around him. Due to his condition, Erikson’s father is unable to work. To survive, the family moved in with Erikon’s father’s mother and siblings. People living around Erikson and his family do not understand mental illness so they attribute his odd behavoir to witchcraft and curses. As a result, Erikon and his family are ostracized. Erikon’s aunt sells clothing in the streets and uses her meager income to care for Erikon. Throughout primary school, Erikon earned top marks and scored top of his class. As a result of his excellent performance, Erikon was chosen to attend the prestigious Tabora Boys School for lower-secondary school. While at lower-secondary school, Erikson had no funds for uniforms, books, stationaries, or personal needs. Since he could not afford bus fare home, he never left school for four years. Erikson graduated Form 4 in November 2023. He earned As in all of his classes and scored Division 1.7 on his National Form 4 Leaving Examination. Erikon is now home helping his grandmother cultivate a small plot of land. Unfortunately, because Erikson’s father can often be violent and dangerous, Erikson and his grandmother have to sleep at a neighbor’s house (and pay rent) so they can be separated from his father at night. Erikon dreams of continuing his education to one day become an architect.
Click HERE to see Erikon’s home life.
Sylvester Methody Mbata
Sylvester, 18, is from the Tabora region of western Tanzania. He lives with his parents and two sisters, ages 23 and 16. Sylvester’s parents are small-scale farmers. The family’s entire income depends on the success of their harvest off their small plot of land, and they often go without their most basic needs and face long spells of hunger. Sylvester attended a local village primary school and performed extremely well. His parents often could not afford to pay the small fees required for uniforms and books, which meant Sylvester would periodically have to drop from school to work the family farm and walk long distances to sell vegetables to villagers to try and get money. However, due to his exemplary performance in primary school, Sylvester was assigned to attend the Tabora Boys secondary school for his lower-secondary education. While at Tabora, Sylvester was supported by the school’s Unite Club – and his fellow club members and club faculty leader. In November 2023, Sylvester completed his lower-secondary education. He earned As in all of his subjects and scored Division 1.7 on his National Form 4 Leaving Examination. Sylvester dreams of continuing his education to one day work in the field of medicine.
Click HERE to see Sylvester’s home.
Asia Daudi Sasa
Asia, 17, lives in the Dodoma region of central Tanzania with her mother and three siblings (all from different fathers). Her father abandoned Asia and Asia’s mother when Asia was a baby. Asia’s mother then became ill when Asia was young, so Asia was sent to live with an Auntie in the Mara district who took care of her through primary school. Asia then returned to Dodoma to be with her mother who was found to be suffering from cancer. Asia received top marks in primary school and was assigned to attend the prestigious government Tabora Girls School for lower-secondary. Her mother’s ongoing health battles has rendered her unable to work, so Asia has had to rely on assistance from extended family to get by. Asia graduated from lower-secondary in late 2023. She earned A’s in all of her subjects and scored Division 1.7 on her National Form 4 Leaving Examination (the highest score possible). Asia dreams of continuing her studies to one day go into the field of medicine to help people who suffer from cancer like her mother.
Click HERE to see Asia tell her story.
***
An comprehensive annual sponsorship is $3,000
We invite and welcome any size contributions towards this amount.
WHAT DOES AN ANNUAL SPONSORSHIP INCLUDE?
Academic Support & Enrichment
A dedicated Unite Mentor.
School fees and mandatory school contributions through two years of A-Levels and beyond into university (as needed).
Uniforms, school books and school supplies, testing fees, field trips, etc.
All housing/boarding fees, food, and living necessities.
Support to identify and participate in international academic enrichment opportunities.'
Technology, Transport, & Training
A smartphone and laptop.
Transport to and from school and home for all school holidays.
Transport to and supplies for Unite Mentorship meetings over holidays.
Unite trainings over school holidays with fellow scholars and professional facilitators.
Individualized support through Unite’s Soft & Life Skills & Professional Curricula
Family Support
At least one home visit by a member of Unite’s leadership team.
Health insurance.
Family support (e.g. food relief, bicycles, solar panels, water filters, interest-free loans).
For scholars' families who are engaged in small-scale farming, Unite Food Program will purchase
harvests and provide safe grain storage.
Paid Internships
To learn real-life, hands-on skills that will support their future professional success, Unite Scholars are invited to engage in paid internships at our Unite Food Program (UFP)'s headquarters in Dar es Salaam and with UFP teammates across the country.
Post-Graduate Aid, Network & Support
Grants to start small businesses and access to Unite's Warrior for Change interest-free loans.
Opportunity to attend Unite events, workshops, trainings, internships, celebrations, and field trips.
A global network of engaged and supportive Unite Scholars, alumni, partners, and friends.
Invitation to attend a Unite-sponsored East African Unite Fellows Conference (beginning 2025)
NOTE: Anne Wells will travel to Tanzania March 1st to join Unite Program Director Anty Marche, Unite Scholars Program Manager Joan Mnzava, and the rest of the Unite team to host a “kick off” event for this our entire new class of Unite A-level Scholars.
For more information, contact Anne at 314.239.3997.