Robin Dines, a Canadian woman came to Ifakara in 2003 with Habitat for Humanity to build houses for those living in poverty. She met a man who had a young nephew who was very bright and had done well in school but could not afford to go to University.
Starting in 2005, she started to sponsor Sebard Pius Mteteleka to go to Mzumbe University-Tanzania. Three years later in 2008, Sebard graduated, along with his wife Esther. Sebard continued in his education, received a Masters of Public Administration (MPA) from 2014 to 2016, and has worked in good paying jobs. This allowed him to support his family and do good work in the community.
Mama Robin (right) in Ifakara in 2003
Sebard & Esther during their graduation in 2008
Robin and Sebard did not want the friendship to end so they established a charity to help the people of Ifakara. On March 11, 2011, the Valenova Foundation was fully registered to operate in Mainland Tanzania and given its number of registration.
Sebard and Robin became the founders of a new charitable organization. The Latin greeting “Valeo” is a wish for strength, health and prosperity and “nova” means new so the meaning of Valenova is a wish for new strength, health and prosperity. It is very appropriate for the intent of the new charitable foundation.
Robin and her friend Debbie McCoy were the first people to donate money to cover the costs of writing the Valenova Foundation Constitution and opened the Bank accounts to start the work needed to be done.
Debbie McCoy and Robin Dines in Canada
Mama Margaret and Baba Eugene Schellenberg (R.I.P.) from Birmingham, UK were the first friends of the Valenova Foundation (VF) and were first responsible for the Ifakara Bakery Project founded in 2001.
They continued to be strong supporters of many projects over the years. Their most important projects included building the study hall, the project to bring water to the village, bringing electricity to the village, constructing the disabled shoemaker’s workshop, the tractor project to enable villagers to have quick and easy access to farming and supporting the scholarship program.
Through this program, in 2014, they supported a bright young girl called Elizabeth Msyani at Mzumbe University. The girl was entering her second year of studies at university and did not have the money to continue her studies.
At that time, Sebard Pius Mteteleka (Founder of Valenova Foundation) was studying for his master’s degree of Public Administration at the same University. Elizabeth and Sebard were eating at the cafeteria at the same table.
When Elizabeth was telling her friends that she would not continue with studies because she had not paid Tuition fees, Elizabeth started crying. She did not want to leave her friends and she wanted to graduate. Sebard heard the conversation and felt pity for the girl.
After asking several questions, he told her ‘’Elizabeth you will continue with your studies.’’ Sebard contacted Eugene and Margaret Schellenberg and explained Elizabeth’s sad news and they decided to sponsor her for two years through to graduation. Now Elizabeth has a good job at the Hospital working as the Hospital Administrator.
Elizabeth during her graduation
Elizabeth at Hospital working