The ‘Help Build Tuleeni a Home’ initiative was born in 2008 from a transformative experience. Jackie Weiss, Eric Nelson, and Amy Viola, inspired by their volunteer work at Tuleeni Orphanage in Rau Village, Northern Tanzania, envisioned a brighter future for its children. Collaborating with Flaria Faraji, the orphanage’s founder, they embarked on a mission to provide a new, sustainable home for the 84 children under its care, with 29 more relying on its limited resources.

The orphanage, in its current state, struggles with overcrowding and inadequate facilities. Children sleep two to three to a bed with torn mosquito nets, amidst a modest rented home surrounding a dirt yard. Basic amenities like open ground latrines and a small outdoor kitchen pose daily challenges, exacerbated by frequent rains that turn the yard to mud. To manage, Mama Faraji has accommodated older children in her nearby home, but financial strains have affected school fee payments, limiting the children’s opportunities.

Since its inception, the initiative has achieved significant milestones. Generous contributions enabled the purchase of land and initiated construction, from excavation and property development to the erection of walls for the new orphanage building. The ongoing support from numerous individuals has been crucial, bringing the project closer to completion and fostering hope for a better future for Tuleeni’s children.