Every now and then, we pull a story from our archives to share with you once again. This story is especially dear to our hearts because Mawazo is still so much a part of our lives and our organization.
We first met Mawazo in 2007 when we volunteered in Tanzania. He looked only 14 years old, but was actually 20 at that time. One night sitting around the dining table by the light of a kerosene lantern, he told us his story. It is a story none of us will ever forget. . . .
My name is Mawazo Chaula. I am a Tanzanian boy aged 20 years old. Before the death of my parents, my family was composed of my father, Mr. Tabion Chaula, my mother, Mrs. Tufike Chaula, my two younger siblings Agizo (a boy), Vumilia (a girl), my cousin, Witness Mahenge, who is also an orphan of both parents, and me, which made a total of six members.
We used to live at Kikondo village which is founded in Makete district, where my parents engaged in agricultural activities. Historically, Makete is the district which has the highest number of H.I.V. positive people in Tanzania. It also has the highest number of orphans whose parents died of HIV/AIDS.
In October 1994, my mother died, having suffered for about 8 months since February 1994. So at the age of 7, having started primary education, I had to help my father in taking care of my 2 younger siblings and my cousin. My father started to suffer from TB in 1995, 1 year after the death of my Mother. So he was advised not to engage in any heavy duties, including agricultural activities.
Therefore, at the age of 8 years and a pupil of standard two in school, I started taking care of the whole family in the afternoon after classes. I had to go to the farm to look for food. Likewise, I had to sell my labour in return with little wages. This caused me to miss classes sometimes. However, I was doing well in my exams with the 2nd to 5th position in a class of 90 pupils. For that matter then, I was a person of potential in my family. I remember during the year 1999 I fell sick with malaria and my family suffered a lot as I had to be admitted to a hospital for 2 weeks. In the year 2000, I sat for my primary school final examination and, luckily, was one of few students who passed the exam in our school. Therefore I was selected to join Iwawa secondary school.
Iwawa secondary school is far away from my village, about 11.5 km from my village, Kikondo. So I had to hire a room and started a new life. In the evening after classes I went to work in the farms where I got some money to feed my family and me too. My younger siblings had already started primary school, so they needed school uniforms and books. All that was my burden. Tired in the evening, after heavy work in the farms in return for little money (less than US $1.00), I couldn’t study. I had to sleep. Sometimes I used to starve as I was running out of food. At school, despite the heavy work I used to do in the evening, I did well. My subject teachers liked me so much; however, I was frequently driven out of classes because I failed to pay school fees. My headmaster told me that he was tired of orphans as they were many at school. So he could not support me.
At the beginning of the year 2004 my father began to be seriously sick. So my grandmother, the only relatives we had, came to live with my family. On 9th July, 2004 my father died. I actually lost hope because my father, though too weak to work, used to advise and encourage me. By that year I was in form four [High School Senior] and I had to sit for my final National exams. Looking at the burden I had, sometimes I even thought to hang myself. “But if I die who will care for my family?” I asked myself so frequently.
In October 2004, I sat for my final National exams and after completing my exams, went back home to stay at my family. When the results were out, I had passed my exams with grade C but, I could not join form five soon because of economic problems. So I lost a year without studying, looking for sponsors.
In June 2005 I met Mr. Filli Raphael Mwaji, the founder of a non-governmental organization known as Marilynn Orphans Projects Foundation (MOP). He had come in Mbeya to support orphans and widows. Having seen the real circumstances I had, he took me to Dar es Salaam where there is a center of MOP. As MOP did not have enough funds, the Foundation helped me in looking for another donor. I finally got a donor from another NGO known as Mango Tree.
In April 2006, I started form five at Makongo high school under the sponsorship of Mango Tree and MOP. Mango Tree paid early school fees for me while Mr. Filli Raphael Mwaji gave me some pocket money. I use 40% of the money for myself and 60% of it I send to my family. I am now in form six, expecting to sit for my final National exams in February, 2008. It seems as a dream but it is true. I am happy because I will be able to join any University in the world. With Mr. Mwaji, I have met some wonderful visitors from abroad. They are so kind. They have brought us some wonderful presents from abroad like pens and pencils. They have supported MOP with some money and some computers. I think they have not mistaken MOP is the very organization to support for efficient use of their funds.
The biggest challenge that I am facing is lack of money to support my family. My little brother, Agizo Chaula, is now at secondary school. He needs money for school fees and for buying books and uniforms. He is sometimes driven out of school because of not settling the debts of school fees. Sometime he is driven out of the examination room for the same reason. This pains me so much. But what should I do? Problems are part and parcel of our life. Likewise my little sister and my cousin are in primary school. They also need money for books and uniforms. Not only needs but also for their daily needs like food and clothes. Myself, also, indeed to continue with my University studies. I wish to do this anywhere, being it in Tanzania or abroad. This needs money. I wish to have donors who have been blessed by God, who will support me in ending the two problems that are facing me.
I wish to learn computer science/information technology at a University. I wish to have economically able people who could support me to transform the biggest dream of mine into reality. I wish to help the orphans. Being an orphan and having met a number of problems, if I succeed in my life, I will engage in helping the orphans in matters pertaining to education, basic needs and HIV/AIDS.
— Mawazo Chaula, 2008
After graduating from the University of Dar Es Salaam, Mawazo came to work for Orphans Africa as the Projects Manager, a position he has now held for thirteen years. He is happily married and has financial stability. OA provided the means whereby his brother, sister, and young cousin could finish their schooling, including higher education. Mawazo continues to be integral to OA’s success. We are blessed to have him in our lives.
Photos, top to bottom: Mawazo’s home today; OA Co-Founders with Mawazo (L to R): Liza DeGuzman, Mawazo Chaula, Carl Gann, Mr. Mwakasangula, Unknown, Michele Torrey; Mawazo teaching a lesson at the Mwaji Secondary School.
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