ABOUT us
our visioN
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Our name, Nakujali, means 'I care about you' in Kiswahili. And that's what we do - show we care, one person at a time. Our goal is to offer opportunities for one-to-one educational, financial, and personal support by connecting young people in need with caring sponsors who want to help.
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At Nakujali we have seen firsthand the difference it can make in a young person's life to know that someone, somewhere in the world, really cares about them. And, as sponsors, we have experienced the joy and fulfillment that comes from having an ongoing personal connection with a child in need.
Unlike many sponsorships programs, which focus on basic education, Nakujali is committed to partnering with students through their whole educational journey. We know from experience that young adults, navigating the difficult transition to independence and productive adulthood, need support and guidance as much as younger children, if not more. Sadly, for those who have no families, or families with no experience in higher education, this guidance just isn't available. For this reason, Nakujali encourages partnerships for deserving students who are motivated to complete form 5 & 6 (Advanced-levels), vocational or college programs, and university studies.
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Our story
In 2009 Mary Wendling set out with her husband and three daughters to volunteer in an orphanage center in the city of Arusha, in Northern Tanzania.
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Conditions at the orphanage were not what they had expected. All of the volunteers agreed that in order for the children to get an adequate education, they needed to study in a more structured school environment. And so an informal sponsorshsip program was begun, to send the children to a new English-speaking boarding school, where the kids would get a solid education as well as regular food and a safe, structured living environment.
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Mary and her family sponsored an impish 12 year old boy named Maulidi, to attend & board at the school. Maulidi knew only a little English, but was outgoing, chatty, and charming! In spite of his age, he started in primary school, but quickly worked his way up through the grades, accomplishing much, and becoming head boy in his school.
Maulidi proceeded to Secondary School, and did well in both his O-level and A-Level exams. He is now studying accounting at university, still sponsored by the Wendlings. They keep in close contact via Facebook and WhatsApp, and Mary has traveled to Tanzania to spend time with him regularly. This sponsorship has been a source of great personal fulfillment and joy on both sides. The whole family is happy and proud to have Maulidi as their Tanzanian son and brother. They hope he will be a part of their life forever.
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Maulidi and Mary in 2009
our Team of volunteers
Mary Wendling
Mary has recently retired from 20 years in the Faculty of International Education at Vancouver Island University. When Mary first visited Tanzania in 2009, she witnessed firsthand the financial inefficiency of the larger corporate sponsorship organization she had been donating to, and decided to become more personally involved in sponsoring students directly. Since then, she has traveled to Tanzania regularly to stay connected with her "kids". She is excited about offering this incredibly fulfilling sponsorship opportunity to others, through Nakujali.
Joy McWhirter
Joy has been an instructor in the English Language Centre at Vancouver Island University for over 20 years. She first visited Tanzania in 2018 to do some volunteer teacher training, returning again in 2019. Joy fell in love with the country and the people and sees Nakujali Education Partnerships as a perfect chance to get more involved and to spread the love!
Helen McWhirter
Helen has been a teacher in New Westminster, BC in the adult learning program for the past 15 years. She was first inspired to become a teacher when she volunteered at a local school in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Helen travelled to Tanzania in 2019. That trip simply increased her commitment to doing all she can to support our student partners.
Baptista Ntinya
Baptista is a teacher and discipline officer at one of our partner schools in Arusha, Tanzania, and is our local coordinator there. He has a background in psychology, and works on the front line, providing loving support of every kind to our sponsored kids, and helping to identify students who need our help.
Francis Baritang'o Lucas
Francis (aka Tango) is a well-known tour operator in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Having lived with poverty himself as a child, he is devoted to providing help and education to impoverished youth in his community, and is very excited to be part of Nakujali. Francis is our very capable local coordinator for Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam.
Aziza John
Aziza is both a Nakujali volunteer and a very strong and deserving student partner. Her goal is to fight against poverty in her community of Dar es Salaam, and in her country, and prove that being born poor should not stop us from making our dreams come true. She believes that education is the key to this fight, and is excited to be part of Nakujali.
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Maddie Wendling
When Madeleine traveled to Tanzania in 2009 with her family she felt inspired by the bright young minds, and wants to encourage, mentor and support these young people to pursue their educational goals and dreams. Madeleine is currently studying law, in London, England, where she is actively fundraising in order to help support our young students' education. She maintains regular contact with several of our university students in Tanzania.
Lucie Wendling
Lucie holds a degree in Environmental Science from McGill University. She is deeply committed to improving the world we live in in every way that she can, and believes that education is the key. At the age of 11, she taught a small group of pre-school kids at the orphanage in Tanzania. This experience, coupled with tutoring kids since she was 14, taught her the importance and satisfaction of reaching out one-to-one to support students.