Fox Point Lutheran Church in U.S supports young Tanzanians to pursue education, vocational training
Despite the raging fires in California, the Fox Point Lutheran Church of Santa Monica in the United States vows to continue supporting young people from disadvantaged families in Tanzania, to pursue education.
The Fox Point Lutheran Church is teaming up with its Tanzanian counterpart, the Usa-River parish of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Meru District of Arusha to assist local youth in Primary, Secondary and College levels of education to attend school with all the necessary provisions.
Senior Pastor at the Fox Point Lutheran Church Bill Knapp who recently paid a visit to Arusha, revealed that in the past his congregation back in the U.S used to assist the Tanzanian brethren mostly with the construction, refurbishment and repairing of church buildings and other infrastructure.
“However, we recently also realized the importance of assisting the people of Tanzania, especially the youth but essentially those with zeal to pursue education and self-development through vocational training by taking care of their school fees and other educational support,” said Pastor Knapp.
The Usa-River Lutheran Church has been identifying the children and other young people needing assistance and their counterparts in the United States moved in to offer support and assistance.
Dr Justin Mungure in the Church Minister at the Usa-River Lutheran Parish who stated that through their cooperation with the Fox Point Lutheran, they have been able to help many pupils and students pay for their education’
He said the beneficiaries range from Pupils in Primary Schools, Students attending Secondary and Advance Level education, scholars in colleges and of late, the youth pursuing vocational training.
The arrangement started in 2012 with the Usa-River church identifying needy children who deserve sustenance.
But there were some parents who have been going to local district councils to seek support, and these also get helped in the arrangement.
The Church assistance is also extended to college and university students who have not qualified for government loans.
Pastor Bill Knapp who recently came to check on the progress of the project was impressed and promised to continue to raise money and assist more young people in Tanzania.
Many of the beneficiaries are reportedly doing well with one already employed as a teacher while another Dr Stella Justine is now a dentist specialist at the Selian Hospital in Ngaramtoni area.
The partnership between two churches of USA and Usa-River Tanzania started in 2008.
According to Pastor Mungure, so far, a total of 220 students have been assisted under the program including 30 university graduates, 20 vocational training, the rest being secondary students attending Lekitatu, Uraki, Muungano, Elanga Seminary, Makumira and Kikatiti Secondary Schools.
Hilda Mndeme a widowed mother whose child went through the program thanked the American Church saying her husband died, and she was left with two children who she was struggling to both feed and educate therefore had to seek help