THE Fox Point Lutheran Church of Santa Monica in the United States has pledged to continue supporting young people from disadvantaged families in Tanzania to pursue education.

The Fox Point Lutheran Church has partnered with its Tanzanian counterpart, the Usa-River Parish of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Meru District, to support local youth at primary, secondary, and college levels by providing necessary educational resources.

Senior Pastor Bill Knapp of the Fox Point Lutheran Church, who recently visited Arusha, revealed that the church initially focused on assisting their Tanzanian counterparts with the construction, refurbishment, and repair of church buildings and other infrastructure.

“However, we recently recognized the importance of supporting the people of Tanzania, especially the youth with a passion for education and self-development through vocational training, by covering school fees and other educational needs,” Pastor Knapp said.

The Usa-River Lutheran Church identifies children and young people in need of assistance, and their partners in the United States step in to provide the required support.

Dr Justin Mungure, a minister at the Usa-River Lutheran Parish, stated that their collaboration with Fox Point Lutheran has enabled many pupils and students to afford education. He explained that the beneficiaries range from primary school pupils to secondary and advanced-level students, as well as college scholars and youth pursuing vocational training.

The initiative began in 2012 when the Usa-River Church started identifying needy children deserving of support. Additionally, some parents who sought help through local district councils have also benefited from the programme.

The assistance extends to college and university students who do not qualify for government loans.

Pastor Knapp, during his recent visit to assess the programme's progress, expressed his satisfaction and pledged to continue raising funds to assist more young people in Tanzania.

The programme has yielded success stories, including a beneficiary now employed as a teacher and Dr Stella Justine, a dentist at Selian Hospital in Ngaramtoni.

The partnership between the two churches began in 2008. According to Pastor Mungure, the programme has so far supported 220 students, including 30 university graduates, 20 vocational trainees, and many secondary school students from schools such as Lekitatu, Uraki, Muungano, Elanga Seminary, Makumira, and Kikatiti.

Hilda Mndeme, a widowed mother whose child benefitted from the programme, expressed her gratitude to the American church. She shared that after losing her husband, she struggled to provide for and educate her two children and turned to the church for help.