2025 April – June Newsletter

5th St. Albans visits TLM

5^th– We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the congregation of St. Albans Cathedral Church for visiting us and generously donating a washing machine, cleaning supplies, diapers, food items, stationery, and kangas. Thank you so much for your selfless support and for recognizing the importance of standing with children battling cancer. Your kindness means the world to us.

8th Together we Can!

Thank you so much to the Together We Can group for visiting us and covering medical test costs for the children, with a total value of 1 million! Treating children with cancer in Tanzania—together, we can!

10th Tubingen in Tanzania

We were delighted to welcome Chiara, a medical student from our Tubingen network! Behind the scenes, we’re working on an exciting partnership that will soon give MEDI-Paten students the opportunity to undertake clinical internships to help gain valuable hands-on experience while making a real impact.

12th Visit from Literacy of Tanzania

Literacy of Tanzania visited Tumaini La Maisha filling the place with joy, connection, and heart warming moments. They spent a beautiful day with the incredible children, reading stories together, playing a cheerful game of pass the parcel, and sharing fresh fruits including watermelon, bananas, papayas, and pineapples. The smiles only grew brighter as they handed out much needed stationery supplies! A huge thank you to the amazing volunteers—Roselaine, Alicia, Sean, Vania, Hritika, Edmund, Rahim, and Muhammad for bringing so much love, laughter, and energy to the day. Your presence made it truly special.

14th AMCHAM Visits TLM

We were delighted to welcome Ms. Nengai from AMCHAM for a visit to our project both at the hostel and the ward. It was a pleasure to host her and share the work being done to support childhood cancer services. Thank you for taking the time to visit and we look forward to future collaborations!

17th A Plant for Life

Whether you’re saying Get Well Soon, Thinking of you or simply love having a little green in your space these beautiful plants do more than brighten someone’s day! With every purchase, you’re helping fund treatment for a child with cancer in Tanzania. Because when you buy a plan, you save a life!

Support the plant for life initiative and purchase a plant through 0754984563

18th St. Peter’s Parish Visits TLM

A heartfelt thank you to St. Peter’s Parish for their incredible generosity! Their donation of air mattresses, nutritional ingredients and diapers worth over Tsh 1.1 million will bring comfort, nourishment and care to children undergoing cancer treatment. Your support means the world to us!

19th Visit from 35 Degrees

We are grateful to 35 degrees for visiting us and donating nutritional ingredients as well as digital thermometers.

21st Biomedics at TLM

A heartfelt thank you to the Biomedical students who visited us with compassionate hearts and hands full ofgifts! The donation of diapers and food will go a long way in supporting children in need.

25th Lions club of Infinity

Today we were happy to welcome the Lion’s Club of Infinity. They came with their leader Ms. Farida who leads work in children’s cancer and Ms. Fatima, the convener for pediatric cancer. They visited to see how we make our healthy smoothies for the children. It was a lovely visit filled with care and support.

27th New Kibubu School Alert

We’re thrilled to share that we delivered 450 kibubu boxes to St. Anthony High School! Thank you St. Anthony for joining us in this journey of hope and wish you happy collecting!

28th Ilala Secondary School Visit

A big thank you to Ilala Secondary School for visiting us and for their incredible generosity! They brought toiletries, nutritional ingredients, diapers and a donation of Tsh 500,000 to support the families we serve.

29th Donations from St. Maximilan

Heart felt thanks to St. Maximilian School for visiting us and donating nutritional supplies and hygiene items worth TZS 1.5 million! We deeply appreciate your support and generosity!

29th World Wish Day

Tanzania proudly joined the world in celebrating World Wish Day for the very first time, a powerful milestone of hope for children bravely battling cancer. Through our newly launched Make-A-Wish Tanzania program, we have already granted six heartfelt wishes, bringing joy, strength,and renewed hope to children undergoing treatment. This special celebration was made even more meaningful thanks to the generous support of our partners. We extend our sincere gratitude to our friends at Stanbic Bank Tanzania and Mr. Amir Lakhani of Freedom Computers Limited for standing with us and helping make these wishes come true through their thoughtful and loving gifts. This day reminded us all of one powerful truth: hope has extraordinary strength, and the joy that comes from a fulfilled wish can be truly healing—for both the body and soul.

30th RIP Mike Peters

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Mike Peters- rock legend, humanitarian and co-founder of Love Hope Strength. Mike’s commitment to the fight againist childhood cancer reached all the way to Tanzania, where his support brought hope, strength and healing to so many children and families in need.

Thank you Mike for standing with us. Your light lives on in every child you’ve helped.

2nd From Kenya to Tanzania

We were absolutely delighted to welcome our amazing friends from Forester Nation, who drove all the way from Kenya to Tanzania! Even more inspiring- they’ll be supporting much needed renovations at our hostel as a meaningful way to give back to charity. Thank you so much for your generosity and commitment to childhood cancer services in Tanzania.

4th Board Training Day

Most of the board of TLM Ireland met in person or online to participate in a very useful board training session. Lots were discussed and exciting plans developed!

5th Empowering Parents Through Knowledge & Support

Our incredible skills teacher Prisca takes time every week to walk parents through the TLM parents handbook, offering guidance on the services available, what to expect during treatment and how they can best support their children. An important step in building trust, understanding and hope.

13th TLM Commended for excellence in Childhood Cancer Care

The President-elect of Rotary International, Mr. Mario Martins De Camargo, based in Brazil, visited Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) and extended heartfelt praise to both MNH and Tumaini La Maisha for their outstanding service to children with cancer. During his visit to the pediatric oncology wards, Mr. Camargo witnessed firsthand the compassionate, professional, and dedicated care being provided through the strong partnership between MNH and TLM. His visit highlighted the importance of global solidarity in the fight against childhood cancer and the crucial role of partnerships between community-based organizations and health institutions in creating lasting and positive change.

Since its founding, TLM has worked hand-in-hand with MNH to provide medical treatment, counseling, and vital support to children with cancer and their families—an effort that continues to inspire recognition from global partners.

17th The Galway Spring Fling– Annual Fundraising Ball

One of our favorite nights of the year and 2025 didn’t disappoint! A sparkling event supported by young and old. Incredible donations of raffle and auction prizes, wonderfully talented dancers, artists and musicians and a room full of generous compassionate souls made for an unforgetablle evening. Thank you Galway and everyone who joined to make this night an enormous success.

19th 100km in 2 Days

Dr. Sharon Cox completed an incredible 100km ultra marathon in 48 hours, all to raise awareness and funds to support childhood cancer services in Tanzania. Together let’s celenrate her amazing achievement. Well done Dr. Cox!

19th TLM Goes to Nairobi- ALSAC Conference

Lilian had the honour of representing Tumaini la Maisha at the 2025 St. Jude Global Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Meeting in Nairobi. The event brought together dedicated partners focused on raising childhood cancer survival rates in the region from 20% to 60%. The meeting fostered open dialogue on challenges and successes, covering key topics like early diagnosis, survivorship, government engagement, and data-driven strategies. Lilian returned inspired by the collective commitment and strengthened by new insights to enhance TLM’s work. Together, the regional community is advancing towards a future where no child with cancer is left behind.

22nd A wish on two wheels

Our incredible wish child Saidi had his deepest wish come true which was to own his very own bicycle. After months of treatment, and hospital stays this moment was just pure magic. His joy was so contagious that it lit up the entire Ujasiri hostel!

Saidi’s bike represents more than just a way to get around but rather freedom, fun and the return of childhood after a long and difficult journey. We’re so grateful to our friends at Stanbic Bank who made this moment possible.

Watch Saidi’s wish here.

To join us in this amazing journey, donate through www.makeawish.tz/donate/

22nd

CCLG Meeting

Dr. Trish was delighed to join her colleague Dr. Helen Jenkinson to present at the CCLG quarterly meeting. The upcoming TopCAT randomised controlled trial to improve outcomes for children with Retinoblastoma was presented and very well receieved.

27th Pediatric Training

We’re so proud to celebrate the graduation of our latest cohort from the intensive pediatric oncology training program!

Over the past weeks, these incredible nurses have deepened their knowledge in early diagnosis, treatment and holistic care for children with cancer. Thank you to everyone who made this transformative training possible. Together, we’re building a stronger future for childhood cancer care in Tanzania.

30th Prof. Janabi New Appointment

Congratulations Prof. Janabi on your appointment as the WHO Regional Director for Africa!

You have marked a milestone of success for our nation and we wish you every success! Africa is lucky to have you.

30th Dr. Trish Presents in Tropical Med

 Dr. Trish was invited to give a presentation to the Nagasaki Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Health course particpants. It was a great session sparking a lively conversation

1st Shujaa Foundation Visits

On Saturday, we proudly joined the Shujaa Cancer Foundation for their annual walk to commemorate survivor day, a powerful celebration of strength, hope and resilience.

On Sunday, the Shujaa team visited Ujasiri house, spending quality time with the children and hosted an inspiring Q&A session all about childhood cancer.

The team also generously donated food items to support our little warriors. Thank you Shujaa foundation for standing with us in the fight against childhood cancer.

2nd Nyamizi’s Wish

16 year old Nyamizi who’s currently undergoing treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma discovered her passion for sewing after watching college students learning the craft. In that moment, something sparked within her and she knew exactly what she wanted; her very own sewing machine. Today her heartfelt wish came true. The Joy on her face when she saw the machine said it all! Now, Nyamizi is ready to bring her creativity to life by starting with sewing clothes for herself and her loved ones at home.

But this is just the beginning. Her dream doesn’t stop here. One day she hopes to become a renowned fashion designer!

A big thank you to our friends at Stanbic bank for adopting Nyamizi’s wish and helping turn her dream to reality.

Watch Nyamizi’s wish here.

If you would like to adopt a wish contact us or go to www.makeawish.tz to learn more!

11th Wings of Support concludes 2-year project with TLM

We were honoured to welcome Fleur from Wings of Support (WoS) to Tumaini la Maisha as we marked the successful conclusion of a transformative 3-year partnership. Through this collaboration, WoS generously supported the salaries of dedicated paediatric oncology nurses and contributed to the purchase of life-saving chemotherapy drugs. During her visit, Fleur had the opportunity to see firsthand the impact of this support and engage in meaningful discussions around potential areas for continued collaboration between WoS and TLM. We are deeply grateful for the commitment and solidarity WoS has shown in our shared mission to bring hope and healing to children with cancer in Tanzania.

10th Major grant awarded to expand access to care

We are thrilled to announce that a grant of €136,500 has been awarded by Foundation S through the My Child Matters Program to support our new project: Expanding Palliative Care and Pediatric Oncology Access. This vital funding will strengthen efforts to reach more children in need of cancer and palliative care services across Tanzania, ensuring that no child faces this journey alone. We are deeply grateful to Foundation S for their continued partnership and commitment to equitable access to care.

17th Nomad Tanzania Support

We continue to celebrate a partnership we’re incredibly proud of- one where tourism directly supports healthcare. A heartfelt thank you to Nomad Tanzania and their dedicated team for generously sharing their time, skills and resources to bring medical care to remote communities across Tanzania. Through their Beds for Meds programme, Nomad integrates healthcare into their safari operations by offering camp space, logistics and a percentage of revenue to enable doctors, dentists and other professionals to treat those in need. Together we’re proving that meaningful travel can truly change lives.

15th Fathers Day 2025

This father’s day, we honor the strength, love and courage of all the dads who stand by their children through cancer treatment. At TLM we’ve seen fathers become full time caretakers, advocates and heroes, sleeping beside hospital beds, learning how to give medicine and doing everything they can to bring smiles back to their children’s faces.

To these extraordinary men: thank you for showing us that strength doesn’t always roar but sometimes it holds a hand, wipes a tear and whispers “we will get through this.”

Happy Father’s day to all the dads!

17th Strengthening Childhood Cancer Services with Irish Support

We are honoured to share that Tumaini la Maisha has received an annual grant of €300,000 from the Embassy of Ireland in Tanzania to support the delivery of paediatric oncology services across the country. This generous funding will play a crucial role in expanding access to life-saving care for children with cancer, strengthening national capacity, and supporting essential services across multiple treatment centres. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Embassy of Ireland for their continued partnership, trust, and commitment to improving the lives of children in Tanzania.

20th TLM Wins NGO of the Year Award

We are honored to be nominated and to win the NGO of the year at the Achievers Awards International 2025!

This recognition reflects the strength of our incredible team, our partners, friends, supporters and every child and family who inspires our mission daily! The award ceremony will take place in Zanzibar on October 10th.  

23rd Support from Lions Club of DSM Uhuru

We are grateful to the Lions Club of DSM Uhuru for their generous donation of TZS 4,800,000 to support our nutrition program. This contribution will specifically help provide morning porridge to children undergoing treatment, ensuring they receive vital nourishment to fuel their fight against cancer. Thank you for standing with us and making a tangible difference in the lives of our little heroes.

28th AMCHAM Charity Walk

We were proud to attend and participate the US Independence Charity Walk organized by AMCHAM Tanzania all in support of childhood cancer services.

It was a fantastic event filled with great energy, purpose and amazing community spirit! Together, we raised Tsh 10 million to bring hope and healing to children undergoing cancer treatment in Tanzania.

Thank you AMCHAM Tanzania for walking the talk!

29th In Memory of Bronwyn King

This month, we are deeply moved and honoured to share the story of a gift made with profound love and sorrow. A generous donation of €10,000 was made in memory of Bronwyn, a cherished and vibrant soul who recently lost her brave battle with cancer. Bronwyn’s aunt and uncle, in the face of their grief, chose to extend her light and legacy by giving hope to children fighting cancer in Tanzania. Their kindness will go directly towards life-saving care by supporting vital treatment, diagnostics, and comfort for children and families who need it most. To Bronwyn’s family: thank you for allowing her memory to live on in such a beautiful way. Your gift is already helping children in their own big battles, and her story will continue to inspire.

30th TLM Annual Reports 2024 Released

We are pleased to announce the release of Tumaini la Maisha’s Annual Audited Financial Report and Annual Report for the year ended 2024. The financial report details a total expenditure of TZS 4.1 billion, reflecting our on going commitment to delivering comprehensive childhood cancer care and support services. We invite you to read the full reports hereto learn more about our achievements, challenges, and plans for the future.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us!

Nicanori Boniface is a quiet and thoughtful 6-year-old boy who lived in a mountainous village called Hanang in Tanzania. He loved drawing in the dirt with sticks and walking to school with his friends.

But one day, he noticed something strange. His eyes started to feel funny especially the left one. They were hurting and slowly began to swell out a little. He had trouble looking at bright light, and even going outside became difficult.

His parents thought maybe he was just tired or had an eye infection. But as weeks went by, he didn’t get better. He started feeling weak and tired all the time. Even walking around made his legs hurt. He sometimes felt dizzy his body felt too weak to hold him up. His mother had to carry him around the house. They knew something was really wrong.

They first took Nicanori to Benjamin Mkapa Hospital in Dodoma. They examined him carefully and said he needed to be referred to Muhimbili National Hospital where more tests could be done. It was a long journey, but Nicanori was brave.

He didn’t know exactly what was happening, but he knew the doctors, MNH and Tumaini la Maisha were trying their best to help him feel better. He was diagnosed to have Acute Myeloid Leukemia and was counseled on the treatment map.

AML treatment is one of the toughest schedules we give to children because the disease itself is aggressive. The illness made him sick and the treatment made him feel worse initially. He stayed in the hospital for many months and needed multiple courses of antibiotics and blood transfusions as his little body fought to rid itself of the cancer cells. He missed his home, his friends, and his teachers. But his mother stayed with him. She held his hand, told him stories, and reminded him how strong he was.

Even though his body was weak and in pain, Nicanori learned to trust the team in Upendo, that they cared about him and were there to help him; and he let them know when he needed more support – whether from the nurse, doctor, teacher or play staff or from his mum or his pals on the ward. He found his voice and his community at the hospital with every passing day he found hope and belief that he would get better.

Nicanori learned something very important during his journey, being strong doesn’t always mean running fast or climbing high. Sometimes, being strong means asking for help, staying hopeful, and taking one step at a time.

And that’s what Nicanori did one brave step at a time.