Child Sponsorship Program
“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world”
– Nelson Mandela
Our Work
Our Child Sponsorship Program (CSP) was created in October 2009 after seeing the great need for children in Karatu, Tanzania to have access to early English-language education. For nearly fourteen years, Journeys of Solutions (JOS) has been so pleased to come alongside and support hard-working students in their educational endeavors. We have journeyed with our students from primary and secondary school, to vocational programs and college courses, too! Many came from Shalom Orphanage Centre, and now that the students are over eighteen years of age and living independently, our focus is two-fold: their advanced education and their transition to adulthood. And, of course, we are so grateful to our individual donors for their dedicated partnership, many of whom have been on this journey with us from the very beginning!
Currently we support 3 students (1 young woman and 2 young men). We have celebrated alongside these young adults and are thrilled for the 2023 milestones of college graduations: Our youngest will graduate his tourism industry coursework in June then enter the workforce and one of our current college students will graduate his three-year college studies before applying for a government university scholarship in late 2023. (Our other college student will complete her three-year college in 2024). And by 2027, eighteen years from its inception, we anticipate that our CSP will sunset upon completion of its ambitious mission.
More About Our Previous Partners
Shalom Orphanage Centre is a non-profit, non-governmental, non-political, non-religious organization registered in the United Republic of Tanzania under the 2002 Non-Government Organization Act. Founded in 2004 through the love and vision of Warra Nnko “Mama Warra”, Shalom’s sole mission is to improve the lives of poor and disadvantaged children in Karatu and neighboring communities Arusha and Moshi. From the outset, our support for students from Shalom has been paid directly to their educational institutions. Prior to their signing out of the orphanage at age 18, students would sometimes return to Shalom during their school holidays, stay at their educational institutions for remedial studies between school terms, or visit their families of origin.
Started in 2004 by Modest and Lightness Bayo, the privately-run Tumaini Junior School (TJS) was the first school placement for JOS-sponsored students. TJS boasts some of the highest testing scores in the Karatu region and in fact, since 2011, Tumaini has been ranked in the top 20% of primary schools in the nation! Mr. and Mrs. Bayo are true visionaries who continue to equip Tumaini students with strong leadership skills. Truly they embody the Tumaini motto, “Strive for Excellence.” In addition to educational partnership, JOS has partnered with TJS on various projects, from bed nets to solar panels and even the 2011-2012 Water Well Project. You can read more about the Water Well Project – including $14,000 in memorial donations for the late John C. Kallop, Elizabeth’s father – here.
In 2015, Mr. Bayo broke ground on the Tumaini Senior Secondary School (TSSS), which opened its doors to over forty Form I students in January 2016, including one JOS-sponsored student. Through the generosity and great partnership of Tanzania Education Corporation, TJS & TSSS are empowering and equipping young minds. We are grateful to have partnered with Mr. & Mrs. Bayo and TEC!
JOS partnered with Jobortunity, an apprenticeship program in Arusha that trains youth between 18-25 years to be ready to join the workforce, 2018-2020. This training and development institute is doing phenomenal work and we are grateful to have one JOS-supported student graduate Jobortunity after studying the Hi5 method. In fact, this student earned a job placement as a result of his apprenticeship through Jobortunity.
More Background
CSP Founder and Project Lead, Elizabeth Kallop, first visited Shalom Orphanage Centre in 2008 after climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Unable to forget her brief visit, following her return home in New York City, she immediately began planning a return to Tanzania. Some friends from the Kilimanjaro climb had recently launched Journeys of Solutions so after some project planning discussions, using her event planning and fundraising background, Elizabeth raised funds for a July 2009 survey trip to Shalom in order to see how JOS could join Shalom in its efforts to support and improve the children’s lives. As a first step, during this July 2009 trip, Elizabeth and a volunteer family worked with Shalom on construction, health care and education projects.
In September 2009 Elizabeth returned to Shalom for three months, during which time the Child Sponsorship Program (CSP) was born. From 2009-2011, Elizabeth traveled to Tanzania for weeks and months at a time to continue developing the CSP. In 2012, Elizabeth returned to Karatu for two years of continued development of the CSP whilst also working for Tanzania Education Corporation. During this time Elizabeth worked to establish TEC’s presence in Karatu, which included oversight and expansion of a sponsorship program, the creation of a volunteer program and increased visibility of TEC’s efforts and dedication to working alongside Tumaini Junior School founders Modest and Lightness Bayo. In 2014 Elizabeth returned to New York City where she continues to manage the CSP remotely with the assistance of longtime JOS partner, Tanzania-based Yusuf Ngaina.
Looking Back | 13+ years behind us!
More than thirteen years ago, we enrolled our first 7 students at Tumaini Junior School. These once shy and quiet children have grown into confident and mature young leaders who have pursued educational studies across the country in secondary schools, technical colleges and training institutes! (For more details check out Meet Our Students). Over the years, our CSP expanded to support a total of over 20 students from Karatu. In advance of the 2016 school year, we worked with one incredible JOS and Tanzania supporter, Fiona Hall, to transition the students she had supported since 2010 to her company, All Around Tanzania, AATz.
In 2017, as we were preparing for our first group of Form IV graduates, we began to see that more opportunities are afforded to students holding higher/advanced degrees and certificates, not just Form IV graduates. As such, we began developing the Kesho Fund (“kesho” means “tomorrow” in Swahili) to support qualifying students who hoped to pursue advanced studies. Some of our CSP students whose individual donor funding had lapsed were our first recipients of Kesho Fund support in 2018, along with a few non-CSP students from the town of Karatu.
Looking Ahead | Kesho Fund & Winding Down
In Tanzania, roughly 29% of students complete secondary school (high school).
To date, 90% of JOS students have completed secondary school and 80% have enrolled in higher/advanced education programs!
Of the students we have supported over the last 13+ years, two of our original “Tumaini 7” graduated from their one-year certificate programs and our JOS program then opted to enter the workforce: one at a boutique hotel in Zanzibar and the other chose to explore business opportunities in Karatu. Our 2020 Jobortunity graduate entered the hospitality industry upon graduation. And in 2021, our last “Tumaini 7” student completed her three-year college program and entered the workforce. The remainder either transitioned to be supported by AATz or, while difficult, six students have transitioned out of JOS due to behavioral challenges with educational institutions and/or misconduct with JOS policies.
With our focus on our current 3 students, we remain committed to equipping these young adults with strong educational and social tools so that they can navigate their futures. The Kesho Fund offers these tools through providing advanced educational support of up to 5 years from the time of Form IV graduation. To date this support has included courses at vocational schools and training institutes, and certificate and diploma programs. Qualifying students who wish to pursue higher education studies can request funding for continued learning Kesho Fund – Request for Continued Learning (see Kiswahili version here) or for a one-time business funding grant Kesho Fund – Request for Business Funding (see Kiswahili version here).
A final note about our students from Shalom Orphanage Centre: as students complete their advanced educational endeavors and transition out of the CSP, they will also transition out of living at Shalom, per government law. Although JOS cannot assume guardianship for any of the supported students, we are committed to identifying mentors and organizations that can come alongside our students as they transition from their educational endeavors. In fact, upon completing their advanced studies, eligible students can apply for a one-time transition gift to help them get settled into the next stage of life.
For more information about the Kesho Fund – or to support one of our students – please contact Elizabeth ([email protected]).
Sponsorship | Then and Now
The CSP was created nearly fourteen years ago with an aim to help the children for the duration of their schooling. By offering individual donors the unique opportunity to journey with the students and commit to their educational endeavors, we have celebrated remarkable milestones along the way. In some cases students have had one individual donor for the entirety of their educational journey, whereas others have had a small team of support. In all cases, surely it takes a village and we are grateful to all of our donors for their dedicated partnership!
In the beginning, the student profile was straightforward: support was available for primary and secondary school studies so long as the students received positive behavioral reports from school and performed to the best of their abilities. In more recent years, as students began embarking upon paths of advanced studies, student profiles have been varied in that each student has chosen their own unique course of study. For example: upon completing Form IV in 2017, two of our eldest students opted for one-year vocational certificates in order to strengthen their candidacy to enter the tourism industry. Three other students opted for more traditional three-year college certificate programs. We’ve also enrolled some students at the Jobortunity apprenticeship program and others in driving and language courses.
In light of these various advanced educational paths, support for each student is truly unique and customized. Below are details regarding various avenues of support, including how funds are used to benefit the students’ educational endeavors. To join us as a sponsor, please contact Elizabeth directly.
Transition Year grant: up to $1,500.00USD one-time
Transition Year grants are one-time grants offered to CSP students who have finished their course of study and are preparing to enter the workforce. We see many recent grads secure internships and/or volunteer opportunities in their fields of study, so these grants provide monies for expenses such as housing costs, food, transport, medical needs at FAME and local dispensaries, and a small monthly allowance, and are deposited directly into student bank accounts on a monthly basis.
University student grant: up to $1,500.00USD per year, up to three years
These grants are offered annually to JOS students who are currently enrolled in a government university. Monies supplement additional expenses like housing costs, food, non-school clothing, field placements, medical needs at FAME and local dispensaries, school supplies and a small monthly allowance and are deposited directly into student bank accounts on a monthly basis.
NOTE: As we continue in our program sunset we will not be enrolling any more students in need of long-term support. Rather, through our Kesho Fund, support will be available for students currently enrolled in the CSP who are in good academic standing and have received positive behavioral reports. In the case that we learn of students in need of long-term support, we will continue to work with our partners who can accept children in need.
Meet Our Students
Current Students
Former Students
Glory
Glory
- 2021 CSP graduate
- 2021 College graduate
- 2017 Secondary School graduate
- 2013 Tumaini Junior School graduate
Rose
Rose
- Transitioned out of CSP in 2021
- 2018 Secondary School graduate
- 2014 Tumaini Junior School graduate
Kantonah
Kantonah
- 2020 CSP graduate currently working in the hospitality industry
- 2020 Jobortunity Graduate
Elijah
Elijah
- Transitioned out of CSP in 2020
- 2017 Secondary School graduate
- 2013 Tumaini Junior School graduate
Agness
Agness
- 2019 CSP graduate
- 2019 Vocational Institute graduate
- 2017 Secondary School graduate
- 2013 Tumaini Junior School graduate
Rose
Rose
- 2019 CSP graduate
- 2019 Vocational Institute graduate
- 2017 Secondary School graduate
- 2013 Tumaini Junior School graduate
Glory
Glory
- Transitioned out of CSP in 2019
- 2019 completed one year of college
- 2017 Secondary School graduate
- 2013 Tumaini Junior School graduate
Charles
Charles
- Transitioned out of CSP in 2019
- 2018 Secondary School graduate
Jovita
Jovita
- Transitioned out of CSP in 2019
- Former Jobortunity Student
Charles
Charles
- Transitioned out of CSP in 2019
- Former Jobortunity Student
- 2014 Tumaini Junior School graduate
Albert
Albert
- 2016 Transitioned out of JOS to All Around Tz
- 2014 Tumaini Junior School Graduate
Maureen
Maureen
- 2016 Transitioned out of JOS to All Around Tz
- 2014 Tumaini Junior School Graduate
Frank
Frank
- 2016 Transitioned out of JOS to All Around Tz
- 2015 Tumaini Junior School Graduate
George
George
- 2016 Transitioned out of JOS to All Around Tz
- 2015 Tumaini Junior School Graduate
Aurelia
Aurelia
- 2016 Transitioned out of JOS to All Around Tz
- 2016 Tumaini Junior School Graduate
Upendo
Upendo
- 2016 Transitioned out of JOS to All Around Tz
- 2016 Tumaini Junior School Graduate
Japhet
Japhet
- 2016 Transitioned out of JOS to All Around Tz
- 2016 Tumaini Junior School Standard VII (graduated 2017 post-JOS)
Anna
Anna
- 2016 Transitioned out of JOS to All Around Tz
- 2016 Tumaini Junior School Standard VII (graduated 2017 post-JOS)
Want to Know More?
Kindly direct all questions and inquiries to CSP Project Lead Elizabeth Kallop
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Timeline of Growth
2024
- Full Circle Adventure in June 2024: a fundraiser climb up Mount Kilimanjaro + 4-day safari with Elizabeth, Yusuf and several of our students! Email Elizabeth for more details on how to get involved
2023
- “The Final Act,” our 2023 fundraiser, will be held in NYC on Tuesday, 26 September, to raise funds for our final years of support.
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Two students graduate college: our youngest begins his one-year transition from JOS as he works to secures employment and one prepares to begin university studies.
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One college student completes year two of college and takes a gap year to gain additional experience in the medical field before returning for her 3rd and final year of college in 2024.
2022
- Our youngest student begins a one-year safari guide college course and Chinese language lessons
- One student completes year 2 of college and begins year 3
2021
- Our youngest student completes his O-level secondary school education, passing his national exams and graduating Form IV
- Two students complete year 1 and begin year 2 of college
- Two remaining “Tumaini 7” students transition out of the CSP
- Our final “Tumaini 7” student graduates from her three-year college program and enters the workforce
2020
- One student completes his Jobortunity certificate and earns a full-time job in the hospitality industry, before transitioning out of CSP
- JOS completes partnership with Jobortunity
- Three students begin year 1 of college
- One “Tumaini 7” student transitions out of the CSP
- JOS begins to sunset partnership with Shalom Orphanage as students are signed out
- JOS provides funds for food and home needs at Shalom
2019
- Kesho Fund final development – which provides support to qualifying students outside of sponsored CSP – and announcement
- Two “Tumaini 7” students complete one-year certificate courses at Tropical Centre Institute and choose to enter the workforce
- Two students begin year 2 of college
- Two students are enrolled at Jobortunity (sadly one is put on probation before opting to leave the program before completion)
- Two students complete their O-level secondary school education, passing their national exams and graduating Form IV
- Four students transition out of the CSP
- JOS provides funds for food and home needs at Shalom
2018
- Kesho Fund development continues
- All of our students formally begin pursuing secondary school studies
- Our five eldest students enroll in colleges and institutes across the country
- Two students complete their O-level secondary school education, passing their national exams and graduating Form IV
- JOS enrolls one student at Jobortunity, thus beginning a new partnership with this apprenticeship program in Arusha (sadly this same student is later placed on probation before opting to leave the program before completion)
- JOS hires a Tanzania-based coordinator to assist with student management
- JOS provides funds for food and home needs at Shalom
2017
- Creation of advanced school fund: Kesho Fund (“kesho” means “tomorrow” in Swahili) to assist our sponsored students in their advanced educational endeavors
- Our youngest and final TJS student, Shedrack, graduates Standard VII
- Our five eldest students complete their O-level secondary school education, passing their national exams and graduating Form IV
- JOS provides funds for food and home needs at Shalom
2016
- JOS celebrates the opening of TSSS in January
- CSP transitions its support from 19 students to 11 students after 8 transition to direct through support All Around Tanzania
- JOS provides funds for food and home needs at Shalom
2015
- Several sponsored students represent TJS at district and national-level sports competitions
- JOS congratulates four more Standard VII graduates, three of whom matriculate into TSSS whilst one receives an invitation to attend a specialized secondary school
- JOS provides funds for food and home needs at Shalom
2014
- Volunteer Tom Stevens returns to TJS with computers and software through his “Technology for Tumaini” initiative (and continued until 2016 with this initiative)
- 1st Annual TJS Alumni Celebration (which continues to present day)
- Several sponsored students represent TJS at district and national-level sports competitions
- JOS congratulates 4 more Standard VII graduates; these students continue on to secondary schools across Tanzania
- CSP expands support to a total of 19 students
- JOS provides funds for food and home needs at Shalom
2013
- JOS supporter Tom Stevens visits Karatu for a month for mural painting, and computer lab and library assistance at TJS. NOTE, Tom was the first volunteer to visit Tumaini through Tanzania Education Corp’s newly created volunteer program and continued to raise JOS support through 2016.
- Water well dedication at TJS with the Kallop Family and friends
- Several sponsored students represent TJS at district and national-level sports competitions
- JOS congratulates the first 5 Standard VII graduates; these students continue on to secondary schools across Tanzania
- JOS provides mosquito nets for every bed at Shalom and TJS thanks to the great efforts of two students at Geneseo Central School in Geneseo, NY.
- JOS provides funds for food and home needs at Shalom
2012
- CSP expands to support 18 students
- Fundraising for the TJS water well is complete
- JOS purchases solar panel for hot water in girls’ dormitory at TJS
- JOS provides funds for food and home needs at Shalom
2011
- JOS begins fundraising for TJS’ water well
- TJS celebrates ranking as #1 primary school in Karatu out of more than 90 schools and ranking of 40 of over 15,000 schools in the nation and the first class of Standard VII graduates. This trend continues in the years to follow, through 2019!
- JOS volunteer raises funds for food for Shalom and for arts projects at TJS, including short visits to Shalom and TJS
- JOS provides funds for food and home needs at Shalom
2010
- CSP expands its support to 9 additional Shalom children to study at TJS; 16 total
- JOS volunteers raise funds for construction projects and help to repair corn milling machine at Shalom
- JOS volunteer raises funds for arts projects at TJS including short visits to Shalom and TJS
- JOS purchases school uniforms, food, and pay utility bills at Shalom
- TJS breaks ground for water well
2009
- JOS volunteers raise funds for construction projects at Shalom, including building a veranda and painting bedrooms and classroom
- JOS volunteer/licensed dentist provides free dental assessments to Shalom children and staff, along with dental hygiene products
- JOS purchases school uniforms, food, and pay utility bills at Shalom
- JOS secures free health assessments/physicals from nearby FAME Medical
- Creation of CSP
- 7 Shalom children are enrolled at TJS