2024 STEMM Highlights and Updates

Here at STEMM, we have had an amazing and eventful year with several longstanding projects reaching completion, some new people, and many projects which have made a tangible difference in Tanzania in general, and Mbuguni, in particular. Here are a few areas where we have seen progress at STEMM, thus far, in 2024:

New Faces…

We have brought on a new In-Country director, Dr. Yani, as well as a new Farm Manager and Human Resources Manager. All are doing an amazing job. STEMM is in a much better place, today, vs last year at this time in terms of the policies and procedures which govern our organization, and also the farm, which is a potential money maker for the organization from the Tanzanian side.

◦ An unprecedented level of cooperation from the Tanzanian and US boards. We are holding regular Board of Director meetings on both sides of our organization. The Boards are providing vision and leadership for the organization and this has not always been the case in our history.

◦ Full compliance with the Tanzanian government, including the TRA. Part of the leadership from the Tanzanian board in 2024 was to get our Tanzanian operations and accounting buttoned up. We did this by hiring an outside accountant to fully audit our books and look for weakness in our organization. We are currently in the process of enacting the recommendations that came from this review of our organization.

◦ The first STEMM fundraiser ever held in Tanzania, raising over $25,000, allowing STEMM to cover a monthly payroll, with money raised in Tanzania. This fundraiser was a great example of the involvement of the Tanzanian Board of Directors and it was called the first annual “Night of Hope Gala”, held in June in Arusha, Tanzania. It has never happened before that the Tanzanian side of our organization paid for our Tanzanian payroll in a given month. A great first step!

June Interns

… hailing from Dordt, Northwestern, and Wayne State at the 2024 Night of Hope Gala in Arusha, Tanzania.

Farm Progress

…with available land use trending up from 34% to 54% of our 80 acres. This is solid progress towards our 2025 goal of farming 100% of our 80 acre farm. Our new Director and Farm Director are extremely involved in progressing our farm, knowing the potential the farm has to help fund STEMM. Increasing our land under production is a great start. Over half of our farm is now under production and we now have a footprint and a plan for how we will grow the farm.

Caring for 51 orphans…

… by STEMM’s 51 employees in a loving, nurturing, spiritual environment, including nuclear family contact, as is feasible. We have addressed a couple of issues with regards to our orphan children. One big issue has been sponsorship contact with our orphans. An e-mail alias has been established (stemmchild@stemm.org) to allow donors to reach out to their sponsored child, and vice versa. The address will be managed by an adult at the SCV and will make sure an exchange takes place. Additionally, we are looking at ways we can provide training for dysfunctional families, to allow for the greatest amount of contact possible between our children and their families. Lastly, in terms of the orphanage, we have provided training to our “mommas and aunties” by Sibusiso, an amazing school in Arusha which specializes in helping children with intellectual disabilities, to help our own children with special needs. We have seen great progress due to this partnership.

Amazing educational contributions…

…including sponsoring 421 children, across Tanzania to help them attend school, as well as teacher in-services to help progress education in our local wards.

School attendance and achievement incentives…

…like the STEMM Academic cup (an academic competition between schools with prizes to the top finishers) and the STEMM Athletic Cup (competitive athletic tournaments between schools, with requirements in terms of attendance and academic performance for participation), encouraging student attendance and excellence through extra curricular activities in Mbuguni.

Feeding Program…

…We continue to partner with the local community to feed school children. STEMM provides the cooks, utensils, oils, etc… for the meals, and the community provides the corn and beans. Working together, every child receives a hot meal daily, and this program has had a dramatic impact on school attendance in the schools with which we work.

Playground Remodel…

…Through the generosity of our donors, we completed a remodeling of our playground, allowing our orphans and children from the community a safe and fun place to play with friends.

Community Impact!

Also through the generosity of our donors, STEMM provided an addition to the Mbuguni health clinic, and repaired the local ambulance, both of which were life-saving additions to our local community.

◦ In 2024, we have hosted 34 local university students, while they have gained knowledge and experience in the fields of medicine and education, and farming. STEMM hosted more than 70 Americans in our STEMM Mountain Retreat Center in 2024, introducing them to the beauty and the challenges associated with life in Tanzania.

◦ STEMM partnered with other local nonprofits, such as Go serv Global, and Safe Water International Ministries , and Days for Girls International, to move medical supplies from our warehouse to Africa, help improve the drinking water in our area, sharing the Gospel message in the process, and facilitate the distribution of hundreds of pairs of washable underwear and pads, which allow girls to go to school while menstruating. We also continue to meet with local community leaders and the over 40 pastors in the Mbuguni area, regularly, to discern physical and spiritual needs STEMM can move to meet, as is feasible.

◦ The 2024 Pohama medical outreach was life-changing for 2500 rural Tanzanians. It allowed healthcare in a place where there are no other avenues; additionally STEMM gave away 1000 Bibles, and shared the gospel message with 1400 during this three day outreach .

2024 has been an amazing year for STEMM, so far. Much has changed while some key pieces have stayed the same. As we move towards 2025, we look forward to what we believe will be the most extraordinary year in the history of our organization.