Irene Ishengoma lives in Kagera Region, Tanzania with her family. She has always been influenced by her mother, Justa Gabriel who deeply cares for their extended family in the village including the vulnerable children. Many of these children were orphans; some were abandoned, some had lost their parents to HIV and to MV Bukoba ship incident.
The Ishengnomas collect second hand clothes, shoes, bags and school supplies for the village. When Irene asked her mum on the reasons behind the act, Gabriel shared, “Ever since I was young, I could not sleep on a bed like other kids but rather on plain grass because my parents were not able to afford a cement floor until 18 years when I got married and stayed with your father in the town residence.”
Gabriel wished for someone to cuddle her, give her new clothes, shoes and books but no one did. She was raised by a lovely step-mother but they didn’t have enough money. This experience made her feel deeply about the pain, sorrow and loneliness of the village children. Gabriel always puts herself in their place and contributes whenever she can.
Irene was 11 when she visited her mother’s village and saw what her mother had told. She saw the vulnerable families and witnessed the joy in giving. She saw the happiness among the supported families and children. Some had cried expressing their pain and appreciation.
Irene’s family have reached over 100 beneficiaries and continue to visit the village twice a year. Irene continues her mother’s work in her village. She says the vulnerable need moral and material support. Some children the Ishengoma family helped have grown into financially-secure responsible youths who find their time to communicate with the Ishengomas and are ready to support them.
Irene’s mum started something truly special in the village - an understanding to give back to the society and carrying it forward. She revived hope, love, peace, perseverance, positive attitude and perception towards the vulnerable people.
For Irene, this lesson fuels her inner self-motivation - knowing that someone will always receive more if they are willing to give more. A lesson which has extended to Irene’s continued work for the women and families in Tanzania through Global Peace Women and Global Peace Foundation.
What a great story of family volunteerism. We invite your family to volunteer and share your story. To start your project and submit your story, email us: Global Peace Women - Family Volunteers for Peace Team (Younshim Park): family.volunteers@globalpeacewomen.org.