About the Region:

The Musoma-Mara Region of Tanzania is located in the Northeastern part of Tanzania near Lake Victoria and the Serengeti Plains. This area is infested with malaria which kills many children daily. The people, especially children, suffer from malnutrition due to droughts and lack of clean water. Medical care is a big problem with a lack of drugs and nearby hospitals. People walk for miles with sick babies and children to reach Baraki Health Center for blood transfusions for malaria. A registered nurse Sister Regina Mtowa and a physician's assistant, Sister Subira with a staff of 14 aids serve a population of 250,000 people. The center is very poor with limited supplies of medications and food and no medical doctors.

Education is lacking and only very few can afford school fees. The schools lack the basic needs such as pencils, paper and books. Father Pasley Marwa organizes sponsorships for the education of primary and secondary students through the Friends of Musoma Society. It costs $50/year for a primary and $350/year for a secondary student. Father Paskas Wagana is managing the educational needs of Tabu and Juliana Sospeter (AIDS orphans) and Sister Rita Matiku is the caretaker of the education of Josephine Ismaily. These children are living in extreme poverty.

Father Biseko, a "Mother Teresa" of the region cares for the unwanted and those suffering with AIDS, leprosy, the mentally handicapped and the elderly in his House of Mercy.

Sister Rosalie is helping young women by empowering them in the Tupendane Cottage Industry making cards, sweaters, aprons, and other salable items. Many of these young women are trying to support their large families due to the death of their parents to AIDS.

Sisters Mary Reuse and Rosalie help 400 children who are AIDS orphans and run a Youth Alive Group, a group where young adults educate people about AIDS