Class of 2027
ELIA is a 16-year-old student who lives just a 30-minute walk from the Next Life Foundation campus. His connection to the program is personal—his brother, Samuel, is a former carpentry student who now works as a handyman at a lodge in Zanzibar. Elia hopes to join his brother in Zanzibar one day. Elia lives with his grandmother and his younger brother. He is excited to learn carpentry, with a special interest in making chairs and beds. One quality that sets Elia apart is his ability to work well with others, a strength that benefits both his learning and his fellow students. At home, Elia helps care for cows and goats, his favorite animals. His goat also provides milk for the household, giving him daily experience with responsibility and routine. In his free time, Elia enjoys reading a wide variety of subjects.
EDIGA is a 16-year-old student and a relative of former Next Life student Hans, through whom he first became connected to the program. He is eager to learn carpentry and dreams of opening his own workshop one day. Ediga attended school through Standard 7 (similar to 7th grade). His favorite subject was science, and he is also strong in mathematics, skills he hopes to apply in his future trade. He is especially excited to learn how to build a sofa. Ediga is the second child in a family of four children and lives with both his mother and father. His father works in construction. At home, Ediga helps care for the family cow, his favorite animal, and takes pride in that responsibility. Looking ahead, Ediga hopes not only to build a successful carpentry business but also to travel someday. Visiting Zanzibar is a dream he holds for the future.
KELVIN is a 17-year-old student who lives close to the Next Life Foundation campus—just a 30-minute walk away. He learned about the school through his friend Sharon, a former tailoring student, who encouraged him to consider the program. Devi completed school through Standard 7, and his favorite subject was mathematics. He is the second of three children and has both of his parents, however, his father works in the city of Moshi. While Devi prefers to stay close to home and does not enjoy traveling far, he is highly motivated to develop practical skills. He is especially excited to learn carpentry and hopes to make cupboards similar to china cabinets. In his free time, Devi enjoys studying his Bible and values quiet moments of reflection.
GODI is 15 years old and walks an hour and a half each day to attend class. He learned about Next Life through a family friend and currently lives with his grandmother, while his siblings live far away. Godi is especially excited to learn carpentry, particularly how to make tables and chairs—items his home is in need of. Looking ten years into the future, he hopes to own his own carpentry shop. If given the chance to share a meal with anyone in the world, Godi would choose his grandmother. He enjoys cooking rice, ugali (a Tanzanian staple made from flour and water), and greens, and takes pride in helping at home.
ABDILAHI is 15 years old and walks an hour and a half each day to reach campus. He lives with his grandmother and learned about Next Life through his uncle. He is eager to master carpentry and dreams of one day opening his own shop. Abdilahi’s favorite color is yellow, and he enjoys cooking in his free time. If Patti were to visit, he would love to prepare rice to share with her and his grandmother. Dedicated and hopeful, Abdilahi is excited to build skills that will shape his future.
GASPER is a 19-year-old student from Singida, located more than a six-hour drive from Mbuguni. He is staying with his sister in Mbuguni, who has one child and another on the way. Gaspar comes from a large family of eight brothers and one sister, raised by both parents. In his free time, Gaspar loves to play sports and enjoys traveling. He has visited Dar es Salaam and Arusha and is now experiencing life in Mbuguni. He notes that while Singida is more beautiful in its natural scenery, people in Mbuguni work harder than those in his home region—an observation that has motivated him to work hard and make the most of this opportunity. Gaspar is excited to learn carpentry and looks forward to building beds, sofas, and stand-alone cupboards. He is eager to develop skills that will help him build a strong future while supporting his family.
NIVA is a 17-year-old carpentry student who lives with his mother and his many siblings. He is the fifth-born child in his family and enjoys contributing to life at home. His brother, Jeraldi, is currently enrolled in the tailoring program at Next Life, making vocational training a family affair. One of Niva’s main responsibilities at home is traveling to the countryside to cut grass for the family’s cow, an important chore that helps care for their livestock. In the carpentry workshop, Niva is especially excited about making a stool as he develops his woodworking skills. He also hopes that one day he will be able to build a bed for Patti as a way of expressing his gratitude and appreciation for her support and encouragement. What Niva enjoys most about Next Life is the opportunity to learn new skills and to spend time playing football (soccer) with his fellow students. The combination of education, friendship, and personal growth has made Next Life a place where he enjoys being each day.
NASRI is a 16-year-old carpentry student who comes from a family of eight. His father is a farmer and also serves as the funeral chairman in their village. His mother is a homemaker. At home, the only bed in the house belongs to his parents, so Nasri is especially eager to learn how to build beds through his carpentry training. Nasri proudly says he is a good cook and especially enjoys preparing and eating ugali, a traditional East African staple made by cooking maize flour with water to create a thick, dough-like dish that is commonly served with vegetables, beans, or meat. Through his training at Next Life, Nasri hopes to gain the skills needed to create opportunities for himself and to serve his family
SAMWELI is a 15-year-old carpentry student who lives about an hour away from Next Life by bus. He currently stays with a pastor who first told him about the opportunities available through the program and encouraged him to pursue vocational training. Samweli is the youngest of five children and is blessed to have both of his parents actively involved in his life. He loves learning and enjoys gaining new skills that will help him provide for his family in the future. One of the projects he is most excited about is building a bed for his father. After completing his studies, Samweli hopes to open his own carpentry shop and use his talents to support himself and his family.