Debora Tito Martine, a Social Work Student in Tanzania
My non-profit, InnerCHANGE WORKS, has been working with Dr. Theresa Kaijage to raise funds to support 25 social work students in Tanzania. Theresa created this unique graduate social work program at Hubert Kairuki Memorial University in Dar es Salaam to fill a critical shortage of social workers who can pull communities together, help individuals and families find solutions, help relieve suffering, promote changes in social policy, advocate for social justice, and foster human well-being.
Our GoFundMe campaign is seeking to raise funds for these amazing students:
https://www.gofundme.com/manage/social-work-students-in-tanzania
There are moments when we come into context with these astounding, inspiring and remarkable individuals who hold up a beacon and a reminder of all that is so essential, and Debora Titp Martine, is one… Here is the story of one of these amazing students….
Debora’s story
My name is Debora Tito Martine; I live in Kijitonyama, in the Dar es Salaam region of Tanzania. I am the fourth child in a family of four children, am a mother of one child, a student of Hubert Kairuki University and an entrepreneur engaged in tailoring, but also I serve God through singing in the kijitonyama evangelical choir in KKKT Kijitonyama church.
In my academic position I am a student of social work N.T.A level 5 at Hubert Kairuki University. I chose to study social work professional because when I finished my ordinary level education I was lucky enough to join at Kampala University College in Dar es Salaam campus, I took a marketing management but did not succeed in finishing school because I got pregnant while am in college and due to our African traditions a child getting pregnant while still a student does not seem to fit in at all.
My family failed to understand me completely and due to the economic situation also my family failed to continue my studies due to lack of fees. I was unable to complete my studies, something that led me to be very thoughtful, so it led me to sit and reflect on what more I love and I can do it when I am at home I found that I really like creative clothing so I decided to go and learn to sew clothes.
I also did not have the money to pay for a specialized tailoring college, so I had to ask a tailor who was also engaged in tailoring and he also needed money to start with. I gave him a little money but as I continued I could not find the money to pay for it. But as a result of my efforts, he continued to teach me until I knew how to sew.
I finally managed to give birth to a baby girl.
This is my child
I was a little stuck in sewing so that I could take good care of my baby even though I was facing various challenges because the baby couldn't get any needs from his father so my family was the one who helped me with everything at the time because I didn't have any way to earn money.
I thank God my child grew up well, but my biggest wish was to get a chance to go back to school so that I could continue my studies but my family could not afford to continue my studies because they did not have the money for fees. Then I decided to go and ask for help from my pastor in the church of KKKT Kijitonyama pastor Eliona Kimaro. When I briefly told him about my background, he was very sympathetic and very touched to help me, but due to the nature of the situation, many people needed help at the church, so he helped me by giving a fee to start my studies.
I managed to join Hubert Kairuki University in course of social work, at certificate level I decided to study this course because of the real situation I went through in my life, so I can solve the problems facing many African children living in dangerous situations. As a result it made me put more effort into my studies and do well in my studies as well. This hard study situation led my teachers to love me and to connect me so that I could get this scholarship because I still grew up with a lot of needs that were hindering my progress.
The challenges I face are the uncertainty of paying fees, due to my living conditions I am just studying but I am not entirely sure of getting the next fee for another term because I rely on help I do not have enough time to work so that I can pay my own fees. but also the needs of the child is still a challenge considering all the child care is myself I am the one to fight to make sure my daughter gets school fees nutrition food clothing health care and all child related needs.
My personal efforts are due to these challenges having enabled me to compete in my sewing profession and have become a better tailor who is trusted by my clients, a situation that has made my clients trust me and continue to support me in my work even making my clients grow day by day.
These are among of the work that I did.
However I am very thankful to God for this job because it made me open my own office and I became very trustworthy but I found it difficult to manage time to stay in the office and school so it also made me unable to run the office then I decided to close and find a room to rent so I can use it for stay but also as an office so that in the evening when I return from college I can also do my job well.
This is my new office and also is the place that I stay.
Based on this knowledge of social work my ambition is to help African people / children living in vulnerable situations by being able to provide them with psychological, economic, and social support. From my profession so that I can have a center that will be able to help many young Africans who failed to continue their studies due to various problems such as getting pregnant at a young age or studying as it happened to me can help them psychologically so that they can continue their studies after giving birth, to be able to help their children and help themselves as well.
I thank God for giving me good health and for fighting for me through all the difficult times I pass through and I am also very grateful to my parents for accepting this situation and getting used to it they have also started to understand and give me support by helping to raise my child throughout my college days.
I would like to thank my KKKT Kijitonyama church and especially the pastor Dr Eliona Kimaro for giving me spiritual support and financial support and for giving me words of comfort even to make sure I stand on my own without fear of anything. Thank you very much
My pastor Dr Eliona Kimaro by collaborating with the council secretary of KKKT kijitonyama church Dr Victoria Kisyombe for enabling me to get my first year tuition fee
I would also like to thank my fellow evangelical choir members Kijitonyama for giving me close cooperation and encouraging me to support me in my work. also very special I would also like to thank my sister and my teacher Ester Katende is my fellow choir member but also my college teacher has been very blessed in my life for giving me advice when I go through various challenges and he is the only reason to make me understand social work professional and love it too.
Lastly, my thanks go to Hubert Kairuki University and all the teachers of Hubert Kairuki for their cooperation with me.