Our Youth Empowerment Programs
We provide life-changing programs centered on quality education for vulnerable youth and women, empowering them to become active, contributing citizens.
Life Changing Programs
College Scholarships in Tanzania and the United States
Business Empowerment (BE) Program
Tanzania College Scholarships
What the Program Does
Since 2006, we have been fully supporting children who once lived in an orphanage in Tanzania and are now attending secondary school and college. Beyond covering tuition, we provide additional support—such as meals, boarding, medical care, and transportation—depending on each child’s needs. This comprehensive support enables them to focus on finishing their education and ultimately building successful careers.
Who We Help
A majority of the youth we help come from households with monthly incomes of $30 (on average). Most have lost one or more of their parents. All are ambitious, grateful and hardworking and have to maintain a minimum of a C average and give back to their communities to continue to receive support.
Results
100% have graduated from secondary school
Eight students have graduated from college.
Our first graduate from college donates $1,000 annually back to our organization.
Two of the four graduates are on our board. One has his masters in statistics and another is working on getting his PhD in neuroscience.
Meet Some of Our Students
-
Mary
Mary can light up any room with her laughter. After graduating from medical school in 2024, she is now completing her medical internship with the goal of becoming one of Tanzania’s first female orthopedic surgeons.
-
Peter
Peter was just six years old when we found him, living on his own and searching for food. Today, he is a dedicated law student at Mzumbe University in Tanzania, set to graduate with his law degree in 2027.
-
Christina
Christina brings energy to everything she does. She recently earned a degree in Human Resources from Mzumbe University in Tanzania and is now actively applying for jobs. Christina hopes to work with a wildlife organization, where she can combine her professional skills with her love for nature and the environment.
-
Benny
Benny is currently studying pharmacy in Uganda with the goal of one day opening his own pharmacy in Tanzania. He is passionate about improving healthcare access in his home village and is determined to ensure that people there have reliable access to the medicines they need to treat illness and live healthier lives.
-
Elliona
Despite facing the loss of loved ones and ongoing health challenges, Elliona loves to joke around. He is currently pursuing a degree in procurement at the Institute of Accountancy in Dar es Salaam and will graduate at the end of 2025.
-
Esther
Esther comes from a rural farming family that faced significant financial challenges and couldn’t afford formal education. Despite these obstacles, she recently graduated from a university in Edinburgh, Scotland, and is now building an exciting career in London, working with startups.
Success Stories
We believe that we’re in this world to help each other.
Every year, our students demonstrate perseverance, reminding us that obstacles can be overcome and that one person can change a life forever.
This is Innocent. He was once a child without a bed to sleep in and often went without food. He was told his parents had simply traveled away—and later, he was bullied for being an orphan.
This is Revo. After losing his father at a young age, he cared for his sick mother before eventually moving into an orphanage. He earned a full-ride scholarship to Duke University and went on to complete a Master’s degree through Boston University. Today, he works as a data scientist in California’s Bay Area while giving back to his community in Tanzania.
This is Jonas. Once, he didn’t understand the importance of education and believed his fate was to live and die on the streets. But he went on to graduate from secondary school and attended Mweka Wildlife College of Management, where he earned a certificate in wildlife management. Since then, he has worked as a tourist guide and as a welder for a solar company.
Business Empowerment
(BE) Program
What the Program Does
The Business Empowerment (BE) Program was created as our Tanzanian college students began graduating and encountered challenges in applying for jobs, interviewing, and starting their own businesses. Each year, we support 400 students through this program. It is called the BE Program because it empowers youth to “Be” self-sufficient by equipping them with the skills and confidence to secure employment or launch their own businesses. Ultimately, the program helps young people “Be” contributors to their communities, fostering a cycle of growth and giving back.
The curriculum covers:
Creating a resume and cover letter that standout
Mock interviews
Overcoming poverty
Financial management and savings
Creating business plans
Applying for jobs (where and how)
Health care options
Networking skills
Here are the results
100% of the graduates of the BE Program say the Program improved their understanding of the job market and the skills required for employment.
89% definitely would recommend the Program to others seeking job preparation assistance and 11% would likely recommend it.
73% of the students who were actively looking for a job received a job within six months of graduating from the Program.
The Journey
-
The Beginning
Students started out on desktop computers; most had never been on computers before.
-
Our First 50 Students
Our first pilot program enabled 50 young women to graduate with certificates in computer studies.
-
Inside the Classroom Today
The students now each have a laptop to use. We have a new cohort of 30 students each month.
-
Expanding Globally
We’ve expanded our training to Latin America efficiently through local partnerships.
US College Scholarships
What the Program Does
We provide scholarships to hardworking students around the world who demonstrate significant financial need. Our scholarships cover tuition, health insurance and campus housing.
Results
Recent past graduates have graduated from the following schools:
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Chico State, UC Boulder, UC Davis, and U of Hawaii with degrees in computer animation, psychology and business.
Apply
Our Annual Scholarship Application
Note: Funds have already been awarded to students up until 2026.
This is an annual application. Every year students who have already been awarded scholarships must re-apply, the application deadline is August 1st. Accepted students receive help with their school tuition and boarding (paid to the school) scholarship based on need depending on the two or four-year college in attendance. Please note that recipients must meet the following criteria in order to maintain their scholarship.
Maintain a 3.0 average
Register and maintain a minimum of 12 credits per semester (pre-approval needed)
Be contributing towards tuition either through loans or your work.
Giving back/volunteering
Request Funding
Approved Applicants Request Form
Once your application is approved, you can apply for funding by semester. It’s the scholarship recipient’s responsibility to submit a request early before school tuition and boarding is needed.
Scholarships are for two or four years only, so students need to manage course load appropriately and not take more time than necessary. If you take the minimum required credits that doesn't mean we will fund extra semester(s).
Requests will take two weeks to process and funds will only be distributed at the beginning of each semester. We will not grant requests via email. You must apply.
If you are requesting funds, proof of a 3.0 GPA is needed. A screenshot of current grades will suffice. Please be detailed in your request.