Restoring Dignity. Empowering Futures. Transforming Communities.
🌍 About WOW Tanzania
Wakefulness Orphans and Widows Tanzania (WOW Tanzania) is a community-powered nonprofit rooted in Arusha and built on a bold, beautiful vision: to restore dignity, opportunity, and hope to widows, single mothers, and vulnerable children across Tanzania.
We believe that every family—regardless of their background—deserves a fair chance at a safe, stable, and meaningful life.
💛 Who We Serve
We walk alongside the most overlooked members of society:
Widows and single mothers facing poverty and social stigma
At-risk children and orphans struggling to stay in school
Families in need of safe homes, food, clean water, and income
With your support, we provide the tools they need to rise—permanently.
🚀 What We Do
We don’t just provide charity — we build lasting solutions hand-in-hand with local communities.
Here’s how:
🎒 Sponsor-a-Child
Every child deserves the chance to learn, grow, and dream. Our Sponsor-a-Child program provides:
School tuition and supplies
Daily meals
Uniforms and healthcare
Emotional and spiritual support
Sponsors receive personal updates, letters, and video messages that follow the child’s journey—turning your gift into a lifelong connection.
🏠 Safe Homes & Shelter
From building new homes to repairing existing ones, our Cornerstone Housing Project ensures families in crisis have a safe place to live, recover, and rebuild.
🚜 Community Garden
We operate a local chicken farm and community garden that feed our community while training families in job-ready skills like:
Farm & food security
Hospitality & café work
Business entrepreneurship
Vocational trades
By training parents, we help families break the cycle of poverty—permanently.
💧 Clean Water for Schools & Communities
Access to clean water changes everything. Through our WASH initiatives, we install water tanks and sanitation systems that protect health and promote hygiene in schools and underserved villages.
🌱 How We’re Built
Founded by a passionate team from the United States, Zambia, and South Africa, WOW Tanzania is powered by:
Love for our neighbors
Faith in the possibility of change
Justice that says no one should be forgotten
We operate transparently, work locally, and collaborate with partners across education, healthcare, and economic development.
📍 Where We Work
Our programs are active in the Arusha region, with expanding efforts across rural Tanzania as resources grow. We go where the need is greatest—and stay until lives are transformed.
🤝 Ways to Give
Whether you give once or become a recurring sponsor, you become a part of someone’s breakthrough story.
🔗 Quick Donation Links
💸 PayPal »
🌐 GlobalGiving Projects » (Tax-deductible)
✅ Mobile Money (Tanzania):
Airtel: 0747 987 410
Mpesa: 0684 917 161✅ Remitly (Recommended)
Bank: Exim Bank
Account Name: Wakefulness Orphans and Widows Tanzania
Account No: 0030035969
Friend discount code: Use This Link »
💬 Let’s Connect
We’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re a donor, partner, church group, or traveler visiting Arusha—let’s build hope together.
📧 Email: info@wowtanzania.org
🌐 Website: www.wowtanzania.org
📍 Location: Arusha, Tanzania
✨ Be Part of the Transformation
Give. Sponsor. Share. Volunteer.
Together, we’re restoring dignity—one family at a time.
Mrs. Paula Mwansa — Co-Founder, Chairperson, Café Director & SAC Project Manager
Paula Mwansa is a co-founder and Chairperson of WOW Tanzania, where she also serves as Director of the WOW Café and Project Manager for the Sponsor-a-Child (SAC) program. With a heart for widows and orphans, Paula has built community-based programs that restore dignity through education, mentorship, and job training. She leads the WOW Café as both a social enterprise and a training ground, equipping widows and at-risk youth with skills for financial independence. Through SAC, she ensures vulnerable children stay in school with the support they need to thrive. Paula’s leadership reflects her deep commitment to holistic, sustainable solutions that strengthen families and communities.
Mr. Mike Mwansa — Co-Founder, Executive Director & Project Manager for Cornerstone Housing and WASH
As Co-Founder and Executive Director of WOW Tanzania, Mike Mwansa provides strategic leadership and oversees daily operations. He also serves as Project Manager for both the Cornerstone Housing and WASH initiatives. Mike has led efforts to build and renovate safe homes for widows and vulnerable families while spearheading clean water and sanitation projects in rural schools and communities. His work bridges local needs with international partnerships, ensuring that WOW Tanzania’s programs bring lasting impact. Known for his community-driven approach, Mike combines strong organizational skills with a deep faith-based commitment to justice and dignity for all.
Mrs. Betsie Green — Co-Founder, Treasurer & Project Manager for Student Fund and EmpowerED
Betsie Green is a co-founder of WOW Tanzania, serving as Treasurer and Project Manager for the Student Fund and EmpowerED programs. She ensures sound financial stewardship of donor support while also directly managing initiatives that expand access to education. Through the Student Fund, Betsie helps secondary students remain in school with scholarships, supplies, and tuition support. With EmpowerED, she provides children and youth with life-enriching experiences beyond the classroom — from cultural trips to leadership development. Betsie’s blend of financial oversight and hands-on program leadership reflects her dedication to building transparent, impactful, and sustainable change for widows, orphans, and vulnerable youth.
Our Partners
