Help us! Support Orphaned Girls in Tanzania

In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious and The Most Merciful.

The Wanderlust Women travelled to Tanzania in November 2023 for a safari trip. During the trip, we visited Ummu Aisha Orphanage Centre in Arusha City, Kilimanjaro. We met Mama Salma, who looks after 14 young orphan girls.

It was such a delight to meet the young girls who welcomed us into their home. They were so grateful for the gifts, we spent time playing games, sharing snacks and taking picture. We bought them toys, educational resources, sanitary products and food.

Visiting the girls and seeing how grateful they were for the small amount we gave them. Made us appreciate the blessing in our owns lives which we take for granted. seeing the pleasure on their faces, gave us so much warmth in our hearts and we felt we found a purpose. We want to support the young girls with their basic care, education, shelter and warmth.

The Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) said “I and the one who looks after an orphan and provides for him, will be in Paradise like these two” – and he gestured with his forefinger and middle finger, holding them close together.’’ (Bukhari)

The Qur’an couldn’t be clearer about our responsibility as Muslims to show compassion and care for orphans; orphan charity is one of the most blessed ways to honor Allah and give vulnerable children all the opportunities and love they deserve.

The Wanderlust Women will visit the Orphanage Centre again in the future and are collecting funds to be shared dependent on the needs throughout the year. The current need is for educational resources, sanitary products and renovations of the home, as new carpet is required.

I will update the page regularly to share stories of how the young girls are doing.

Background Information

The Ummu Aisha Orphanage Centre was officially established in 2002, initially accommodating a total of 20 children aged between 3 and 5 years old. The center was situated in rented house buildings in the Makao Mapya area of Arusha City, specifically in Mama Khadija's house.

These children continued to be raised in this environment with the support and donations from believers and other benefactors.

The upbringing of these children continued to pose challenges, which eventually turned into successes by the year 2012, when a plot of land was acquired in an area known as Simba Truck to construct a permanent residence. This has been their home up to this day.

In 2004, the overseeing institution of this center initiated plans to establish a school to alleviate the burden of educational expenses. By 2012, the first orphaned student completed primary education (7 years of schooling) at a school named Assalaf Islamic Seminary School. This school encompasses early childhood education up to Form Four.

The center has continued to care for orphans in different phases. This involves collaboration with the Ansaar Muslim Youth Centre. When these orphans reach adolescence and self-awareness, they are transferred to boarding schools to create space for new admissions. Typically, children admitted are between the ages of 3 and 5.

For example, this year, we have registered five new children after the relocation of five others to boarding schools.

Despite our limited resources, with the aid of believers and other benefactors, we have been able to educate and nurture a total of 72 orphaned girls to date. The girls are supported into adulthood life, with higher education, employment and marriage.

Alhamdulillah (praise be to God), the center also supports male orphans who reside in believers' homes, with the center bearing the costs of their education and other minor needs. The aim is to create a male Orphanage Centre so that the boys can reside together in one place.

Vigorous checks are completed to ensure the children are Orphan children, according to Islamic Law. Death certificates are seen and family members are spoken to. This is to ensure that the right children are getting the right support.

The Wanderlust Woman believe it is important to give back to communities that are in need. Every trip includes a community projects that allows the Wanderlust Women to give charity for the sake of Allah's love. As Muslims, we cherish the opportunity to support our Ummah in anyway that we can.

We will be going back this year in October 2024, in sha Allah and funds are needed for cost towards the renovations, general running of the Orphanage, educational costs and general upkeep of the girls -clothing, sanitary products, educational resources and food.