World Kiswahili Day

Did you know that Kiswahili (also known as Swahili) is the only African language within the Directorate of the Global Communications at the United Nations?

Kiswahili is spoken along much of the eastern coast of Africa and is the official language of Tanzania. It is spoken by over 200 million people and is the main language of the East African Union. Many people outside of Tanzania and Kenya speak Kiswahili and it is important for trade and connection between African countries, as well as promoting cultural diversity.

When our children come to school in Tanzania, some of them speak dialects of Kiswahili, or other languages and so learning Kiswahili at school is an important part of their education, opening up far more opportunities for them when they finish school.

One of our favourite phrases in Kiswahili is “Kidogo kidogo hujaza kibaba”, which translates to “little by little, we will fill the cup”.

There is a real sense of togetherness in our work with the children and Sisters.

The equal access to education that every child receives and their enthusiastic participation means that they have power over their own future. The learning they receive gives them the tools they need to fully participate in society.

Thank you for being a part of this journey, every gift, no matter what size, makes a lasting impact on our children’s lives and the lives of their families and communities.

Together, little by little, we can work towards ending poverty.