September 2022 - Tumaini Students Selected For National Games
Every year the Tumaini Schools participate in annual sports event called Umitashumta. Started in the 1980’s by Tanzania’s first president, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, these games are intended to showcase athletic talent and foster a sense of national identity among the youth. Students in both primary and secondary school compete in soccer, basketball, choir, dance, netball, and track and field events. Teams first compete at the district level and then progress to the regional level. Students are then selected to represent their school on a regional team at the national level competition.
This year, Tumaini sent three teams of 50 students to the regional competition. We were so proud of the teams’ performance and even more thrilled when two students were selected to represent the Arusha region at the national competition. Nangai played with the Arusha girl’s netball team while the other student, Esther, was chosen to play soccer. Although neither team won, we are excited to compete again next year.
Nangai was very eager to share the experience she had at the national games. “I never expected to be selected to play netball. I just kept working really hard and when I found out I was chosen, it was a really great surprise. I found the environmental conditions to be the hardest part. The weather conditions in Tabora, where the games were held this year, are very different to Karatu. It is very very hot there. Still, I did my best and now I really want to keep playing netball in secondary school.“