Sponsor a child

Sponsor a Child — Give the Gift of Education

In many parts of Tanzania, education is the difference between a life of poverty and a life of opportunity. For too many children, that opportunity remains out of reach—not because of lack of ability or desire, but simply because of financial hardship.

Through the African Child Welfare Foundation (ACWF) and in partnership with Mairiva Secondary School (www.mairivaschools.com), you can directly support a student and change their future forever.

💡 Why Sponsorship Matters

Public schools in Tanzania are often underfunded and overstretched. While private schools offer better academic outcomes, their costs are simply unaffordable for most families. Even modest public school contributions can be impossible for orphans or children from single-parent households.

Your sponsorship helps provide:

  • Tuition and school fees

  • School uniforms and basic supplies

  • Pocket money and transportation costs

  • Access to safe, quality education and personal mentorship

💰 Estimated Cost of Sponsorship (Annual)

Expense Cost (in TZS) Cost (in USD)
📚 School Fees 1,500,000 – 1,800,000 TZS ~$938 – $1,125
🧥 Uniforms & Essentials 400,000 TZS ~$250
💸 Pocket Money 200,000 TZS ~$125
🚌 Travel Costs 200,000 TZS ~$125
Total Estimate 2.3M – 2.6M TZS ~$1,438 – $1,625 USD

 

Exchange Rate: 1 USD ≈ 1600 TZS (subject to change)
These are indicative amounts based on an average private school. Actual budgets will be tailored case-by-case.

We also help identify public school students in extreme poverty whose needs are lower in cost but equally urgent.

🧒🏽 Children in Need of Sponsorship

Below are some of the students at Mairiva Secondary School identified by ACWF as being in urgent need of support. This list is a trimmed version of an earlier database (last updated October 2013), with cases that are still current.

1. William Msofe

  • Grade: Form Three (2012)

  • Needs full sponsorship to continue education

2. Neema Laizer

  • Grade: Form Three (2013)

  • Promising student from a low-income family

3. Happiness Samwel

  • Grade: Form Four (2012)

  • Struggled with school fees but continues to fight for her education

4. Hassan Kizinga – A Story Worth Telling

Hassan’s life has been one of resilience and quiet strength. Orphaned twice—first by the loss of his biological parents to illness, and then by the death of his foster mother—he found shelter between two compassionate homes: his half-siblings in Dar es Salaam (who gave him a bed) and a neighbor (who provided meals).

Thanks to a Canadian sponsor, Roger Vail, Hassan was able to complete Form Four in 2011. However, he still dreams of pursuing tertiary education and needs support to get there.

Help Hassan become the man he was meant to be.

🎯 Our Mission Is Rescue, Not Pity

We don’t tell these stories to dwell on the pain. We tell them to show you that these children are full of potential—they just need someone to believe in them.

“We’re not chasing sympathy. We’re chasing solutions.”

💌 How to Sponsor a Child

You can:

  • Fully sponsor one student (annually or term-by-term)

  • Partially contribute toward one child’s costs

  • Join a sponsorship pool to support multiple children

  • Sponsor a child in memory of a loved one or on behalf of your organization

Once matched, you’ll receive:

  • A profile and photo of the student

  • Termly updates and progress reports

  • The opportunity to write to and encourage your sponsored student

🛠️ What’s Next?

We’re working to:

  • Update profiles with photos and personal stories

  • Build a digital database of active sponsorship needs

  • Expand our reach to public schools and tertiary students

💬 Get in Touch

If you’re ready to sponsor a child or have questions:

📧 Email: info@acwf.or.tz
🌍 Partner School: www.mairivaschools.com
📍 Location: Moshi, Tanzania
💳 Sponsorship Payment Info: Provided upon request