Four Steps to Freedom

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Four Steps to Freedom

Four Steps to Freedom is the new name of Friends of Mbwa Wa Africa Animal Rescue. We’re wiping out rabies in Tanzania, one town at a time. Will you help?

Through our sustainable, four-step approach, we are wiping out rabies in Tanzania to save lives, end animal cruelty & break the chain of rabies infection for good. We believe no family in Tanzania should have to live with the fear of losing a child to rabies. The charity was founded by Glasgow-based Phyllis Hutchison following a visit to the Arusha region of Tanzania in May 2014. Driving through t

he streets of Meserani, a town in the Arusha region, she was shocked by the sight of dozens of maimed and injured dogs. She was surprised to learn that the animals were the victims of local anti-rabies ‘culls’: they had been shot or mutilated, then left to die. The story grew more tragic, as she learned that such culls are driven not by cruelty, but by fear: an estimated 1500 people – mostly children under 15 – die of rabies every year in Tanzania, after being bitten by infected dogs. The animal cruelty she had witnessed was simply the result of ordinary families’ attempts to protect their children from the risk of a fatal bite. We work with grassroots local charities and NGOs including Mbwa Wa Africa Animal Rescue. With the support of our donors, our volunteers and our partners, we are determined to step up the frontline battle to eradicate rabies from communities in Tanzania, saving human and animal lives and educating children and adults in the humane treatment of domestic animals.

09/08/2026

Some things simply cannot be achieved alone.🫂

For more than a decade, Four Steps to Freedom and Mbwa wa Africa Animal Rescue have worked side by side, united by a shared belief that animals and communities deserve a safer future.

At the heart of this partnership is also a friendship. Phyllis, Sandra and Jens first came together through the rescue of Dolcina and Gongo and that connection grew into a shared vision for what was possible.🙏

Sandra and Jens have continued building Mbwa wa Africa on the ground in Tanzania, caring for animals, running the clinic, working with communities and putting vaccination, sterilisation and animal welfare programmes into practice every day.💪

From Scotland, Four Steps to Freedom has supported this work through fundraising, partnerships and long-term financial commitment.

Together, we have built far more than a shelter.

FSTF funded the purchase and development of the Gongo Centre, turning a long-held dream into a permanent home for Mbwa wa Africa's rescue and veterinary work.🏡

But the support has also mattered during the difficult moments. When resources have been stretched, FSTF has stepped in countless times to help with essentials such as veterinary care, dog food and staff salaries, helping the work continue year after year.💕

The two organisations may have different roles, but the mission is shared:

A safer future for animals.
Safer communities.
And ultimately, a Tanzania free from canine-transmitted rabies.

What began with a friendship between three people has grown into a partnership that has changed thousands of lives.😺🐶

And we are incredibly grateful to everyone who continues to stand behind it.❤️

28/06/2026

Some of you already know Gongo's story.📖

For those who don't, Gongo is much more than a rescue dog. He is the heart behind Four Steps to Freedom. He's the name behind Mbwa wa Africa's rescue centre, The Gongo Centre. Where over 120 dogs, 30 cats, 27 employees and a veterinary clinic for the community, are at home. A reminder of how one life can change so many others.✨️

Today, we need to ask for something in return.

Our beloved Gongo is currently facing one of the biggest battles of his life.💔

After becoming unwell, veterinary examinations revealed a large tumour that was affecting his ability to breathe. Thankfully, surgery was successful and the tumour has now been removed. Further tests are underway as his veterinary team continues to investigate additional changes that were discovered during his treatment. 😔

For now, we are taking one day at a time.

Gongo has overcome incredible challenges before, and once again he is showing us just how strong and resilient he is.💪

If you have followed our journey over the years, you'll know that Gongo has always been more than a mascot. His story helped shape the vision that became Four Steps to Freedom, and his name will forever live on through the Gongo Centre.

Today, we simply ask you to keep him in your thoughts.🙏

Whether through kind words, positive thoughts, or prayers, we know Gongo has an incredible community standing beside him.💕

We'll keep you updated as we learn more.

Thank you for being part of Gongo's journey. ❤️

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20/06/2026

Where It All Began🕰

Before there was Four Steps to Freedom, there was a dog named Dolcina.

In 2014, while visiting Tanzania, Phyllis Hutchison witnessed the devastating aftermath of an anti-rabies cull in the village of Meserani. Among the injured dogs was a young mother who had been shot and could barely use one of her front legs.💔

Determined to help, Phyllis reached out to Sandra and Jens, founders of Mbwa wa Africa Animal Rescue.

At the time, Mbwa wa Africa was little more than a handful of kennels in a back garden. But Sandra and Jens immediately agreed to help.💪

Together, they rescued the dog and her six puppies.

They named her Dolcina.❤️

With time, care and determination, Dolcina recovered and eventually found a wonderful forever home, where she still lives today.

What began as one rescue quickly became a friendship.🫂

Over the following months, Phyllis stayed in close contact with Sandra and Jens, learning more about the challenges facing animals in Tanzania and the growing work of Mbwa wa Africa.

Then came Gongo.

A community dog, Gongo had suffered a horrific attack that left one of his legs beyond saving. Despite everything he had endured, his spirit captured the hearts of everyone who met him.🥰

Knowing that Gongo would need specialist care and further surgeries that were difficult to access locally at the time, Phyllis made the decision to bring him home to Scotland.

Gongo became part of her family.🏡

But he also became something more.

Through countless conversations, Sandra and Jens shared their dream of creating a larger rescue centre, a place where more animals could be saved, treated, and protected. 🐶

Phyllis believed in that dream.✨️

What started with one rescued dog, then another, grew into a shared vision that would eventually become Four Steps to Freedom and, years later, the Gongo Centre itself.

Sometimes, the biggest journeys begin with a single animal.

Or in this case, two.❤️❤️

20/05/2026

Some dogs leave pawprints so deep, they stay with us forever.

Last week, Phyllis said goodbye to her beloved Ava.💔

Ava had been by her side for 18 years, headstrong, mischievous, fiercely loved, and impossible not to adore. The kind of dog who becomes part of your soul.

One day, she received a call about two dogs stranded beside a railway line, with trains passing every 30 minutes. 😔 The day Ava and Sophie entered her life.

When she first saw Ava, she immediately felt a deep connection. That moment began an adventure that would last nearly two decades. That day, she spent over two ours getting these two girls to safety. ❤️

18 years later, both Ava and Sophie passed away from kidney disease, just 14 months apart. They both fought courageous and Phyllis made sure they had the best life possible, till the very end. 🏡

Anyone who knows Phyllis knows that her love for dogs is not casual, it is deep, instinctive, and lifelong. It is also the reason Four Steps to Freedom exists today.

Behind every vaccination campaign, every fundraising effort, every building at the Gongo Centre, and every life saved in Tanzania, is someone who simply could not turn away from suffering.

Ava was part of that journey.💕

And while this loss is immeasurable, so too is the love that remains behind.🙏

We would also like to thank long-time supporter and friend Lorraine Miller, who donated £1,000 in Ava’s memory to support the ongoing work of Four Steps to Freedom, a beautiful tribute to a dog who meant so much.

Run free, Ava.🕊❤️

16/05/2026

No two days at the Gongo Centre are ever the same.😅

Each morning begins with preparation, cleaning and organising surgical equipment, checking on patients recovering overnight, preparing vaccines, and planning the day ahead.

Soon after, the clinic comes to life.

Some animals arrive for scheduled spay and neuter surgeries as part of our long-term rabies prevention work. Others come with emergencies that cannot wait.💔

Broken legs after traffic accidents.
Hip injuries.
Head trauma.
Tick fever.
Parvovirus.
Poisoning cases.
Suspected rabies cases requiring immediate isolation and careful handling.

The reality for many street animals in Tanzania is harsh, and our team faces that reality every single day.

Alongside emergency treatment, the clinic also provides free rabies vaccinations for local communities, an essential part of protecting both animals and people from a deadly but preventable disease.💉

Every surgery performed here helps reduce roaming and uncontrolled breeding.
Every vaccination helps break the transmission cycle.
Every treated animal is given a chance to recover.

Some days are exhausting.
Some days are heartbreaking.
But every day brings prevention, treatment, and hope.🙏

And through it all, the clinic team continues showing up, caring for animals, supporting communities, and working towards a safer future for all. ❤️

06/05/2026

Behind every treatment, every surgery, and every vaccination, there is a team making it happen.💪

At the Gongo Centre, the clinic team of Mbwa wa Africa works every day to care for animals, support communities, and drive forward the fight against rabies.💉

At the heart of this work are the people on the ground:
Dr. Anna, our veterinarian, alongside paraprofessional Naftal, veterinary assistants Haika and Juliana, receptionist Irine, and dog catcher Six.

Each of them plays a vital role.🙏

Their days are hands-on, fast-paced, and often unpredictable. From preparing surgeries and assisting in the clinic, to handling animals in the field and welcoming members of the community, their work keeps everything running.🏨

But their role goes beyond medical care.

They build trust, with dog owners, animals and within the wider community. This trust is essential. It allows vaccination campaigns to reach more animals, encourages responsible care, and helps create safer environments for both people and dogs.

Their skill, dedication, and teamwork are what make long-term change possible.

Because sustainable rabies elimination cannot rely on short-term interventions alone.

It depends on strong local teams, people who are here every day, who understand the challenges, and who continue the work long after campaigns end.❤️

The clinic team is the backbone of everything we do.

And every step towards a rabies-free future is built on their commitment.

26/04/2026

Behind every vaccination, every campaign, and every step towards rabies elimination, there are people who make it possible.👏

For Four Steps to Freedom, that journey begins with Phyllis Hutchison.💪

After witnessing the devastating impact of rabies in Tanzania in 2014, Phyllis made a decision that would shape everything that followed: to not turn away, but to take action.

What started with one rescued dog and one determined person quickly grew into something much bigger.🙌

Because she did not do it alone.

Since 2015, a dedicated team in Scotland has stood behind this work, giving their time, skills, and energy to build Four Steps to Freedom into what it is today.🏰

From fundraising and financial management to strategic direction and long-term planning, this team forms the backbone of everything that happens on the ground in Tanzania.

Led by Phyllis as Founder and Chair, the organisation is supported by a board and committee, individuals who share a deep belief in a future without rabies, and who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make that vision possible.❤️

Together, they have helped grow a small rescue effort into a structured programme, supporting vaccination campaigns, sterilisation work, and the development of the Gongo Centre.

Their work is not always visible.

But it is present in every clinic day, every field campaign, every life saved.🙏

Because rabies elimination is not just about action in the field, it is about the people who make that action possible.

Across borders. Across years. With unwavering commitment.

And it all started with one person who chose to act and a team who chose to stand beside her.💕

09/04/2026

Rabies elimination does not happen in one place.🌎

It happens on the ground, in villages, in communities, and door by door.

Since 2015, Four Steps to Freedom has been working alongside Mbwa wa Africa and Mission Rabies to carry out large-scale vaccination campaigns across the Arusha region.💉

Together, these efforts now reach over 11,000 dogs in just two weeks.

Each vaccination is a step towards breaking the cycle of transmission.

In recent years, this work has expanded even further. In collaboration with Edgard & Cooper, we are now able to carry out an additional large-scale campaign each year, reaching new project areas and extending protection to even more communities.🙏

But behind every number is a team.

Veterinarians, animal handlers, data collectors, drivers, coordinators, all working together to make each campaign possible. From early mornings to long days in the field, this is a true team effort.🫂

Many vaccinations happen door to door, ensuring that even the most remote or hard-to-reach animals are protected.

Because rabies elimination is not achieved in theory.
It is achieved through consistent, coordinated action.

One dog at a time.
One village at a time.
Together.

01/04/2026

Why Rabies Elimination Needs Vaccination + Sterilisation 🫂

Rabies can be prevented.
But prevention is not just one action.

Vaccination is essential , it protects dogs from the virus and breaks the cycle of transmission to humans.

But vaccination alone is not enough.

To eliminate rabies sustainably, it must be combined with sterilisation.

When dogs are not sterilised, populations grow quickly. More dogs means more movement, more competition, and more contact between animals, all of which increase the risk of bites and the spread of disease.💔

Sterilisation changes this.

Dogs that are sterilised are less likely to roam, fight, and reproduce. Populations become more stable, easier to reach, and easier to vaccinate consistently.

Fewer fights.
Fewer bites.
Lower risk of transmission.

This approach is also far more effective than culling.🙏

Removing dogs does not solve the problem, new dogs quickly move into the same area, and the cycle continues. Without vaccination and population control, rabies remains.💉

Vaccination protects.
Sterilisation stabilises.

Together, they create the conditions needed to eliminate rabies, not just temporarily, but for the long term.

Address

Spiersbridge House
Glasgow
G468NG

Telephone

+441414283944

Website

https://fourstepstofreedom.org.uk/

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