Support Visit to Bahi, Dodoma – Community Outreach Report

Prepared by: Valerie Nyanje
Date of Visit: 7th to 9th of September 2024

Location: Bahi District, Dodoma Region

Introduction

This report summarizes a recent outreach visit I made to a school in Bahi, Dodoma, following a heartfelt request from one of my social media followers. The purpose of this visit was to understand the challenges faced by the students—especially girls—and to offer support through basic donations and motivational engagement.

Background

The initiative began when I received a phone call from a follower on social media. The caller, a dedicated teacher from a school in Bahi, Dodoma, reached out after watching my community service videos. He explained that the students at his school, particularly female students, were facing serious challenges that were affecting their education. Among the issues he highlighted were:

Menstrual Health Management: Many girls were struggling to manage their menstrual hygiene due to lack of sanitary pads. As a result, they often missed school during their periods, leading to learning gaps and reduced participation in class.
Infrastructure Issues: The school was also facing a shortage of desks, which forced many students to sit on dusty floors during lessons, negatively affecting their comfort and concentration.

He asked if I could visit and see if there was any way I could help. I was honest with him—I am not wealthy, but I have a passion for helping those in need. I promised to do my best to mobilize support from friends and colleagues to contribute to the cause.

Mobilization and Travel

After gathering a few essential supplies and involving some supportive friends, I planned a trip to Bahi. With gratitude to God, I arrived safely in Dodoma and was warmly welcomed by the teacher who had initially reached out to me. We then proceeded together to the school.

School Visit and Activities

Upon arriving at the school, the reception was very warm and heartfelt. The students greeted me with smiles and energy, and we began the day with interactive games to help them relax and connect.

Following that, I held a motivational seminar where I spoke to the students about the power of education and how they can rise above any challenges or limitations, regardless of their background. The message focused on building self-confidence and resilience.

After the seminar, I distributed the items I had brought with me, which included:

Sanitary pads for female students
Clothing items for students in need

During my interaction with several students, I came to understand more deeply the difficult personal circumstances many of them live in. Some of the stories were deeply moving and revealed the extent of hardship in the community.

Sharing Food and Other Essentials

It was a great joy for us to join Bahi Primary School in Dodoma and share with the students what we were blessed with, including food, sanitary pads, and other essentials.

Community Engagement and Follow-Up

Recognizing the urgent need to extend support beyond the school environment, I decided to spend the night in the area. This allowed me to plan home visits the next day, where I could meet some of the students’ families and assess their living conditions. The goal was to determine how best to assist those families with immediate or long-term support, depending on their specific needs.

A Visit to Baltolomayo – A Young Boy who relies on his Grandmother

After hearing stories from a teacher at Bahi Primary School, we were deeply touched by one student in particular — a young boy named Baltolomayo. His teacher explained the challenges he was facing at home and how they were affecting his education. Later, I received more information about the difficult situations some students were living in. These stories stayed on my mind and made it hard to sleep, so I decided to return the next day to visit some of their families in person.

When we arrived, we met a family going through a very hard time. Baltolomayo’s father abandoned them after his mother became seriously ill. Because of this, the boy had to return to live with his grandmother, who is now his only reliable support.

His mother is suffering from kidney disease, and her condition has caused her stomach to swell a lot. She is very weak and unable to care for her children. Baltolomayo’s grandfather is deaf and cannot hear at all, so he cannot help either. His grandmother, though elderly, does her best by planting vegetables just to ensure the family gets at least one meal per day.

Despite all these challenges, Baltolomayo is a bright student with big dreams. He wants to become a doctor so he can help others and support his family in the future. But the situation at home often causes him to feel hopeless. There are times when he completely lacks school supplies like uniforms, notebooks, and other basics, making it hard to keep up in school.

During our visit, we had not expected the situation to be so difficult. We had very little to give at the time, but I managed to contact some friends who helped me contribute a small amount of money. This helped the family buy some essential needs and school supplies for Baltolomayo. The family was truly grateful and gave us many blessings, as you can see in the video.

I made a promise to Baltolomayo that I will return to visit his family again this year — to check on his mother’s condition and to follow up on his progress. Not long ago, I received another call from his teacher, sharing good news — Baltolomayo has done well in his studies and has successfully completed primary school.

As he prepares to move forward, I feel responsible to continue supporting him so that he can return to school and not lack the supplies that might stand in the way of his dream of becoming a doctor.

If you are touched by Baltolomayo’s story and would like to support him in any way, whether small or big, your help will truly make a difference.

(Click here to support Baltolomayo)

Together, let’s help this young boy move forward with hope — and give him the chance to change not only his life, but the lives of those around him.

A Visit to Magdalena’s Family (Carrying a Heavy Responsibility at a Young Age)

Another family we visited was that of Magdalena, a student at Bahi Primary School. She lives with her father and five siblings. Their mother left the family in 2020, and since then, they haven’t heard from her or known her whereabouts.

Since then, the father has been raising all the children on his own. Because the other children are still young, he was forced to leave his job — which required him to travel far — so that he could stay at home and care for them. As a result, the family’s living conditions have become even more difficult.

Magdalena, though still a young student herself, has had to step into her mother’s role, taking care of her four younger siblings. This heavy responsibility has made it hard for her to attend school regularly.

This visit made me feel truly sad. But just like with Baltolomayo’s family, I reached out to a few of my well-wishers, and they donated a small amount to help. I gave the money to Magdalena’s father — as you can see in the video — so he could use it as business capital. Our hope is that this support will help him start a small business close to home, allowing him to care for his children and closely follow up on their education and progress.

Images of other Visited Student’s Families

Remarks and Recommendations

This visit was not only eye-opening but also deeply rewarding. It reaffirmed the importance of community-driven support and highlighted the impact even small acts of kindness can have. Based on what I observed, I recommend the following steps moving forward:

Menstrual Health Program: Establish a regular supply or sponsorship of sanitary pads for female students.
Infrastructure Support: Mobilize donations or partnerships to provide desks and learning materials.
Family Support Visits: Plan and organize return visits for deeper engagement with affected families.
Local Partnerships: Work with local leaders and NGOs to develop sustainable support systems for the school.

Also Read about A Visit to Baltolomayo – one of the students at Bahi Primary School who relies on his Grandmother

Help Us Reach More

While I may not have all the resources, I believe strongly in the power of unity and action. With continued support and goodwill from others, we can create lasting change in communities like Bahi. I look forward to building on this experience and returning in the near future.

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In Real Life