Liwalo Updates

One of our biggest concerns at the Liwalo na Liwe Foundation is how to best compel and engage everyday people to contribute with our efforts of helping street children in Iringa, Tanzania. We believe anyone can help in some way. At times this belief is rewarded by the actions of extraordinary people, as happened recently at a screening at Evanston High Township School.

I showed the high school students a shortened 16 minute version of our documentary Watoto wa Mitaani, and there was a lively discussion about street children and how their experiences compared and contrasted with those of the students. The students were engaged and understood how advantaged they were to attend a school in the United States of America. They knew that they could help by just donating whatever they had in their pockets. One student remarked, “Wow, I can help with this $1.” He was referring to the segment of the film when the street children Aziz and Aliziwan are discussing the cost of notebooks, which prevent them from attending school even though they cost only a little over $1. The student continued, “That’s amazing. I want to help.”

As the students left the room, they emptied their pockets into empty plastic cups which were not put out for donations, but had been used by the speakers for drinking water. I had no intention to collect donations, and my belief in the abilities of anyone to make an impact felt justified because of the actions of these students. Then, I was pulled aside by one of the social workers at the school, who, trying unsuccessfully to hold back the tears in her eyes, revealed, “the tall boy who was the first to give $3 was himself homeless and in and out of the foster care system.” She continued that she had no idea that he had any money nor where he might have gotten it. It could have easily been his last.

Feeling sympathy for street children is fairly easy. Doing something about it is quite another matter. This is, perhaps, why street children and the myriad problems that plague humanity are perpetual. Our inability to act, to be the impetus of change, which is quite human, is the result of either feeling powerless or indifferent. But just as much, the belief that we can change that which seems definite is what makes us uniquely human.

We are not asking for a lifelong commitment to our organization nor for you to assume this as your passion. What we ask is how you can help this problem by communicating with the people you know, using the talents you possess or the donating any extra money you may have. All of these are important in combatting the problem. We are currently sending $80 a month to Iringa, which goes to feeding the boys, hopefully sustaining them until we can begin construction on the Uhuru na Jukumu Boarding School. These are the outreach efforts of our organization, and how we feel we can best help the problem of street children.

I consider the boy who gave his $3, who gave much of himself, and it challenges me to give more of myself in fighting the problem. I hope his actions inspire you on a similar level, and I hope you can contribute in some way, whether  by raising awareness about the problem of street children or by supporting our organization.

Thank you for your interest,
Michael Stewart
Founder