Empowering Women, Protecting Girls, Transforming Communities
Building Brighter Futures in Rural Tanzania
Every child deserves an education. Every woman deserves a voice. Every community deserves hope.
Finding Joy and Hope
Co-Founders’ Journey: From Struggle to Advocacy
Born from personal challenges in rural Tanzania, our co-founders transformed adversity into a mission. At Joy and Hope, we’re dedicated to empowering women, protecting girls, and transforming communities. In regions where early marriage, interrupted education, and economic hardship are realities, we are dedicated to creating opportunities for lasting change through education, safety, and sustainable development.
The Current Reality in Rural Tanzania
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1 in 3 girls in rural areas is married before turning 18.
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Only 30% of rural girls complete secondary school.
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70% of rural women lack financial independence.
Without urgent action, these numbers won’t change.
Our Core Values
Education
Equality
Community
Sustainability
Transparency
The Heart and Soul behind Joy and Hope
Meet Our Founders
Upendo Lebene Lukumay
Community Development Officer
Oloirien Ward
Born into a Maasai community where early marriage was common, Upendo, with her mother’s help, defied tradition and escaped a forced marriage at 12.
Zakayo Lairumbe Kipuyo
Project manager
Accounting and Finance
From a nomadic childhood to a leader in education, Zakayo L. Kipuyo defied the odds as the first in his family of 80+ siblings to earn a degree.
Latest News and Stories
– Volunteering at Meserani Secondary School – We are a retired couple of lecturers from Finland, and have just completed […]
– Creating a Meaningful Visual Identity to Empower Joy and Hope – When I first heard about Joy and Hope […]
In rural Tanzania, girls face significant challenges that hinder their personal development and perpetuate cycles of poverty. Child Marriage A […]