About us
MISSION & VISION
Thrive Afya Tanzania is a US 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Babati, Tanzania. Our team works to improve access to quality reproductive and maternal health services for adolescents and women in Tanzania. Due to the provision of poor health services in Tanzania, adolescents and women face high rates of morbidity and mortality. Thrive Afya Tanzania seeks to change that.
Our mission is to improve access to quality HIV/AIDS, reproductive, and maternal health services through health system strengthening, life skills development, education, research, and advocacy.
Thrive Afya Tanzania envisions a Tanzania where every adolescent and woman of reproductive age can choose when to start a family and has access to the necessary services to do so, can share their desires and achieve their goals without discrimination, and will no longer suffer due to lack of access to basic healthcare services.
FOUNDING STORY
Believe it or not, our journey started way back in 2007 when Simon, Waziri, and Mershil met working for Support for International Change (SIC). Katie and Yusuph joined SIC in 2010. While we didn’t all work for SIC at the same time, we have bonded over the memorable experiences that SIC gave us.
Unfortunately, in 2015, SIC decided to close its doors. As a result, Arusha and Babati were left without the incredible HIV support SIC provided. This would simply not do. Our shared passion to serve communities in Tanzania and provide them with the quality healthcare services they deserve drew us together to join hands once again.
So, in 2016, the five of us created a new organization, Thrive Afya Tanzania, which focuses on improving access to quality reproductive health services. Our dream is to ensure that women and adolescents in Tanzania can fulfill their basic human right to reproductive health services and to have the freedom to pursue their own dreams.
DONATE TODAY
Support local efforts to improve access to HIV/AIDS and reproductive health services in Babati, Tanzania.
Donate today so we can continue to provide critical health services to underserved populations in Tanzania.
CORE VALUES
Respect
We believe that respect for the communities that we serve is the first step towards creating change. Respect is an integral part of how we design and implement our programs.
Integrity
We are accountable to the communities that we serve, our partners, and our donors. We strive to be as transparent as possible about the successes and challenges we face in our work.
Change
We believe that change starts with the community. We harness community voices and join them together with health providers and the government to foster multi-level change.
Flexibility
We acknowledge that the needs of the community change. We, therefore, are committed to remaining flexible in adjusting our programs to be as effective as possible.
Compassion
We are driven by our compassionate spirit that informs the work that we do and how our programs are implemented.
Social Justice
We believe that access to quality reproductive health services is a human right that should be guaranteed to all adolescents and women of reproductive age.
TEAM
Katie Lesyna-Mlaponi
Executive Director
Simon Gervas
TZ Programs Manager
Yusuph Ibrahim Mlaponi
TZ Operations Manager
Waziri Njau
Technical Expert
Mershil Kivuyo
Legal Advisor
Read more about the Thrive Afya Tanzania Team
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Susannah Gibbs, PhD
Board Chair
Sarah Johnston
Board Secretary
Michelle Hawks-Cuellar, PhD(c)
Board Treasurer
DONORS & PARTNERS
Generous Individual Donors
Thank you to all individual donors! Without you, our work would not be possible.
The Michael & Karen Lesyna Family Fund
Sarah A. Stewart Foundation
The Sarah A. Stewart Foundation has provided ongoing general support for our work.
The Matthew & Connie Ives Family Fund, an advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
Providing sustainable weight loss and wellness coaching, Coaching by Jennifer donates 5% of her profits from her Well Journal sales.
Inspiring global citizenry through Art, Artizenry donates 5% of their profits to support women's health programs.
Africa Top Guide Expeditions, a Tanzanian safari company, donates 5% of their profits to TAT.
Shop with AmazonSmile and choose Thrive Afya Tanzania to donate 0.5% of your purchases.
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