Division. Discord. Distrust. It’s not supposed to be this way. It doesn’t have to be this way.
Celebrating graduation with Caren, my sponsored child, and her family.
By: Dave Burgess
President, UboraTZ
Ubora, the nonprofit organization I now lead, serves a community of people in the Siha District of Tanzania. Our work over the past 20 years has been a true partnership, where those from the US and Tanzania have grown and learned together.
The differences between our two cultures are vastly different in some ways, yet strangely similar in others. I’ve learned so much from my brothers and sisters in Tanzania and look forward to sharing more with you.
Caren, when we first started to get to know her, through child sponsorship.
Caren’s Story
I was in Tanzania in September for a number of reasons, including the graduation of primary school students from 7th grade at our Siha Leadership School. The celebration was extra special for me because my family’s sponsored child, Caren, was in this graduating class. We’ve sponsored Caren since she was in the first grade.
Over the years, we’ve corresponded regularly through letters and video chats. My family and I traveled to Tanzania several times to serve in the village where Caren lives and to visit her and her family.
There have been exchanges of small gifts. But the most meaningful exchanges were of love, hope, and genuine human connection. Our families became intertwined, and each visit ended with tears.
Graduation is a significant landmark in her culture. During the festivities, her father, normally a stoic man of few words, took me aside to express his gratitude - with both of us nearly in tears of happiness. Later, the rest of the family was in celebration mode! Caren’s 7th grade graduation, the first in the family, was a big deal. In the midst of the joy, I really felt like I was a part of Caren’s extended family.
This year’s graduating class at Siha Leadership School…featuring the young women of the class and Pastor Wariaeli. Photo credit: Lane Photography/Gary Leazer.
Caren’s story, and the story of our combined families, is just getting started. We are looking forward to this wonderful connection between two families as she moves into secondary school, college, and beyond.
Stepping Toward Unity
There is a lot of talk these days about the inherent division, discord, and distrust in society. But, there are many who know deep within their hearts that this is wrong. We’ve seen it and felt it in countless stories like the one between Caren’s family and my family. There are so many good organizations out there spreading this truth: that people of different cultures, ethnicities, and backgrounds can flourish together--counter to what we hear in the press and on social media.
It has been increasingly difficult for Ubora to continue its work due to the negative impact of the virus on financial gifts, volunteerism, and our ability to travel.
Ubora and the many other churches, missions, and nonprofits who do the work of building connections need your support now more than ever. I urge you to help amplify these examples that show the world a different way than some of the things we hear today. Please consider supporting Ubora or any of the other great organizations that keep humanity’s light shining brightly.
There are always tears when we have to say goodbye!