Donor experiences
In March 2025, we were delighted that our supporters Amanda, Brenda, and Geoffrey were able to join us and travel to visit the Sisters’ Tanzanian programmes for the inauguration of the new dormitory building in Dodoma Boystown. Our first stop was Dar es Salaam, where they visited the Training Centre for out of school young women in Kiluvya and where they were able to meet young women in the training programmes and see what they are learning.
The following day, the group travelled to Dodoma, the new capital of the country, where they went to visit the homes of some of the boys from Dodoma Boystown. This was an extremely moving experience for us all and more details about this day follow below. On Tuesday 25th March, they attended the inauguration ceremony for the two new buildings at the Boystown and joined other supporters and dignitaries from around the world celebrating the progress at this school.
Visiting communities and schools in Tanzania
Wednesday and Thursday provided time for more home visits, as well as seeing the day-to-day life in Dodoma Boystown, and an opportunity for Geoffrey to run a cricket clinic with the boys. This was a real hit and very much enjoyed by all who took part.
In Dodoma, the group visited the homes of several of the boys from Dodoma Boystown, including this moving visit to Letnas’ family.
Girlstown and the Kiluvya Training Centre and Nursery
The final day of this very rewarding trip was spent in Dar es Salaam, visiting Kisarawe Girlstown and Kiluvya Training Centre. Here the Sisters took the group on a tour of the school and Amanda, Geoffrey, and Brenda were able to speak to the girls, see them in their classes, sample their baking from the vocational training classes, and get a real sense of how their regular modest gifts to our charity are providing such a vital, transformative, education for the children. Geoffrey ran a second cricket clinic for the girls, which was thoroughly enjoyed.
The Stella Maria Bakery Project
One of the new projects that the Sisters and boys are running in Dodoma Boystown is a community support project providing bread to their local community every week.
Every Thursday and Saturday, the boys prepare bread in Stella Maria Bakery at Dodoma Boystown, where they practice their baking skills and by making 1,000 loaves of bread to give to children in the local primary school who have been identified by the school as being most in need of support.
In the afternoon, the Sisters and boys visit the local community where elderly and disabled people are given bread. Amanda, Brenda, and Geoffrey were able to see this project in person and visit the home of Mika, the boy whose story started it all. 28th March 2025, marked the one year anniversary of the bread project, with over 200,000 loaves of bread being distributed.
What our supporters have to say about the experience
Geoffrey
“I felt a great sense of community – as they all seem to take responsibility for meal preparation, cleaning and tidiness. Earlier our visits to a few of the boys homes have provided an insight into the circumstances from which they have come. The programme being delivered here with such love compassion and skill, is of enormous worth. Looking forward to the inauguration tomorrow!”
Amanda
“My experience of the work of the Sisters of Mary – funded through the work of World Villages for Children – has been one of the most humbling and rewarding experiences I have undertaken. I feel so privileged to have been able to gain a greater understanding of their truly remarkable work. The programme being delivered in Tanzania with such love, compassion, kindness and skill is truly of great significance.”
