Companion Synod Network

In 2005, WIS helped to establish a secondary school for young women at Igumbilo. Since then the school has grown until it now provides quality education for 400 students. One way that WIS offers ongoing support is through its commitment to provide $2000 a month for scholarships that assist orphans, girls from very poor families and from the Maasai tribe to receive an education.

Recently we learned that one of the buildings at the school was severely damaged by a windstorm. Fortunately, the students were on break when the storm struck so no one was injured.

Photo: Storm damage at Igumbilo School for Girls.

We have also heard from Gissamo Yelonimasi, the headmistress at the school, that they have started work on a worship building. They have begun collecting materials for the foundation and estimate that they will need about $7500 to complete this project.

Finally Headmistress Gissamo expressed the school’s desire for 40 computers that could be used to give students access to the internet for their studies. Currently the CSN is investigating what kind of devices might be most useful and how they might be sent.

Anyone with more questions about any of these projects or who might be interested in making a gift toward one of them can contact CSN chair Pr Arlyn Norris (acwlnorris@gmail.com) or assistant to the bishop Pr Mike Kroona (mike.kroona.rev@wisynod.org).

One of the most promising projects to emerge in the last few years has been the development of SACCOS. A SACCOS (Savings and Credit Cooperative Society) is a locally owned and operated microfinance cooperative.  Members pool resources and grant small loans that allow the members to better manage and run their farms and businesses. 

WIS has partnered several organizations in the ELCA and the ELCT to help establish several SACCOS in the Southern Diocese. Recipients of SACCOS short-term loans have been able to triple their family income (average family income= $325/year). This enables them to make significant improvements in their standard of living.

The first joint project established by WIS and the Southern Diocese was the well-drilling project. WIS has furnished equipment and provided funds for a team of well drillers. This crew moves from village to village in Tanzania, drilling wells that provide fresh, clean water for thousands of Tanzanians. Issues related to the pandemic curtailed their work during that last year, but the crew hopes to drill more wells during the dry season in 2022. We are happy to report that at this point, the wells project is adequately fundd for the foreseeable future.

Photo: Equipment used by WIS supported Well Drilling team.