Success Story - Magdalena

In 2014, my daughter Kate volunteered at GHTA for 5 months.  One of her students was Magdalena.  I had never met Magdalena until this visit to GHTA but we have been Facebook friends for awhile.  She came to the GHTA 10th Anniversary Party in January.

After graduating from GHTA in 2014, Magdalena decided to start a daycare center in the neighborhood she lives in, Majengo.   She told me that while at GHTA, Kate asked her, "What is your passion?" and she decided it was taking care of children.  Jenny and I made a visit to Magdalena's daycare one day after class.  It was a wonderful experience.

Jenny and I with the kids. Magdalena employs two certified teachers as well. There was a torrential rainstorm just as we arrived.  Magdalena makes the uniforms and they are adorable.


The idea of a "daycare center" is fairly new in Tanzania.  It is a step forward for women as without childcare it is difficult for a woman with children to be able to work.  Many of the children in her daycare come from single parent families.  

The children reciting their ABCs for us.

It took Magdalena several years to build up her daycare.  She was able to get donations from former GHTA volunteers as well as generous people from other international nonprofit organizations to get up and running.  

And their numbers.

 She has big plans to expand as she purchased a small plot of land across the road and will turn it into a playground as soon as she has some funding.  She also has dreams of starting an orphanage as well.  There are many "street" children in Moshi and a good, quality children's home would be welcomed.  

Magdalena and the 2 teachers with the children.

  The enrollment numbers vary during the year and there can be as many as 70 children during some months.  The children are there for full or half day.  The cost is regulated by the government and per month is around $10 for half day and $20 for full day.  It seems inexpensive but many jobs pay only a few dollars a day.

We were very impressed with the daycare as well as seeing Magdalena as a businesswoman.  She told us while she was at GHTA she was in Group 1, the students with the least amount of English knowledge.  During our visit she spoke to us in very understandable English the entire time.   She is definitely a GHTA success story!