Author: Tumaini Web Administrator

The funds were wire-transferred to Kagera in December, along with some money for carpentry tools for the graduating carpentry students to set up in business.

Donations for sewing machines help in several ways and will improve many lives.
* The tailoring students learn many skills, which after 2 years of training, can be used to set up their own business.
* In the second year of their training, they sew the compulsory school uniforms for other Tumaini orphans, who are then allowed to attend school.
* After graduating each tailoring student is given the treadle machine to take back to his/her home community and set up a business.

Treadle Sewing Machines.2025

In 2025 the focus for the Tumaini crafters is the making of Personal Care Kits for orphan girls in Kagera, Tanzania.  We are very thankful to the ladies from Oceanside, Gold River, Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Duncan, interior BC and northern Alberta who cut out and sew shields, liners, and carry bags. Kit making started in 2014 and as of July 2025 a total of 2,270 kits (including the 22,700 liners) have been shipped. 

Recent photos of the distribution of the kits in Kagera showed some of the bags made by Crafters on Vancouver Island.

We appreciate all  those who donate items (soap, tiny sewing kits, washcloths, panties, PUL) for the kits. 

In order to pay for the shipping, a small team of volunteers sort recyclable bottles and cans donated by people in the Nanoose, Parksville,  and Qualicum communities, and then take the items to a recycle depot.

The shipped boxes have a long sea voyage and then about 1,300 km by truck to reach the orphans, where all the items are most welcome, and make it possible for the girls to attend school without missing days.

A huge bouquet of thanks to our Tumaini Crafters and Supporters!

Tumaini Fund Canada is very grateful for the generous donations from individual donors and charitable organizations  who have helped improve the lives of over 200,000 living in Kagera, Tanzania.  

During this past year funds have been raised for education expenses, including the ongoing need for the purchase of Daftari (the required school notebooks) and also for treadle sewing machines to replace those given to graduating tailoring students.  A charitable foundation generously donated funds for a large number of sewing machines as well as for carpentry tools given to all the students graduating from the 5 carpentry schools operated by TOSO.

Sincere thanks to everyone helping those in need. 

Hi!
I’m Ignas Magesa from Tanzania, I’m one who benefited from your projects through TUMAIN FUND in 2011-2013 at Bisibo secondary school Biharamulo Kagera,

I didn’t know you for the whole periods of time but one of yours workers told me about you and I asked your phone number.

I like to say thank you for your blessed project because you paid school fees for me, and by that time i received a bysicle which helped me to go to school easily

Its about 10 years passed since that time, and now I’m working with one of radio station known as Radio Uhai FM located in Tabora Tanzania as a journalist and presenter.

I send you some of my pictures 😁,

and please if you have anything to advise on me i wish to hear that. Thank you 🙏🙏

Tumaini is working hard to help orphaned students find success for their future.

Not all students qualify for secondary school studies; however, Tumaini Orphan Support Organisation (TOSO, registered NGO) also offers 2-year tailoring and carpentry courses at 5 locations.  

The carpentry students make school desks, doors and shutters for houses built by Tumaini, and also sell furniture to the public.  At the end of their 2-year course, they are given a set of tools to take back to their own community and set up a business.

The young people in the sewing classes learn to sew on newspaper at first (so as not to waste fabric) and then later sew the school uniforms needed by all students who attend school. 

After graduation each tailoring student is given his/her own treadle sewing machine to take home to start their own home-based business.

There are 5 tailoring schools operated by Tumaini, which means that each year Tumaini needs to purchase about 225 new sewing machines.  

This is an ongoing project for Tumaini Fund Canada to raise funds to send to Kagera for the purchase of treadle machines for the incoming students in January and June. 

Our goal for fundraising this fall is to raise $15,000 for the purchase of 60 sewing machines @ $250 each to be ready for incoming students in January 2026.

Tumaini Fund Canada paid for medical insurance which enabled the initial surgery on the face of a 13-year-old in Tanzania, who is suffering from arthrogryosis, congenital malformations of the face, hands and feet.  Dr. Susan saw him in the spring of 2025 and shared how happy the young fellow is.  It is hoped that he can have further surgeries to correct his hands and feet.

Your donation to give this young person a chance to lead a normal life without ridicule would be a truly wonderful gift.