Joseph of Tanzania

I am an artist and tour guide based in Arusha, Tanzania.

I launched a nonprofit project—

TABASAMU Langu

—to improve the lives of street children and orphans.

I started in my home town, Karatu, TZ, hoping to spread to Arusha and beyond.

As a young boy, I nearly lost my life when struck by a car. When I awoke, I had a vision of my life’s purpose: to bring smiles to street children and orphans of my country.

I held onto my vision for many years.

After moving to Arusha for tour guide school, I rode the bus to Karatu often to visit my Mum. I brought bananas and gave one to each child I met as I walked to my home.

Soon many children were running to the bus, calling Joseph is here! I taught them to form a line around my Mum’s home. I gave each one a banana, a high five, and a smile.

I continued visiting schools and orphanages, spreading smiles and my message of happiness and hope. Always I was thinking,

How can I help more children?

In 2024, with help from my American “Mama Laura,” I created TABASAMU to bring my vision to life.

$25.00

$50.00

$100.00

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$500.00

$1,000.00

Custom Amount

Donations are not tax deductible in the U.S.

OUR FIRST DONATION

Children of Tanzania love to play football (soccer). Very few have proper shoes, real footballs, or team jerseys.

With the first donation of $400, I was able to buy 30 football uniforms, shoes, and balls for boys and girls, printed with TABASAMU and our logo. I hired a youth umpire to promote skills and good sportsmanship.

After the first game in my home town of Karatu, Tanzania, I was able to treat the players to a snack of fresh fruit, healthy snack bar, and clean water.

The children were so proud and happy to wear uniforms for the first time!

I clean and take care of the uniforms. Wherever I go, they bring smiles and the message of TABASAMU to street children.

For street children, there are not Christmas gifts or special meals. With a small donation of just $30, my Mum bought cooking oil, gas for her burner, chickens, rice, vegetables, and fruit juice. She prepared a healthy meal for the many street children near her home.