Kahunda Campus Progress

In order to fulfill JBFC's mission to alleviate extreme rural poverty in East Africa, JBFC's leaders believe it must expand. The goal is to provide more girls with a safe home, more students with a quality education, and more communities with access to healthcare and an economic engine to escape poverty. In order to accomplish this, JBFC realized it needs to build more campuses like our flagship site in Kitongo.

During the spring of 2016, JBFC began inquiring about potential sites in need of JBFC's services. The Mwanza Regional government suggested the district of Buchosa as a potential area for JBFC expansion. This is one of Mwanza region's newest districts, and lacks resources, has very limited services, and has limited NGOs operating in the area. Our second campus in the village of Kahunda, in Buchosa, also lies on the shores of Lake Victoria and is approximately 50 miles from our Kitongo campus, though it is accessed by ferry from Mwanza (it is approximately 2.5-3 hours by car).

After deciding on this location, one of the first things JBFC did was find a Campus Director for this second site. Mr. Seraphine Lyimo, whose Staff Spotlight appeared on last week's blog, was the perfect candidate. Mr. Lyimo, along with Kahunda Campus Manager, Marcus (who moved over from our Kitongo campus), have been busy developing this second campus and preparing it for its groundbreaking.

Mr. Lyimo has developed a positive and cooperative working relationship with both the village and district governments in Kahunda. He has begun the process of obtaining all the necessary building and operating permits that will allow us to begin building later this year.

Marcus, with the help of other recently hired farm staff, has planted 1,660 various trees including: citrus, avocado, banana, plantain, and pomelo, just to name a few! They have also installed a water tank and pump for irrigating these trees. The garden is now operational in one of the alleys and is already producing lots of cabbage and lettuce.

We now have 11 full-time workers in the security and farm departments on this second site.

By the end of the year, we expect to begin construction on a chicken coop and a run for laying chickens and local meat chickens. We also intend to plant an additional 1,000 trees in the remaining tree rows. In regard to construction of buildings, we plan to receive building permits for our first two dormitories, a family bungalow, and a central canteen and will hopefully be able to accept our first girls very soon.

Stay tuned for more updates on this growing campus and thank you to everyone who has made this incredible progress possible!

Staff Spotlight: Mr. Lyimo

Editor's Note: This Staff Spotlight highlights Mr. Seraphine Lyimo, our Campus Director: Kahunda (our second campus). Mr. Lyimo has been working with JBFC since early 2017, where he spent the first few months of his time observing our first campus in Kitongo before moving over to our second campus. Mr. Lyimo comes to JBFC with a wealth of knowledge and experience, having received his Masters degree in Education, Administration, Planning and Policies, and holding a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. He spent 19 years as a classroom teacher, leader, and even Acting Headmaster at different primary and secondary schools.

Why did you become a teacher?

"I love teaching and was greatly inspired by my great Irish English teacher at secondary. I had the opportunity to develop my passion to work with teenagers as the Chairman of Debate club and Academic prefect of Form 3, and hence realized my potential to develop skills and offer my contribution in that career."

What is your favorite aspect about teaching/education?

"I love to have fun with children and young women and men! I get personal satisfaction as we celebrate students' achievements both in and outside the classroom."

What is the importance of education for youth, especially in JBFC's community?

"I join scholars in regarding education as the route to economic prosperity, the key to scientific and technological advancement, the means to combat unemployment, the foundation of social equity, and the spread of political socialization and cultural vitality. The graduates of JBFC will be transformed into productive members of the community through offering services in different formal and informal sectors. These successful and responsible young adults will contribute to the national income as tax payers and good citizens of the world, committed to breaking the cycles of poverty."

What role do you see girls playing as Tanzania develops?

"With an increased equal opportunity for the girls to access quality education, Tanzania is going to achieve the millennium goals as a semi-industrialized country. There is a shift of women from the primitive cultural outlooks which regarded them inferior to men as housewives, to women taking over sensitive positions and contributing to national development."

What are some of your favorite aspects of JBFC?

"It is a true example of an organic organization caring and valuing people (girls, students, staff, and volunteers) as the top priority. I like the holistic model it takes to improve lives in Northern Tanzania."

How do you like Kahunda?

"I now regard it as my second home! I feel privileged to have been a part of this committed team to bring about the desired impact to the community. We feel ownership - it is ours!"

What is your biggest accomplishment since joining JBFC?

"Establishing a healthy relationship among the staff, with the community, and with the government. We are working together for a shared vision."

What is your best memory since joining JBFC?

"My first official visit to the second campus on March 14th of this year. Though a bit nervous (it looked like a savanna grassland with tall grass and evergreen forests around the lake shore), I was excited to get an opportunity to use my knowledge and skills to see it growing in a complex organization over years."

And lastly, how does your personal mission in life align with JBFC's mission?

"I believe that the primary to secondary school years are very important in child development. Educators at JBFC have vital roles to identify, encourage, and develop an individual's skills and talents to achieve their life ambitions through the learning process; inside and outside the classroom. 'As a life long learner, I help others learn.'"

Experience JBFC 2017

This summer, the Kitongo campus welcomed its first ever Experience JBFC group. Experience JBFC was led by JBFC's Founder and CEO, Chris Gates. Having Chris on the trip provided a unique learning experience for the group. It was most of the volunteers' first time on campus, and they were eager to learn about Tanzanian customs, the history of JBFC, and the ins and outs of running a nonprofit.

The group had a bit of a hectic start that ended up landing them on campus half a day late, but the hiccup in their itinerary didn't faze anyone in the group. Laurel, one of the returning volunteers, says "I'm forever in awe of the love and kindness the people at JBFC have to give. It's become a second home to me in such a short amount of time. Every time I leave, I start counting down the days until I'm back. It's such a special place." The girls were eager to greet the group, even though they were at school when they arrived. The group was welcomed by a line of students in front of the dining hall, waving and cheering.

Chris proved his ability to fill many roles with grace and charisma during Experience JBFC's stay on campus. He turned each activity into a learning experience, whether it was volunteer rotations, village walk, or just a simple campfire outside the guest house. Experience participant Ellie, commented on her new insight, saying "JBFC has opened my eyes to a new part of the world in the best way."

Like nearly every other volunteer who visits JBFC's campus, the Experience JBFC group left fulfilled and changed in a way that many of them didn't expect. After Experience participant Elle returned home, she reflected on her favorite parts of the trip and stated that it was simple "seeing how excited the kids would be if we just smiled at them, and how joyful they are about everything." Fellow volunteer, Abi, agreed, "It was the trip of a lifetime that completely changed my life and left me with many new best friends." Having Chris and the Experience JBFC group on campus was such a fun way to end the summer and we can't wait to see future Experience JBFC groups fall in love with JBFC as well!

If you are interested in joining an Experience JBFC trip next year, we have three opportunities available for you! These trips are for individuals, families, and students, and will be guided by a JBFC staff member.

2018 Trip Dates: June 20-July 1, July 18-July 29, December (TBD).

For more information, please email: info@jbfc-online.org

**Students interested in participating in an Experience JBFC trip will need to fill out an application. Please click here. Space is very limited.

Guest Blogger, Abi, served as our 2017 Assistant Volunteer Coordinator.

JBFC 2017 Summer Intern: Kristen

For my final task as JBFC’s Social Media Intern, I could have written a blog describing the pictures captured, interviews conducted, crafts created, and videos shot. But, rather than reciting what I did this summer, I think a few words in particular highlight the people who impacted my life. Anyone could have taken pictures this summer, but not everyone could have made such a lasting impression on me. This is how I would express my thankfulness to the Bibi Mimi’s residential girls, Joseph and Mary students, Kitongo villagers, and JBFC staff:

Your Determination: Use it to keep making progress in school, chores, sports, hobbies, and jobs.

Your Confidence: Never stop speaking a second (third or fourth) language, dancing like nobody is watching, or sharing new ideas.

Your Forgiveness: Your ability to forgive others for not speaking your language, forgetting your name, or lacking knowledge about the Tanzanian culture is a breath of fresh air for others in an unfamiliar environment.

Your Curiosity: Never lose your child-like inquisitiveness that motivates you to learn, experience, and try new and different things.

Your Bravery: Listen to that little voice in your head that allows you to overcome the natural fear and anxiety when faced with something new or unknown.

Your Joy, Laughter, and Love: Boldly and frequently share it with everyone.

After four trips to JBFC, I still find it challenging to express what the genuine lifestyle, joyful people, playful afternoons, and meaningful mission mean to me. But, it is my hope that these words provided a broad glimpse into how my two months as the JBFC Social Media Intern impacted my life. These are the themes that I will hold with me and will continue to reflect on as I return to the US.

I am eternally grateful to the JBFC staff for entrusting me to capture this summer’s activities and memories. Even though it’s ironic, since I was the Social Media Intern, I am confident the relationships formed and memories made this summer will outlast any social media post. Here’s to another year of counting down the days until I’m back in my favorite place. Nakupenda sana, JBFC! (I love you very much, JBFC!)

Thank you, Kristen, for all of your hard work this summer!

JBFC 2017 Summer Intern: Abi

For the past two months, I have had the pleasure of serving as JBFC's Volunteer Intern. I had the unique opportunity to stay on JBFC’s Kitongo Campus for a full eight weeks. The most notable element of being an intern at JBFC is that I was not only gaining work experience, but I was also immersed in a different culture and given the opportunity to strengthen my relationships with the residential girls, staff, and students. You can’t say the same about many other internship opportunities!

As the Volunteer Intern, my day to day responsibilities revolved mostly around the guests' schedules. JBFC hosted three school groups this summer and also the first ever Experience JBFC trip, so the staff was kept very busy. Many of the guests that come to campus do not realize how much behind the scenes planning and communication happens before, during, and after their trip to ensure that each and every guest has the most rewarding visit possible. It was so fun getting to witness first-hand all of the hard work the staff does on a daily basis and also help in many ways. One of the great things about being the Volunteer Intern is that I got to interact more closely with some of the guests. I worked closely with the guests during volunteer rotations, village walks, community service projects, and various other activities. It was so fun watching each guest that visited JBFC’s campus fall in love with this organization the same way that I have.

This was my second summer in a row visiting JBFC’s campus, and I am so beyond thankful that I was given the opportunity to return. These girls have become some of my dearest friends. I quickly learned that language and age barriers mean nothing when it comes to true friendship. I was only on campus for about two weeks last year, so being in Kitongo for longer this summer gave me the chance to really get to know each and every girl on a personal level. I became close with the matrons, the local managers, the teachers, and even a group of children from the local village. Saying goodbye to my JBFC family was absolutely one of the hardest things I have ever done.

I was able to experience so many once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. For instance, visiting the market in Mwanza, hiking to the highest point in Kitongo, seeing a Sukuma dancer performance, and going to an African Inland Church service. Even the little things, like seeing the Southern Cross every night, were just remarkable. I wouldn’t trade the experiences and friendships I have made for anything else in the world. Nakupenda Tanzania! (I love you, Tanzania!)

Thank you, Abi, for all of your hard work this summer!