JBFC Year in Review: 2015

As far as years go, 2015 has been one of the fastest yet for all of us at JBFC. It is hard to know where the time has gone. As I sit here, thinking back on all that has been accomplished thanks to your generous support, it’s clear that things have been moving here at JBFC this year!

The first thing that jumps out when I think about this year is our first class of graduating secondary students. Twenty-eight students walked the stage on December 4^th to receive their diplomas. These students have been trailblazers… they were also our very first 7^th grade class five years ago. They have been the leaders of our school- and were the first ones in each class to set the 100% pass rate on all national exams- a fact we are still able to boast this year!

JBFC’s Joseph & Mary Schools is proud of its accomplishments, but we continue to set our sights higher. This year we committed to developing the whole students and making sure no child gets left behind. Mr. Samo took on a new role as the dean of students and is leading our new office of student development. That office is charged with developing our technology program, character education and improving literacy. I believe all of the efforts put in place this year will really pay dividends in 2016.

Our school also got a big boost from our science-loving supporters. You all have done so much to help outfit Joseph & Mary’s new science lab. You’ve donated supplies and lab equipment. And our friends at Grumeti Reserve stepped up to completely renovate our lab, transforming it from a simple classroom to a fully-functioning lab, complete with new lab tables, sinks, and burners.

JBFC’s school isn’t the only part of campus that’s gotten spruced up in 2015. Thanks to our friends at 200 Orphanages, the girls got new furniture, a new storage shed, and a fresh coat of paint for the dorms. This year our family is also enduring a bittersweet milestone as we are currently in the process of saying farewell to our eight graduating residential girls.

Now that they have completed Form 4 and are continuing on their education, they will soon be beginning the next phase of their lives off of JBFC’s campus. But this isn’t really good-bye. JBFC is committed to helping these girls achieve their goals. They won’t find out their exam results until April of 2016. In the meantime, they’ll be living at a JBFC transition home in nearby Mwanza and taking extra classes to make sure they’re ready to continue their education. While I am so proud of these young women, we will definitely miss their leadership on our campus in Kitongo. We will be extremely excited to welcome even more girls to the JBFC family in 2016!

JBFC’s farm continues to provide tons of farm fresh meals week in and week out (over 400 pounds of fresh produce weekly), and our trees continue to grow big and strong. Thanks to your support and the hard work of our farm workers and kitchen staff, we were able to serve more than 220,000 meals to our students, staff and residential girls this year.

JBFC’s clinic also hit a milestone, celebrating a full year of improving the health of our community. Our clinic was able to treat more than 1,100 people this past year! All of these things on campus were made possible by your support.

2015 was also a great year for our volunteer program. We welcomed our first college study abroad partner, Sarah Lawrence College (Bronxville, NY) in January. And we continued to benefit from the hard work and generous hearts of more than 75 volunteers from all over the country. They have been instrumental in farm projects, tutoring at school, improving literacy, and of course, building relationships with our girls and staff.

JBFC also welcomed two new staff members in the US. Alyssa Doty is nearing the end of her first year as JBFC’s Office Manager. And Diana Booren joined the team as our new volunteer coordinator. Both Diana and Alyssa are making sure we can promptly serve you in the U.S. and grow our impact in Tanzania.

All of this wouldn’t have been possible without you. Thank you so much for all of your love, prayers and support. You have helped us truly change the world in 2015. And we’re just getting started.

2016 will mark another major milestone for JBFC. We will celebrate ten years of ending poverty and changing lives in rural Tanzania. We wish you the best as you each of you wrap up 2015 and look forward to seeing you and sharing an incredible year in 2016!

Family Christmas at JBFC

One of the few hard parts (for me, anyway!) about living in Tanzania is being away from my hometown of Portland, Maine during the holidays. Starting at around Thanksgiving and lasting until my birthday in early January, I am constantly filled with memories of homemade pies, decorating a Christmas tree while listening to “The Polar Express,” going to see the annual performance of “A Christmas Carol,” and, last but not least, SNOW!

While the faces of my JBFC family may be different than those faces back home, the messages woven through the traditions are the same: love and family.

In Maine, I am hard pressed to remember a Christmas day celebration with more than 20 people; at JBFC, we average between 60 and 70. In Maine, we can regularly expect a couple inches of snow and temperatures in the teens; in Tanzania, we hope for a drizzle and temperatures hover in the mid 70’s.

In Maine, my Dad bakes a pie; in Tanzania, Melinda bakes brownies. In Maine, four or five people mingle while preparing the feast; in Tanzania, our Form Four girls along with a dozen other helpers frantically prepare gravy, mashed potatoes, chicken, biscuits, and more for what seems like a full two weeks leading up to the 25th.

In Maine, we go to “ugly sweater parties;” in Tanzania, the girls wear Christmas themed dresses made by Ashli’s family. In Maine, we have Santa Claus; in Tanzania, we have “Dad” (Chris). In Maine, we sing Jingle Bells; in Tanzania, our Farm Manager turned Choir Teacher turned recent college returnee leads the girls’ choir in a rousing version of “Mambo Sawa Sawa (Everything is Okay, Okay).” 

As we get ready to celebrate another Christmas at JBFC (my third one here!), I have started to get accustomed to new memories and new traditions (along with memories of the old). JBFC operates on a day-to-day basis as a family and Christmas is no exception. While we all may come from vastly different families, from different places, and with different backgrounds, I have come to learn that Christmas at JBFC is a Christmas founded as much on love, family and tradition as anywhere in the world. It is a day where we all take a break from our busy lives- the girls from school and work and our staff from their daily duties- and we all come together and are reminded of how fortunate we are to be part of such a wonderful (and large!) family.

From our JBFC family to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Blogger Seth Diemond is JBFC's Chief Operating Officer in Tanzania. This is his 3rd Christmas at JBFC.

Gifts of Hope

We all know it can be hard to find a gift for the ones in our lives who seem to have everything. Or maybe this year, you just don’t want to give the same old thing. This year we’re making it possible to give a gift that makes a difference—a gift of hope!

Give a gift in honor of your loved ones, co-workers, teachers or pastors and they’ll receive a special card and ornament, and the children at JBFC will receive much more!

You can give the gift of a fruit tree and know that children at JBFC are not only getting fresh fruit with their meals, but also learning how to care for a sustainable farm. That’s valuable information that they are sharing with their families and their community.

You can give a pair of shoes or a new mattress and sheet set to one of our 46 residential girls, knowing that they’ll have the basics they need to do the big things like study for exams or run for an office with Girls Government.

Send 6 new textbooks to the kids in our primary and secondary schools or treat all the girls to a special fish dinner.

This holiday, choose gifts that give twice. Let your loved ones know you’re thinking about them, and let them share in the joy of making a difference in the lives of the children at JBFC.

Each person who receives a gift of hope will get a festive card explaining their gift, a picture of a JBFC student who will be impacted, and a beautiful beaded ornament handmade in Tanzania. You can select a beaded star, cross, or bell. We’ll even mail the gift of hope right to them with a message from you!

Order between December 7th and December 13th, by clicking here.

JBFC Graduates: JBFC's Girls Then & Now

Editor's Note: On Friday, December 4th, JBFC will graduate its first class of secondary students from Joseph & Mary School. Eight of the 28 graduating seniors are part of JBFC's residential program. 

Some of these girls have lived at JBFC, practically since the beginning. We have watched them grow into beautiful, smart, capable young women over the last eight years. See a visual evolution of each of them and learn a little bit about what makes them special. We hope you are as proud of them as we are. This is only just the beginning for these girls. We hope to help them continue on to higher education, so they can live out their big dreams.







Anna, 18





Anna has lived at JBFC for seven years. She loves English and math and her favorite color is purple. She aspires to become a dentist one day, because she wants to "help people with teeth problems." In her spare time, she loves gardening to "experience life."

                                                                                     Elizabeth, 19



Elizabeth or Eliza has lived at JBFC, since practically the beginning. Her favorite school subject is English and her favorite color is green. She wants to be the Director of Education in Tanzania one day, because she wants to "help girls get a better education because most people in Tanzania suffer and [she] wants to give them a better chance." She also might want to open a center for girls, similar to JBFC, one day.

Imelda, 18





Imelda has lived at JBFC for seven years. She loves studying geography, physics, and biology. Her favorite color is pink. Imelda would like to be a lawyer when she grows up, so she can "debate and help people with their different problems."

                                                                                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                             Liku, 18   




Liku has lived at JBFC for almost eight years. English is her favorite subject and her favorite color is pink. She wants to become a lawyer, because she wants to "protect innocent people." Liku is a star player on JBFC's football (soccer) club and loves to play, because she enjoys "running and the competition."

Neema, 18





Neema has lived at JBFC for more than five years. She loves civics in school, because she wants to be a lawyer one day. But she loves geography, because it's interesting. Neema feels passionately about advocating for children and women. She says "in our country [Tanzania] women are not respected. They are put down. And [she] wants to help them be more respected." Neema is also a leader on the football field. She hopes to attend a college, where she can chase her football dreams on the field and her legal aspirations in the classroom.

                                                                                   Nyamalwa, 19 




JBFC has been Nyamalwa's home since practically the beginning. She loves science and English. Many young ladies change aspirations as they age. But Nyamalwa has been consistent in her career dreams. She wants to be a nurse, so "she can help take care of sick people." She's a natural leader and caretaker on JBFC's campus helping oversee her younger sisters. She loves to cook and garden.

Pelu, 17






Pelu has lived at JBFC since she was 9-years-old. She loves school and counts English, history, civics and Swahili among her favorite subjects. Her favorite color is purple. Pelu wants to become a lawyer when she grows up, because she thinks "it will be a good job for [her]. She wants to help people and thinks it will help provide for her family."

Sophie, 18

JBFC has been Sophie's home since 2007, when she and her younger sister Kulwa came to live with us. She says her favorite subjects are chemistry and biology and she loves the colors pink and red. She wants to become a doctor one day, so she can "help older people and children who need help."

If you would like to help JBFC's graduating seniors achieve their higher education dreams, please consider supporting JBFC's Annual Fund. Make sure to designate your donation to the Mimi Memorial Higher Education Fund.

JBFC Graduates: Look How Far We've Come

Just days from JBFC's 1st Secondary School graduation, I can't help but reflect on how far we've come in just five years.

This is JBFC's Class of 2015, standing in front of our secondary school.

And this is that same class, when they started their first year of secondary school, Form 1 (U.S. equivalent of 8th grade) back in 2012.

These young ladies and young men have come a long way. They're not just older, but more mature, determined, and confident. And I could say the same thing about JBFC as an organization. The development I see in these students is similar to the trajectory our organization has taken over the last five years.

Back in 2011, we didn't have a secondary school. Students who wanted to continue their education were studying more or less independently at my kitchen table.

Those were our humble beginnings. A handful of students. Desperate to learn. Basically, teaching themselves with primary school teachers aiding them between their regularly scheduled classes.

In 2012, we took a big leap forward. 

Thanks to the diligence, determination, and generosity of some of our friends, JBFC was able to build a secondary school and hire qualified secondary teachers. 

They say it takes a village, and this truly did. We have friends from Tulsa, OK to Bronxville, NY and a lot in between, who helped make this possible -- including a couple of high school students who led a fundraising campaign to build the secondary school brick by brick. 

I am so humbled and grateful for all of the support our friends have showed us over the last five years. You all have shaped the students the Class of 2015 have become.

Once our students had a real school with teachers who were able to truly take their education further they flourished. 

They passed their first secondary national exams in  Form 2 (U.S. equivalent of 9th grade) with flying colors. This was a test for JBFC, as well. It was proof that we could meet the challenges of older students as well as we were rising to the occasion for younger ones.

When the Class of 2015 was in their third year of secondary school, we started looking to the future. They toured a university in Tanzania's second largest city. They started planning, and dreaming, and studying.

And studying. And studying some more.

This year, these students have poured everything into preparing for this national exam. You can read about all of the extra work they've put in over on Seth's blog. But I have to say, these students have consistently impressed me.

So for those who have supported us, this is what change looks like. This is what you have invested in and made possible through your consistent and generous support.

Our celebration will culminate this week in our graduation ceremony on December 4th. I hope you will join us in spirit for this proud moment. It's yours to share. And it wouldn't have been possible without you.

If you would like to show support for our graduates, please consider making a year-end gift to JBFC's Annual Fund.

JBFC Graduates: It's Been a Long Road

"I felt good to take the exam today- and good because soon I am going to start my plan to reach my goals. I felt like I prepared and was confident. I was a little bit nervous this morning because it was the first day but not really. To celebrate, first I will take a nap!"

Confidence. A belief that “I can” and “I will.” A feeling that when your time comes, you will succeed even beyond your own imagination.

These are the sentiments I would use to describe the feeling shared by most, if not all, of our 28 seniors who sat their Form Four (equivalent of the 11th grade in the U.S.) national exams. These exams are a big deal in Tanzania- bigger than all of the other exams (Tanzanian students take national exams in 4th grade, 7th grade, and Form 2 or 9th grade) that these students have sat for in their lifetimes. These exams don’t just determine whether or not these students will continue to the next grade, rather what course their life will take after schooling.


The level of confidence displayed by our students in the face of a monumental life event did not come easily or without struggle.


That confidence was earned over the course of the past few weeks, months, and even years by a group of determined students and staff members who share their confidence today. We have added staff, changed schedules, and opened the school on Saturdays to help these students gain the confidence they needed to succeed. Our students and teachers have worked harder, studied longer, and really pulled together as a team.


Starting in April, our Form Four students, secondary school teachers, and Administrative team developed a strategy designed to give all of our 28 seniors the best chance of succeeding as possible. The first step was to address any content areas that may have been neglected over the past four years.

Since the Form Four national exam is cumulative, our students are being tested on topics that they may not have studied in years and potentially were never taught. Knowing this, we ordered an intensive review of all topics as far back as Form One (8th grade). Using the information from these tests, we were able to review (and in some cases cover for the first time) topics that could have been weak spots for us on the exams.

Second, knowing that the Form Four national exam puts an immense amount of pressure on the students to succeed, we believed that we would have to support our students psychologically. While many schools may encourage their students as the exam approaches, we wanted to build our seniors up early and often. We advised them on study habits, time management, stress management, the importance of rest and good nutrition, and even specific ways to deal with exam-related pressure. We sought to instill in our students with a belief that they CAN and WILL succeed.

Third, the Form Four national exam includes practical portions in the science subjects (Physics, Biology, and Chemistry). Knowing that most of our students were unfamiliar with conducting experiments and had probably only done so on a handful of occasions, we wanted to put a special emphasis on conducting practicals.

 At the beginning of July we hired a specialized Lab Technician with specific experience in secondary school practical experiments to teach at Joseph and Mary part-time. Every Friday, Mr. Mikela has been coming in the afternoons to teach Chemistry, Biology, and Physics theory. Then, every Saturday morning since July, our Form Four students have been attending half-day sessions with Mr. Mikela at school, focusing solely on practical experiments. While our new science laboratory was unfinished for most of this time, we had enough equipment and specimens to begin to familiarize our students with scientific experiments.


Finally, while our school has a great student to teacher ratio overall, we truly believe in the value of one-on-one or small group work and the impact it can have on the student. Since July, our Form Four class adopted a new schedule designed to increase the amount of one-on-one and small group time that the students have had with their teachers. In the mornings, the whole class has followed their normal, daily subject schedule. In the afternoons, however, we have been breaking the students into small groups and pairing them with subject teachers allowing each group to work closely and more frequently with the subject teachers of their weaker subjects. In doing so, we have allowed students who were behind in, for example, Geography, increased time with our Geography teacher and in groups of only five or six students per teacher.


While these steps were designed (and I truly believe have) to help all of our Form Four students, we decided to take a couple of additional steps to help the eight JBFC residential girls who are in this class and currently taking the exams.

 In June we decided to move all of our Form Four girls into one dorm with JBFC’s nurse, Paskazia, as matron. This way the girls could help each other study and receive additional tutoring in the sciences. After-school study sessions for the girls were often attended by Joseph and Mary’s Geography, Civics, and Swahili teacher, Mr. Kija, and Joseph and Mary’s Biology teacher, Mr. Tanzania.


While we won’t have the exam results for months to come, I am confident that the efforts that our students and teachers have put into preparing for this exam will be evident when the day comes. Having had the opportunity to watch these students grow over the past two years as JBFC’s Campus Director and now Chief Operations Officer-Tanzania, I couldn’t be more proud of the dedication they have shown. Looking at the eight JBFC girls, I, too, am confident. I am confident that their efforts will propel them to become the leaders of change that this world so desperately needs.

If you would like to support JBFC's Graduating Class, please consider making a gift to JBFC's Annual Fund.

Seth Diemond is JBFC's Chief Operating Officer in Tanzania.

JBFC's Star Students

JBFC's Joseph & Mary Schools is currently on it's mid-year break. Our students are on a calendar year, which starts in January, and they go to school year-round with a few short breaks. So this marks the end of the first semester and the first round of exams.

JBFC is so proud that our residential girls continue to rise to the top academically. We always like to take a little time to give a shout out to our star students. Their academic achievements are even more notable, because many of our girls didn't attend school regularly before coming to JBFC. Despite many being behind, our girls work really hard on their studies. So Congratulations to the following girls, who were recognized for being ranked in the top three students of their classes.

Shida, Grade 1

Getruda, Grade 2

Leah, Grade 3

Dotto, Grade 4

Laurencia, Grade 6 

Abby, Grade 7

JBFC girls swept Form 1 (8th Grade), all three of the top students live at JBFC.

Leticia, Form 1
* Leticia was also selected by the Dean of Students for an Overall Achievement Award that recognizes students who embody the character of a Joseph & Mary student.

Happy, Form 1

Jackie, Form 1

Maggie, Form 2

Congratulations to all of our Star Students!