SUCCESSFUL STORIES: Joseph John Kumeza, From being a street child to a Director and founder of Shine dance company.

He lived on the street since he was a little child with the age of 5. He remember living with his father alone who left him to a friend when Joseph was 4 years old and promised to come back after few weeks as he is going to find money for Joseph better life in the City. A friend with Joseph waited for more than a year without a trace of the father nor communication. One day a friend took Joseph to town since they were living in the village and left him at a bus stand with a message that his father is coming shortly to take him. Joseph waited for the whole day there was no sign of father nor fathers friend. He did not know how he can go back to the village including him not having many information's about where to go. He found himself living on the streets and start begging for food and help if necessary but no one was interested to help him. He started living the life street at the area for the year when he decided to find transport to go to the City of Dar es salaam to look for his father. He did not manage to get enough money for transportation and no driver/conductor/person wanted to help him travel. He decided to hid in the car chases for his trip.

He reached in Dar es salaam coughing a lot with dust every where in his body. It was a big surprise for him because he couldn't know where to start find his father, many people, big city and he only know one name of his father. He loose hope and start again street life for seven years until he met Makini organization on the outreach street visit. It did not succeed for makini on tracing Joseph Family, so Joseph with other few Kids were raised under Makini watch and support who later on were supported with a group renting. The journey of Joseph made us as an NGO so much proud because despite his slow learning skills, he was so enthusiastic to learn more and more and practice until he understand it well. His good behavior surprised so many people that he once lived on the street.

We are so much proud to have successful children like Joseph. And we pray for him to have more and more development.