Students and Sponsors

Nashipai, 2021

My name is Nashipai, i’m 13 years old and I come from Eluai in Tanzania. After I finished primary school in August 2021, I passed the exam to go to secondary school. I did not know if I would get a chance to go to secondary school because my mom told me that my brother already had a husband waiting for me. My brother is in charge of family decision making, we follow whatever he decides. He was not happy that I passed the exam, I thought my life was over, like my sisters, who my brother sold into marriage around my age, for 10 cows. Seven years ago, my mom moved me out of my home so the I could attend primary school but my brother was very upset. After six months he told my mother I could come home but that when I finished primary school there would be no more school for me. Last year the time had come for my brother to marry me off to some old guy that had already bought me with 5 cows. My brother had promised him that as soon I finished school, he could take me. I prayed for the whole year before this was to happen.

One year ago, when I was in grade six, I asked my mother to talk with Nguvu, because I heard that girls in the Eluai primary school were getting scholarships. I told my mother that I was not going to be married off and if you force me, I will kill myself. Then my mother started thinking about what to do. One night, we left home at 2 AM and arrived at Nguvu’s home at 3:30 AM in the morning. I was praying non-stop with Nguvu’s mother and mine joining me for prayers - we prayed for a long time. Nguvu’s mother told me to trust in God because He will find you a way to go to school - so let’s just pray. My mother wanted me to go back home but I told her there was no home for me back there, that it was hell for me so I am never going back there until I finish school. So, she stayed with me until the next day when I saw Nguvu. I almost passed out, I was so scared and it was my last hope. He asked me if I wanted to go to school and I wondered why he was asking me this question? Maybe it was a test? I was going crazy at that moment but I said yes. When he said I had gotten a sponsor, I was shocked. I was out of words and just screaming as loud as I could, praying to my Lord and my Savior. I got a Bible and I promised God at that moment that I would be with Him forever and this Bible would be my shield, my spear and my sword.  Amen

Tricia Allenby, 2023

The past 4 years, since meeting Isaya and Nguvu in 2019 in their home, i’ve been on an amazing journey. The way that Isaya connects us with the girls that we sponsor is very unique and special. As Isaya travels home twice a year he is able to give us first hand updates on how the girls are doing. We write and receive letters back from our girls, enabling us to get to know them personally. The way that Isaya and Nguvu work together not only to raise funds for these girls but to watch over them, helping them to succeed in school with extra tutoring when needed and encouraging them along the way is extraordinary. They organize a large gathering of the community to celebrate their accomplishments each December. I have been able to visit Eluai several times and get to know the girls personally. I visit when the girls are on holiday and encourage them to work hard in their studies. I feel like an American Yeyo (Mama) for them - they are very shy initially, but seeing the increased confidence in the second year girls is amazing. Getting to know the older girls (like Naini in the photo with me) is very special - they are beautiful young women inside and out. They have a maturity beyond their years and are eager to help the younger girls and their people.