The Speaker of the National Assembly of Tanzania and President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Dr Tulia Ackson, has stepped in to transform the life of a struggling family in Mbeya, restoring their dignity and securing their future through her Tulia Trust foundation.
The family, headed by Lusia Kapangala, a grandmother living in Mwasote Street, Itezi Ward, had been living in extreme poverty surviving on the goodwill of neighbours for food, clothing and other essential needs.
With no stable source of income, the family’s hopes of educating their children had faded, especially for her grandson Nature Nenelo, who excelled in his Form Four exams but could not proceed to Form Five due to financial constraints.
Nature, who completed Form Four in 2024 with Division One and 13 points, had lost all hope of continuing his education, despite his outstanding performance. His dreams were hanging by a thread until Dr Tulia intervened.
Moved by the family’s plight, Dr Tulia pledged to provide comprehensive support for all their essential needs, including education.
She assured that Tulia Trust will fully sponsor Nature’s schooling through to completion, while also taking over the cost of supporting the rest of the family.
"Today, I want to thank the Lameki Ambassadors for stepping in to help this family when they were at their lowest. However, from now on, Tulia Trust will take full responsibility for their welfare, including school fees, food, and clothing.
There is no longer any need for contributions or collections from the community,” said Dr Tulia during her visit.
She emphasized that Nature’s academic success was a testament to resilience and determination, and should serve as a powerful reminder to society about the importance of investing in education.
“It is rare to see a child from such a challenging background excel like this. Many would have given up, but he didn’t.
He studied through hunger, without proper shoes or books. He refused to let poverty be an excuse. That deserves recognition and collective support from all of us,” she said.
Nature Nenelo, who shared his story publicly for the first time, spoke of the hardships he faced throughout his studies.
“We often went without food. We had no school supplies. Even clothes were donated by neighbours. I lost hope of joining Form Five because there was no money. I’m grateful beyond words,” he said.
His grandmother, Bi. Lusia Kapangala, expressed profound gratitude to Dr Tulia and to all well-wishers who had extended a hand of compassion.
“I had lost all hope. But today, you’ve given my grandchildren a future. May God bless you,” she said, visibly emotional.
Dr Tulia’s intervention highlights the critical role of leaders in addressing community challenges beyond the chambers of Parliament demonstrating how targeted, humane action can lift families from the brink of despair to renewed purpose and opportunity.
The Tulia Trust continues to support vulnerable communities across Tanzania, with a strong focus on education, healthcare, and economic empowerment.