On September 12, 2026, in Arusha, Tanzania, over 100 guests gathered to mark a monumental milestone: the 30th Anniversary of Mwangaza Education for Partnership.

The three-hour celebration included greetings and remarks from many past and current leaders, as well as songs, cultural dance, testimonies, and skits by current partner school students and Peace Club members.

Among attendees were 11 travelers from Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry, including former Friends of Mwangaza (FOM) President Mary Jo Huelle, who shared a greeting on behalf of Mwangaza founder Dr. “Mama Shoonie” Harwig (Mitchell, Neb.), and former FOM board member Debbie Kogelman (Tecumseh, Mich.).

John Kavishe, Mwangaza senior program coordinator, shared, “Three decades ago, we began our journey with a simple commitment: to strengthen the quality of secondary education in Tanzania, equipping young people with academic tools and values they need to thrive.”

Over the years, however, they realized something vital: “academic achievement requires a supportive, safe and collaborative learning environment to truly flourish… our young people needed the social and emotional tools to navigate an evolving world. Mwangaza expanded its scope to integrate peace education into our school programs, teaching non-violent communication, conflict resolution, active listening, empathy, dialogue, and mutual respect.”  

LPGM Development Director Bethany Krepela shared a greeting from Dan Ruth, LPGM Executive Director: “…[LPGM’s] partnership with Mwangaza is a shining example of how healthy relationships can transform the boundaries that separate people from one another.”

Mwangaza, which means “Light” in Swahili, began in 1996 as a teacher exchange program between the Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Tanzania (ELCT) and America (ELCA), initially partnering across five dioceses and synods. By 1999, the demand grew so rapidly that all 20 dioceses requested inclusion.  

Mwangaza’s Safe Schools initiative is currently in 16 schools that teach their non-violence curriculum, including through Peace Clubs, Parent Trainings, and Teacher Trainings. Interest in their innovative approach and transformative results continues to grow. 

For 30 years, the organization’s primary fundraising arm was U.S.-based Friends of Mwangaza. In January 2026, Friends of Mwangaza officially merged with Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry, which now serves as the primary international partner supporting Mwangaza’s work in Tanzanian secondary schools. Both organizations have long histories of supporting this work, and they joined together to deepen their impact and ensure long-term stability for Mwangaza.

To learn more about Mwangaza, or to invest in their work, visit our website.