Stories of Motherhood - Tanzania
My time in Tanzania didn’t seem unique at the time as I bounced along dirt roads photographing Tanzanian families, but looking back I realize its significance. I was 17 weeks pregnant at the time and “planning” on not skipping a beat as I entered my own motherhood journey.
Motherhood...a word foreign to me as I sat and listened to stories of joy and hardship from four remarkably strong mothers. Each one not only a testament to Walk in Love’s work, but the women’s strength as they faced loss, abuse and poverty.
“I believe that I am a brave woman because when I set out to do something, I will and can do it.”
- GLORY JAMES MOSHI
GLORY - A STORY OF HOPE
“I am 36 years old and I have five children.” - Glory
LOSS
Glory’s sister died giving birth to twins, so her nieces Princess and Pricket were sent to an orphanage.
“Normally, children stay in an orphanage until they’re two years old, but they were family and I wanted them to feel that family bond, so I brought them home at five months old.” - Glory
Glory would visit the twins regularly at the orphanage where Aubree, (Walk in Love’s Founder) was working as a preschool teacher. Aubree started to notice how families like Glory’s were struggling to stay together and began researching if there were any organizations helping this issue. She then realized there weren’t any, so she founded Walk in Love to help keep families together.
“A few months after Glory took her nieces home, I was contacted and told that Glory could no longer feed the girls and she was scared they would have to be put back into the orphanages for their own health.” - Aubree
Glory needed to be able to go back to work to provide for her growing family, so when she learned of Walk in Love’s new daycare the fear of losing the twins was behind her. She now stands proud as she cooks meals for one of Walk in Love’s daycare.
“I learned about Walk in Love who provided a day care service for my children to enable me go back to work.” - Glory
Today Walk in Love has 65 children enrolled
in two daycare locations with over 100 graduates.
JENNIFER - A STORY OF BRAVERY
“I was brave because of my children.” - Jennifer
Jennifer left an abusive marriage and moved to Arusha, Tanzania where she was left with nothing. She was scared her abuser would find her, but knew she had to be strong for her children and fought daily for their future.
“I struggled and fought to be where I am now.” - Jennifer
Jennifer was hired by Walk in Love and has been working for five years at one of their daycare centers.
“I am very thankful for Walk in Love because my life has changed dramatically. I never once thought that my life would be what it is today… I don’t have words. Through Walk in Love my children are going to school and I’m able to manage my life and pay rent.” - Jennifer
MARY - A STORY OF PERSEVERANCE
“Before Walk in Love, I could not afford three square meals a day. I also could not afford the daily commute here. Now I am eating three meals daily and my child is doing very well.” - Mary
Mary talked about the struggle of food and formula. She also talked about the moment she left a clinic and was told her baby was malnourished with little hope.
Mary was only one of many mothers facing malnutrition, which is why Walk in Love soon started their first nutrition clinic to help the families at their daycares.
“We’d always given extra food to the children that were malnourished at the daycare centers. We’d even open up on the weekends to make sure the children wouldn’t go hungry, but the children I’d met weren’t just hungry, they were starving. ”
— Aubree, Walk in Love Founder
Mary was shy in her interview, but I documented her taking care of baby Carin she was so confident and proud. It was a moment I will never forget as she talked and comforted her daughter as they got ready to head to the clinic.
“Before Walk in Love, I could not afford three square meals a day. I also could not afford the daily commute here. Now I am eating three meals daily and my child is doing very well.” - Mary
There are currently 68 children enrolled in our nutrition clinic and 25 children in our bush clinic.
STELLA - A STORY OF GRACE
“I am a brave woman because I am raising my children by myself.” - Stella
“I honestly didn’t know I was expecting twins until I went into labor. Doreen came first and the attendants told me there was still another baby. I thanked god and five minutes later Dorcas came too and I thanked god for that as well.” - Stella
When we arrived to Stella’s home we shared in a laugh as she juggled the two babies and I started filming her with the twins. Stella moved with grace as she bounced, burped and changed diapers one right after the other. What should have felt like chaos, felt calming as the room filled with soft baby coos and Stella's gentle voice.
I still didn’t know Stella's motherhood story, so later during our interview when I learned the father had left while Stella was pregnant, I was in even more awe of her strength.
How is she so brave and how is she handling so well?
“I am raising all of my children by myself with no assistance whatsoever from their father. So my braveness stems from doing everything myself.” - Stella
When I asked Stella what her favorite African proverb was, she said “The fish is bent whilst still fresh”. Meaning, it is easier to mold your children while they are young and she hopes to teach them to be brave like her.
WALK IN LOVE
I am not quite ready to share all the pieces of my own motherhood story, but what I soon discovered a few weeks after Tanzania, is that every motherhood story is filled with moments of bravery.
“I am walking in love by caring for others, loving others and trying my best. Whenever I fall short, I know it is human nature, but I try my best to endeavor and show the positives.”
- Glory
You can support Walk in Love’s mission to help keep families thriving and together by donating on their website and sharing these stories.
Thank you for taking the time to read this photo journal from my time time on assignment in Arusha, Tanzania.
Please leave any thoughts or questions below and don’t forget to share these stories with others!
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TARA SHUPE
Tara Shupe is a Humanitarian Photographer and Video Storyteller, constantly traveling with a camera attached to the hip and a notebook in her pocket. With over 10 years of experience in the field, Tara approaches each story intimately with a hope for inspiring others to think beyond their comfort zone.
The Captain of our military escort was very into selfies, so I had promised him a photo with my camera, which of course led to most of the unit, but it gave me a chance to play with my newest lens: The Petzval 55 Mark II