Dreaming beyond the slums

"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;  one Lord, one faith, one baptism;  one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." Ephesians 4:4-6

Born in a slum area near Makole, Tanzania, Veronica’s father disappeared when she was 5-years-old leaving the family struggling to survive. “On some days, we had only one meal. If we had lunch, we would wait for the next day before we had another meal. My mother’s business of preparing and selling buns for a profit of 1,500 Tanzanian shillings [50 pence] was very small to support the family needs,” Veronica recalls.

Veronica started school at the age of 7. At the same time, Compassion began partnering with the local church and she was one of the children selected to be registered. “[When] my family began to get support from the church they started to give us food and also helped us with other needs and paid for the school fees.”

Thanks to this support, Veronica was able to continue her education to secondary school. However, this wasn’t without challenges. As the oldest child she had to balance her studies, whilst supporting her mum’s business and running the home. “When I finished secondary school, my results were not very promising. My family and the project centre worked hard to support me, and they got me enrolled at a vocational training centre where I trained as a plumber.”

Veronica is grateful to Compassion for the way they’ve stood by her. Through the programme she had the opportunity to hear the word of God and as a result, gave her life to Christ. Veronica was also instrumental in helping her mother become a Christian. “I have now been baptised, and also my mother decided to be baptised. We are now all members of Baptist Church in Makole,” says Veronica.

Compassion’s presence in city slums has played a significant role in helping children like Veronica to realise their potential. Veronica has been set on a different path and is fulfilling her dreams to become a plumber.

Prayer:

Loving Father, we pray today for the children of the Makole slums. We pray that the local church will be a beacon of hope to them as they face difficult situations. Amen.