From the moment she entered the world, life tested Nyangoma in ways no child should endure. Her father passed away before she was born, leaving her mother to raise newborn twins alone. “I never knew my father’s love,” she says softly. “Only the struggles of my mother trying to keep us alive.”
Her mother worked endlessly, selling tomatoes, onions, and vegetables just to put food on the table. The family lived in a tiny mud house with no electricity and no proper floor. “Our house was so small and dark,” she remembers. “But it was all we had.” When floods swept through their village and destroyed their home, everything collapsed. They were forced to move into a rented room, and survival became even harder.
“That was the most painful time,” she recalls. “My mother had to work extra jobs to pay rent, and I helped her sell tomatoes in the market. Sometimes we came home late at night, and I was afraid of being attacked. Many days we slept hungry.”
Her turning point came unexpectedly. One afternoon, while helping her mother at the market, she overheard people discussing an organisation in Moshi that supported vulnerable students. “That day was the beginning of my hope,” she says. After an interview, she received a call inviting her to join the Pre–Form 1 programme — a moment she describes as life-changing.
At Kijana Kwanza, Nyangoma experienced safety and stability for the first time. “I had a bed, I had meals, and I had people who loved me like their own child,” she explains. She received clothing, food, and guardians who cared for her like parents. She also learned practical skills, including hair braiding. “Now I can braid hair in different styles and earn money. That skill has helped me so much.”
But the greatest transformation happened inside her. “I used to be shy and afraid to speak,” she admits. “But now I can stand in front of people and share my ideas.” Through leadership training, communication practice, and teamwork, she grew into a confident young woman. She served as a prefect for more than a year — a role that strengthened her relationships with peers and taught her responsibility. “Kijana Kwanza taught me to believe in myself,” she says without hesitation. “They showed me that I am capable, valuable, and strong.”
Her hard work paid off. Nyangoma performed well and completed her secondary education successfully. She is now preparing to join college to study accounting — a dream she speaks of with determination. “I want to support my family and help my community. Without Kijana Kwanza, I would never have reached this point.”
Reflecting on her journey, she speaks with honesty and gratitude. “Without Kijana Kwanza, I might have been married off at a young age. Maybe I would still be selling tomatoes in the market, struggling every day. But now I have hope, I have skills, and I have a future. Kijana Kwanza is my saviour. It is the light that rescued me from darkness. I am thankful every day for the sponsors who made this possible.”
