Written by Anna Kevin and Emilia Sten and edited by Amy Pitman. Art In Tanzania volunteers. NGO Management
In a place where education is challenging, sponsorship can provide a young person with an education and a chance at a better life.
This is the story of 22-year-old Joseph Wilson, whose life was transformed when he found a sponsor.
Originally from Mwanza, near Lake Victoria, Joseph moved to Dar es Salaam because his family couldn’t afford his education fees. He had two other brothers who depended on them.
He was eager to learn, and after moving to Dar es Salaam, he took up evening classes taught by volunteers at Art In Tanzania. Then, he realized that if he wanted a good education, he would need to find a sponsor.
Sponsors provide money for an individual’s education, including school fees, transportation, exam fees, books and other materials. Food is not covered, so Joseph has to pay for this himself. He found a sponsor in one of the team leaders at Art in Tanzania. This all started four years ago.
However, his sponsor’s family got involved and could no longer afford the sponsorship. But as fate would have it, he soon found another sponsor in a Dutch couple.
He now attends a military-established and sponsored school called Makongo High School. Soldiers teach his lessons.
The sponsors maintain contact with the individual to ensure both are satisfied. The money can be given directly to the individual, to the school, or Art in Tanzania. Still, Joseph always provides his sponsors with receipts to prove that the money is being used for the intended purpose.
Joseph’s life has changed for the better, thanks to a sponsor covering his education expenses, and he is very grateful for this. When he is not in school taking his studies, Joseph works part-time at Art in Tanzania to pay for his food and says he can’t complain because he’s not walking around hungry.
His average day schedule includes school, scouting, football, and work; his goal is to become a high school teacher. He dreams of establishing a school that will focus on various teaching techniques. He also notes that his school will not permit corporal punishment, a common practice in Tanzania, but rather adopt a different approach to correcting wrongdoers without humiliating them.
Joseph believes that without the sponsorship, his life would be miserable. He says he would probably be a street child because “without an education, you can’t do anything.” Joseph will sit his form four national exams in a few weeks and hopes to pursue his education further.
