Sister Leah – Mtwara (Tanzania)


After Sister Leah arrived in Mtwara, Tanzania, spazio + spadoni immediately supported the construction of a well, which was inaugurated in August 2023 and is available to the entire local community. In the same month, brick production began for the construction of the chicken coop. In March 2024, the social enterprise began with the purchase of 300 chicks.
Sister Leah is a member of the African Benedictine Sisters of Ndanda Mtwara Tanzania. She arrived in Italy in August 2022 and was welcomed by Misericordia di Castiglione del Lago, in Umbria, where she remained until the end of March 2023. During her months at the Misericordia, she actively participated in the life of the association and the community, becoming integrated into local traditions. She received training in social enterprise, first aid, bread-making and livestock-rearing techniques.
At the Convento di San Cerbone, the headquarters of spazio + spadoni, she took part in the Convention “Fare Spazio al Coraggio” in September 2022 and in a training course on the Works of Mercy and the Economy of Communion in February 2023.
Learn more UISG | Interview with Mother General Auxilia Hokororo (Tanzania) Sister Leah: A Bridge Between Italy and Tanzania Thanks to spazio + spadoni’s HIC SUM Project
Timeline
2020
05.12 | Start of relationship
Collaboration begins between spazio + spadoni and the African Benedictine Sisters
2022
04.08 | Sister’s arrival
Sister Leah arrives in Italy, welcomed by Misericordia di Castiglione del Lago
07-11.09 | Convention Fare Spazio al Coraggio
Sister Leah takes part in the Convention created and promoted by spazio + spadoni at the Convento di San Cerbone (LU)
2023
01-10.02 | Training
Course on the Works of Mercy and the Economy of Communion promoted and supported by spazio + spadoni at the Convento di San Cerbone (LU)

31.03 | Sister’s departure
Sister Leah returns to Tanzania
12.04 | Presentation of spazio + spadoni
Sister Leah presents spazio + spadoni and OPERA M to the Mother General

05-09.05 | Technical visit by spazio + spadoni
Rodrigue visits Sister Leah’s community in Mtwara-Narunyu, Tanzania

30.05 | First funding disbursed
The funding is intended for the construction of the well
20.06 | Second funding disbursed
The funding is intended to complete construction of the well
09.08 | Third funding disbursed
The funding is intended to adapt the structure that will become a chicken coop
16.08 | Well inauguration
The well is inaugurated

18.10 | Fourth funding disbursed
The funding is intended to purchase equipment for the chicken coop
2024
17.01 | Fifth funding disbursed
The funding is intended for the chickens' purchase
11.03 | Start of activities
The Social Enterprise begins with the arrival of 300 chicks

2025
02.05 | Meeting with the Mother General
During the UISG Assembly held in Rome from 5 to 9 May, spazio + spadoni met Mother Auxilia, whom it hosted for the entire event at the Motherhouse of Figlie di Maria Missionarie

14.05 | Sixth funding disbursed
The funding supports the social enterprise and concludes spazio + spadoni's predetermined financial commitment to this activity's implementation
30.06 – 02.07 | Technical visit by spazio + spadoni
Stefano, the linker for Tanzania, visits Sister Leah and Mother Auxilia’s community and discusses the project and the Forum to be organised in Tanzania with them

Project evaluations
All evaluations
- February 2023
Presentation of the final Social Enterprise project: poultry farming. - May 2023
Hydrogeological assessment of the land to determine whether a well can be built. - May 2023
Submission of the cost estimate for the well. - July 2023
Update on progress with construction of the well. - August 2023
Sister Leah informs us about the production of bricks for the chicken coop. - September 2023
Monitoring of the construction of the chicken coop. - December 2023
Update on progress with work on the chicken coop. - January 2024
The chicken coop structure is complete. - September 2025
New chickens are purchased. - October 2025
Progress of the Social Enterprise. - December 2025
Progress of the Social Enterprise.
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