Tupendane is Swahili for we do love and care. I arrived back in Canada from a 5 month stint in Tanzania 2 weeks ago and had the experience of my life. When I left for Tanzania I had no idea of what would happen and sometimes I look behind me in disbelief. I arrived in Tanzania in September 2011 with joy ready to live and attempt to get along with the corrupt management of what was then known as Children for Children's future. Little did I know that 1 month after my arrival so much would change. Throughout September there was continual conflict between the staff house and the office of the centre. The staff house was where we lived, the office was where the corrupt management lived. Soon after my arrival myself and my fellow volunteers realized that it would be impossible to work with this management so we decided to build our fortress. We lived in the staff house, we did what we had to do all in the name of the children. The corrupt management lived in the office and they did what they had to do, all in the name of the almighty dollar.

Now, I am sure you can understand this is no way to live, and it was beginning to be quite impossible until we met the lady who saved us. Faye Cran, also known as Mamma Kuku in Tanzania unbeknownst to us was also wishing for a better future for the organization, and for the street children of Arusha Tanzania. We met with her and we vented about the hardships at the centre and about the frustrations we had been through so far. We also told her of Sunrise of Life, the organization that was founded in Canada to help these children and other street children in the streets of Arusha. From here on the puzzle started fitting together. Faye informed us that she had been trying to take the corrupt management out for over 5 years and that we were the last piece she and others behind her needed to make it happen.

So how did Faye and her helpers finally succeed in getting the management out? The former employees of the centre sued the corrupt management for not paying their salaries. The employees won but the corrupted management could not pay the courts so instead Mawalla trust stepped in to pay for them. But there was one condition, if the management could not pay Mawalla back within a certain amount of time the control of the organization would fall under Mawalla Trust- a reputable Lawyer Firm in the City of Arusha. And this happened. But the Lawyers of Mawalla conveyed to us the problem, they were not experienced in running an organization for street children. This is where Sunrise of Life (with the help of Faye of course) came into the picture.

Unfortunately we had to leave the centre for the month of October while Mawalla worked very hard (free of charge) to remove the corrupt Management. This was no easy task, and there was allot of kicking and screaming (figuratively speaking- partly) but finally the management realized they had no choice, it was court ordered. So after a month we were back at the centre but in much better circumstances. Sunrise of Life (www.sunriseoflife.com) was now able to take care of the children fully and with no risk of loosing funds due to corruption. In addition there were guards on site and back up security on call, things were looking  up. The centre is now known as Sunrise of Life Tupendane or Sol Centre. 

The story continues and although there were bumps things kept getting better. Sunrise of Life registered in Tanzania as Sunrise of Life Tupendane- Support for Street Children. Under this name a new board was also registered and the land, buildings and most importantly the children were put in the responsibility of Sunrise of Life (in the trust of Mawalla Advocates). We hired a new Director who had just finished University. Neema was a street child in the City of Arusha but because of the support of some amazing people in England was able to go through school and University. She graduated in 2011 in the top of her class and is now giving back, and doing an amazing job.

This is a shortened, much less dramatic version of some of what happened in the past 5 months of my life. But do not be alarmed, there are many more stories to tell, and they will be told so stay tuned!!

-Tom