Neema is widowed and lives with her son Brian in a rented one-room house. She supports herself primarily by selling watermelons and seasonally by selling clothing such as sweaters and blankets. Her income is very low and fluctuates greatly, making basic expenses like rent, food, and medical care a frequent challenge.
Neema suffers from several health problems, including high blood pressure, eye and ear problems, and a suspected brain tumor. She has been unable to undergo necessary examinations such as MRI or CT scans due to financial reasons. Her health insurance has temporarily expired, making medications difficult to afford.
The family has suffered several devastating blows in recent years, including the death of a son and traumatic experiences for their daughter Brenda. In addition to supporting her own children, Neema also helps financially with her grandson Innocent's school fees. Despite the immense strain, she continues to strive to stabilize her family and provide her children with a future.
Timeline & Updates
2021
Daughter Anna (nickname Brenda) lives with her uncle in Morombo. Anna attended boarding school (poor grades) and started a hotel management course this year – her exam results are still pending. Neema's older son, John, died in September 2020. Neema has a brain tumor and is not taking any medication. An ear infection and nightmares improved after attending church. Her illness has caused her to lose almost all of her laundry clients (formerly ten, now one). She sells watermelons (one per day, making a profit of about 4,000–5,000 TSh). She plans to sell blankets and sweaters for the rainy season and needs start-up capital (70,000 TSh for sweaters, 200,000 TSh for blankets). We will provide her with the capital. Her son, Brian, has finished primary school and will start Kimaseki Secondary School next year.
2022
Neema continues to attend church regularly, and this seems to be helping her avoid relapsing into depression. Since her older son John died the year before last, she has taken in her grandchild Innocent. Innocent is now starting preschool.
At the end of the year, we gave Neema the start-up capital for a second business that would also be suitable for the rainy season (selling blankets and sweaters). She struggles to make a living, especially during the rainy season, as her watermelons don't sell well then.
Brenda passed her college exams. She is currently working in a relative's restaurant in Iringa for a very low wage. She still has an internship to complete. The college will then help her find a job, for example, in a hotel kitchen.
Brian will be in 9th grade next year.
2023
When Neema visited at the end of October, she had no money for cooking oil and was using unhealthy kerosene for cooking instead. Her health insurance had expired. Because of her high blood pressure, she cannot afford the daily medication she needs (two packs a month). This makes her dizzy, prevents her from working, and keeps her at home. We have decided to extend her health insurance. Her son, Brian, attends Kimaseki Secondary School and will complete Form 2 this year. We do not yet have a sponsor for him. Daughter Brenda has completed her hotel management studies at Savanna Bridge College and is working for low wages at a hotel in Iringa. She is willing to relocate for a better job. The college principal has been contacted and will try to help her.
2024
Neema has serious health problems (tinnitus, sudden vision loss with balance problems) and needs a CT scan (cost: 240,000 TSh). Her expired health insurance (280,000 TSh per year) does not cover this scan. She has turned to religion in recent years and broken off contact with her siblings. Her income comes from selling watermelons in the summer (daily income 5,000–10,000 TSh) and selling sweaters/jackets in the winter (working capital 250,000 TSh, sales mostly on credit). She saves through a social group. Neema lives with her son Brian in a one-room house with electricity. Brian is struggling academically (Form 4) due to excessive television viewing; Neema has implemented new rules. Her daughter Brenda (a former rape victim, trained in hotel management) wants to return to Arusha, as Neema now lives in a different area. Neema is worried about her grandson Innocent (6 years old), who is being discriminated against by his stepfather (no clothes, no food, no school fees). Moving in with Neema is being discussed, but Neema has neither the space nor the means.
2025
Neema continues to suffer from eye and ear problems, high blood pressure, and a suspected brain tumor. She needs an MRI; the NSK Hospital has offered a 30-50% discount, leaving a balance of approximately 550,000 TSh. Saidi will clarify the exact discount with the hospital. Neema earns a living selling watermelons (5,000 TSh to buy, 9,000 TSh to sell – formerly 10,000 TSh). Her income is insufficient to live on. Her health insurance has expired. Her son, Brian (17), has completed Form 4 and wants to join the military, but needs two more years of schooling (Form 6). Her daughter, Brenda, works as a waitress, but her income is unreliable as the restaurant is often closed. Neema's grandson, Innocent (7), lived with his mother and her new partner, where he was mistreated, and now lives with his other grandmother. Neema has to pay Innocent's school fees (around 200,000 TSh per year, due at the beginning of January). More about Brian...
More about Innocent...