January 28, 2016

These Annual Reviews always make me happy. Together we are making big things happen. Our aspirations are bold, but it’s important to pause and acknowledge how far we have already come. (To really walk down memory lane, you can look back at reviews from 2012, 2013, and 2014!)

As we look back, we are grateful for all of you who stand behind The Foundation For Tomorrow. Your belief, encouragement, and generosity is a powerful force that propels us towards the equitable world of our dreams.

As Meghann says, the distance between reality and our dreams is action.

Let’s look back to see how we took action together and narrowed that distance in 2015!

In January we welcomed Ramon Richardson to our Charlotte office as our Director of Operations. Ray’s passion for education, extensive experience working for educational equity, and legal background make him an extraordinary addition to our team. In just one year, he has contributed greatly to TFFT’s growth and success.

In February, 9 young women stepped up as Team Leaders in the SHARE the LOVE Challenge and raised awareness and funds for TFFT! Many more of you showered our scholars with love through homemade valentines.

Annual Program Review offered time for reflection and planning. We use these action-packed sessions to share our progress and challenges of the previous year and to absorb ideas, lessons, and experiences from other stakeholders.

Meghann ran up a literal mountain to raise funds and awareness for QUALITY education in Tanzania. She also shared why her time in Tanzania gives her peace and reaffirms her passion.

The TFFT team organized a media workshop for 25 journalists who represent various nationwide media companies. Subsequently, a one-week media campaign in Arusha advocated for issues of the most vulnerable children and their access to quality education in Tanzania.

TFFT Scholar Nicemary poured her heart into JUST BE WITH US, an organization working to increase awareness of HIV/AIDS. Nicemary shared about her passion for giving back.

In collaboration with WaterBridge Outreach TFFT produced Kiswahili mini-books, written by a selected group of primary teachers from Meru District in Arusha. Ultimately TFFT delivered 8,000 copies of the 8 books we co-created with the locally selected government teachers!

We continued to improve, and saw great success in, our Personality Development and Sports pilot program. This TFFT Full Circle initiative equips teachers with tool kits to teach life skills education in Tanzanian schools. Our three-part strategy ensures that students learn these important life skills.

You all blew us away and knocked the socks off our Annual Fund goal!! Even more than the dollars raised, your outpouring of support was a testament to this community of supporters. You make it possible to make a true difference in the lives of our TFFT Scholars and thousands of other children in Tanzania.

Lauren Carter, Katie Kozlowski and the entire Bliss Weddings + Events team worked incredibly hard to plan an incredible celebration of TFFT in Chicago. Guests included RIDETZ alumni, many sponsors of TFFT Scholars, and even my third grade teacher. Two special families even traveled from Charleston, SC specifically to introduce TFFT to family and friends who live in the Chicago area!!

We had a rockstar team of interns–Mary Hill spent time in our Charlotte office and 3 months in Tanzania; Maggie returned for her 3rd summer with TFFT; Lucy, Grace, and Lambeth were fantastic additions to our Charlotte office; and Caiti joined Kaitlin in the Chicago office!

We wished Chloe (former Full Circle Program Manager) well as she set out for a new challenge with AgriCorps in Ghana. As she said:

I might be biased, but never in my work experiences, or in any organizations that I have seen, have I witnessed a more cohesive and dedicated staff. As we celebrated my time at TFFT last week with a lunch, the memories were flowing—and I wouldn’t trade them for the world!

Twenty-two teachers from selected government and private schools attended the Helps Training, a program designed to improve reading fluency among early readers.

Happy and Sad Boxes offered children an opportunity to communicate and share their rights, and/or the violation of their rights, as well as best practices happening at their school.

We excitedly announced the dates for the 2016 RIDETZ adventure!

Anton attended The African Grantmakers Network Assembly in Arusha and left with a new revelation of philanthropy in Africa.

We welcomed Hilda to our team as Full Circle Program Manager and Noah as Training and Logistics Coordinator. Their experience in education and strong passion for TFFT’s mission is positively impacting our work in so many ways.

Our third issue of Tufundishane focused on special education and learning disabilities. We envision Tufundishane (which means “Let’s teach each other” in Kiswahili) to be this venue for sharing and teaching each other.

We began a pilot of a new research project to test the effectiveness of co-management as a strategy to improve the quality of education in Tanzania.

We hosted an incredible group of women for our inaugural Vision Trip. Laura Thompson shared her personal account of the experience:

What a week. What a truly fantastic, unforgettable, eye-opening week … If I learned anything in the past seven days, it is that TFFT is an excellent partner that listens and responds as community partner, a professional partner and/or a life partner to the many children and families they commit themselves to … Through this experience I have become to understand TFFT’s mission, programming and reach(!) and the power of their commitment. Before this journey I was an interested party, now I join them as a committed partner.

A total of 23 TFFT Scholars graduated different levels. Sixteen TFFT Scholars graduated class 7 at Usa River Academy on September 12th, and seven TFFT Scholars graduated form 4 at Star High School on September 19th. This is a demonstration of how TFFT is systematically and steadily growing towards assuring its vision of providing quality education for the vulnerable.

As we wrapped up our 3-year strategic plan, we dove into the process of creating a 5-years strategic plan to launch in 2016. This process sparked Meghann’s reflections on our theme to challenge vulnerability in the changing context of education and vulnerability. As our team discussed our impact, Dr. McAlpine challenged us to look beyond our attribution, to our contribution. Contribution casts a wider net and includes the indirect results of a program. Contribution is the ripple effect.

Richard Augustino, a dedicated and hardworking TFFT Scholars, completed his last year of secondary (high) school and wrote a heartfelt letter encouraging his fellow TFFT Scholars, thanking TFFT’s supporters, and sharing his dream. Richard will be TFFT’s first scholar to attend university!

Maggie and Laura Boorman, TFFT supporters and 2016 RIDETZ riders, started Love Upendo Designs, a beautifully creative jewelry business. Each of these handmade pieces is named after a TFFT Scholar and carries with it a unique way to support our mission.

TFFT Family united to celebrate our journey and growth in both Charlotte and NYC! Combined generosity raised over $160,000 to support our educational systems in Tanzania.

In December we hosted our Second Annual Family Day for TFFT scholars and their families and guardians, and your generosity during Holiday Giving made it possible for us to welcome 18 new scholars in 2016!

Thank you for choosing the stand behind TFFT! We are so grateful for you!