Year Joined MKLM: 2002 Country: Tanzania City: Mwanza Focus: Healthcare, Education Project(s): Huruma School for Children With Disabilities, Director People Served: 30 students with disabilities; Project Goal(s): The project seeks to further the human rights of children with disabilities.

Personal Data
Bertha joined MKLM in 2002, coming from years of experience as a guidance counselor in Baker City, OR. In Oregon Bertha was very active in Our Lady of Angels parish in the Diocese of Baker City. Bertha received degrees at Alverno College in Milwaukee, WI, and the University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK.

Current Ministry
Bertha currently lives and works in Mwanza where she helped to found Huruma, School for Children with Disabilities. The reality of children with disabilities in Tanzania fits into the broader context of poverty. Tanzania has the sixth highest poverty rate in the world. Mwanza is characterized by tremendous influx of people migrating from their villages and offers few employment opportunities, resulting in an even greater poverty than the country as a whole. Lack of adequate of health care, especially prenatal and early childhood care, poor nutrition, inadequate sanitation and lack of access to clean water all contribute to the high number of children with disabilities.

In this reality, children with disabilities have very few options. Traditionally in many of the Tanzania's 120 native tribes, a child with a disability was considered a family disgrace or even a curse. In some cases such a child was abandoned immediately or the child may be hidden inside the home. Sometimes the father abandons both the mother and her handicapped child. Because of the care the child requires, the mother is unable to seek employment.

Huruma offers a comprehensive approach to meet the needs of the children with disabilities. It offers physical therapy, appropriate elementary education, and teacher training. In addition it provides health care support and daily nutritional support. There is also a growing support network for parents and caretakers of children with disabilities.

Bertha’s experience in special education and counseling has been instrumental in the school’s success. Ultimately the school seeks to provide a model that can be duplicated throughout the city of Mwanza.