Karimu Foundation

10/15/2026

Meet Francis Wolfgang Panga

Entrepreneur, Respected Leader, Karimu’s Program Lead for Income Projects, and Family Man
Francis joined Karimu in 2021 after participating in its entrepreneurial training. His business skills, innovative ideas, and compassion earned him a leadership role overseeing Karimu’s entrepreneurial training and income projects.

Francis’s resilience and determination were shaped by childhood experiences of poverty and neglect. Despite these challenges, he attended college and established a highly successful chicken business.

Today, Francis combines his entrepreneurial success with a deep commitment to serving others.
In his own words:

“I remain deeply committed to Karimu’s poverty-fighting mission, especially for youth and the poorest of the poor. I believe income projects and entrepreneurship training can transform lives, helping people become independent, and I strive to be a role model for them.”

10/10/2026

10/07/2026

Thank you to all our brilliant, joyous, and loving volunteers!

Their hard work and their bright spirits left a lasting impact on the communities that Karimu serves!

09/22/2026

Before Karimu became the organization it is today, there was a school in Tanzania facing a serious problem.

Ufani Primary School had an old latrine that was nearly full, putting the school at risk of being shut down by the health department. The community was already working to build a new latrine, but they did not have enough money to finish it.

When Don and Marianne saw the conditions firsthand, they were shocked by what students and teachers were expected to learn in. They promised $500 to help complete the new bathroom, and they followed through.

As Shau Erro Ae explains, “I believe it was at that moment Karimu was born.”

In this talk, Shau, Karimu’s Tanzanian Regional Director, shares how Karimu’s early support grew into a long-standing partnership with communities in Tanzania, and how that first act of support became part of a much larger journey toward lasting change.

Daniel Amma, Education Officer of Dareda Mission Ward and Chair of the Karimu Board, also shares his long-standing relationship with Karimu.

Learn more about Karimu’s work: www.karimufoundation.org

09/19/2026

Karimu has volunteers all over the world. There is so much gpod news to share go to karimufoundation.org and subscribe to the newsletter

09/16/2026

🧵 THREADS OF HOPE 💛

Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, belong, and believe in themselves.

Threads of Hope is a Karimu program created to support children with disabilities by helping them develop practical skills, build confidence, and feel included — both at school and in their wider community.

Through hands-on activities and meaningful learning opportunities, children are encouraged to discover their abilities, express themselves, and participate alongside their peers.

✨ Practical skills — supporting greater independence in everyday life.

✨ Confidence — helping children recognize their abilities and believe in themselves.

✨ Inclusion — creating spaces where every child feels valued, welcomed, and part of the community.

09/14/2026

Where does your donation go when you support Karimu?

In this video, Eduardo Lins Henrique explains how Karimu’s work is organized in Tanzania.

The foundation has a small team of just seven staff members on the ground, who support and coordinate projects in local communities.

Beyond this essential team, most of Karimu’s work is carried out by volunteers who receive no financial compensation.

Their contribution is driven by commitment, gratitude, and the desire to help communities build a path out of poverty.

Donations support Karimu’s projects and the salaries of the staff working directly on the ground, helping ensure that resources reach the communities they are intended to serve.

Learn more about Karimu’s work and how you can support rural communities at www.karimufoundation.org.

09/12/2026

Savings Groups = Hope for Rural Communities

Banking services are unavailable in rural areas, and subsistence
living is without a safety net, so in emergency situations, families
sell the only things they own—the cow that provided their family
with milk or the seed and fertilizer acquired for next season’s
planting. They get pushed deeper into poverty.

Karimu’s financial services program provides a safety net and allows
people to fulfill their ambitions to open a small business. Farmers can make use
of a savings group to turn their farms into profits, so they can move from subsistence
to thriving. Many group members have realized an 88% annual increase in savings.

Savings groups make it possible for everyone to succeed! 83% of the members are women, and 22% are youth who often face lack of resources and unemployment.

09/09/2026

The Power of “Yes” ❤️

A message from Marianne Kent-Stoll, Co-founder of Karimu.

When my husband Don and I saw the condition of Ufani Primary School in 2007—and learned that the government was planning to close it—we couldn’t turn away.

The villagers asked for $500 to finish six pit latrines so the school could remain open.
We said, “Yes!”

Eighteen years later, Karimu has built more than 15 school bathrooms, helping students learn in clean, safe environments.

And Ufani was just the beginning.

Hundreds of Karimu donors and volunteers have also said “yes”—to clean water, education, healthcare, livelihoods, and financial services that help communities build a path out of poverty.

The choice to say “yes” is powerful. And it can be transformative.

Thank you to every Karimu donor and volunteer who has said yes. ❤️

— Marianne Kent-Stoll

Co-founder, Karimu International Help Foundation