Adventure and legacy: Mandy’s remarkable 12 years in Tanzania

Houston, the city in southeastern Texas, is known for its tapestry of cultures, diversity of races, and languages. For most music fans in Tanzania, it’s home to the pop icon Beyonce.

It is also what Mandy Stein calls home. “Besides all that, Huston has wonderful food, shopping, and many beautiful parks,” Mandy reveals, so it was a bold decision when, 12 years ago, she decided to leave all that behind and move to Tanzania.

Mandy has visited nearly all national parks in the northern circuit; she has frequented Mkomazi National Park, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Manyara, and more and seen firsthand why Tanzania is a hub for tourism in the world. But Mandy’s move to Tanzania more than a decade ago was inspired by more than a few days of adventure. For the last 12 years, she has been running an NGO, Neema International.

Mandy was deeply inspired by a combination of her studies and a heartfelt desire to make a meaningful difference in the world. Even as a young girl, she knew that she was destined for a life of service.”I wanted to help empower others, provide opportunities for people in need, and use my privilege for good.”.

During her time at the University of Texas in Austin, she was immersed in social work and African studies, which opened her eyes to the challenges faced by communities in different parts of the world. “When I came to Tanzania for the first time as a young volunteer, I met some amazing kids, and I knew right away that if given a chance, these kids would go ahead and be the best version of themselves.” She recalls.

Mandy volunteered for a government school, Mrupanga Primary School, where they had to combat student overpopulation, teacher understaffing, and improve the learning environment.

But to Mandy, societal challenges were nothing new; as a volunteer back in the US, she had experience dealing with homelessness and children with special needs in the city of Austin.

She used her experience and a deep sense of service to uplift communities and help them break the cycle of poverty through education and sustainable projects, which was a powerful motivator.

That belief, coupled with the support and encouragement from friends, family, and early supporters of Neema International, pushed her forward. It’s been a journey of immense learning, growth, and fulfilment ever since.

As part of the international community that has embraced Tanzania as a new home, Mandy and her partner are avid campers. They have a Landcruiser that is fitted with a pop-out tent at the top and equipped with all the necessities for camping, including its own fridge. “We have camped in many parks, particularly at Lake Manyara. The hippos come out at night, right next to the tent, and you can hear them eating,” she said.

She also enjoys zip-lining through baobab trees at Mto wa Mbu between Manyara and Tarangire. Her partner is a pilot for Grumeti Air, which operates within the Singita network of properties. That gives her opportunities to have bed nights and visit these incredible lodges each year.

‘Mkomazi’, a name extracted from the Pare language, loosely translating to “a scoop of water”, is one of the national parks. Mandy has had memorable adventures; the park was given this name due to a little bit of water found during the dry season. Mkomazi National Park is known for its game drive, where, from the safety of your car, a tourist can drive and watch the black rhinos and other magnificent wild animals.

She had a golden opportunity to visit the African wild dog and rhino sanctuaries and breeding programmes; the rhino sanctuary is still in the wild.

“A rhino came up to our car and, in a very friendly manner, touched my hand with his horn, and I was shocked! It was crazy!!” She excitedly recalls the special moment.

Most of the time, Mandy travels with Baraka, her adopted son, in Tanzania. “I met Baraka when he was 10 months old; he had been left alone at Amana House, a children’s home I was working at,” she recalls.

Initially, the plan was to just help Baraka get well and take care of him until the children’s home she was building was completed so Baraka could move in there, but after taking care of him for two and a half years, she had fallen in love with him and decided to file for adoption and legally be his parent.

Travel has an amazing ability to rejuvenate one’s body and mind, and with a refreshed mind and body, Mandy has been able to make incredible strides for more than a decade in Tanzania, particularly through their Uru Community Pre and Primary School. Currently, they have 160 children enrolled, receiving quality education, health insurance, food, and clothing, ensuring their overall development. Through the ‘Neema International Educational Sponsorship Programme’ (NIESP), they support over 120 older kids attending secondary schools, colleges, and universities across Tanzania, with two students studying abroad—one in India and one in Northern Cyprus. Mandy has been able to positively impact the mothers in the community where she operates her NGO. “As a mother myself, I understand the struggles that mothers in our community face firsthand. That’s why at Neema International, we’re dedicated to supporting mothers in breaking the cycle of poverty,” she insists.

Their Neema Baggs programme is thriving, employing four full-time women who are primary providers for their families.

Overall, the organisation has provided employment opportunities for 61 local men and women, all of whom receive livable wages, health insurance coverage, and other social needs.

All these achievements reflect their commitment to breaking the cycle of poverty and empowering individuals and communities to build brighter futures.

“We’re proud of the progress we’ve made and remain dedicated to continuing this impactful work in Tanzania and beyond,” she said.