Class of 2027

MACKLINE is 14 years old and the third child in a family of five children and their mother. Her father has passed away, and her mother is the primary caregiver for the family. Mackline learned about Next Life through a former student, Bilton, who spoke highly of the program and encouraged her to apply.  Mackline dreams of making a dress for her mother and is excited to develop her sewing skills. She enjoys cooking, especially fish, and takes pride in sharing meals with others. If you were to visit her home, she would gladly prepare fish and pilau—a traditional rice dish—and invite you to wear an outfit she made herself.  Mackline looks forward to learning skills that will help her care for and support her family.

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ADAM is 15 years old and the third child in a family of seven, including his parents. His father works in construction, and his mother stays at home caring for the family. Adam has visited the campus before, coming to play soccer with friends.  His favorite color is yellow, and he is especially excited about learning to make skirts. If he could create something for someone special, he would make a yellow skirt for his mother.  Adam’s favorite chore is cleaning, and in his free time he enjoys attending Bible study. Responsible and thoughtful, he is eager to learn skills that will allow him to give back to his family.

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ZUHURA is 14 years old and walks about two hours each day to reach campus. She is the fourth child in a family of nine children and lives with both of her parents. Her father works as a security guard in the tanzanite mines.  Zuhura has completed Standard 6, comparable to 6th grade in the United States, and her favorite subject in school was general studies. Some of her favorite childhood memories include playing handball with her sisters.  Her favorite chore is doing laundry, and in her free time she enjoys studying and reading. As she begins to learn tailoring skills, Zuhura is especially excited to make pants and skirts.  She is eager to grow through education and hands-on learning.

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ALQAMA is 16 years old and lives with his mother and two siblings. His mother works at a kiosk in a small hotel, supporting the family. After completing his education at Next Life, Alqama dreams of continuing his tailoring studies.  When Alqama was two years old, he was involved in a serious car accident that affected both his mobility and learning. Through determination and hard work, he has overcome many challenges to reach where he is today. He has completed Standard 7 (equivalent to 7th grade), with science, English, and general studies as his favorite subjects.  Alqama is especially excited about learning practical skills and looks forward to one day making a dress for his mother—a goal he shares with a big smile. Determined and resilient, he approaches his future with hope and confidence.

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JAKLINI is 18 years old and walks between one and a half and two hours each day to reach school. Her mother learned about the program while in the area and stopped by last year to ask if Jaklini could enroll.  Jaklini lives with her mother, older sisters’ two children and her brother in the household. Her mother supports the family through farming. Jaklini has completed Standard 7 (similar to 7th grade), and her favorite subjects in school were history and geography.  She enjoys mending and is especially excited to learn how to properly measure and cut fabric for making clothing. Jaklini comes from the Mpare tribe; while she is not deeply familiar with many aspects of the culture, she enjoys singing traditional songs from her tribe.  Jaklini is very animated when she speaks and will bring energy and enthusiasm to the classroom as she builds skills for her future.

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JERALDI is 13 years old and lives with his mother, grandmother, and two siblings. He is very shy and struggles to make eye contact. His family learned about Next Life when his mother passed by campus and saw an announcement that new students were being accepted. Jeraldi also knows a former student, Esther, which helped him feel encouraged to join.  Jeraldi is most excited to learn how to create a green shirt—his favorite color—for his brother. He enjoys playing soccer, his favorite sport, and in his free time he helps his mother with household chores such as cleaning and cooking.  We pray Jeraldi will grow in faith and confidence while learning new skills that will support his family and his future.

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NURU is 17 years old and is from Singida. She comes from a large family of twelve children and is in the middle of her siblings. Nuru currently lives near campus with her aunt and cousins. Although she has visited the city of Arusha, she prefers quieter places and does not enjoy the busyness of city life.  Nuru is excited to develop her skills and looks forward to making a blue skirt for her six-year-old cousin. Her favorite chore is gardening, and in her free time she enjoys reading. Being at Next Life has introduced her to people and environments she had not encountered before. She is eager to learn and grow as she prepares for her future.

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LUKA is 14 years old and walks about one hour each day to get to school. His family is made up of his mother and eight children, and his older brother helps support the family by sending money home. Luka is the sixth child in his family.  He is excited to learn tailoring and especially looks forward to making a pair of blue pants. In the past, he has had a shirt made by a tailor, which sparked his interest in learning the skill himself. Luka has traveled to Singida before, though he felt it was very far from home.  After completing his tailoring training, Luka hopes to work for someone and use his skills to help support his family.

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THERESIA is 20 years old student who shows remarkable dedication to her education. Each day, she walks 4 to 5 kilometers, spending about one and a half hours traveling to and from class. She learned about Next Life through a relative in Mbuguni and was eager to join and grow her skills.  Theresia completed Form 4, which is similar to the 11th grade. She comes from a family of ten children and is the fifth-born. Her parents earn a living through farming.  In her free time, Theresia enjoys reading her Bible and learning about history. She also loves to dance and sing, which bring her joy and energy. Through her studies, she is especially excited to learn how to make school uniforms so she can support her siblings and help ease the financial burden on her family.

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LAITINESS is 15 years old student and the oldest of eight children in her family. She walks just half an hour each day to attend class. She completed Standard 4 (4th grade), and her favorite subject in school was Kiswahili.  Laitiness learned about Next Life through Rakia, a former student, whose experience inspired her to join the program. She is especially excited to learn how to make a dress and a skirt for her mother and younger sister, using her new skills to support and care for her family.  After completing her training at Next Life, Laitiness dreams of moving to the city of Arusha and opening her own tailoring shop. Although she has never been to the city before, she is eager to explore new opportunities and build a better future through tailoring.

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AMINA is a 16-year-old student who lives just 15 minutes from the Next Life Foundation campus. Although her immediate family lives far away, Amina stays with her grandmother (Bibi) and cousin so she can attend Next Life Foundation and learn tailoring.  Amina describes herself as a good cook and enjoys doing household chores, making her a great help to her Bibi at home. Her specialty dishes include rice and ugali, a traditional staple made from flour and water. She takes pride in contributing to her household and supporting her family in practical ways.  She has three brothers who live with their mother, while her father lives in another area where he works as a farmer. Through her training at Next Life, Amina is especially looking forward to making a blue dress for her grandmother—blue being her Bibi’s favorite color.  Amina’s caring nature, practical skills, and commitment to her family make her a valued and promising student at the Next Life Foundation.

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OLIVA is a 16-year-old student from a family of ten children, where she is the eighth-born. She lives with both of her parents, who earn income through casual labor—taking on work whenever it is available. Some of her siblings live in Dar es Salaam, a city Oliva has visited and hopes to one day call home.  Oliva completed Form 2, which is similar to 9th grade, and her favorite subject in school was Kiswahili. She describes herself as a good cook, especially when it comes to preparing rice and pilau. At Next Life, she is most excited to learn how to make a shirt for her sister, using her tailoring skills to support her family.  Before joining Next Life, Oliva had never been around wazungu (white people), making her experience at the school both new and exciting. After completing her tailoring training, she dreams of moving to Dar es Salaam and opening her own tailoring shop.

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SOPHIA is a 15-year-old student who walks one hour each morning to attend class at Next Life. She comes from the same village as PrayGod, a former student whose experience encouraged her to join the program.  Sophia completed Standard 7, which is similar to 7th grade. She believes one of her greatest strengths is the discipline her parents instilled in her—something she feels will help not only herself, but also encourage and support other students. In her free time, Sophia enjoys reading and learning new things.  When asked what she is most looking forward to at Next Life, Sophia shared that PrayGod told her she would learn how to live life independently because Christ is taught to be the center of daily life.  Sophia proudly says she makes a great chapatti, a popular flatbread made from flour, oil, and water, commonly enjoyed across East Africa. Her discipline, faith, and eagerness to grow make her a strong and inspiring student at Next Life.

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PIURIFCATOR is a 15-year-old student who walks 90 minutes each morning to attend school at Next Life. She learned about the program through an announcement at her church and felt encouraged to pursue tailoring training as a way to build her future.  She is the second-born of four children and lives with both of her parents, who work as farmers. Piurificator comes from the Chaga tribe, a well-known ethnic group in northern Tanzania recognized for strong farming traditions, rich cultural values, and a love for singing and dancing.  Before coming to Next Life, Piurificator had never been to Mbuguni, and she has found life there very different from her home village.  One of the things she looks forward to most is making a green dress for herself as she develops her tailoring skills.  After completing her training, Piurificator hopes to return to her village and open her own tailoring shop

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HOSIANA is a 15-year-old student who lives on the far side of Shambarai Market, nearly a two-hour walk from Next Life. She first learned about the trade school through her brother-in-law, who delivered goods to Next Life many times and encouraged her to explore the opportunity.  Hosiana is the youngest of nine children in her family. Two of her siblings still live at home with their mother. Her father passed away, and her mother supports the family by taking on work whenever it is available.  She attended school through Standard 7 (similar to 7th grade), where her favorite subject was science. Hosiana is eager to study hard and become a fundi (a skilled craftsperson). She is especially excited to learn sewing—dreaming of making her first dress for herself and then creating clothes for her family members.  In her free time, Hosiana enjoys playing netball, a fast-paced team sport similar to basketball that focuses on passing, teamwork, and quick movement. At home, she helps care for the family’s cows and goats, giving her valuable experience in responsibility and animal care.

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YUNISI is a 13-year-old student who walks nearly two hours each day to reach school. Her journey to Next Life began when she noticed former student Rehema walking past her house every day. Curious about where Rehema was going, Yunisi asked her—and that conversation opened the door to a new opportunity.  Yunisi completed school through Standard 7 (similar to 7th grade), and her favorite subject was Swahili. She is the fourth child in a family of five children, living with their mother. Her father has passed away, and her mother works hard to support the family.  At home, Yunisi enjoys helping with daily chores. Her favorite chore is doing the dishes, and she proudly says she is a good cook—especially when it comes to her favorite food, rice. In her free time, Yunisi loves to dance.

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DEVOTHA is an 18-year-old student from the Karangarai region, a long distance from Next Life. Walking to school is not possible, and daily transportation presents real challenges. Hiring a piki piki (motorcycle taxi) costs about $2.50 per day, which is too expensive, while the bus—though more affordable at approximately $0.40 per day—is unreliable and does not always run. Because of this, a safe home for Devotha to stay in Mbuguni is currently being sought.  Devotha learned about Next Life Foundation through an announcement at her church and immediately became interested in the opportunity. She completed her schooling through Form 4 (similar to 11th grade), and her favorite subject was civics.  In her free time, Devotha enjoys singing and cooking, especially her specialty, bananas. She has traveled beyond her village to the cities of Moshi and Arusha and dreams of continuing to explore new places. When her training is complete, she hopes to build a future somewhere beyond her home village.  Devotha lives with her grandmother and two cousins and is especially eager to sew something meaningful for her grandmother through the skills she will gain.

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JEHOVA is a 14-year-old student who walks about 45 minutes each day to attend class. Her connection to Next Life began when her aunt learned about the program through a friend in Mbuguni and shared the opportunity with her.  Jehova lives with her mother, and an uncle helps support them financially when he is able. She attended school through Standard 7 (similar to 7th grade), and her favorite subject was Swahili.  Jehova is especially excited to learn how to make dresses, with a dream of sewing clothes for her aunt’s children and other family members. Her favorite color is red, which she looks forward to incorporating into her designs.  After completing her training, Jehova hopes to support her family and eventually open her own shop in Mererani, where some of her relatives live.

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ESTER is a 19-year-old student who first enrolled in the tailoring class at Next Life Foundation in 2022. After about six months, she stepped away from the program. Since leaving Next Life, Ester has been working in farming, planting seeds and pulling weeds, but she quickly realized this is not the work she wants to do for the rest of her life.  This year, the tailoring class is full, so Ester is currently waiting for an opening. In the meantime, she is spending time with the carpentry class while remaining ready to rejoin tailoring as soon as a space becomes available.  In her free time, Ester spends time with her brother, Enock, a 2023 graduate of Next Life Foundation who now runs a successful tailoring business. His example has strengthened her desire to return and complete her training.  Ester is especially looking forward to learning how to make dresses and trousers and hopes to one day open her own tailoring shop in Mbuguni. She is determined, patient, and eager for a second chance to build the future she wants.

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NENGAI is a 16-year-old student who runs nearly two hours each morning to reach the Next Life campus. She learned about the program from her friend Einoth, a former student who also made the same long run each day to attend class.  Nengai is the firstborn in a family with both parents and four daughters. At home, she enjoys caring for the family cow, her favorite animal, and takes pride in her responsibilities.  Her days are full and demanding. After classes, Nengai runs the two hours back home, completes household chores, cooks, eats, and sleeps before beginning again the next day. Free time is rare, but she that is the way of life for many in Tanzania.  Despite her busy schedule, Nengai is an active young woman who loves to dance. After completing her tailoring training, she dreams of becoming a teacher like Mr. Kia, Next Life’s tailoring instructor, so she can pass on her skills to others.

SHABANI is 18 years old and is beginning his training in the carpentry class, with hopes of transferring to the tailoring program if a space becomes available. He has completed Form 2 in school, which is roughly equivalent to 9th grade.  As the oldest sibling, Shabani lives with his grandmother while his brothers and sisters live far away. His favorite chore is mending, and if he could make something for someone, he would choose to create clothes for his younger sister and brother, whom he does not get to see often.  In his free time, Shabani is usually found cleaning. He is responsible, caring, and motivated to learn skills that will help him support his family in the future.

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Glory is 14 years old and lives with her four siblings. As a middle child, she has learned to be both responsible and adaptable within her family. Both of her parents face ongoing health challenges, which has brought additional responsibilities to Glory at a young age.

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AMINA S is 15 years old and lives with her grandfather, who supports and cares for her. She is the second-born in a family of seven children. With her mother caring for many children and her father facing challenges with alcohol, Amina’s grandfather plays a vital role in her daily life as she pursues her future.

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Lina is 13 years old

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