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By Esther Kibakaya.
Many of us fear to get old. But one man is convinced that you can grow old with dignity and still enjoy life. “Getting old is not a disease, it’s a process of being and it shouldn’t mean one is useless. We still need elderly people in our society,” declares Misana Manyama, the Executive Director, of Getting Old Is to Grow (GOIG) organisation in Dar es Salaam. Misana a lawyer by profession heads the 20-year-old association established by retired women keen on furthering children, youth and vulnerable groups interests. It aimed at teaching them life skills that will enable them to tackle daily challenges.
And who better to drive these aims than someone who believes that helping the community is his life long turf.
“It was my childhood wish. I dreamed of doing something for the community, something that will bring a new hope and create opportunities for women and children,” the 29-year-old says. Born and brought up in a humble family of eight in Mwanza region, Misana studied at Bugando secondary school in Mwanza before proceeding to Ifakara high school for his A’ levels. Always keen on putting extra work, in 2005 he joined Mzumbe University, Mbeya campus to pursue a law degree. He graduated in 2008 and joined Lundy foundation as a country coordinator before moving to Asyla Attorneys as a legal officer and.
Dream comes true.
That’s when his life calling came knocking.
“I saw an advert in the newspaper and I knew I was the best candidate for the job. But on the interview panel I wasn’t so sure anymore. There were other very strong contenders. They had worked in impressive places and had amiable experience. But I think my passion and determination convinced the judges that I was the best person for the job,” Misana, who took office in early 2010, says.
The youthful executive says that it was not a surprise that he got his wish granted early as he worked towards it.
“I involved myself with women and children issues from my university days,” the recently married Dar es salaam resident, says. In his second year at the university the self-driven Misana established an association called Children Equal Rights (CERA) an association that dealt with children matters. “I wanted to sensitise the community that children’s especially the ones who live in poor and vulnerable environments have equal rights like everyone else. That they should be treated well, educated and not to be hired at a tender age,” Misana, says of the organisation that still runs through volunteer Law students at his former college.
There were hardships
It was this early experience that propelled him to join the senior citizens help organisation. But despite his excitement that his dream had at last come true he realised that challenges were abound.
“Things weren’t going so well,” he acknowledges.
One of the problems that Misana noted was that women were getting entrepreneurship trainings but not getting into business. Others gave up on business when half way through. “I realised that while training might have equipped them with skills the women were not ready to deal with an unpredictable market for their produce, so many gave up,” the director says. Faced with this challenge Misana knew that the solutions lay with the women themselves.
“I called them and asked them what should be done to assist them. They told me if the could get access to capital it would help them boost their preferred businesses,” Misana says.
That was his cue that there was need to create a fund that would boost the women’s capital base. “A number of good Samaritans helped us. They were my friends,” Misana says of the money that would be loaned to women, to create sustainability. Juhudi Roving Fund opened it’s doors in July 2010 with a sum of half a million shillings and loaned between 50,000 and 100,000 to eight women. “The women are mostly petty traders like fish mongers and fruit vendors, so the amounts they need are not that huge,” Misana, says of the group of women that has grown to 29. “I hope to increase this to 100 by year end and expand to the regions thereafter,” he says.
Exchange programme
But providing financial assistance was not where he stopped at. An exchange program was set up between Finland and Tanzania, with students from Finland coming to learn how to make hard made products.
Vocational training to the youth was another area Misana exerted his energy on. More so, he wanted to ensure that those who completed this training got employment. “We have been providing vocational training for sometime. We have just received four weaving machines and I am sure this will create jobs for some people,” he says.
GOIG is also a centre for handmade products, which the youth and women make.
“We weave good quality carpets, tablemats, table runners and hammocks,” says Misana adding that their customers include several companies in Tanzania and abroad.
Currently the upbeat Misana is working on a project called “ Nyanya project” which helps grandmothers of children orphaned by Aids. “It involves building three room houses for them. They will be able to live in some of the rooms and rent the extra rooms. The house rent will help them and the grandkids,” Misana says of the project funded by women from America.
Already a number of houses have been built in Kawe area, Dar es Salaam, and Misana says they are now in the process of identifying the elders who should benefit from the project.
For now Misana is content at living his life as holds his personal motto: “Live at your own standards, love what you are doing and never let other determine what your future should be.”
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