Apprenticeship Program: For the first few weeks of the year, some of our Form 4 graduates, awaiting their school placements for high-school and college, participated in an apprenticeship program in the Mto Wa Mbu area. The aim of this program was to gain some knowledge about different industries in Tanzania, and get some work experience.

Garden Update: We planted 40 brand-new fruit trees and 1,500 bougainvillea plants around the centre to not only make the area more beautiful, but also to provide fruit sustainably.

Community Development School Projects: The Majengo Area School Improvement Projects are well underway. At the beginning of 2020, we endeavoured to build a new bathroom at Majengo Primary School, as well as provide new beds, a new water system and help finish a dormitory at several secondary schools in the area where many of the Majengo children attend classes. Though construction has slowed down considerably in the recent weeks, we expect these projects to be finished before the end of the year. They will help thousands of children have better access to more adequate school facilities.

Health Clinic: In January 2020, our favourite friend Dr. Reed the cardiologist came by to do heart exams on the children to listen for rheumatic heart disease. This year, we were able to expand our programming to include our pre-school students, as well as the students at our neighbouring school which is also for vulnerable children. We were able to complete 180 heart checks!

Mental Health Training: With the support of the Arusha Mental Health Institute, the staff at Majengo participated in a 5-day training seminar to learn about counselling and recognizing mental health issues in children. This program was designed to help staff feel more comfortable having difficult conversations with the Majengo children. Teachers from some of the children’s schools were also invited to participate so that children could receive support both at home and when they are at school. When it is appropriate, the children will also receive training and individual counselling sessions to help fill in a robust mental health initiative to ensure each child is cared for both physically and emotionally.

New Baby Cow: Early this year, we welcomed baby Tulip to the centre. She is white with black spots and is fitting into the Majengo family seamlessly.

Stay tuned for our next newsletter which will outline all of the programming developed in response to the coronavirus.